Tianrong dropped off Liu Hao and Elderly Madam Liu first since their home was closer to the forest before he headed back to his own house with the cart. Xiaolin, sitting comfortably on the cart because she didn't have to walk, saw Xiao Zhong playing within the house's fence while her mother sat sewing on the porch.

    "Mother! Xiao Zhong! I'm backkk!" She waved at them, smiling so broadly her eyes became crescents.

    Seeing this, Xiao Zhong hurried to the fence gate, eagerly awaiting her arrival with Hui Ning following behind to open the gate. Xiao Zhong, unable to contain its excitement, wagged its little tail so hard it seemed it might fall off.

    "Wait, Xiao Zhong, I'm still on the cart. Don't come too close yet, or the wheel might run over your foot," Xiaolin cautioned the overly excited calf. Hui Ning chuckled softly as she lifted her daughter down to the ground, and Xiao Zhong immediately cuddled up to Xiaolin.

    "Did you behave well while I was away?"

    Moo, moo~

    "Giggle," Xiaolin adored Xiao Zhong's cute antics, never realizing cows could be this adorable. She hugged it gently, swaying a little, then they all walked to the porch together, the calf sticking close to its young master.

    "Aren't you tired, brother? Xiao Chen, have some water first," Hui Ning offered a drink to the two disheveled brothers.

    "Thank you. I dug up all the sweet potatoes. Today, we got three sacks and two baskets, which should be enough to last for about a month," Tianrong said as he drank some water and chatted with his wife. Yesterday, they dug for a short time and got two sacks, one of which they gave to Grandma Zhang, leaving two sacks and the basket his wife and daughter had dug earlier.

    "Has rice become that expensive?" Hui Ning curiously asked, having not visited the town since marrying Tianrong, hence unaware of the price surge.

    "They say Jiuzhou suffered floods. This year, there might not be any rice harvest. Other places aren't growing much rice at this time either; the price is currently sixty E-Pae per chang."

    "With prices like that, what will we do in the winter?" Hui Ning frowned, troubled. Normally, rice prices ranged from twenty to thirty E-Pae per chang, hardly ever crossing fifty E-Pae during winter. With such steep prices, surviving the colder months would be challenging, and it was uncertain how much more the price could spike by then.

    "Hmm, winter is just over three months away. We'll need to go into the forest to dig up more yams and sweet potatoes to store."

    Xiaolin also fell silent upon hearing this. Technically, sweet potato vines can be planted and harvested within three months, but she wasn't sure if the land near the sea here would be suitable for growing them. It's a pity she didn't pay more attention in school, graduating just enough with a neighboring language degree that she couldn't put to use here.

    "Father, why don't we plant sweet potatoes?" she inquired.

    "I've tried planting them before, but the yield was poor, and they didn't taste good either."

    "How did you plant them, Father?"

    "I cut the sweet potatoes and buried the pieces in the ground."

    "Father, you need to cut the vines and soak them in water first, then plant those. That way, you'll get a good yield and taste. Plus, if you use good fertilizer, they'll grow big roots too," Xiaolin explained.

    .

    Tianrong and Hui Ning immediately joined their daughter's side, with Tianchen, who was playing with Xiao Zhong, also showing interest, having forgotten he had discussed this with his niece earlier that morning.

    "Did Xiao Zhong tell you?" Tianrong asked excitedly.

    "Uh, yes," Xiaolin blinked at the three pairs of sparkling eyes.

    "Then, Xiao Chen, go gather all the sweet potato vines right away. I'll dig up the soil and make ridges. Hurry up."

    "Right away, big brother!" The siblings sprung into action, leaving Xiaolin staring in bewilderment. The situation must be quite dire for such a swift response.

    "Can I tell Uncle Hao, big brother?"

    "Of course. If it works, we'll tell the other villagers too. Ask Uncle Hao to help us prepare the soil first, and then we can help at his house."

    The brothers set off in different directions, leaving one person and one cow watching in confusion. Hui Ning, seeing this, laughed and hugged her daughter, who alternated between protesting and giggling at the ticklish embrace. Xiao Zhong, seeing the humans play, wanted to join and started wagging its tail while nudging Hui Ning's leg.

    "Go play with Xiao Zhong first, I'll cook some rice and then take you to bathe."

    "Let's bathe in the stream, Mother. I want to bathe Xiao Zhong too."

    "Of course, dear," Hui Ning patted her daughter's head and went into the kitchen.

    Xiaolin took Xiao Zhong outside for a joyful frolic. Childhood life is blissful indeed. As she grew older, she often reminisced about her carefree childhood days, free from worries. Given the chance to be a child again, she intended to make the most of it.

    The muddy duo returned, having rolled around in dirt and grass joyfully. Hui Ning led her daughter, along with fresh clothes, to a small stream behind the house, with Xiao Zhong leading the way. The little girl was bathed until she shone while Xiao Zhong, initially squirming and protesting as if being slaughtered, calmed down in the cool water, allowing Xiaolin to scrub him clean.

    Returning home with laughter, Hui Ning hung her daughter's clothes to dry and disappeared into the kitchen. Xiaolin found some old clothes to dry off Xiao Zhong, confident he was a long-haired breed similar to those in Europe, given his long fur.

    After a lengthy drying session, Hui Ning prepared a small bed for Xiao Zhong beside the porch, lined with dry grass for comfort. After a refreshing bath, Xiao Zhong hopped into the bed and lounged contentedly, prompting Xiaolin's envy.

    "What a life you have, bathing then going to sleep. Next time, you'll have to help with the chores," she told Xiao Zhong, who simply turned away. Hui Ning, witnessing this, laughed out loud.

    "Let him grow up first, then he can start working," she advised.

    "Alright, Mother. I'll work to earn money to buy milk for Xiao Zhong. When Xiao Zhong grows up, he'll work to take care of me," Xiaolin chuckled.

    "Indeed, what a cunning little girl you are," Hui Ning commented, smiling as she went back to the kitchen after grabbing a basket of vegetables from the porch. Xiaolin walked to the side of the house, where three men were diligently digging the soil, making significant progress in preparing the land beside the Tang's house for cultivation, aiming for a yield exceeding a thousand catties from their small land.

    "Xiaolin, why are you out here, dear? Did your mother take you to bathe yet?" Tianrong asked upon seeing his little daughter wandering outside the finished plot.

    "I've washed already, Father. I just came out to look. Don't forget to soak the sweet potato vines in water, okay? Use the parts that are about the length of my elbow," Xiaolin raised her arm to show her father.

    "Of course, dear. Once we finish preparing the soil, I'll dig the furrows and start planting."

    "Are you not using any fertilizer, Father?"

    "What's a fertilizer, Xiaolin?" Liu Hao, who was digging nearby, asked curiously.

    "Fertilizer is like food for the soil and plants. It helps the plants we grow to thrive. Father, why don't you get some cow dung from grandmother Zhang's house? That's excellent fertilizer."

    "Is that so? And what do we do after adding fertilizer?" The three young men put down their hoes and sat to listen to the little girl explain how to plant sweet potatoes.

    Starting with soil preparation, mixing the soil with fertilizer and leaving it to sun for two or three days is best. Then, raise the furrows to about half a calf's height or a bit more, which helps the sweet potatoes grow longer and larger. After that, plant the sweet potato vine cuttings at an angle, burying them about three parts out of ten to help develop roots better.

    The young men listened intently and nodded in understanding. They had only been cutting the sweet potato heads and burying them in the soil, which explains the low yield and quality.

    "That's all, Father. And don't forget to soak the cut sweet potato vines in water while the soil is resting."

    "Will do, thank you so much, my smart little girl." Tianrong smiled broadly. His daughter was indeed clever, even if she claimed to have learned from Xiao Zhong. Xiao Zhong must be a magical cow indeed. The mentioned magical cow was currently cuddling up to Hui Ning, begging for milk at home.

    Come dinner time, Tianrong invited Liu Hao to stay for the meal, but he preferred to return home to dine with his grandmother. Hui Ning thus packed a portion of grilled fish with a zesty dipping sauce and a dish of wild vegetables for him to take home.

    Xiaolin ate her meal heartily, eagerly anticipating the big squid that would arrive tomorrow. There were still ten more lingzhi mushrooms left in the basket. Now that she had some capital, she needed to quickly find a way to provide for her family so that her father and uncle wouldn’t have to struggle fishing day and night.

    Xiaolin spent another night with her young uncle because Xiao Zhong had already run into the room and settled down on a pile of dry grass, ready for bed. She tossed and turned, too excited to sleep at the thought of eating squid. If everyone liked it, she might even consider opening a small grilled squid shop in town. Not long after, she fell fast asleep.

    The next morning, Xiaolin woke up before dawn, full of excitement. Xiao Zhong was still sound asleep, but the person who had slept beside her was gone. Her two uncles must have woken up in the middle of the night to go fishing. Xiaolin hopped down from the bed and rushed outside, stopping to wash her face at the water jar by the kitchen door until her eyes sparkled.

    "Why are you up so early, child?" Hui Ning heard noises outside and came out to see.

    "I’m waiting for Father and Uncle, Mother. Can I go to town with Father today?"

    "Of course, you can go. Don’t forget to remind your father to buy some rice, not just get shocked by the money from selling the Lingzhi mushrooms, haha," Hui Ning laughed merrily, and so did Xiaolin.

    "Okay, Mother."

    Xiaolin waited until daylight to see her father and uncle returning with a cart. She ran up to cling to the cart and peeked inside: three buckets of fish and one bucket of squid.

    The bucket was crammed with plump squids, among which a large cuttlefish occupied more than half the space. The rest were banana squids that likely weighed nearly half a catty each. Xiaolin called her mother out from the kitchen loudly, "Mother! Let’s make grilled squid together!"

    "Squid? This thing?" Tianchen asked his niece, looking disgustedly at the color-changing creature.

    "Yes! It's really delicious, Uncle!"

    "It doesn't look appetizing at all, Xiaolin," Tianchen grimaced. But Xiaolin just laughed joyfully, "You’ll end up eating so much you won’t be able to stop!"

    And indeed, as Xiaolin had said, the cuttlefish was cleaned, lightly brushed with soy sauce for flavor, cut in half, and grilled because they feared it wouldn’t cook evenly due to its large size.

    The banana squids were steamed and then drenched in a seafood dipping sauce that wasn’t too spicy since they were still getting accustomed to it. Xiaolin carried a tray with grilled squid and the spicy sauce to the porch. Tianchen was eagerly waiting, enticed by the smell of the food and curious to see what the bizarre creature would look like as a dish.

    "Uncle, try it," Xiaolin pushed the plate of grilled squid towards her young uncle. Tianchen looked hesitantly at the pale yellow flesh.

    "It’s delicious, watch me eat it," Xiaolin picked up a small piece of squid, dipped it in the sauce, and put it in her mouth. Her small teeth meant she couldn’t handle a large piece.

    Tianchen watched his niece chew contentedly and felt his stomach growl. He swallowed, enticed by the aroma of the sauce. He picked a piece of the grilled squid, dipped it, and tasted it. The chewy texture combined with the spicy sauce made him widen his eyes in surprise before quickly chewing. After swallowing, he reached for another piece.

    "It’s really delicious."

    Xiaolin watched her uncle, who, having tasted it, couldn’t stop eating almost to the point of finishing the entire plate. Fortunately, she had only asked her mother to prepare half of it initially, or else her father might not have gotten any. She quickly interjected before the last five pieces could disappear into her uncle’s stomach.

    "Uncle, it’s almost gone," she warned. Hearing his niece, he paused and chuckled awkwardly.

    "Really delicious, Xiaolin. I really like it. What about the small ones, what are you going to do with those?"

    "They’re for steaming. They’ll be ready soon. Don’t eat them all, Uncle," she cautioned him lightly before running to the back of the house. Seeing her father carrying water, she called out, "Father, dinner is almost ready."

    "Is that so? Xiaolin, wait for me at the front. I’ll just store these fish in the jar and then I’ll join you."

    "Okay, Father," Xiaolin agreed before skipping away.

    After the grilled squid battle between the siblings, Xiaolin found herself seated on the cart once more, this time with a mat for added comfort. Besides purchasing rice today, her father was also bringing along the smallest two of the Lingzhi mushrooms in a bag to sell. Selling just a small quantity was safer if the mushrooms fetched a high price.

    Tianchen stopped by to pick up Liu Hao from his small house, as it was on the way to the city. Liu Hao greeted them with a bag slung over his shoulder, bid his grandmother a quick goodbye, and joined the Tang family.

    "You’re coming too, Xiaolin?" He asked, noting the little girl comfortably seated on the cart and couldn’t help but feel fondness for her bright, eager eyes.

    "Yes, Uncle Hao," Xiaolin replied with a smile that squinted her eyes.

    After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the four set off towards Jiangnan City, a major port city on the eastern coast with areas adjacent to the sea. It was a bustling trade center with foreigners and other provinces.

    Xiaolin’s village, Shenlin, was only about five Li from Jiangnan City, a distance that could be covered in about half a shichen on foot at a leisurely pace, or even quicker if one hurried. But if we hurry a bit, it might only take two or three ke.

    Xiaolin was amazed by the city gates made of stone and the bustling crowds inside. The diverse attire of the people, including those with black, brown, and blonde hair, indicated a thriving trade. She lamented not being more innovative or clever; otherwise, she might have established a significant business there.

    As they passed through various shops and stalls, Xiaolin looked around with interest. There were fabric shops, eateries, taverns, seed stores, dried food shops, sweet shops, and many others she couldn't recall all.

    They stopped at a medium-sized medicine shop. Her father lifted her up and carried her in, with Uncle Hao following behind, while the young uncle decided to stay outside with the cart.

    "Welcome, what are you looking to buy today?" A kindly old man greeted them as they entered the shop.

    "Greetings, shopkeeper," Tianrong bowed in greeting, his arms occupied with his daughter. The elderly man smiled fondly at the sight of the cute little girl.

    "Then let's go inside and have a chat. A’Zhuan! Come out and mind the shop for me for a bit," the elderly man called out to his son who was measuring herbs inside.

    "Yes, father. Is there anything?" The middle-aged man emerged from the back and asked his father.

    "Just mind the shop for a moment. I'm going to check out the herbs these two young men have brought to sell."

    "Got it."

    Tianrong and Liu Hao followed the elderly man inside, where he gestured for them to sit and didn't forget to serve them tea. They accepted the tea and sat up straight, following the polite norms. Xiaolin looked around with interest, admiring the beauty of the ancient architecture and dreamed of having such a beautiful house someday.

    "What are you looking at, little miss? Would you like some sweets? I'll go fetch some for you," Hong Zhuan asked the fidgeting girl who couldn't stop turning her head in every direction.

    "This shop is so beautiful. I got carried away because I've never seen anything like it before," Xiaolin responded, and the old man laughed joyfully.

    "Is that so? You can walk around and look if you like. You have my permission."

    "Er, it might be better not to trouble you, kind sir," Tianrong interjected politely.

    "It's no trouble at all. Just let her walk around in this room. There's nothing valuable enough here to be broken or damaged," the shopkeeper reassured, waving his hand dismissively.

    "Thank you, Grandfather," Xiaolin said as she slid off the chair and bowed her thanks, though she couldn't bow too deeply due to her round belly. Then, she walked around the room, which was decorated with various tea sets and vases. The walls were adorned with several paintings.

    "Alright, what have you brought for me to see?" the elderly man asked. Tianrong took out a cloth wrap from his bag and laid it on the table. Unwrapping it revealed two large Lingzhi mushrooms, each larger than a man's hand.

    "This! This is a Red Lingzhi mushroom!"