"Your Dahua is really capable!"
"I'll take this one then, here's four yuan, keep it safe."
Shi Lin gave a thumbs up, finally choosing the last little pup, the Little Kasaya Spirit.
"Hehe, good, good. My Dahua's lineage is really good, do you want to buy another one? Two are easier to raise, for the second one, I'll give you a cheaper price, three yuan and fifty cents will do."
The Grandpa took the money, smiling broadly, and tried to persuade Shi Lin to buy another one.
Unfortunately, Shi Lin was firm, refused decisively, and turned to leave.
Seeing Shi Lin walk away, a Dama setting up a stall next to the Grandpa spoke up, teasing the Grandpa:
"Old Bamboo Head, didn't your Dahua just give birth to four pups last month? Why is it giving birth again this month?"
"My Dahua can give birth, is that a problem?"
The Grandpa snorted, then happily put the four yuan into his pocket, thinking, now the cost of the six pups has been recovered, any more sales after this will be pure profit...
...
Market intersection.
Shi Yuying saw a large pig leg on Shi Lin's back, and then saw the Little Black Bear in his hand, and immediately reacted.
Where was this brat in a hurry to pee? He clearly used it as an excuse to slip away and buy things!
"...I told you, we have everything at home, yet you still spend money recklessly, let's see if your parents scold you when we get back."
Since he had already bought them, Shi Yuying was too lazy to get angry with him now, she rolled her eyes at him and complained,
"Buying a pig leg is one thing, but why did you buy a little dog pup? Shi Zhengang can't hunt, where do we have things to feed a dog at home?"
Their family previously had four dogs, forming a pack, following their Lao Die up the mountain to hunt.
Later, their Lao Die's leg was injured, he couldn't go up the mountain, and didn't hunt game for the dogs to eat, so the four dogs at home became a burden,
They ate more than people at every meal, in this era of scarcity, how could they be raised?
Out of necessity, enduring the pain of parting, they half-sold and half-gave the four dogs to Shi Lin's cousin, Shi Yujun.
Only a few months had passed since this happened, and now seeing Shi Lin buy a dog again, Shi Yuying was very puzzled.
"Hehe, Lao Die doesn't hunt, but I do! Also, when we go up the mountain to get honey, shouldn't we bring someone to stand guard? What if some big guy comes over, this little fellow can still give an early warning, right?"
Shi Lin chuckled, didn't explain too much, and holding the Little Black Bear, led the way.
Shi Yuying pouted, a little fellow only the size of a palm, and it can give a warning? It would be lucky if it wasn't caught by a big guy in the mountains and used as food.
However, after hearing Lao Liu say that, she suddenly felt that they should indeed raise a dog. After all, there are many wild beasts on the mountain, and having a dog stand guard and give warnings when they go up the mountain to get honey would indeed be much safer.
Moreover, with their current income from getting honey, raising a dog would indeed not be a burden.
...
Xigou Village.
As soon as Shi Lin and his Sister walked into the Village, they were noticed by many people, and their Second Aunt was right among them.
Seeing them carrying so many things on their backs, the Second Aunt immediately came closer and asked:
"Yu Ying, Linzi, it's not a holiday or festival, why did you two siblings buy so many things back? Has Linzi's marriage been settled?"
There were no secrets at all in the small Village. The matter of Shi Lin's family going to Lin Xiaoxia's house in the Village to propose marriage had already spread throughout the entire Village in recent years.
Seeing the two siblings buy so many things today, the Second Aunt's guess was also reasonable.
"No such thing, we just went to the market as usual, bought some grain to take home, there's no talk of marriage or anything."
"Our parents are still waiting for us at home, Second Aunt, we'll head back first."
After speaking, Shi Lin didn't care about his Second Aunt's reaction, quickened his pace, and skillfully slipped away.
Shi Yuying did the same, smiled at their Second Aunt, and quickly left.
This Second Aunt was notoriously talkative in their Village. If anything got into her mouth, it would spread throughout the entire Village in less than half a day.
Moreover, with this word-of-mouth method, from the first person who spoke it to the last person who heard it, the meaning might have been distorted countless times.
Normally, when Shi Lin and the others encountered this Second Aunt, they would keep their distance and didn't dare to chat much, fearing that rumors would spread again as soon as they turned around.
However, today they were carrying so much rice, flour, grain, and oil, as well as a small hen and a large pig leg,
Even if they didn't talk much, this Second Aunt of theirs felt like she had discovered some big news, and immediately turned around and started chatting with a group of Damas.
"I think the good thing between Linzi and Xiaoxia is likely settled! Lao San is still capable, to be able to settle it even with the Lin Family offering such high conditions."
The Damas next to them also started chatting excitedly.
"Yeah, I thought this wouldn't work out, I didn't expect it to be settled. I heard the Lin Family wants the 'three turns and one sound', and also a five hundred yuan bride price, which is even higher than what girls in the city ask for."
"Shi Lao San earned a lot of money hunting in previous years, this time he's probably going to take it all out to marry a wife for their precious Son."
"What a pity, Shi Lao San's leg is broken, and that precious Son isn't promising either. Now spending so much money to marry a wife, who knows what will happen in the future?"
"What will happen? They'll eat commodity grain! That girl Xiaoxia teaches in the city and has a salary, several tens of yuan every month. Shi Lao San spent a lot of money to marry such a daughter-in-law, it's not a loss."
"Tch, what do you know? The Lin Family's conditions were set a long time ago, the 'three turns and one sound', the bride price is ready, that girl Xiaoxia can marry over, but her salary still has to be handed over to their Lin Family every month..."
As soon as the Second Aunt said this, the Damas present were all stunned for a moment, not expecting there to be such a condition among the Lin Family's terms.
Isn't this a bit too harsh?
...
Returning home, Shi Lin put down the things, and under the expectant gaze of his parents, took out the money from his pocket.
"Parents, this is the money left from selling honey and buying things today, 102 yuan and 80 cents. Here, a hundred yuan for you, I'll keep the remaining two yuan and eighty cents."
Shi Yuying also took out money from her pocket, "I still have 15 yuan and 40 cents left from buying the hen."
Looking at the money handed over by her Son and daughter, Ye Meihui happily took it, and counted it carefully, one hundred and fifteen yuan and forty cents, correct.
"Alright, then I'll keep it for you first, when you need money later, come and ask me for it."
"Xiao Wu, take this five yuan, go get some cloth later and make yourself a new outfit."
Not only was Xiao Liu at the age to get married, but Xiao Wu, who was his Sister, was also 22 years old, considered an old girl in the Village, and needed to dress up nicely to meet potential suitors.
Shi Yuying waved her hand, "My clothes aren't worn out yet, I can still wear them, no need to make new ones."
"You have to. Give Xiao Wu another five yuan, make two more pieces."
Shi Zhengang said,
"Xiao Wu, you're not young anymore, it's time to prepare to meet potential suitors. Originally, I planned to arrange things for you in the first half of the year, but then I fell and it was delayed until now. Fortunately, you are also earning money now..."
Seeing his Son and daughter earning money and returning, Old Shi was also deeply moved and genuinely happy for his Son and daughter.
Shi Lin said with a smile, teasing: "Fifth Sister, hurry and accept it, our parents are rarely this generous, once this Village is gone, this opportunity won't come again."
Which young girl in her early twenties doesn't love beauty and doesn't want to dress herself up nicely? It's just because they are "sensible" (Note: being sensible is still a positive trait in this era).
"You talk too much, how have we treated you harshly?"
Ye Meihui patted him, and casually stuffed the ten yuan and forty cents into Shi Yuying's hand, then started checking the things they bought back.
"Five hens, not bad, from now on we'll have eggs to eat every day;"
"Why did you buy such a big pig leg? If you wanted to eat meat, wouldn't buying two catties of pork be enough? How much did this cost?"
"Hmm? And white flour? Rice? Wow, malted milk extract?! And what are all these bottles and jars? Why is there even a little dog pup?!"
Seeing the things the two of them bought back, Ye Meihui was a bit unsettled.
She didn't recognize other things, but she knew about the big pig leg, this one would cost at least 20 yuan,
And two cans of malted milk extract! One can costs several yuan! And rice, white flour, which are also much more expensive than the coarse grains they eat at home.
"You two spendthrifts, tell me, how much did these things cost? How much did the honey sell for in total?!"
Hearing Ye Meihui's voice several degrees higher than before, Shi Yuying shrank her neck and looked at Shi Lin.