Chapter 15: Little Lucky Star, There's Salt to Eat

“What?”

Su Yanwen had just dozed off a moment but was startled awake by the noise. He turned to look at Cao’er.

“Daddy, didn’t you say that without salt, nothing tastes good?”

Su Yanwen nodded, wondering if the child was curious about salt. After a moment, he said, “Once Daddy’s injury heals a bit, I’ll get you some salt to try.”

“Daddy, we have salt now!” Cao’er said carefully, loosening her grip.

It was a handful of salt!

Zhao Yue’e was stunned, panic washing over her face. She hurriedly asked, “Where did this… come from?”

“Cao’er, you must tell the truth,” Su Yanwen urged.

Cao’er looked puzzled. “I traded the fish Daddy gave me for salt.”

Instinctively, Zhao Yue’e glanced at Su Yanwen. What would happen if his belongings were bartered without permission?

Her heart pounded nervously.

Yet Su Yanwen gave a thumbs-up. “Excellent! That fish can’t be eaten, only looked at, but you managed to get the most precious salt in exchange. You’re amazing.”

Cao’er had obviously never been praised like this before. Her flushed face broke into a shy smile.

Seeing Su Yanwen wasn’t angry, Zhao Yue’e finally relaxed.

“Tell me, how did you trade the fish for salt?” Su Yanwen asked.

From his understanding of the village, only the village chief’s family might have salt.

But knowing their temperaments, would they really give salt over a small fish?

More likely, they’d just take it by force.

Cao’er nodded seriously, recounting the entire process step by step.

“I listened to Mommy and went to play with the older boys.”

“But no one was at the older boys’ house, only Uncle.”

“I didn’t want to play with Uncle, so I went to find Auntie. I walked far but couldn’t find anyone, and I was already at the village entrance.”

“I was very tired and sat down to rest at the village entrance.”

“There was an uncle resting there too, riding a mule with many bags on it.”

“When I was playing with the fish, the uncle saw me and asked where I got it. I said Daddy caught it.”

“The uncle said he wanted to trade with me. He gave me a piece of candy.”

Zhao Yue’e’s heart immediately tightened.

Children have no natural immunity to sugar, and Cao’er had never eaten candy before.

“I didn’t take it.”

“He then gave me a piece of meat.”

“I didn’t take that either.”

“He then gave me a round thing with writing and patterns on it.”

It was a copper coin.

Cao’er was too young to read or recognize copper coins.

“Daddy said he wanted salt, so I asked the uncle if he had any.”

Cao’er beamed happily and asked Su Yanwen cautiously, “Daddy, I traded the little fish for salt.”

“The uncle’s bags were full of salt; he gave me some.”

Su Yanwen smiled.

The amount of salt was small, no more than fifty grams.

People have long harvested and used salt.

Early sea salt was obtained by boiling seawater, producing irregular crystals mixed with impurities, and not pure white.

Later, in the late Tang and Song dynasties, salt was produced by drying seawater in salt fields, then boiling the brine, resulting in more uniform, whiter crystals.

Su Yanwen was certain that what Cao’er held was sea salt.

But he didn’t know which era Daqing belonged to historically.

If before Tang and Song, this sea salt would be official salt.

If after Tang and Song, it would be illegally sold salt.

Regardless of the type or era, having outsiders pass through the village was a good sign.

At least someone was coming to this remote, impoverished place.

“By the way, Daddy,” Cao’er suddenly remembered, “the uncle said if I catch more beautiful fish like this, I can trade with him again.”

“He said he passes here every fifteen days.”

“And he said it’s a secret and not to tell anyone.”

Su Yanwen’s heart skipped a beat.

A bolder guess formed in his mind.

Inland people usually consumed well salt, pond salt, or rock salt, rarely sea salt.

But if someone passed here regularly, it meant sea salt could be produced somewhere nearby.

If this mountain was like the Greater Xi’an Ridge, then perhaps this place was similar to the northeast, with coastal areas capable of producing sea salt.

Lost in thought, Zhao Yue’e’s worried voice interrupted.

She repeatedly warned Cao’er, “Today you were lucky to trade for salt.”

“But strangers outside are dangerous.”

“You must never talk to strangers, understood?”

Su Yanwen disliked such old-fashioned teachings.

Hearing Zhao Yue’e, he retorted, “What’s wrong with it?”

“You just need to be cautious. You did well today.”

“Don’t fear things stronger than you. No matter the temptation, stand firm.”

“First, understand the value of what you hold. Then, know what you want.”

“Hold these two points tightly, then negotiate for the greatest benefit.”

Su Yanwen spoke casually.

Zhao Yue’e was surprised—were these really the words of her husband?

Cao’er nodded emphatically.

“Daddy may be mean, but he’s really amazing.”

“Su Yanwen, come out here now!”

Night had fallen, and dogs barked outside.

Su Yanwen was annoyed to death.

He turned his back, refusing to respond.

“Su Boss, playing dead inside, huh?”

“Weren’t you so smug when you were bullying me this afternoon? Now you’re hiding like a scared turtle?”

It was Su Cuilan’s voice—irritating just to hear.

Cao’er peeked through the drafty wall crack and said despairingly, “Daddy, it’s Aunt.”

“Not good, Uncle’s with her, and…”

Before Cao’er finished, the door was kicked open by someone’s garment.

The shaky door finally broke apart.

Su Cuilan, heavily pregnant, followed behind, with her man Zhang Xue and her father-in-law Zhang Yanghao in front.

In times of famine, even strong men were thin and not particularly fierce-looking.

But two men against one injured hand—how difficult could that be?

The noise was truly loud.

Su Yanwen lazily sat up and glanced at them sideways.

Yawning, he said, “You really have too much free time, wandering around. Why not go find some food?”

Everyone was digging everywhere for food. If there was any to be found, why come make trouble here?

Zhang Xue snorted.

Blocking the doorway, gripping a wooden stick, he shouted, “Su Boss, shameless bastard, bullying your own sister.”

“Stop!”

Su Yanwen interrupted quickly, correcting, “I have no sister. Besides, she’s not my father’s blood.”

Zhang Xue’s face turned pale.

Su Cuilan was choked by the words.

Only Zhang Yanghao, the elder, stepped forward and snorted.

He stroked his beard and said resentfully, “I don’t care what your relationship is. The child in her belly is the Zhang family’s heir.”

“Today, it’s your scare tactics that caused her to lose the baby.”

“You scared the Zhang family’s precious grandson. Now you have to take responsibility.”

Su Yanwen rolled his eyes so hard they nearly spun back into his head.

Old man, did they even have 4D ultrasounds in this era?

The child wasn’t even born yet; who knew the gender?

And “precious grandson,” really?

But since they were here, he had to deal with them.

Su Yanwen sat up on the bench, his face full of impatience.

He said irritably, “Are you here because you want the fish I caught?”

“We want an explanation,” Zhang Xue added.

Su Yanwen ignored him, continuing, “The fish from this afternoon? If you want it, I’ll give it all to you.”

Just like that?

The three exchanged glances.

Zhang Xue glanced at Su Cuilan and muttered, “See? You gave him too much credit. It’s because you’re powerless.”

“I told you, Su Boss is a coward, not the guy you think he is.”

Zhang Yanghao sneered arrogantly.

Chin raised, he said proudly, “Exactly. Once we arrived, no matter how he got the fish, he had to hand it over obediently.”

The father and son chuckled.

Zhang Xue stepped forward and yelled at Su Yanwen, “Smart of you. Hurry up and give it here.”

Zhao Yue’e was dumbfounded.

Her voice trembling with fear, she said, “It’s all eaten. Where’s the fish now?”

“Honey, you’re just too stingy.”

“Enough! If you and Cao’er don’t give it, forget it. There wasn’t much anyway. My share, I’ll give it all to you.”

Su Yanwen spoke generously.

“Then hurry up,” Zhang Xue shouted again.

Su Yanwen smiled. “Why the rush? I still have to prepare.”

“Where’s the bowl?”

“What bowl?” Zhang Xue asked, confused.

Su Yanwen rolled his eyes. “You don’t want a bowl to eat? Should I just use my hands to serve you?”

“How unhygienic!”

“You’re fake, just fake.” Su Cuilan snorted disdainfully.

But thinking about getting to eat fish, who cared about that?

She quickly ran to Miao Qin’s house and grabbed a large bowl.

Hearing there was food, Miao Qin followed along excitedly.

Su Yanwen took several minutes to prepare.

He finally brought out a large bowl of steaming hot food, carefully covered with a lid.

Holding the bowl with both hands, unwilling to let go, he said, “There are so many of you. I’m afraid it won’t be enough to share!”

“Maybe… forget it?”

“Give it here,” Zhang Xue snatched it away.

Fearing someone else would grab it, he clutched it tightly and headed to Miao Qin’s house.

“Husband,” Zhao Yue’e approached after they left. “Where else in our home is there fish?”

Suddenly, a pig-killing scream erupted from Miao Qin’s house.

“Su Boss, I’m going to kill you!”

“How dare you feed us this rotten stuff? I want your life!”

“Ugh, ugh, ugh…”