Chapter 30: Tears streaming down her face just to buy clothes

Chapter 30: Tears streaming down her face just to buy clothes

Jiang Yutang took it, touched it, and immediately returned it: "No, this is too rough."

Even if Cheng Lanzhou didn't object, just the fact that she took someone's gold leaf and returned with only a linen garment would surely lead to her being scorned by Cheng Daier.

The proprietress looked at Jiang Yutang's clothes, seemingly surprised that a farmer would look down on hemp clothing. She then noticed the iron chains on Jiang Yutang's feet and her expression changed.

When Jiang Yutang noticed that the other person had noticed the iron chains on her feet, she subconsciously took a step back.

"This is the only one left. If you look for another, it'll be gone." The proprietress put one hand on her hip and looked at her indifferently.

This attitude was completely different from before. Jiang Yutang couldn't care less about that now. The sky was getting darker and darker, and the city gates would be closing soon. She had to hurry.

"Don't you have another one in your hand?" she pointed to the other item in the shopkeeper's hand.

The proprietress curled her lip and said, "This one is also rough. Why don't you go check out the shop next door? They just got a batch of silk." She then gave a mocking smile.

Jiang Yutang couldn't possibly be unaware of such obvious prejudice. Arguing with her now would be pointless and would only waste time.

The fabric of that garment looks quite good, and given Cheng Lanzhou's tall and slender figure, finding a suitable outfit is already difficult enough; we can't give up on it now.

Seeing that reasoning was ineffective, Jiang Yutang began to play the emotional card.

She forced out tears, her eyes brimming with tears and her voice trembling with sobs, her head slightly lowered: "I know the proprietress doesn't like people like us, but we have no choice in the matter. If someone malicious wants to harm you, there's no way to prevent it no matter how hard you try. We... are innocent too..."

As she spoke, tears streamed down her face.

“My father was a good man his whole life, doing countless good deeds to help the poor and needy, but unfortunately, he was targeted by enemies, which led to our current predicament. Now that he's old and has difficulty walking, my older brother pulls him around in a cart every day, and even his clothes are worn out. I just wanted to... buy him some clothes…”

As more and more people gathered around to watch the scene, seeing Jiang Yutang crying so sadly, the common folk, who loved gossip, had heard many stories of court infighting and being framed, and couldn't help but feel sorry for Jiang Yutang.

Seeing the girl crying so sadly, the proprietress thought she had misunderstood her and felt guilty.

She took out a handkerchief to wipe away Jiang Yutang's tears, her eyebrows drooping as she softly said, "I'm sorry, I acted impulsively and without reason, and I misunderstood you."

Seeing that the other party had taken the bait, Jiang Yutang sniffed and choked out, "Then... can you sell me the clothes?"

"Sell! I'll sell these two to you cheaply, I'll only charge you for one, five taels of silver."

Jiang Yutang visibly paused. She trembled as she pulled out the remaining loose silver from her pocket, but it wasn't even worth five taels of silver.

Holding the loose silver coins, she pleaded softly with the shopkeeper, "Could I only have one item?"

Seeing her pitiful state, the old lady wiped away her tears and waved her hand, saying, "Here's all the silver you have. You can have both items!"

"Really! Thank you, ma'am!"

Overjoyed, Jiang Yutang wiped away her tears and handed over the silver. The proprietress then wrapped the clothes simply in a piece of cloth and handed them to her.

She excitedly clutched the medicine bag and clothes, dragging the heavy iron chains as she ran towards the city gate.

As she passed an elderly man packing up his stall, she saw ginger and scallions in his bamboo basket and immediately braked to stop beside him.

"Grandma, how much are these ginger and scallions?"

Finally, she bought the ginger and scallions from the bamboo basket for ten coins, and then carried them in her arms, looking like a messy bicycle.

The iron chains scraped against the ground with a "swish" sound. He was running so fast that he didn't care if the chains hit his ankles, fearing that he would be too late and the city gate would close.

All he could hear was his own panting. As he approached the city gate, he could vaguely see Jiang Songzhi standing in front of him, looking anxious.

"Big brother!"

Jiang Songzhi turned around abruptly, saw that it was her, and hurriedly ran forward to take the things from her hands.

Why did you buy so much?

Jiang Yutang, breathless from running, said intermittently, "First, hide the things under the dry grass."

There was no more room to hide the remaining bamboo baskets, so they had to be placed on the carriage.

At this moment, the yamen runners, having eaten and drunk their fill, slowly walked out of the restaurant, picking their teeth with their teeth, and inspected the things they had bought one by one.

Arriving at the hay wagon, it landed on the bamboo basket.

"Hmm?" The constable narrowed his eyes and looked at the two men dangerously, as if his authority had been challenged.

The constable stood right in front of Jiang Yutang and shouted, "Did I tell you not to bring anything in private? Did you just ignore me?!"

A strong breath, mixed with a few drops of saliva, hit Jiang Yutang in the face. She closed her eyes, her mouth involuntarily drooping down in disgust.

She raised her hand and gently wiped the drool from her forehead, awkwardly explaining, "Brothers, please listen to my explanation. I know a little about medicine, and these ginger and scallions are for making medicinal soup."

"Medicinal soup?" The constable raised his chin in confusion, revealing the chili pepper stuck to his teeth.

"Yes, ginger and scallions boiled in medicine can dispel cold and treat colds. Many of us in exile have caught colds. In order not to delay our journey, my daughter came up with this idea and used her little remaining purse to buy ginger and scallions to treat everyone!"

Jiang Yutang spoke sincerely, and even the others showed expressions of emotion.

Upon hearing this, the constable nodded in satisfaction and changed his tone to praise, "You're the one who knows how to help me out. You're very thoughtful."

Jiang Yutang breathed a sigh of relief and winked at Jiang Songzhi.

They had just left the city when the city gate behind them slowly closed, accompanied by a heavy sound, drawing back the gloomy sky.

Jiang Yutang volunteered to help the yamen runners feed the horses, taking the opportunity to let Jiang Songzhi take away the medicine and clothes.

After returning home, Madam Yun looked at the medicine packet in front of her and asked in confusion, "Tang'er, why did you buy this medicine instead of food?"

In their view, food is the most scarce resource, but right now it's the easiest thing to get. At worst, Jiang Yutang can just go back every night.

"Mother, this is medicine to prevent miscarriage." Jiang Yutang picked up the medicine packet and tossed it in her hand.

"I bought this especially for my second sister-in-law. Now that Dad's condition has stabilized, the most worrying thing is my second sister-in-law who is four months pregnant."

Upon hearing this, everyone understood immediately and nodded in agreement: "You've thought of everything."

Jiang Yutang chuckled and comforted Zhu Shi, who had a bitter expression on her face: "Second sister-in-law, don't feel guilty. It's our duty to take care of you. After all, you've been suffering for our sake."

Jiang Jiuze patted Zhu's shoulder to comfort her.

Zhu pursed her lips and nodded tremblingly.

The place they were staying at today happened to be near the river. Jiang Jiuzhe and Jiang Huaiyu went to the river to fetch water to boil medicine, while the rest of them set up the pot and started a fire.

Jiang Yutang saw the clothes on the cart, picked them up, and went to find the Cheng family.

Having received a gold leaf from the Cheng family, it's only right to deliver it to their door.