38. Just slight shopping

In the main room, she just stood and waited for them with a small smile on her face. ''I am sorry about last night. But I was just so tired.''

The two big men shook their heads. ''We know miss. My name is Bolin. I could see that you were struggling all the way as you didn't know our names and we just had no chance to tell you and later on it was a bit awkward. Actually, we planned to go back home as over winter time we have no work to do anyway. I have a sister that is married near the capital. So going it is always bothersome as it feels like I am bothering them and Shin Young here is from another country. His family are simple farmers that have a bunch of children. As youngest he had to leave home and earn his won money. We have nowhere to go. So we thought if we could... maybe...''

Shu Ya looked at the two men and shrugged. ''Just one question. You plan to stay over winter or for good. If over winter you won't get any payment but I will dress you and feed you well. Of course, you have to work for that. Like shovelling the snow and stuff. If it's for good you will have to write like others the death contracts. In that case, we are talking about different duties. Your choice.''

She could see their expressions changing so she laughed. ''I am going to the city now. You can think about it. Or you can come with me. No need to answer that question right away. Winter is long. You can think until spring. After that, we can talk. Is it enough to think about it?''

They became even more confused about her offer. She just walked past them and left. When they heard carriage leaving they snapped out and jumped on their horses and followed her.

Shu Ya actually hoped they would stay. With such big built no one would dare to bother her. And as it seems they were good fighters. That is always a bonus.

The city was filled with people and hawkers that praised their goods. As they drove in simple clothes and open carriage they looked more or less like other farmers in the surrounding. Only two towers that followed them gave a bit of oppression.

As the town was filled with people they left carriage with horses outside where they would be watched over and fed. Shu Ya now could really see the business of the town. She looked ta Ruoxi. ''Is this normal in this town?''

She nodded. ''This is until the first snow. Then everything becomes slower and less crowded. Stores still work whole winter long but hawkers are gone and loud people.''

Shu Ya nodded. ''Lead me to people that sell vegetables and to stores with seeds. I need to check something.''

Ruoxi pointed at the direction and as they went there it was even more crowded. In wonder, she saw all kinds of vegetables being clearly quite cheaply priced. She saw something extremely cheap. Carrots?

She came to the man that had the whole mountain of carrots behind him. ''What is wrong with these?''

He just shook his head. ''This year carrots were everywhere and these are much smaller than those from the south. So the sale became quite hard. I think I will need to throw it all away.''

Shu Ya almost fainted hearing his words but showed a straight face. ''Then how much is it?''

The man held his head and cursed loudly. ''I spent almost whole small silver bit on transportation. And I still have a bunch of it at home. I can't even feed it to my animals as they get problems with digestion if they eat too much of it.''

Shu Ya's eyes became shiny but she became even more silent. ''Uncle, what if you sell me as fodder.All of it. And if it turns bad it is my own loss.''

He sighed and then pointed at the carrots. How much do you want it?''

Shu Ya shrugged. ''All. Even those at your home. How much all. My transport.''

He suddenly wanted to take a lot of money but saw a man next to her looking at him with a dark expression. Overprotective brother? Never mind. better selling it then throwing away. ''For all, I will take five silver bits. But little miss. It is a whole lot.''

Shu Ya just shrugged. ''It is fine. Is there something else you sell at home? Or just carrots.''

He shook his head. ''I have some vegetables. But that is for my own use. Not for sale.''

She nodded. ''Mingyu. You will let him explain to you where he is and you will go tomorrow to pick all up. These carrots I will pay straight away.'' She took a small bag out of her sleeve and gave him a small silver bit.

He looked around and sighed. ''Miss, I will call the man wit carriage and you can take the carrots right away. Like that it won't stan here too long.''

Shu Ya nodded and looked at him sternly. ''Get that person until we come back. One of them will stay with you to watch so no one gets long fingers.''

As they went further away she saw an old woman selling strange plants. Her heart shook as she realized what it was. Chilli peppers. What a stroke of luck is this? These things do not even exist on the south, how come they exist in the north?

''Good morning. May I ask how much is this?'' She looked sweetly at the old woman that just glanced at her.

''I heard from here that you bought everything from old Cao. What if I tell you I have the whole field of these. How much would you give me?'' The old woman wanted to hear the offer.

But Shu Ya pursed her lips. ''I am not buying land grandma. I just want those strange things. How much will you sell me only these, not the field? '' In clear words, I am not picking it up.

The old woman chuckled. ''Fine, fine. I have a big family to feed. They can help me get those. If we gather them all we can have about the mountain like that one of carrots.''

Shu Ya made calculations in her head. ''He sold me all his carrots including those at home for three small silver bits. What about one silver bit?''

She snorted. ''What about no. These are more delicate than those carrots. The mountain ten small silver bits.''

On end, they came to decision to four silver bits for a mountain of the small chillies and she has to dig at least twenty of them with healthy root and sen dit to her. Of course, she accepted ita s she would have dug them anyway out.

''Then grandma, how long do you need to gather it all?'' She hoped for a long time. But feared bad weather.

''In three days I could bring them to you.'' She clapped her hands and picked d up the basket with chillies and gave her. ''These are included in the price so take them with you.''

Shu Ya wanted to pay at least the chillies but the woman just quickly packed her things and rushed back home.