How could someone be unhappy living in a matriarchal society?

Chapter 4: Becoming a Shopaholic

Chu Ci quickly left the alley and arrived at the main street.

The main street is spacious and bustling, with people coming and going in a lively and lively atmosphere.

The streets are lined with a variety of shops, including grocery stores, pharmacies, teahouses, and many restaurants wafting enticing aromas.

Chu Ci did not linger for long, but walked straight ahead.

Her destination was a grain warehouse, where she needed to buy some rice to store up.

This granary is located on a corner of the main street. It is quite large and filled with all kinds of grains.

Chu Ci walked into the granary, where a faint fragrance of rice permeated the air.

The granary owner was Chen Hua's mother, whom he had met before; she had a very kind face.

Upon seeing the person, she greeted them warmly.

"The Chu family girl is here. I reckon you're out of rice. It's been a long time since you last bought any, not to mention there's someone else in your household now."

"Yeah, indeed."

How much are you buying this time?

"Fifty catties of rice, fifty catties of millet, and thirty catties of flour."

Chen Ting was somewhat surprised after hearing this, "You bought so much this time? Do you have the money?"

Chu Ci took out one tael of silver and handed it to her, "Is this enough?"

"That's enough." Chen Ting took the silver, weighed it in her hand, and gave her 250 coins in change. "How do you have so much money? Where did you make your fortune?"

Chu Ci tells the truth: "Recently I went hunting in the mountains and caught a deer, which I sold for some money."

"??"

Chen Ting looked surprised. "You...you can hunt?"

"Ah."

"........."

The woman remained silent for a while, looking at the scholar who seemed powerless with suspicion, wondering to herself whether he really knew how to hunt.

However, she didn't expose her directly, but just smiled and said, "That's really quite nice!"

She then quickly called over the shop assistants to weigh the rice.

The workers quickly sprang into action, weighing the mountain of grain piled on the ground one by one.

Looking at the grain, Chen Ting turned to Chu Ci and said, "There are oxcarts available for rent at the west entrance of the county. They're very convenient for hauling goods. You can go there and rent one for a few dozen coins to transport this grain."

Chu Ci nodded in agreement.

After temporarily depositing the grain at the grain store, she turned and walked towards the west entrance of the county.

Along the way, she pondered how to arrange the transportation and storage of the grain, while also thinking about her future life plans.

However, she stopped when she passed a clothing store because they were selling discounted winter clothes.

She thought for a moment and then went inside.

The shop assistants also greeted her very warmly.

"My lady, take a look and see what you like. We have winter clothes on sale right now, and we also have some newly made summer clothes. They're all brand new."

Chu Ci looked around the store and bought herself two durable winter cotton coats and cloth shoes suitable for going up the mountain.

After she finished choosing, the shopkeeper continued, "Is your wife married yet?"

"We got married."

“Then I can pick out some clothes for my husband. Summer will be here soon, and the boys like to wear bright-colored clothes. What do you think of these?”

Chu Ci raised an eyebrow as she looked at the two long robes, one apricot yellow and the other peach pink, in the shopkeeper's hands.

She really needed to buy some things for Shi'an, but she didn't know Shi'an's size, and buying clothes without knowing the measurements could easily result in clothes that didn't fit, which would be a bit...

Chu Ci was in a dilemma for a while.

Seeing this, the salesman became even more enthusiastic in recommending the clothes, "These two colors are the ones that gentlemen usually like to wear the most. In addition, we also have brocade blue and light purple. What do you think?"

Chu Ci remained silent.

The shopkeeper was getting impatient. "If all else fails, you can buy a few bolts of cloth and have your husband make his own clothes."

Chu Ci was taken aback. "Is it possible to do it like this?"

"Of course, young men these days all know how to embroider."

"Alright, then bring me two bolts of cloth."

The shop assistant's smile widened even more. "Okay, this is new stock we just received yesterday. I'll bring it to you right away."

She took out five different colors of brocade from the storeroom and let Chu Ci choose.

In the end, Chu Ci chose two horses, one light blue and the other apricot yellow.

As soon as she finished choosing, the shop assistant started praising her, "My lady has excellent taste; these two colors are perfect for summer."

Chu Ci hummed in agreement and turned to see some beautiful embroidered shoes on the counter in front of him.

A thought began to form in my mind.

Do you have any materials for making shoes here?

"Yes, I'll get it for you."

The shop assistant took some more materials from the storeroom, wrapped them up with the things Chu Ci had bought earlier, and handed them to her with a smile, "It's two taels of silver in total."

"Ok."

Chu Ci paid the money readily, took the goods, and left.

The guy is in a great mood after selling so much stuff today.

"I wonder what this young lady's name is. She's so beautiful and generous. I've never seen her before. Could she be a new resident?"

At the western entrance of the county, in the late afternoon.

Chu Ci found a seemingly honest-looking driver and rented an oxcart from him.

By the time she arrived at the grain store by car, half a cup of tea's time had passed.

When the shop assistants saw her arrive, they helped her load the grain onto the truck.

Chen Ting, who had just come from the backyard, was quite surprised to see Chu Ci carrying two bags of rice, weighing a total of 100 pounds, onto the car by himself with little effort.

Wasn't this Chu family girl very weak before? How come she's so strong today?

Chu Ci seemed to realize this as well, and glanced at his hands.

I was weaker yesterday when I went hunting in the mountains, so why do I feel much stronger today?

Moreover, my heart used to hurt from time to time, but today I didn't feel anything at all.

Somewhat strange.

However, since things were changing for the better, Chu Ci didn't pay much attention to it.

She sat on the oxcart, slowly making her way through the streets of the county town.

Each street has its own unique atmosphere; some are filled with the hustle and bustle of daily life, while others exude a tranquil ambiance.

She admired the surrounding scenery while experiencing the hustle and bustle of this small county town.

But when Chu Ci arrived at the market, he became very busy.

First, she bought some tools that her family lacked, such as hoes and sickles, which are essential for daily farming life.

Next, she selected some fresh soapberries, which are great for washing clothes.

In addition, she purchased various seasonings to make the food more delicious.

Of course, vegetables are also essential. Chu Ci carefully selected some tender green vegetables, bright red tomatoes, and fresh green beans.

Eggs were also included on the shopping list; they are nutritious and can provide energy.

Finally, Chu Ci also bought seeds of cabbage, spinach, and green beans, intending to plant them in the yard.

By the time everything was loaded onto the oxcart, the sun was already setting.

Chu Ci then instructed the coachman to set off back to the village.

However, halfway there, Chu Ci encountered a vendor selling candied hawthorns.

I bought two more strings of candied hawthorns.

I'll eat one skewer myself, and wrap the other one up to give to my cheap husband when I get back.

Chu Ci arrived home after dark.

She and the driver kept unloading goods from the cart, making a clanging and clattering sound.

Upon hearing the sound, Shi An hurriedly ran out of the kitchen to greet him.

"My lady, you're back."

"Okay." Chu Ci handed the candied hawthorn to Shi An. "Here, have some."

"Huh, candied hawthorn?"

"Yes, I bought it especially for you."

Shi An gripped the object tightly in her hand, her gaze unfocused, her thoughts drifting away...

When he was a child, his father would often buy a string of bright red candied hawthorns and hand them to him, which made him very happy.

At that time, before his family members were imprisoned, they lived in a spacious, bright, and beautifully decorated house in a prime location in Beijing, leading a carefree, happy, and harmonious life.

The images in my memory flooded my mind like a tide, and my father's beautiful and gentle face gradually became clear, as if he were standing right in front of me, showing me a warm smile.

And those beautiful old times keep playing in my mind, frame by frame.

However, the reality today is in stark contrast to the past; everything has changed.

Shi An felt a pang of sorrow in her heart, her eyes reddened slightly, and tears almost welled up in her eyes.

After paying the driver, Chu Ci closed the courtyard gate and turned around to see Shi An standing there dumbfounded. She walked closer and asked with concern.

"what happened to you?"

Shi An's eyes were red, and she choked up, unable to speak. She could only shake her head and turn to walk towards the kitchen.

Chu Ci followed behind him, looked at the man for a while, and scratched his head in confusion.

"You don't like it? Then I won't buy it next time."

Shi An hurriedly denied it, "No, I didn't... I didn't dislike it."

Chu Ci pinched the man's chin and lifted his face. "Then why are your eyes red?"

The man shuddered and bit his lip.

"I...I miss my dad."

In Chu Ci's memory, it seemed that her husband's parents had already passed away.

The atmosphere turned somewhat somber at that moment...

The woman thought for a moment, then stepped forward and gently pulled the person into her arms.

Shi An felt a deep sadness in her heart, and after getting into a warm embrace, she couldn't help but sob.

Having lived two lifetimes, this was the first time he had cried so unrestrainedly.

He didn't know why this happened.

Chu Ci seemed to possess some kind of magic, giving him a strange sense of peace.

After crying for an unknown amount of time, Shi An, her face flushed, looked up from Chu Ci's arms and wiped away her tears with a handkerchief.

"I'm...I'm sorry, my wife, I lost my composure."

Chu Ci didn't mind at all, "It's alright, just cry it out."

She experienced the loss of her family and witnessed her father's murder when she was a child, so she could naturally empathize with him.

Chu Ci patted Shi An on the back, offering him silent comfort.

After the man calmed down, he was very embarrassed. "My lady, I... I'll cook for you first."

"Okay, I bought some things that you should be able to use," Chu Ci said naturally, changing the subject without asking Shi An anything about his father.

Looking at the dazzling array of rice, meat, and vegetables, Shi An was somewhat surprised.

"Did the wife buy all of these?"

"Yes, I sold both the rabbit and venison for a total of five taels and one mace of silver. After buying everything, I still have one tael and eight hundred cash left."

Chu Ci took out his wallet and handed some copper coins to Shi An.

"Take this hundred coins. You can use it to buy eggs and vegetables at the village market later."

Shi An looked at the money in her hand in disbelief, and a smile unconsciously appeared on her face.

"They actually sold so many."

"The steward of the Tian family told me that they have been buying venison all year round, and if I hunt any in the future, I can send it directly to them."

"That's great," the man said, counting the coins one by one, very carefully.

Chu Ci stood to the side watching, a slow smile creeping onto her lips.

I thought to myself, it really makes a difference to have someone at home.

Shi An cooked dinner tonight.

Braised pork belly, stir-fried seasonal vegetables, and a bowl of egg drop soup.

It was simple, but really delicious.

When Shi An went to call Chu Ci for dinner, she was busy making a bed.

The bed frame had already been nailed on.

Shi An felt much more at ease after seeing this.

It seems this woman won't be living with him anytime soon.

What a blessing.

During the meal, Chu Ci praised the food several times, making the person blush.

After dinner, the man picked up the dishes and washed them in the kitchen. Listening to the sound of Chu Ci chopping wood at the door, he suddenly felt that life was very peaceful and stable at this moment.

A few seconds later, he came to his senses and quickly patted his head.

What was he thinking? He hadn't avenged his mother and father, and the Shi family's case hadn't been overturned. How could he indulge in this kind of rural life?

No, he needs to wake up.

When washing up in the evening, Shi An deliberately used cold water.

Although the woman was indeed very kind to him, it was impossible for him to stay in this small village.

He still has important things to do.

This is a major event concerning the entire family.

The next morning, Chu Ci made breakfast again.

After she finished eating, she went into the mountains.

Shi An then took out the two bolts of cloth he had received yesterday and prepared to start making new clothes.

Since being sold here by human traffickers, he has never worn nice clothes. The only clothes he has are two old ones, which are simply not enough.

So he decided to make himself a clean and tidy set of clothes first.

After drawing the design, Shi An began cutting the fabric and carefully sewing every detail.

He was skilled and cut out the pattern in just a few strokes.

I worked until noon and finished making an outer shirt and a pair of pants.

Although the style is simple, Shi An felt very comfortable and at ease wearing it.

It's much more comfortable than those heavy and gorgeous gowns I wore in the brothel.

As noon approached, Shi An's stomach growled with hunger, so she casually cooked a bowl of rice porridge, mixed in some pickled vegetables, and quickly ate her lunch.

After his lunch break, he picked up a broom and swept the house inside and out. Then, he went to the yard, washed and chopped the vegetables he had bought that morning, and prepared them for dinner.

Halfway through the washing, Wu Liu arrived with her youngest son, Song He, and stood outside the door, waving to Shi An through the fence.

"Husband of the Chu family, are you washing vegetables?"

"Uncle Wu," Shi An said, opening the door. "Come in quickly, what brings you here today?"

"We came to see you and also to ask you some questions."

Shi An asked with some confusion, "Uncle Wu, what information do you want to find out?"

Wu Liu looked on with a gossipy expression. "I heard that Chu Ci hunted a deer yesterday and sold it for a lot of money. Is that true?"

Shi An was somewhat surprised, "How did you know?"

My husband told me this after he came back from moving goods in the city. Is it true or false?

Shi An hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "It's true."

Wu Liu was very excited, "I never expected that Chu Ci could hunt. I really misjudged her. She's so capable."

Song He chimed in, "Yes, yes, Sister Chu is amazing."

"Shi An, you are so lucky. You are truly the Chu family's lucky star. With your arrival, Chu Ci's life is getting better and better."

"Lucky Star?"

"Yes, Lucky Star."

Looking at Wu Liu's smiling face, Shi An felt a bit confused, as if he were entangled in a tangled mess and couldn't find his way.

Since the downfall of the Shi family, he seems to have never received such praise.

He was like a solitary traveler, wandering alone in endless darkness, with no one able to understand his pain and struggle.

But one cannot expect to find any healing in this ordinary little mountain village.