Grandfather Wu Jiulong's pipe fell to the ground, and the old man's trembling fingers calculated: "Ten coins per catty... two hundred catties would be enough for two taels of silver... but if we take five hundred catties... what if..."
A spark of hope reignited in everyone's eyes. Second Uncle Wenzhang wiped away his tears and stood up abruptly: "Ten coins per catty, will anyone buy it? I'll carry it to the town to sell right now."
"Wait!" Grandfather Wu Jiulong stopped him, his eyes glinting with a long-lost sharpness. "We can't go to town. Zhao Zhilin has connections there, and he'll definitely be watching our family. If he finds out we're selling potatoes, he'll surely interfere."
"Then let's go to the county to sell the potatoes. Zhao Zhilin won't be able to stop us there, and it's easier to get a better price in the county," Guohua added.
"Tomorrow, we'll all go together. Eldest will go to Liu Village Chief's house to borrow a ox cart. We'll take five hundred catties of potatoes to the county tomorrow. No matter what, we must gather two taels of silver," Grandfather Wu Jiulong said in a deep voice.
"Grandpa, let me go with Father and the others. You shouldn't have to exert yourself. I have a way to sell them for a better price," Guohua said.
If it had been before, no one in the Wu Family would have believed Guohua, but now it was different. Grandfather Wu Jiulong seriously considered it for a moment and actually nodded in agreement.
The whole family immediately sprang into action, like a precise machine. Father Wenbin went to Village Chief Liu Yuanhua's house to borrow the ox cart. Besides the fodder for the ox, there was also a rental fee of twenty coins.
Grandmother took her three daughters-in-law to the cellar to select potatoes. They couldn't use any potatoes that were bruised during digging; they had to choose only the best, large ones, as they would sell for a better price.
Guohua watched this scene, a surge of warmth filling his chest. He knew this was not just about getting enough for the damned "land reclamation tax," but also a battle for dignity—the Wu Family would never bow their heads to Landlord Zhao!
It was late, and Guohua lay on the heated brick bed, unable to sleep. Moonlight streamed through the cracks in the window paper, drawing a silver line on the floor.
He quietly got up and went to the courtyard. In the distance, the potato fields on the back mountain glowed faintly under the moonlight, like a sleeping Treasure Trove.
"Zhao Zhilin..." He silently repeated the name in his heart, realizing for the first time so clearly that in this world, simply farming was not enough.
To truly protect his family, he needed more strength...
The night wind blew, bringing a touch of coolness. Guohua clenched his fists, secretly vowing: One day, he would ensure the Wu Family would never have to live at the mercy of anyone again!
At the fourth watch of the night, faint lights were already on in the Wu Family courtyard. Guohua rubbed his sleepy eyes and climbed off the heated brick bed, finding his father and two uncles already harnessing the ox cart in the courtyard.
Under the moonlight, three tall figures busied themselves, the straw ropes creaking as they tightened around the cart frame.
"Awake?" Father Wenbin turned to look at him, his voice very low. "Go to the cellar and help your mother load the potatoes."
In the cellar, Mother and Second Aunt, and Third Aunt were using the faint light of an oil lamp to load the purple potatoes one by one into gunny sacks. These potatoes were uniform in size, with smooth skins, glowing with a faint purple light under the dim illumination.
Guohua noticed his mother's fingers trembling slightly—a lingering effect of long-term malnutrition.
"Mother, let me do it." He took the gunny sack from his mother's hand, his fingertips accidentally brushing her hand, which was as cold as a stone.
"Be careful on the road..." His mother's voice choked, and her rough palm suddenly gripped his wrist tightly. "If... if you encounter anyone from the Zhao Family..."
"You won't." Guohua comforted her softly, but he was equally anxious. Zhao Zhilin could have absolute power in Huanglin Town, but his reach shouldn't extend thirty li away to Qinglin County, right?
Five hundred catties of purple potatoes were loaded onto the cart just as the sky began to show the first hints of dawn.
Grandfather Wu Jiulong stood at the courtyard gate, leaning on his cane, patting each of his sons on the shoulder. Finally, he squatted in front of Guohua, his cloudy eyes looking directly at him: "Guohua, are you sure... these potatoes can fetch a good price?"
"Grandpa, don't worry." Guohua nodded vigorously, pulling a small cloth pouch from his embrace. "I also brought a secret weapon."
Grandfather Wu Jiulong opened the cloth pouch doubtfully. Inside were a small handful of dried chili peppers and a few peppercorns—these were what Guohua had specifically cultivated.
As the ox cart creaked out of the village, the eastern sky was just tinged with an orange-red hue. Guohua sat on the cart shaft, watching the familiar scenery slowly recede.
As they passed the Zhao Family's compound, he unconsciously shrunk his neck. The towering courtyard walls and the dark gate were like a lurking beast, ready to pounce at any moment.
Outside the village, the road became rough. The ox cart moved slowly, its wheels crunching over gravel, making one's backside numb.
Second Uncle Wenzhang walked ahead, leading the ox, occasionally looking back; Third Uncle Wenwu brought up the rear, clutching a thick wooden stick, vigilantly scanning the woods by the roadside.
"Father, what's the county town like?" Guohua asked softly.
His father was silent for a moment, his gaze fixed on the distance: "There are... three-story restaurants, streets paved with bluestone slabs, and also masters dressed in silk..."
Guohua detected a hint of fear in his father's tone. This honest, simple farmer had probably been to the county town fewer times than he could count on one hand in his entire life.
The sun gradually rose higher, baking the dry dirt road. The ox cart creaked along, kicking up a cloud of dust.
Guohua's throat was parched, but he resisted drinking any water—the water in the clay pot had to be saved for the old ox pulling the cart.
Around noon, the city walls in the distance finally came into view. The walls of Qinglin County were taller than Guohua had imagined, the bluish-grey bricks gleaming coldly under the sun.
A long queue had formed at the city gate, with several constables inspecting the people entering the city. "Have your travel permits ready," Father said nervously, touching his chest.
The queue to enter the city moved slowly. Guohua curiously looked around: peddlers carrying poles, old men pushing wheelbarrows, women riding donkeys...
All sorts of people gathered here, the air filled with a mix of sweat, animal dung, and the smell of unknown foods.
"What are you doing?" A pockmarked constable stopped the ox cart.
"Re-replying, sir, selling... selling some local produce," Father stammered, handing over the travel permit.
The constable glanced at the gunny sacks on the cart and poked them with an iron ruler: "Open them up and let me see." Guohua's heart immediately leaped into his throat. If the constable found out they were potatoes, would he...
"Oh, these potatoes look unusual!" The constable lifted a sack, raising his eyebrows in surprise. "Purple?"
"Yes... yes, they're a new variety... accidentally discovered in the mountains..." Beads of sweat formed on Father's forehead.
The constable's eyes darted around, then he suddenly lowered his voice: "According to the rules, there's a tax to enter the city..."
Third Uncle Wenwu quickly pulled out ten coins and slipped them over. The constable weighed them in his hand, then waved them through with satisfaction: "Go on in!"
Once through the city gate, the clamor assailed them. Shops lined both sides of the bluestone-paved street, with various banners fluttering in the wind.
Pedestrians jostled each other, and the sounds of hawking, haggling, and the neighing of mules and horses blended into a single roar. Guohua was dazzled; this was the first time he had seen such a bustling scene since his Transmigration.
"Where do we go first?" Second Uncle Wenzhang asked, wiping his sweat.