ABPUBALC - Chapter 5

 Chapter 5: Into Town to Procure Supplies

In Shíqiáo [lit. Stone Bridge] Town, the streets were bustling as always, lively and packed with people.

Lin Xing brought Gu Qiming to the largest tavern in town—Yiwei Pavilion

Lin Xing had actually never dined at Yiwei Pavilion before, though he faintly remembered that the restaurant had been famous since his childhood. He heard that the owner was good friends with a top scholar from the past, which added to the place's allure. Even those who didn't come for the meals wanted to bask in the residual good fortune.

When they arrived, the kitchen was busy. Upon hearing that they wanted to sell deer, the chef quickly led them to the backyard.

The chef's name is Lin Jian, also from the Lin family village. He has been working at Yiwei Pavilion for more than ten years, and is responsible for purchasing all the fresh ingredients on a day-to-day basis.

The chef squatted down and carefully examined the deer's body. Other than a few fatal wounds, the body was relatively intact and the meat was fresh.

"This is pretty impressive!"

Venison is not commonly seen. Other than hunters, few people can come by this kind of delicacy. Let alone it being from a female deer, which some prefer over a buck's meat.

Lin Xing quickly smiled and said, "That's right. Take a look. It was just hunted yesterday, still fresh."

Chef Lin looked at the two of them. Seeing Lin Xing was decisive, he said to him, "It's a pity it's a dead deer. Tell me, how much silver are you wanting for it?"

Lin Xing is also straightforward: "How about this, you give twenty-five taels and it's a deal."

He discussed with Gu Qiming last night. As long as it is not less than twenty taels, it can be sold. Otherwise, it would be difficult to justify not eating it themselves.

"Twenty-five taels..." Chef Lin hesitated a little.

Actually, 25 taels is already quite low. It's just that it's hot today, and he is not sure about the tastes of the big city gentlemen. He can sell it, but he's afraid he won't make much profit in the end.

"Twenty-two taels, what do you think?"

"You're joking. Such a big deer would normally cost at least thirty taels. Considering the hot weather, you won't find a better deal than this. Moreover, this rare treasure is certainly sought after by many, and when they know you have it, they might even be willing to pay a high price to taste it!"

Seeing Chef Lin's contemplative expression, Lin Xing seized the opportunity and said, " And you see, if we come across any good items in the future, we will definitely bring them to you first. We can negotiate the price."

Chef Lin, with a flick of his sleeve： "Alright, when the time comes, feel free to send over whatever good game you come across. Just tell the assistant it's wild game ordered by Chef Lin, he definitely won't treat you unfairly."

Lin Xing and Gu Qiming looked at each other and smiled, their eyes filled with the joy of a worthwhile effort.

After Chef Lin took the money and came out, he saw the two of them whispering to each other. He thought they were a couple, so he said to Lin Xing, "Your husband is really capable, although he doesn't like to talk. You two are a good match together."

Lin Xing's ears turned red as he continuously waved his hands, "He... he's not my husband; he's a cousin from my family. He's a bit introverted, so the family asked me to accompany him to town."

"I see, haha, it was my misunderstanding. Now that you mention it, you two do look quite alike."

Two people who didn't look alike at all: "..."

！！

Gu Qiming was greatly shocked at being called Lin Xing's 'husband'. Were people here this open? Could men joke around with each other so freely? Or was it just that the practice of male-male romance was particularly prevalent here?

Is his thinking outdated?

Gu Qiming stood there foolishly for a long time, unable to snap back to reality. After selling the sika deer, Lin Xing also presented Chef Lin with cucumbers picked the day before and a wild chicken, charming him into beaming smiles.

Lin Xing, clutching twenty-five taels of silver, felt somewhat uneasy. He had never seen so much silver in his life.

He couldn't stop worrying, always feeling a sense of unease, so he decided to give the silver to Gu Qiming first. Understanding his concerns, Gu Qiming wasn't bothered. Being tall and imposing, even the boldest of thieves wouldn't dare target him.

Afterwards, they visited a carpenter's workshop, where Lin Xing sold the two jewelry boxes he had made at a low price to the shopkeeper, earning himself over eighty wen.

****

"Boss, how much is the pork?"

The two of them went to the butcher's shop together, intending to buy some pork fat to render into lard. Lard is affordable and has a long shelf life. Although it's not quite the same as vegetable oil, it still makes dishes delicious when used for frying.

"Lean meat thirteen, fat meat fifteen."

"Alright, then get me five jins of pork belly fat."

"Alright! That'll be seventy coins for your five jin of pork belly fat." Seeing that they were purchasing a substantial amount, the shopkeeper rounded down the total for them. He then carefully wrapped the meat and personally packed it into their carrying basket.

Lin Xing originally intended to buy it with the money he had earned selling is wood-work, but Gu Qiming was not pleased with this idea. He insisted that since they were now a family, he also had a stake in their livelihood and adamantly wanted to pay the bill himself.

The street was bustling with people coming and going. Lin Xing didn't want to argue and couldn't outstubborn him, so he had no choice but to let it be.

'This person is quite stubborn, just like a three-year-old toddler being asked to put away a cherished toy.'

After purchasing pork, Gu Qiming dragged Lin Xing around to do some more shopping. They bought sugar, salt, flour, and new rice—basically all the staples. If you want to work well, you first need to eat well. Eating wild vegetables all day won't give you the energy to work.

[e/n: *looks at other books with protags surviving off wild veggies*.. no, you guys are just too powerful...]

Over the past few days, he had grown somewhat tired of the assorted noodles and steamed buns. Having been accustomed to refined wheat flour, he found these foods novel for an occasional treat, but they ultimately fell short of the delicacy of white flour dishes. Indeed, it's easy to go from poverty to luxury, but from luxury to simplicity proves challenging.

[由俭入奢易，由奢入俭难 yóu jiǎn rù shē yì , yóu shē rù jiǎn nán (idiom) it is easy to go from frugality to extravagance; the reverse is not so easy ]

It wasn't until both of their bamboo baskets could no longer hold anything else that Gu Qiming finally stopped.

Lin Xing looked at Gu Qiming's ill-fitting shirt and took him to the fabric store, saying he wanted to pick out some fabric to make clothes for Gu Qiming.

"Is my younger brother really this amazing?" Gu Qiming wondered to himself, even capable of making clothes, he was truly unsure if there was anything Lin Xing couldn't do.

In Shiqiao Town, there was a street where all the shops sold fabric. Two people specifically chose to enter a shop that was neither too big nor too small.

The shop was filled with garments of all sorts, dazzling to the eyes. Although the two visitors were dressed in simple coarse cloth, their appearance and demeanor were not lacking. Seeing the customers, the shopkeeper immediately came forward from behind the counter to warmly welcome and introduce them to his goods.

"Come take a look, both of you. Our ready-made clothes are the best in town, made from top-notch fabric."

The boss looked the two of them up and down, then chuckled and said, "Young master is so handsome, wearing our clothes, you'll look just like an immortal."

"Show us the fabrics," Lin Xing surveyed the goods on display before adding, "we would like something slightly better."

"Rest assured, everything we have here is top-notch. Only the best materials are used."

While waiting for the boss to fetch the fabric, Gu Qiming said to Lin Xing, "Buy more, don't just purchase for me, make two sets for yourself as well." Lin Xing's own clothes were patched up in several places, clearly altered many times over the years, hinting at how long he might have been wearing them.

Lin Xing initially wanted to say that he already had clothes, but upon second thought, he realized that Gu Qiming was quite the oddball - even if he spoke up, Gu Qiming might not necessarily listen.

"Alright, then pull a few more bolts of fabric."

Lin Xing stayed in the fabric shop to select materials, while Gu Qiming went to buy himself a fine bow and more than a dozen arrows.

He wanted a bow of three 'shi', a draw weight not many could manage. After trying it out himself and finding it not too strenuous, he made his choice. The arrows were of quality too, with the fletching made from the finest water-fowl feathers, and the arrowheads being incomparably sharp.

[e/n: One shi is roughly 120 jin, so we're talking 360 jin or 396 pounds, which is ridicolous. Trad. English Longbows were around 1-200 pounds and required lifelong training... maybe I just think too much- please suspend your disbelief with me]

Gu Qiming was very satisfied and left briskly after paying the bill.

After purchasing everything they needed, Gu Qiming and Lin Xing grabbed a bowl of cold noodles on the street, followed by an order of marinated chicken heads.

The cold noodles were firm and smooth, neatly topped with slices of cucumber and bean sprouts, dressed in a tangy and spicy sauce, with a bit of minced meat scattered throughout, making it look very appetizing at first glance. The marinated chicken head was also full of flavor; among all the marinated meats, the chicken head and pork offals were the cheapest options. Even so, Gu Qiming did not dare to order more.

Both of them were incredibly satisfied with the meal, with Gu Qiming alone consuming two bowls of noodles.

On their way back, they happened to run into a fisherman pushing his cart on his return. Gu Wangming then persuaded Lin Xing to buy two large, lively, and still thrashing grass carp.

Returning home, Gu Qiming first helped Lin Xing remove the carrying basket from his back. After carrying such a heavy load for a long while, his shoulders were sore.

Lin Xing sat in the yard, packing up goods. He was supposed to help Auntie Zhang harvest bean sprouts today. Her family owns a substantial piece of land, of which a small patch was dedicated to sprouting beans. It takes less than five days for the sprouts to be ready for harvest, after which they can be sold in town. There's quite a demand for them, especially during the summer when almost everyone enjoys this delicacy.

After they had been bustling about for half the day, Gu Qiming, worried that he would get tired, urged him to rest at home while he took the initiative to help out.

Gu Qiming had never visited Aunt Zhang's house before, but there were only a few courtyards in the vicinity. Following the directions given by Lin Xing, he arrived without much effort.

People in the countryside don't usually close their doors during the day, allowing Gu Qiming to catch sight of Aunt Zhang bustling about. There was also a chubby toddler sitting at the doorway, staring at him unblinkingly, like a little judge trying to weigh the flaws of his soul.

Gu Qiming called out, "Auntie Zhang!"

Auntie Zhang was still busy in the courtyard washing bean sprouts when she saw the young man who had been accompanying Lin Xing last time. She quickly greeted him, "Xiao Gu! What brings you here? Come in, come in and have a seat!"

"Lin Xing said you were collecting bean sprouts today. I'm here to lend a hand. After all, an extra pair of hands makes the work lighter, doesn't it?"

"Aiyo, there's no need for your help. My boys, Da Niu and Er Niu, are busy enough as it is. Xiao Lin is just too worried." Having said that, she then called her daughter-in-law over.

[Da Niu and Er Niu: Big Bull and Second Bull]

"Come here, let me introduce you. This is my daughter-in-law."

Aunt Zhang had two sons, Lin Da Niu and Lin Er Niu. Their father passed away early, leaving Aunt Zhang to raise the two boys on her own. She faced many hardships and endured much gossip from the villagers.

Fortunately, Da Niu and Er Niu were ambitious and capable of enduring hardships. They were also filial, busying themselves in the fields every day. During their spare time, they went to the town to work as porters. Day by day, the family's life had started to improve.

A few years ago, Da Niu married a wife, and the following year they were blessed with a chubby little boy. Now, the family lives in harmony and happiness; days filled with contentment. Auntie Zhang's family is known for their kindness, and they never pay heed to the idle gossip that swirls around the village. Living close by is Lin Xing, a child who lost his parents at a young age. The Zhang family, being neighbors, has always taken great care of Lin Xing.

Gu Qiming greeted everyone one by one. Originally, Aunt Zhang didn't want her guest to trouble himself, but Gu Qiming was persistent. He even offered to stay for dinner. It was then that Aunt Zhang agreed to take him along.

Upon reaching the fields, Da Niu and Er Niu had already harvested quite a bit. Auntie Zhang reintroduced them. Hearing that Gu Qiming was a friend of Lin Xing, Da Niu and Er Niu did not decline the help. The two families often assisted each other, and further courtesies would only make things awkward.

Three robust men, not afraid of fatigue, made the task of harvesting bean sprouts seem simple. In little more than an hour, they had completely finished the job. They made several trips home in between, and before the sun even set, they had cleanly gathered every last one.

At dusk, when Gu Qiming returned from outside, Lin Xing had already prepared the grass carp.

Lin Xing was someone who couldn't stay idle. After Gu Qiming left, he busied himself with chores. First, he tidied up the groceries he bought in the morning, filling the cupboard to the brim with white flour and fresh rice, ensuring nothing was missing. He then rendered lard from pork fat, getting more than two jars of lard out of five jin of fat. The crispy bits left from the rendering process were fragrantly irresistible. Just a sprinkle of salt made them delicious enough to eat as is, but they were especially outstanding when used as a filling for baozi.

Watching the family's situation gradually improve filled Lin Xing's heart with joy. Ever since Brother Gu arrived, everything started to get better, it felt almost like living a dream.

After tidying up the kitchen, Lin Xing began to prepare the grass carp he bought today.

The grass carp was big enough to be chopped into large pieces for making boiled fish, and it could also be pan-fried whole before stewing. Considering that everyone enjoyed spicy food, he decided to prepare a pot of spicy boiled fish. Later, he planned to transfer it into a large basin and bring it to Auntie Zhang's house.

Gu Qiming came back and without saying a word, he first washed his face with a basin of water. After the heat emanating from his body dissipated, he then said to Lin Xing, "Aunt Zhang mentioned we are invited to have dinner at her place later."

"Alright, you go rest for a bit first. Once the meal is ready, we'll go together."

Gu Qiming was busy in town all morning and, upon returning in the afternoon, proceeded to help with gathering the bean sprouts. Lin Xing suggested he take a break first.

"It's fine, we're going to eat in a bit. so I'll rest when we get back." Gu Qiming was unyielding, impervious to persuasion. No matter what Lin Xing said, he simply refused to leave, content to watch a certain Master Chef bustle about in the kitchen.

Over the past few days of interaction, Gu Qiming discovered that Lin Xing is actually a person with strong opinions. When selling goods, Lin speaks eloquently, almost convincing even Gu himself. Capable of cooking, making clothes, and conducting business, Lin is both intelligent and kind-hearted, truly an outstanding individual.

Lin Xing felt his scalp tingle under his intense gaze, and for a moment, he found it hard to breathe, his movements while washing the vegetables becoming somewhat chaotic.

Gu Qiming noticed droplets accidentally splashing onto his face and couldn't help but reach out to gently wipe away the scattered droplets.

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