My next destination was the grainery shop. I talked with the shopkeeper and said I want to sell 500 pounds of rice grain. First the shopkeeper refused but later he agreed to exchange 500 pounds of corn and 500 pounds of soybean for it. For 1 pound of rice it cost 5 copper, corn cost 2 copper and soybean cost 2 copper. Even though the sale is for a loss, I don’t have a choice. He arranged a cart to accompany me into the village and transport the grain to and fro.

On the way back to the village, I collected the processed rice from Tu village. I went back to Yanjia village with a cart filled with corn and soybean. Some villagers gossiped seeing me. I gave them no mind and helped the worker transport 500 pounds of rice grain back.

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“ Ye Fang, did you hear that Hui Juan didn’t didn’t die in the hands of ghosts yesterday. And today she went to town to sell her grains.” Ye Fang was washing clothes when she heard this remark. Just by thinking about Hui Juan, she wanted to hit her past self for driving Hui Juan away. Even if the family spent money on Ye Qui or Ye Zihao there is not much difference for her. But now all the chores in the family fell on her shoulders. Her only hope now is for Ye Zihao to pass all the 3 exams and be an official. So her family could enjoy the blessings too.

But it doesn't mean she is going to be the next slave for the family. She is not Hui Juan, she has her husband with her. If the 5th courtyard wants to raise pigs then they have to arrange for its food. And also for washing clothes, she will only wash her courtyard and parents. Even though she is a little scared of her eldest brother and sister-in-law, she is not going to be their servant. Or her family’s end will be no different from the third branch. When their use for the family is over, they too are going to be tossed.

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After reaching home I boiled 2 eggs for our lunch, and told Roulan to look after the poultry and left for the neighbouring village. Roulan went with the 2 hens to the spot where she usually takes the hens to plays.

The time was around 3 pm. I went to the aunt’s home whom I met today morning in the neighbouring village. “Hello is there anyone there”. That aunt came out excitedly after seeing me. I bought 1 hens and 2 cocks from her for 500 copper. I wanted to improve the food at home, but I don’t know how to cook much other than simple dishes like omelet. And also I want to hatch some cute chickens.

That woman simply tied the legs of all the chicken together and wanted to hand it to me, those still live chicken. I smiled back apologetically, “sister you don’t have any bamboo cage, I am a little scared to carry those chicken back in hands”. Even though it is old and worn out, seeing me dressed in cotton clothes, she thought I was from a rich family in the village. She replied back ”Ok, you come with me, the carpenter lives near my house”.

I bought a bamboo cage for 4 copper from the carpenter. I was surprised to find that wood work in this era was so cheap. The main reason behind this is that wood is free and abundant in the forest. People in the village don't prefer stylish furniture. So other than those carpenters in cities and towns, small carpenters in villages who only know the basics, do not have much demand. But I still remembered that the carpenter in Yanjia village charges more than him.

It was still evening, so I took an entire cart to Tu village from there. I went to the mill and saw that fat guy from last time was sitting on the counter. I approached him and called out “Young sir, can you give me the waste (rice bran) in the factory. I will take 100 pounds for 10 copper”. He looked back at me with a look filled with disgust, clearly not interested in my offer. “Why do you want that much waste?” he asked back with a questioning look.

“It is to feed the pigs”, I said back. His disgust seems to have increased “if you want there is more than 500 pounds of waste today, you take it back for 100 copper, or scram”. I nodded back and called some workers to help me pack.

Tu village is considered to be a rich village and closest to Shanto town. People in this village do not raise pigs as they feel they are dirty creatures and smells (but still eat though). Many people in the town do business in Tu village like this mill owner, so these villagers always keep the village neat and beautiful. Some families do feed poultry with rice bran here. But since the accountant in the mill has a natural disgust towards the poor and no need for their petty money, it is not promoted.

I have heard from my friend who came from a village that they usually feed their pigs with corn, soybean and bran from rice or wheat. I have not seen any villagers in the Yanjia village doing this so far. I think this is the reason why all the pigs here are skin and bones. In this era many people do die of starvation, so no one in the village might ever take these corn and soybean to feed the pigs, this is what I figured out. The other reason that I think of is since they do not know even the basic maths, they might not know how much they could earn from pig farming.

I went back to the village and unloaded the stuff in the cart and paid the driver 5 copper. The driver might have probably thought I went there to get the processed rice.

My current grand total is 2 silver and 396 copper coins. I should somehow make 3 silvers in a month or I will lose the house. Also I need to buy salt and oil at home tomorrow itself. I slept late today thinking of how to make money and finally reached a conclusion by midnight.

Next day morning I was particularly energetic after finding the solution. I went to make breakfast and dressed up Roulan to enter the town again after breakfast.

I paid the entrance fees and went straight to find the broker in town to rent a shop. From asking some small shopkeepers and hawkers, I found ‘brother Bai’ was my man. I knocked on his door. “Dum dum, is there anyone here”. A plump man opened the door, I smiled at him and asked “Are you brother Bai, I do want to rent a shop”. I saw him laugh and opened his mouth to speak.

By the time he closed his mouth it was near 2 oclock. I don’t know how he could speak this much without a break. He took me to show 3 shops and finally I chose the last one he showed me. It was a small shop in the best shopping street in town. But the shop is only a little over 1 scent so the rent is comparatively low, it was 1 silver a month. By evening we talked with the owner and signed the agreement.

Before this shop was used as a rouge (cosmetics) shop so there were enough chairs and stands. But still I plan to add more racks in the store.

My plan is to start a footwear shop here. In this town I have never witnessed a footwear shop. Some women and few men hawkers do sell shoes made of straws on the roadside. And some clothes shops sell shoes made with cotton and silk. Some woman in the village knew how to make straw shoes and sell them in town cheaply for 4 or 5 copper. But these straw shoes are not durable and will ruin in 1 year or so.

My plan is to sell sandals made of made wood and linen (instead of rubber for strap) and to add heels to the straw shoes. There is no concept of heels in the era. So I believe my idea will work out. Especially when there are many short people here because of malnutrition (including me). And wood sandals last for years. So I believe that will attract both rich and poor to the shop.

Today morning before finding ‘brother Bai’, I went to a blacksmith to make 5 big needles strong enough to stitch through wood. Now all I have to do is find some straw shoes and visit the carpenter in the neighbouring village to make some heels and wooden slippers. I also paid a commision of 100 copper for the broker ‘brother Bai’.

I hired an ox cart to go back to the village. On the way back home I bought 100 pairs of straw shoes. I stopped in the neighbouring village and made a deal with the carpenter. Wood costs much more than bamboo because they have to process it into a neat and shiny surface. But still my design required only a small piece of wood. For heels we reached an agreement of 3 copper and 4 copper (depending on flat heels and pointed heels). And for wooden sandals it was 7 copper for a pair. I gave him an advance and handed over my design. But made him swear to never make this for anyone other than myself. Next time I go to town I should make a written agreement with carpenter

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The carpenter of Niu village. Today he was truly happy. His family has only 2 acre of land which is managed by his sons. He didn’t have any good work for months and his family has not eaten rice for months. Today a woman from a neighbouring village gave him a big project. Every week she wants him to make some weird shapes of wood in hundreds. She also gave him an advance of 200 copper. Well now since his 2 sons are free at home and there is no major farmwork, he can teach them too how to make those weird shapes and make more money from the women before she changes her mind. He didn’t know if it was because that girl was crazy or is it because the god has finally blessed his family seeing their despair but whatever it is, he is thankful.

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Next day in Yanjia village.

Today I don’t plan to go to town. The carpenter has promised to deliver the first batch of 20 heels and 10 wood sandals by noon. From town yesterday I had bought enough ingredients for the kitchen. Today morning we had rice porridge, egg omelet and milk. I think now it is a balanced diet. Roulan is also so happy. When she was in Ye family only the grandsons of the family were allowed to have milk and egg.

She took out the chickens from the family and was planning to go play with Ting Ting (Roulan’s friend). It had been today since she saw Ting Ting. She has a lot to tell her about the views she saw for the last 2 days.

I went to the carpenter in the Yanjia village. He does not belong to either Ye clan or Hui clan, so I believe he may help me make racks for the store. The reason why I didn’t tell this to the carpenter in Niu village is that I don’t think he has enough skills to build the racks and also don’t want to affect his current work. I called out, “Hello uncle Yan, are you inside the house”. Carpenter Yan came out with a serious face. “Do you want something?”

I acted as I didn’t see his displeasure and said “Uncle Yan, could you make a few furniture for me.” Before letting me finish he replied, “No, I am currently busy, no time to take your work” and entered the house. I went out back in anger. As I approached home, I saw Roulan crying in the footsteps of the house. I rushed towards her.

“Baby what happened, why are you crying”. She looked back at me with tear filled eyes, “Ma eh eh.., ma when I was playing with Ting Ting, Ting Ting’s mother came and scolded me. She also bet Ting Ting for playing with me, eh eh..”

This is the third time these villagers are humiliating me. Now they have even hurted Roulan. For all this, I would make them pay one day.