The mulberry life of a small peasant girl

Chapter 7

In the next few days, Nuan Bao used the remaining wood to carve out a set of ancient women's dressing utensils, a comb in the shape of a half crescent, two round rouge boxes with shallow bottoms, two round makeup powder boxes with deep bottoms, Ten hairpin sticks, and a small and exquisite overlapping dowry.The dowry just fits all the above things into it, and everything is carved with patterns of baby’s breath, clustered in small clusters of blooming clusters, looking from far and near, the whole dowry is actually immersed in the sea of ​​flowers so-so.

Nuan Bao stared at this set of dressing boxes, really reluctant to sell it.Just living life, there will always be something to give and take.

After dinner that day, Mrs. Zhang came to visit the door in the dark and told Nuan Bao that the fifteenth day of tomorrow would be the market day for the nearby villages. She asked Nuan Bao to sell the two rabbit skins she had last time.

Every first and fifteenth day of the lunar new year, there will always be farmers who sell their surplus agricultural products in the market for a few copper coins. This is already an unwritten agreement.The market is located on the roads that several villages must pass through, and you can buy what you need as long as you pass by.Of course, if you walk along the market, you will come to Ning County, which is affiliated to Longqing City.There are more than dozens of large and small shops in Ning County, including restaurants, restaurants, pawnshops, carriage and horse shops, cosmetic shops, local product shops and so on.There is a small yamen in the county, and they can beat drums to mediate any daily disputes.

Nuan Bao thought that he should sell the dowry and wooden hairpins, and then buy some daily necessities.This house is so poor that everything is not complete.

So I made an appointment with Mrs. Zhang to take me with me tomorrow.As for Xiaofu, let her stay at Mrs. Zhang's house for a day, and Mrs. Zhang's daughter-in-law will help take care of her.

In the early morning of the second day, Nuan Bao woke up Xiao Fu, helped her put on her coat, packed cornbread in a basket, and carried her to Aunt Zhang's house while she was still dozing off.

After putting down Xiaofu, Nuan Bao followed Aunt Zhang on the path in the field.At this time, the sky was not yet bright, the sun was not strong, and the two of them did not have to travel hard. The feeling of excitement diluted the tiredness of walking, and they arrived at the market soon.

Aunt Zhang held Nuan Bao's hand and held her tightly. There were too many people going to the market, and they would disperse if they were not careful, but they couldn't be careless.

Aunt Zhang looked around and finally saw an empty seat in a place selling straw hats and straw baskets. She quickly took out a linen towel and spread it on the ground to occupy the seat.Mrs. Zhang laid out the contents of the basket one by one. There were dozens of eggs, a roll of homemade linen, a pile of yams and mochi, and two pieces of rabbit skins from Nuanbao's house beside them.

Nuan Bao saw that Mrs. Zhang had arranged the goods and started to solicit customers. She was very busy. She said hello to Mrs. Zhang and said that she would also go shopping nearby.Aunt Zhang told her not to leave too far away, otherwise kidnappers would take her away, Nuan Bao responded with a smile.

Nuan Bao walked in the crowded grass market and breathed the cluttered air. It was so good, this kind of life was real, unlike the past when staying at home every day was like living in an illusion, without any fireworks.

As she walked, she looked at what other people were selling. She didn't know if she didn't look at it, and she really found it interesting.There are puppies for sale. There are black puppies, gray puppies, half black and half gray puppies in a litter. What's even more ridiculous is that one has a gray head and white body. Genetic inheritance is really true. It is clearly reflected.

Such a cute pup, he is running around and can't stop for a moment. His weak barking just after birth is really cute. When Nuan Bao saw it, he wanted to hold him in his arms, so he couldn't help but reach out and touch it. Its hair, yo also licks her palm!
Nuan Bao raised his head and asked the seller, "How much is this puppy?"

The seller is a young guy who brought a litter of puppies to sell today. However, few people in the countryside keep dogs. Firstly, it costs food. Secondly, the security was good in ancient times and there was no need to guard against theft. So until now he has not The market is open.

At this time, he saw a little girl asking for the price, so he didn't hold out any hope, and said casually, "I'll sell you if you can see it."

Nuan Bao touched the copper coins in his bosom, since he bought a carving knife last time, there are still sixty coins left, so he said: "Little brother, just tell me, I really don't know the price."

Seeing her serious look, the younger brother knew that he had been reckless just now, so he quickly said: "The market is not open today, if you want it, then give me thirty cents."

Nuan Bao calculated in his heart, fatty pork costs 22 renminbi a catty, and lean meat costs [-] renminbi a catty, so the dog's [-] renminbi should be considered okay, right?Well, since you like it, then buy it, or buy it back to tease Xiaofu, she is too lonely, and has no time to go out and play with her friends outside.

"Then can you give me a hemp rope? I have to tie it up to take it back."

The young man saw that Nuanbao was small, so he really needed a hemp rope. Although rural people could make hemp rope, it still took time to go up the mountain to dig materials, and it took two or three pennies to buy one outside.

"Okay, I'll give you one. You see which pup you want, and I'll tie it up for you."

Nuan Bao had taken a fancy to that gray-headed dog early in the morning. It was spirited and active, and it would definitely be able to support it.So he pointed with his finger, "This one."

The little brother gave the pup to Nuan Bao, who patted its little head and put it in the bamboo basket behind its back.He took out another thirty Wen from his pocket and handed it to the younger brother.

Well, forgive her for buying a small pet dog in a fever before the family had enough to eat, but Nuan Bao really doesn't regret it, she always thinks that she has a skill and can live a good life no matter what.

Looking back at the dog in the bamboo basket, it was lying obediently in the basket and looking around with wide eyes.Hey, there will be a new member in the family in the future.

After buying a dog, the most important thing is of course to sell the dowry full of stars.

She remembered that two quarters of an hour's walk from Xu was Ning County.The dowry must be sold in a shop in Ning County. Even if she doesn't know the price, she still has confidence in her craftsmanship.

There is no city gate in Ning County, and there is only an archway at the entrance with the word Ning County written on it.Only a big city like Longqing City can be equipped with a city gate, so Nuanbao walked along the main street, looking for cosmetic shops.The shops in Ning County have begun to take shape, whether it is a signboard or a facade, they are very glamorous. Nuan Bao saw a shop called "Ningxiang Pavilion". This shop can smell the fragrance of cosmetics and powder, and she decided to sell it here. .

After crossing the threshold, Nuan Bao walked towards a young woman in her twenties, "Is the shopkeeper here? I have something I would like to give her an eye on."

The woman looked at Nuanbao and asked suspiciously: "I am the shopkeeper of this shop, are you going to sell something?"

Nuan Bao put down the bamboo basket, and took out the dowry box wrapped in a cloth towel, "The shopkeeper, this is what I want to sell. This box was made by my father, and there is a set of toiletry items inside, please take a look." As he spoke, he opened the box in front of the woman, and the contents inside were immediately displayed in front of her.

The shopkeeper glanced at the things, and smiled more kindly, "My husband's family name is Li, you can just call me Mrs. Li. Did your father make this set of things, little girl?"

Nuan Bao folded his hands and saluted, "Miss Li, this thing was indeed made by my father, because he didn't like to see strangers, so he ordered me to sell it. Are you interested in these things?"

Li Niangzi put the dowry box on the table, and took out the accessories inside to watch one by one. When she touched the wooden hairpin, her eyes lit up.

"This hairpin is really ingenious. Although it is simple, it looks more bright and flowing. It is really an elegant thing!"

"Yes, I also heard from my father that it's not the complicated engraving that's difficult, but the simplest one that frustrates people."

"You're right, it's rare to see hairpins like this now. How much do you want to sell?" Mrs. Li was a little excited.

Nuan Bao pondered for a moment, then Fang said: "My father usually doesn't sell the things he carved, but he just gave up this thing because the family is short of money today. Look."

"Girl, let's treat it as the fate of our acquaintance this time, and I will offer you 60 taels of silver, okay?"

Nuan Bao said hesitantly: "My father said that this wood is extremely rare, and I really can't sell it at this price."

Mrs. Li suddenly said: "So it turns out that your father must be a talented person who hides in the mountains. Ten years ago, since talented people in the capital used red sandalwood as pendants, the value of this black walnut wood has dropped. I will tell you the truth." Said, if these things are made of red sandalwood, they are really worth a thousand gold."

Nuan Bao saw Mrs. Li's sincere appearance, and thought it should be the truth, so she could only do so.After taking 60 taels from the shopkeeper, I hurried back to the market, where Mrs. Zhang was still waiting for me.

(End of this chapter)