Chapter 265: Dowry

Chapter 265: Dowry
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Jiang Gu has never been to the market, but after hearing her sister’s description, she became very curious. So, instead of heading back immediately, they decided to take Jiang Gu to the market once more.
Today, the market had even more items on display and was even livelier than the first day. Jiang Chuan went with Jiang Gu, while Jiang Xia paired with Zhou Lan. The two groups went their separate ways to explore.
Zhou Lan’s shopping skills were impressive. In no time, she bought a lot of things: fabric for making steamed buns, star anise and cinnamon for stewing meat, and two boxes of matches.
But what surprised Zhou Lan the most was the presence of yarn. However, there was only a bright red color available, and only two bundles of it—enough to knit maybe two scarves. But it was perfect for her two daughters. So, Zhou Lan traded these yarns for thirty eggs.
Jiang Xia, looking at the items her mother had bought, asked, “Mother, aren’t you buying anything for yourself?”
“Isn’t this cooking material for me?” Zhou Lan replied. “As long as 1 can cook delicious meals, 1 feel accomplished and happy.” Saying this, Zhou Lan carefully packed the yarn and continued on.
Suddenly, she was drawn to a large rocking chair. The wood used wasn’t of high quality, but it looked sturdy and well-made.
Bringing the rocking chair home and placing it in the courtyard to bask in the noon sun seemed like a wonderful idea.
As Zhou Lan approached to ask the price, Jiang Xia realized that the vendor of the rocking chair was the same man who sold them two cabinets the day before.
“Young girl, it’s you again,” the vendor greeted with a warm smile, remembering their previous trade.
“How much for the rocking chair?” Zhou Lan inquired.
Seeing the interest in Zhou Lan’s eyes, the vendor grinned, “Do you have more fish? It’s the same price as the cabinet, five of them.”
Making a rocking chair involves more intricate work than a cabinet, bending the wood after heating, and thus should be more expensive. However, having profited well from Jiang Xia’s fish the day before, the vendor offered a slight discount.
Jiang Xia realizing the good deal. In addition, knowing that the vendor meant well and considering that this batch of small fish fry had not fully grown and might be about a pound less per fish, she gave the vendor an extra fish and exchanged it for the rocking chair.
Zhou Lan still had in mind to supplement the dowry for her eldest daughter, so she traded for a pair of cloth shoes that looked even better than those in the shopping mall. Along with the fabric she got the day before, she planned to make a quilt for her daughter.
In those days, having good-looking cloth shoes and a quilt was a considerable dowry. However, when they sent off their eldest daughter, Jiang Chuan and Zhou Lan could barely afford meals, let alone anything for their daughter.
Jiang Qing, being filial, wore clothes with patches and carried an empty basket. Thinking of this made Zhou Lan somewhat melancholic.
After the four of them regrouped, they planned to find a place to eat. Suddenly, Jiang Gu tugged at Jiang Xia’s trouser leg, pointing at an old woman nearby.
Following Jiang Gu’s gesture, Jiang Xia saw an old woman with graying hair sitting on the street corner. She looked despondent and watched every passerby. In front of her was a bamboo basket covered with blue floral fabric, likely containing something like eggs.
“Second sister, this old lady looks so pitiful. Let’s buy her stuff,” said Jiang Gu.
In the past, their family didn’t have money and couldn’t afford to help others. But today, with the money from the fish, it seemed only right to lend a helping hand to the lonely-looking old woman.
However, what warmed Jiang Xia’s heart even more was witnessing the kindness in Jiang Gu’s heart. She approached the old woman with Jiang Gu and squatted down, asking, “Granny, what’s inside your basket?”
Seeing customers, the old woman happily lifted the floral fabric off the basket. To their surprise, inside wasn’t eggs but two bottles of fresh milk.
Worried that they might think the milk wasn’t fresh, the old woman said, “This milk is from our own cow. I just milked it this morning. It’s still very fresh having brought it all the way here!”
Jiang Xia became interested upon hearing this. While the two bottles of milk were fresh, what she was more interested in was the cow at the old woman’s home.
“Granny, how much for the milk?” Jiang Xia asked.
The old woman hesitated for a moment..