Because of the autumn harvest, starting from tomorrow, Jing Yi would have five or six days to handle the business at the pier by himself.

 

On the way to the pier market today, Jing’s father kept giving instructions endlessly. Jing Yi initially went along with it, but as he saw his father becoming more and more passionate, his expression gradually turned numb…

 

Suddenly, it became quiet around him. Jing Yi turned his head curiously to see what his father was looking at and saw his father squinting his eyes, seemingly confirming something.

 

“Dad, what are you looking at so intently?” Jing Yi asked curiously.

 

You see, his father didn’t know anyone at the pier or in town. Following his father’s gaze, Jing Yi also looked in that direction. There was a middle-aged man standing next to Lin Fulong, whom they didn’t know.

 

“I feel that the person standing at our stall up ahead looks a lot like a big brother I worked with before,” his father said, squinting his eyes and walking over to confirm.

 

“It is really him! Hahaha, didn’t expect to run into him.” Saying that, he left his eldest son and walked briskly over to greet him.

 

“Hey, big brother, do you remember me? We used to work together in Mr. Liu’s courtyard. Is your health better now?” Jing’s father walked up to the middle-aged man. This uncle looked about the same age as his father, but taller and stronger. When the strong man turned his head and saw Jing’s father, he immediately grinned, “Remember! Big brother, long time no see. Is your health better now?”

 

“Hahaha, it’s all good now. The incident happened suddenly, and I couldn’t contact you afterwards. I never had a chance to thank you in person,” Jing’s father sincerely said.

 

“Hey, no need for thanks. When working in the city, us rural folks help each other out. It’s just a small effort,” the strong man waved his hand, telling Jing’s father not to worry about it.

 

Then, he called over the nearby Lin Fulong and Dongjiang Dongshan, saying, “My surname is Lin, this is my husband Lin, and these are my two little sons. May I know how to address this brother?”

 

As soon as Lin Fulong saw this situation, he immediately understood the cause and effect, and hurriedly greeted them, “Brother Jing, Xiao Yi, you’re here.” Then he turned to Lin’s father and explained, “Lao Lin, this is Brother Jing and Xiao Yi, who will be taking over our stall every day. It’s really a great fate.”

 

Unexpectedly, the person Jing’s father had been wanting to find, who had helped him before, was Lin Fulong’s husband, Lin Ling.

 

This was truly a fateful encounter. Naturally, the two families warmly introduced and chatted with each other. Jing Yi tried several times to join the conversation but couldn’t get a word in. He also wanted to chat with his future father-in-law for a few words!

 

The bond between Jing’s father and Lin’s father started from that unfortunate incident.

 

More than half a year ago, Mr. Liu’s family in town built a separate courtyard, which was a large construction project. Besides hiring a construction team, they also recruited workers from the villages around town.

 

It was a rare good job during the idle season in the countryside. The pay was good, and they paid daily. Jing’s father happily went to work together with several uncles from the village.

 

Jing’s father was assigned to the backyard, where there was a small pond to dig. Since the workload was not heavy, they arranged two people in a group, and the other person was Lin’s father.

 

The two of them were originally diligent and hardworking, and although they got along well and had good conversations, since they were being paid, they wouldn’t slack off or chat too much. They focused on their work.

 

Unexpectedly, there was an unexpected turn of events. It turned out that the steward who managed the finances had embezzled a significant amount of money for personal gain. When Mr. Liu’s steward came to inspect the accounts as usual, the embezzlement was exposed.

 

However, the steward denied his actions and falsely accused Jing’s father and Uncle Lin of stealing the silver. Naturally, Jing’s father and Uncle Lin denied the accusations, but the situation escalated and attracted the attention of the local authorities.

 

They thought that this would help clear their names, but to their surprise, the official sent to handle the case knew the steward personally. The official didn’t want to offend the complicated relationships in the town and also saw that Mr. Liu’s steward was not letting go of the matter. As a result, the blame fell on Jing’s father and Uncle Lin in the end. They each received a punishment of ten strikes and had their wages deducted.

 

The incident happened so suddenly that Jing’s father was confused and shocked by the false accusations and the physical punishment. Moreover, the other uncles from their village were not nearby, but Uncle Lin remained calm. He sent two people from their village to deliver letters to their respective homes so that Jing’s mother and the others could come to town promptly to find them.

 

Now, everyone was reunited, and no one had the audacity to bring up the unfortunate incident. Instead, they asked each other questions and engaged in lively conversation.

 

Uncle Lin’s family lived in Wangjiazhuang, where they worked as hunters. They were one of the few families with a different surname in the village. Uncle Lin’s surname was Wang, and his wife’s family also lived in Wangjiazhuang.

 

Uncle Lin and Aunt Wang’s marriage was a rare case of free love in an era of arranged marriages. The elders in Aunt Wang’s family initially opposed the idea of marrying their well-regarded daughter to a hunter. Although Uncle Lin was capable and had a good character, they still considered the livelihood to be dangerous.

 

However, Uncle Lin was determined to marry Aunt Wang, and his wholehearted devotion won over the reluctant elders in the Wang family.

 

Uncle Lin often went hunting and had a strong physique, so the punishment of ten strikes didn’t affect him much, nor did it have a significant impact on the family’s finances. However, medical expenses were costly in ancient times. To make up for this, after recovering his health, Uncle Lin stayed busy hunting in the mountains. When luck was not on his side and there was a shortage of game, he would gather wild vegetables, fruits, delicacies, and medicinal herbs. He wouldn’t let anything go to waste.

 

That’s why the items sold at Aunt Wang’s stall were different every day. The couple formed a supply chain where they would procure goods and sell them cooperatively.

 

As the autumn harvest approached, while other families were busy with agricultural work, the Lin family was relatively at ease. Hunters typically didn’t own fields, but they earned more money from hunting and lived a better life than farmers.

 

A few years ago, before their eldest daughter got married, the Lin family bought five acres of land to avoid being looked down upon by the in-laws. However, while Uncle Lin was skilled in hunting, he wasn’t good at farming. So they leased the land to Uncle Lin’s younger brother in the village.

 

This time, when they came to town, it was because they knew the harvest season was approaching. After each year’s harvest, Uncle Lin’s younger brother would give them a considerable amount of grain. Refusing such help among relatives could strain the relationship, so before the harvest season, Mr. Lin would always buy some fabric and a bottle of liquor in town to bring to Uncle Lin’s younger brother as a gesture of gratitude. As the saying goes, it’s about reciprocity and maintaining good relations.

 

That’s how this chance encounter came about.

 

Jing Yi was overjoyed, and a smile kept appearing on the corners of his mouth. The more the two families interacted, the smoother his path to love would become. Now that they had this fateful encounter, they would surely have more frequent interactions in the future.

 

Jing Yi had planned it out. After the busy autumn harvest, he would prepare some gifts and personally visit Jing’s parents to express his gratitude.

 

Coincidentally, Wangjiazhuang, where the Lin family resides, is on the way back to Xiwancun from the town’s pier. It’s just a short turn off the main road, so they can pass by on their way home without delaying their morning business.

 

There’s no need for extravagant gifts, just prepare some homemade soups and food. It’s uncomfortable to make the gifts too lavish.

 

He should prepare a small gift specifically for his younger brother, Chuxia. If Jing’s father doesn’t come along tomorrow, he plans to wander around town. Whether he’ll find an opportunity to give the gift, that remains to be seen. A man should always be prepared.

 

After chatting for a while, Uncle Lin’s family happily returned home. Jing Yi was so absorbed in his thoughts that he missed the meaningful glance Uncle Lin gave him when he turned back.

 

The next day, Jing Yi went to the pier to do business on his own. Though he was busy, his face was much sturdier than his father’s. Even when faced with urgent demands, he didn’t mind. He would calmly appease them with a smile on his face and work at his own pace.

 

Settle one transaction before starting the next. In a small business, it’s important to avoid cancellations.

 

Besides, there are many scammers in the countryside. If they know you can cancel orders easily, all sorts of people will come and take advantage of you. It’s better not to do business with such people.

 

When the goods in several barrels were sold out and it was almost time, he tidied up the cart and headed towards the town. He planned to store the cart at Jixiange.

 

Jing Yi’s father wasn’t with him today, so there was no one to take turns buying lunch for him. He hadn’t eaten lunch yet, so he planned to have a meal before calmly doing some shopping.

 

When he arrived at the back door of Jixiange, he directly found Xiao Zhang and told him not to bother Mr. Huang, the shopkeeper. He just needed to leave the cart there. Xiao Zhang readily agreed and told him to go about his business without worries.

 

Jing Yi strolled leisurely through the market, first finding a stall selling delicious braised pork noodles and having a meal. After eating his fill, he continued to wander, intending to buy a sachet or wooden hairpin for Chuxia. It wouldn’t be too expensive but would convey his heartfelt intentions.

 

The market was as lively as ever. On the east side was the vegetable market, and on the west side were daily necessities. People were busy selecting fresh vegetables, meat, fabrics, and cotton. The market was filled with shouting, arguing, laughter, idle chatter, and bargaining. It was a continuous symphony of sounds.

 

Coming from the cold concrete of the modern world, Jing Yi felt a deep sense of familiarity in this bustling atmosphere. He walked and observed along the way until he reached a stall specifically selling sachets and handkerchiefs.

 

“Young man, are you buying this for someone at home?” It was rare to have a young bachelor come to the stall, and he had a peculiar appearance. The stall owner, a middle-aged woman, eagerly asked.

 

“Yes, Auntie. How much is this embroidered bamboo sachet? It caught my eye.” Jing Yi had already set his sights on a sachet. The cloth was a light green color, and it featured several slender green bamboo stalks embroidered with varying shades of green and yellow threads. At the bottom were yellow tassels, making it exquisite and elegant.

 

“You have good taste, young man. This delicate sachet is the last one. It’s filled with insect-repelling and fragrant herbs. Originally priced at 30 wen, I’ll sell it to you for 28 wen. If you use it well, remember to support my business in the future.” The friendly stall owner said warmly.

 

“Thank you, Auntie.” Jing Yi thought the price was reasonable and didn’t bother to haggle. He happily paid.

 

After carefully placing the sachet in his pocket, he continued to wander through the market, planning to buy some pork and roast chicken to bring back for his family’s meal.