"Qinglan, why are you back?"
Dong Yao had just sat down at home for a short while when she saw Shen Qinglan return as well.
Shen Qinglan: "Tired."
After saying that, she went back to her room to sleep.
Dong Yao frowned, always feeling that Shen Qinglan's character was too aloof, which wasn't very good.
When Shen Qinglan got up, it was already You Hour; she let out a soft yawn and then got out of bed.
As soon as she stepped out, she heard her elder sister, Shen Qingju, say: "Mom, the rice in the rice jar is almost gone. During the time Qinglan was sick, we used a lot of rice to make her rice porridge, and now it's only enough for three more days at most."
Dong Yao put the wild vegetables she had just folded into the basket and handed it to Shen Qingju, saying: "The Liu Family initially gave us one tael of silver for the medical expenses, and your eldest uncle gave us another. We've spent more than a tael on doctors and medicine for Qinglan.
A few days ago, we spent twenty copper coins on meat, and now we only have a little over three hundred left. In a few days, when your father is free, we'll have him and your second brother go to town to buy some rice and flour."
"Oh my gosh—oh my gosh—you scared me!"
Just as Shen Qingju picked up the vegetable basket to wash the vegetables and turned around, she saw Shen Qinglan standing behind them and was startled.
"You girl, standing behind us without making a sound, almost scared me to death!"
Shen Qinglan looked at her with a distant gaze, the light in her eyes somewhat scattered.
Dong Yao said: "Alright, Qingju, hurry and wash the vegetables. Everyone's hungry; the sooner we eat, the sooner we can rest."
Shen Qingju glared at Shen Qinglan before heading off to wash the vegetables with the basket.
As soon as Shen Qingju left, Shen Qinglan sat down beside Dong Yao and let out another long yawn.
Seeing her sit silently like that, Dong Yao was about to speak when she suddenly heard her say: "Where is town?"
"Huh?"
Dong Yao was taken aback, not quite understanding what she was asking.
Shen Qinglan was silent for a moment and then rephrased the question: "How do I get to town?"
Upon hearing this, Dong Yao finally understood that she was asking for directions to town.
Dong Yao tidied Shen Qinglan's tousled hair before saying: "You head south; it's a bit far. It takes an hour's walk, but if you take a bullock cart, it'll be faster, only half an hour."
Walking takes two hours?
Shen Qinglan frowned and turned to Dong Yao, asking: "How much does the bullock cart cost?"
Dong Yao replied: "Taking the bullock cart costs two copper coins, round trip is four copper coins."
Shen Qinglan nodded, reaching out her hand: "Give me two copper coins."
"Huh?"
Dong Yao was startled for a moment, then chuckled: "You want to go to town?"
Shen Qinglan nodded.
Dong Yao sighed softly, muttering to herself: "I guess so; you've never been anywhere but Lishui Village since you were little."
After speaking, she patted Shen Qinglan's head lovingly, saying: "You don't know the way, there are lots of people in town, and there might be human traffickers. What if you get taken? If you want to go, wait for a few days and go with your father."
Shen Qinglan didn't care about any of this, still holding her hand out.
Dong Yao had no choice but to say: "Alright, after dinner, I'll give you the money."
Upon hearing this, Shen Qinglan finally withdrew her hand, continuing to stare blankly ahead.
Dong Yao sighed gently, thinking: This girl isn't dumb, just a bit dazed.
On second thought, she felt that a dazed person was better than a complete fool; at least she could understand human language.
Dinner was quite sumptuous, with a boiled wild chicken, a stir-fried wild chicken, and wild vegetable chicken soup. The only thing missing was a bowl of fragrant white rice.
Dong Yao thought that after dinner, Shen Qinglan would forget about the money. Little did she know, as soon as she stepped back into the room, Shen Qinglan followed right in behind her...