Chapter 350

Jiang Yi's resentment subsided, but the remaining flock of sheep left Zheng Ruqian in a dilemma.

At first there were only some lambs, each weighing four, five or six catties. Throwing them into the carriage would have settled the matter.

Half a year's time was not enough for them to fully grow, but they had gradually expanded, each weighing forty or fifty catties now, making them much more difficult to transport.

Even cramming them into the carriage, they still had to prevent the sheep from hitting each other, prevent the carriage from tipping over, and prevent the sheep and carriage from being destroyed at the same time.

This gave Zheng Ruqian and Fang Heng a very hard time.

Later, an old shepherd from the northern border stood up and used cloth strips to tie the sheep's feet in pairs, leaving a slip knot. He explained that they needed to be fed and given water every day, and if the journey was too long, the sheep had to be periodically turned over to prevent saddle sores on their skin.

Only then were they able to arduously transport the flock to Longxi Commandery with great difficulty.

Afterwards, feeding them was no longer difficult. The long-term workers hired were quite responsible. Zheng Ruqian picked out the two biggest and fattest sheep, intending to take them back to Fengjing, but was faced with difficulty again.

The journey from the northern border to Longxi Commandery only took three to five days. Tying up the sheep’s hooves could barely work for that duration.

But from Longxi to Fengjing was a full month's trip. Even if the sheep did not suffocate, they would be paralyzed. Would they even be able to eat once they arrived?

They would have wasted away to skin and bones.

On the advice of the long-term workers, Zheng Ruqian steeled his heart and stamped his feet. He asked the carpenter to build a wooden cage cart, which was like a carriage with a wooden cage on it, somewhat similar to a prisoner transport vehicle, with gaps left between the wooden planks specially for tossing in eggs and vegetable leaves.

Only the gaps in the sheep cage cart were there for the sheep to stick out their heads and breathe.

The original carriage was then filled with hay. This was how the two sheep were finally transported from the upper district back home.

Because stopping intermittently to feed the sheep would delay the journey, Zheng Ruqian took a lazy shortcut and did not feed them right before arrival. He rushed into the small courtyard and was immediately engrossed in chatting and joking around with his siblings, to the point where the two starving sheep actually started bleating.

"Baa... baa..." The half-grown sheep bared their teeth as they bleated, revealing neat white teeth, which was quite frightening.

Except for Xu Mo, the other four siblings rushed out. Zheng Ruqian was responsible for getting grass and water to feed them, while the other three squeezed together to carefully scrutinize the rarely seen northern border sheep.

Mutton was expensive in Fengjing, mainly because it was difficult to raise large flocks of sheep. Only a few commoners kept a handful of sheep on the wild village grass, and sold them after they grew up to earn a living. Lamb sold at five coins per catty was far more expensive than any other meat, undisputedly high class goods.

Even so, those who had truly tasted northern border mutton would still sigh that local mutton was less than half as good as that from the north.

Jiang Sheng suppressed her curiosity and scrutinized them for a while before blurting out, "These sheep look uglier than the ones here."

Everyone inside and outside the house laughed.

What influences the taste and texture of the meat could be the breed, feeding habits, or differences in grass and water, but it would never be determined by appearance.

"It’s a pity my second brother doesn't raise sheep specifically, otherwise I wouldn't rest until I clarified it with you." Zheng Ruqian scattered the last handful of grass. "Let’s feed them grass these next few days for them to eat well and drink well. We’ll slaughter them for the New Year."

Although they couldn't buy new clothes or set off firecrackers, at least they had sheep to eat, and northern border sheep at that.

Jiang Sheng smiled brightly. "Okay!"

This new year was finally something to look forward to.

Fengjing City did not have grasslands, but there was more than enough grass to feed two sheep. The people in the small second courtyard were enough to handle it too. Whether it was Jiang Sheng or Chang Yan, they brought Jiang San and Jiang Four along to cut enough grass for three days’ worth of meals in a couple of hours.

Sometimes they would run into acquaintances who seemed a bit surprised to see the cart full of grass. "Are you guys planning to weave straw mats?"

Jiang Sheng didn’t bother to correct them. She just smiled and waved her hands. “Wish you an early new year, happy new year!”

The other party could only cup their hands in return and wish her well.

It was two days until New Year’s Eve and Jiang Sheng had cut extra grass this time. She didn’t even have anywhere to sit herself so she could only sit cross-legged over the cart shaft. Behind her was a stack of hay poking out from underneath the carriage curtains, looking rather shabby.

She had an easygoing personality and didn’t mind. She handed the reins to Jiang San and rested her chin on her hands, looking at the red lanterns on the roadside, the bright red candied haws, and every person wearing gold and silver who passed by on the street.

When they passed a gold jewelry store on Fourth Avenue, she saw a mother and daughter selecting a hairpin they liked and trying it on.

It was an intricately braided hairpin, with patterns of birds and flowers shaped from thin twisted gold threads. A bird held a bright, translucent red ruby in its mouth. The exquisite yet vibrant design was very eye-catching.

The mother carefully pinned the hair ornament into the young lady's coiffure and tidied her loose strands before smiling gently. “Only a beautiful hairpin like this suits our Chenghua.” The young lady bashfully lowered her head, seemingly happy yet worried at the same time. "Mother, Grandmother has already cut off your allowance. It’s impossible to make ends meet relying solely on your dowry. We should forget about such a precious hairpin."

"No." She pressed the girl's hand. "Since you like it, we’ll buy it."

The clever purple-clothed maid quickly stepped forward to pay.

It was precisely at this moment that Jiang Sheng, wearing simple old clothes with a bundle of mixed grass behind her and half a leaf still on her head, raced by.

Carriage speeds were not allowed to exceed limits within Fengjing City, so there was ample time for both parties to clearly see what the other was doing, to clearly see who the other was, and to clearly see what was behind them.

Glittering jewels versus tangled weeds.

Silk brocade robes versus old cotton clothes.

The loving mother and daughter versus the silly girl.

Similar big eyes yet vastly different warmth.

Mrs. Liao’s hand clenched tightly around the hairpin, tilting it sharply and poking Jiang Chenghua’s scalp.

"Mother!" She cried out.

Only then did Mrs. Liao let go, still flustered. “Did it hurt you? Is it bleeding?”

Jiang Chenghua just bit her lip silently.

Mrs. Liao did not continue asking. She only watched the receding image of the carriage filled with hay, seemingly lost in thought about the stubborn, tenacious young girl living in conditions akin to tangled weeds.

"Mother." Jiang Chenghua mouthed the word without making a sound, only nestling closer uneasily, as if wanting to get nearer, even nearer.

"Mother." Jiang Sheng similarly mouthed without producing any sound.

She frowned in confusion as she tried vocalizing the unfamiliar, obscure word, but was struck dumb the moment it was about to leave her lips.

It was only one word off from Grandmother, so why was there such a huge difference?

She couldn’t call it out and couldn’t imagine associating the word with the glittering image of Mrs. Liao either.

The only thing she could tell herself was that having a mother made no difference. They still wouldn’t get to eat northern border mutton.

The carriage sped on, the wind blowing past her ears.

She grinned widely with wet eyes.