Chapter 96: From Luxury to Frugality Is Hard

Chapter 96: Chapter 96: From Luxury to Frugality Is Hard

Hunters Wang believed his craftsmanship wasn’t bad, either.

Though he couldn’t compare to Carpenter Zhao’s professional meticulousness, he had loved carving wood since childhood. In fact, Carpenter Zhao used to say that if Hunters Wang hadn’t chosen hunting for a living, his woodworking business definitely wouldn’t be any worse than his own.

Hunters Wang had crafted a pile of small wooden ornaments the size of an adult’s fist, along with some the size of a child’s fist.

"I brushed them with wood wax oil, just like Carpenter Zhao did. He said this prevents them from cracking and turning black. I’ve made twenty-five small ornaments and attached differently sized ’silver beans’ to the back, just as you requested. You mentioned this would allow the ornaments to be stuck anywhere in the house, but no matter how hard I try, they just won’t stick to the wooden cabinets."

"Uncle Wang, magnets only stick to iron. Everything in our homes—the tables, chairs, and benches—is made of wood, so of course they won’t stick," Yun Zhen told him.

"Do the people in the Immortal Realm use iron to make tables, chairs, and benches? How strange and extravagant. I’ve never heard of iron being used for furniture. Besides, iron is strictly controlled by the government. Where would they even get enough iron to make tables and chairs?" Hunters Wang was full of questions.

Yun Zhen only had a half-baked understanding of it herself, so she didn’t bother explaining. It would only cause more confusion the more she tried. "These aren’t things we need to worry about. As long as we make the items look nice and sell them to the people in the Immortal Realm, and they like them, that’s enough."

Hunters Wang smiled and scratched his head. "The Goddess is right. I was overthinking it." He quickly pushed the small wooden ornaments he had made forward. "Goddess, take a look! Do you think the ornaments I made will sell?"

Carpenter Zhao’s wooden hairpins were priced at one hundred cents each. His jewelry boxes were priced at one hundred and fifty cents for one model, and two hundred cents for another. Hunters Wang was understandably envious. He hoped his own craftsmanship would also be sought after by the people of the Immortal Realm so he could earn more money for the village.

Yun Zhen looked at the pile of wooden ornaments on the table. Hunters Wang had not only carved a bunch of uniquely shaped little animals but also several miniature tables, chairs, and benches. Each piece was exquisitely crafted, vivid, and full of childlike charm. Yun Zhen was quite surprised; Uncle Wang’s craftsmanship was truly no worse than Uncle Zhao’s.

Yun Zhen thought for a moment before deciding on the prices. "Uncle Wang, I’ve looked at your small ornaments. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with your craftsmanship. The larger ones will be priced at one hundred cents, and the smaller ones at 80 cents. I believe your work will definitely be loved by the people of the Immortal Realm."

Hunters Wang had made twenty larger ornaments and five small ones about the length of a finger.

If they all sold, he would earn two taels of Silver plus an extra four hundred cents. Upon calculating this, Hunters Wang realized he would be earning about the same as Carpenter Zhao, and he smiled happily. He had tried selling his woodwork before, but his crafts had never sold in the county town. Yet now, he was selling them to the Immortal Realm.

It was truly a cause for sighing in amazement!

"You lad are even making fifty cents more than I am! Very impressive!" Carpenter Zhao said, patting Hunters Wang on the shoulder.

Hunters Wang looked a little embarrassed. "Brother Zhao, your craftsmanship is better than mine. Plus, you’re selling wooden hairpins and jewelry boxes, which are women’s favorites. They’ll definitely sell much better than my ornaments."

"That’s not necessarily true. But I do hope they all sell so the Goddess can buy more things for the village," Carpenter Zhao said, full of expectation.

Seeing the anticipation in everyone present for the woodwork to bring in money, Yun Zhen said, "I’ll accept these items for now. Whether they can be sold will depend on tomorrow. Uncle Zhao, Uncle Wang, you two continue making wooden hairpins, jewelry boxes, and small wooden ornaments tomorrow."

"Will do!" Carpenter Zhao and Hunters Wang agreed in unison.

Yun Zhen told them, "There’s nothing else for now, so go get some rest. I still have some things to discuss with my parents."

"Goddess, we will head back first then, so as not to disturb your conversation with your family," Carpenter Zhao said.

Hunters Wang left with him. Upon reaching the door, they parted ways and returned to their respective homes.

The biting cold outside the house pierced to the bone, prompting them to hurry back. Their homes had stoves, and the tents provided a solid windbreak.

The village head also returned home.

Yun Zhen retrieved the medicine she had brought for her mother from the treasure land in her mind.

"Mother, these are the medicines I bought from the Immortal Realm. The doctor in the Immortal Realm said your condition might be due to poor nourishment when you were young, which caused you to become weak and lack strength. Taking these medicines will help you recover a large portion of your strength."

Yun Zhen continued, "I also bought red dates, peanuts, and milk. You can snack on them whenever you’re free. I also got some lean meat and pork liver. The doctor mentioned these are great for replenishing qi and blood. You should cook and eat a piece of pork liver and lean meat every day."

Yun Duo was so moved by her daughter that she was on the verge of tears, though she couldn’t help but add, "Buying so many things... It’s too great of an expense."

"Mother, the prices in the Immortal Realm are incredibly cheap. It’s not like you don’t know that. These things didn’t cost much," Yun Zhen comforted her.

Yun Xiu chimed in to persuade her. "Wife, this is our daughter’s kind intention, so don’t refuse it. The medicine you took before didn’t work. Who knows, taking the medicine from the Immortal Realm might just heal you for the most part, exactly like Zhen Niang said!"

Under the persuasion of her daughter and husband, Yun Duo nodded. "Don’t worry. I’ll take good care of my body and build up my strength."

"The clay pot the boss gave us for free when Zhen Niang bought the fragrant noodles would be perfect for boiling your pork liver and lean meat," Yun Xiu said, remembering the unused pot.

Yun Duo then said, "Zhen Niang, I have no problem eating the meat, red dates, and peanuts, but let’s distribute the milk for everyone to drink."

"Mother, I bought ten boxes of milk," Yun Zhen said. "You keep half, and we’ll distribute the rest to the elderly and the children—one small carton per person. Don’t feel bad about it. Once we earn more money in the future, I’ll buy more."

"Let’s do as Zhen Niang says," Yun Xiu interjected.

Yun Duo listened to them.

Yun Zhen carried half of the milk, along with the red dates, peanuts, pork liver, and lean meat, back to her parents’ room.

There were still five boxes of milk left. With twenty cartons in each box, it was more than enough to distribute to the elderly and the children. The young people could just eat more meat. The elderly had poor teeth, and the children’s teeth were still too tender; neither could compete with the young adults when it came to devouring meat.

Yun Zhen realized she hadn’t yet touched the yogurt and the large snack gift bag she had received as part of the reward for the missing cat notice. She had left them in her dorm at first, then stored them in her mind’s treasure land, and had almost forgotten about them entirely.

She took out the yogurt and the snack gift bag.

Yun Zhen turned to Xiao Bao, who was playing with a large tiger toy on the bed, and said, "Xiao Bao, from now on, you will drink milk with Grandma. Drinking milk will help you grow tall."

Yun Duo nodded. "Xiao Bao is too skinny. She’s been eating well these past few days and has put on a little meat, but she’s still thin. She can drink milk with me from now on. She’ll only look her best once she’s raised to be plump and fair."

Yun Zhen opened the high-end yogurt she had received from the missing cat notice and handed it to Xiao Bao. "This milk is even more delicious."

Xiao Bao stuffed the straw into her mouth, her eyes narrowing into happy little crescents from the sweetness. "Mother! It’s so yummy!"

Yun Zhen also gave her parents a bottle each.

Following his daughter’s lead, Yun Xiu’s palate had grown quite refined. Every day, they ate either white rice porridge or fine flour dough drops. Now, whenever he thought of the coarse grain flatbreads and brown rice porridge they used to eat, he felt as though it would scratch his throat, making it impossible to swallow.

The books were indeed correct.

Going from luxury to frugality is difficult!

Yun Duo took a sip. "This milk is thicker than regular milk. There are pieces of fruit and chewy candies inside."

Yun Zhen then opened the large snack gift bag. Inside was an assortment of small breads and cakes, brightly colored unfamiliar little packets, and even candies.

Seeing this, Yun Xiu marveled, "Zhen Niang, this can’t have been cheap, right?"

With such a rich variety, how much could it possibly cost?

Yun Zhen then told her parents about the missing cat notice. She felt incredibly fortunate to have received the thirty-thousand reward. Otherwise, when their house collapsed, they wouldn’t have even had the money to buy a tent to live in.

Hearing their daughter’s words, Yun Xiu and Yun Duo’s eyes filled with shock.

Yun Duo brought her palms together in a prayerful gesture. "Thank goodness Zhen Niang had the luck to find a wealthy family’s beloved pet and received a reward of thirty taels of Silver. Otherwise, in such freezing weather, everyone would have surely frozen to death!"