Cows are precious, and expensive.
An adult water buffalo, would cost no less than 10,000 coins. So generally, only a large clan would raise one cow, and take turns using it for plowing. They would also take turns feeding it.
Those who can't afford it, can only pay others to plow their fields.
But Li Yao was hesitating whether to buy a cow, or a horse.
"Da Zhuang, what do you think?"
"Of course it's better to buy a cow!" Da Zhuang said, "Cows can pull carts, and plow fields. Horses can't do that. You'd still need to borrow from Granny Apo's family for plowing."
Farm kids will be farm kids.
Given the choice between a tractor and a Ferrari, he would still choose the tractor.
Finally Da Zhuang picked a yellow calf around one and a half years old, for 6,000 coins. It can be used to pull carts for now, and by next year it would be perfect for plowing.
"I'll leave it to you to take care of from now on."
"Oh!"
Having his own cow, Da Zhuang was as excited as getting a wife. He carefully put the cart on the little cow's back, and let it slowly walk along pulling it.
There were also little chicks at the market, just hatched and fluffy like cotton balls. Li Yao noticed Wang Xiao Si kept glancing over.
"Do you want to raise chicks?"
"Mother, buy them if you want."
"I can buy them for you," Li Yao said, "But you'll need to take good care of them."
"Don't worry Mother, I'll definitely take good care of them!"
Since Wang Xiao Si was still young, Li Yao didn't plan to buy too many.
"How much is each chick?"
"30 coins for a pair," said the chick seller, "Don't worry, they're all hens I've picked out, roosters guaranteed refunded!"
Li Yao didn't care if they were roosters or hens. Roosters actually grow faster and the meat tastes a little better. Seeing the chicks were lively, she directly bought 20 of them. The seller happily threw in the bamboo basket for free.
The oldest and the youngest both had companions now. As for the second oldest...
"Mother," said Wang San'er longingly, "I think we could raise two pigs. I'll cut grass to feed them every day."
"Let's just buy one pig," said Li Yao. "But it can't be penned up, it has to graze freely. You'll need to carry it up the mountain every day to eat grass, then carry it back home. Can you do that?"
"Why carry it?"
"Don't ask so much," said Li Yao. "Just say if you can do it or not."
"Of course I can!"
So Li Yao bought a little pig as well.
Now with something for each person to do, their days should become more fulfilling.
Next, Li Yao went to the medicine shop and bought up all the beeswax they had, over ten catties in total.
With this beeswax, they could make more of the balm next time.
Thinking she still needed to reply to Zou Youcai, Li Yao decided to eat at the market.
Arriving at He's Restaurant, Manager Fan naturally had the waiter take them upstairs to a private room to dine, upon seeing Li Yao's family coming for a meal.
But just as they reached the second floor, she saw someone familiar—Ding Xiaoyan, betrothed to Wang Er. She was in a private room with a young man, sitting very close in an intimate atmosphere.
Seeing this, Li Yao used her body to block the slightly open door, preventing the children from seeing.
"How could it be her?"
Wang Er froze at the door.
His future wife was actually being intimate with another man! Wang Er felt extremely awful inside, his eyes full of indignation. Da Zhuang was about to go in and confront them, but Li Yao stopped him, and led them into the private room next door instead.
As a modern person, she didn't plan to interfere too much with Wang Er's marriage, and would respect his own wishes as much as possible.
"Do you want to marry her?"
After being rejected by the Dings last time, and now this, Wang Er naturally had no feelings left for Ding Xiaoyan.
"I don't want to."
Li Yao nodded slightly. This was a wise decision.
"Let's eat first," said Li Yao. "We'll go call off the engagement after."
It was their first time eating in a restaurant. Li Yao ordered some signature dishes. She felt the tastes were pretty good, and they ate with gusto. The children however, ate very little, still feeling indignant inside.
After the meal, Li Yao asked Manager Fan for some details.
The young man with Ding Xiaoyan turned out to be Yun Jingyu, eldest son of the Yun Family.
The Yun Family owned several hundred mu of fertile fields in Baichuan County, and a fabric shop in Baichuan Market. They were very wealthy. But Yun Jingyu was already married, with two concubines besides his main wife. Rumor had it he often frequented brothels, and spent nights out.
After the meal, Li Yao had the children go get the cart first, while she waited at the entrance of He's Restaurant.
Soon, Ding Xiaoyan and Yun Jingyu came downstairs.
Seeing Li Yao suddenly, Ding Xiaoyan was a little panicked at first. She knew what kind of shrew Li Yao was.
But thinking back, Young Master Yun had already agreed to marry her. Not only would he provide a generous dowry, but also promised to resolve the engagement. So she lifted her head haughtily and walked over.
"Auntie Li, what a coincidence."
"It's no coincidence. I've been waiting for you here for a long time," said Li Yao. "Ding Xiaoyan, do you know what you're doing?"
Faced with her questioning, Ding Xiaoyan didn't back down at all. "I'm not married into your Wang family yet. I'm still not one of you. Don't you think you're overstepping?"
Yun Jingyu also walked over, and said to Ding Xiaoyan, "Why are you saying so much to a silly village woman?"
"Let's get this clear today, Auntie Li," said Ding Xiaoyan, emboldened with a man backing her. "Even if we have to go to the authorities, I absolutely won't marry into your family. If you want to go make a scene at my home, my father said to go ahead as you please."
Li Yao chuckled, "Are you sure?"
"Of course I'm sure. I'll marry Young Master Yun." said Ding Xiaoyan. "Do you even know about the Yun Family? They own five hundred mu of fertile fields, and a fabric shop in the market. Even the county magistrate has to give them some thin face. Can your Wang family compare?"
As she spoke, Ding Xiaoyan took out a box of balm from her bag.
"Do you know what this is? It's called balm, he bought it for me. Just this small box costs five taels of silver. Your Wang family can't earn that much in a year!"
Li Yao: ...
Well, as long as you're happy.
She had been worried before, that if the Ding Family found out about the family's money making abilities, they might refuse to call off the engagement no matter what. It seemed that worry was unnecessary.
Might as well call it off quickly and be done with it.
"Since you're unwilling to marry into my family, I'll grant you your wish," said Li Yao. "Go get your father, let's call off the engagement now."
Hearing this, Ding Xiaoyan was overjoyed.
She never imagined that with just some casual words, this shrew would actually agree to calling it off!
Li Yao must be intimidated by the Yun Family's influence, and didn't dare make things difficult for her. She gazed deeply at Yun Jingyu, filled with a nameless happiness.
"You know your place," said Yun Jingyu. "Xiaoyan, your father's at the market right? I'll send someone to fetch him."
Soon the family servants brought Ding's father over. They borrowed a table at He's Restaurant and wrote up the annulment agreement on the spot.
The moment she received the annulment agreement, Ding Xiaoyan felt she had reached perfect happiness.
No one could stop her from marrying into the Yun Family and becoming Yun Jingyu's wife. No one could stop her from rising up and becoming a golden phoenix!
Ding's father also felt triumphant and magnanimously flung five hundred copper coins onto the table. "The betrothal gift, returned to you. From now on our families will have nothing more to do with each other!"
Seeing this, Manager Fan standing by couldn't help but laugh.
This Ding Family must be idiots!
Did they not know that Madam Li now had at least ten taels of income daily?
Though it was normal they didn't know.
The Dings probably didn't come to market often, and were unaware of how much money Madam Li could make.
So he came forward and asked, "Madam Li, are you done over here?"
"Done, what is it?"
"It's like this. Liu Employee's family is holding a one month celebration in two days. They specifically asked for 30 braised geese, so I wanted to place the order early," Manager Fan said, placing twenty taels of silver lightly on the table. "This is the deposit, please take it."
"Mm, noted, thanks."
"Good good."
Seeing the silver ingots on the table, father and daughter both changed expressions.
Twenty taels!
That was twenty taels!
And it was just a deposit!
And the hugely popular, delicious braised geese were made by Li Yao?
How...how was this possible?