08. Her new home

While walking through the town he was quiet. She was always one step behind him. If she was stopped by the crowd, he would wait for her and then continue walking. As they walked deeper into the city, she realized that these streets became longer and quieter. People still walked around here, but not many.

He felt a bit uncomfortable and slowed down. ''What is your plan in the future. Will you continue going to forest and harvesting herbs? Or do you plan something else?''

She walked slowly as well, without any hint of fear. ''I still think about it. I think I am not suitable to become someone's servant girl. But living without income is no answer as well. So, for now, I will harvest the herbs as long as I can. In the time between, I will look for a small empty space where I could open a restaurant or tea house, or start working for someone. Either the way I need to do something so I could have some insurance for my future.''

He was silent for a while. ''Have you ever considered getting married?''

She sighed deeply. ''In my life, I won't be able to marry as I am a widow. The family I lived with made me marry a man and I had children with him. But now they are in the other world so all I could do is to come down to the city and start a new life. No, it is better for me to adopt a few orphans and let them be my children. Like that, people will look down on me less, don't you think?''

His heart burned suddenly. Even if he had a tiny hope in his heart, it was extinguished completely. His family would maybe accept a concubine with an unknown background, but a widow, impossible.

He just sighed and walked quietly until the gate on a big wall was in their sight.

''This is the gate to your house. Here is the key. Please be careful about the key. There is only this copy of it. If you lose it you need to make a new lock completely.'' His voice changed and was no more happy, than stiff instead.

''I understand. thank you for taking me here. Have a nice day.'' She stepped back and just bowed waiting for him to leave.

Actually he had no grudges against this woman, but seeing her being so cautious made him feel somewhat uncomfortable. ''Miss Liu Mei, I meant it when I said that you can call for help in case something serious happens.''

She just silently nodded and didn't speak any further words. All he could do is to turn around and leave, while she opened the door and went inside.

The moment the door closed, he turned around and he felt a tinge of pain in his heart. She has never even shown her face, made any insulation nor advances towards him, but why does his heart feel so hurt?

He shook his head at the unknown feeling and walked back to the medical hall, while Liu Mei stood there with sn open mouth. Do they call this a little house?

In front of her were small fruit trees as a walkway from both sides. Between the trees, in a straight line was a stone path towards the house, but between the rows of fruits and walls was a big garden. Some plants seem to not have been tended for a couple of days and looked vane, but if she adds some water and digs a bit around them, they will be able to come back to life.

In front of the house was a huge room that could be closed when it rains but in the summer it can be used as a refreshment room, as the nice wind passed through it. She comfortably opened her arms and could feel the light breeze.

When she opened her eyes she could see something like one more garden, but only the flowers were there. Around the garden was a huge walkway, that was connected to the main house as it seems. She walked the walkway, that was connected to the sidewalls and felt somewhat safe.

The main house was big as well. In front was something like a living room. The reception room he was talking about?

Then a small hallway could be seen. One side had two sleeping rooms, then the bathroom and then the kitchen. And as it seems two smaller rooms for servants. This is a small house?

These people have no idea what a small house is. She looked up and saw that near the kitchen was a small stairway that went to the attic. She slowly went up and saw a bunch of stuff that no one needed as it seems.

She slowly went down and sighed. The dust already set on the furniture meaning that no one lived here for a few weeks at least, if not even longer. She entered the kitchen realizing that there is absolutely nothing edible.

She held her head. ''Of course not, you fool. Who is the right mind would leave food if they leave? Let's first water these plants and then let's go shopping.''

She took two smaller buckets and went to grab some water. Then she watered all the plants and when she finished she dusted up her clothes, washed her hands and put the hat veil on her head again.

She must hurry. She still doesn't know how the time is working in this place until when the stores are open and until when people are selling food. She could use some the greens for dinner, so she has no need to buy vegetables right now, she can buy fresh ones in the morning. Now maybe the best idea is to buy rice, flour, meat, fat, oil, candles, beans...

She walked while she thought about the things she needed. She was quite good at orienting in space, when she passes someplace even after the first walk. In her memory, there was a store, that the medicine man pointed at, while they were passing it.

Luckily, she found it fast and saw still people entering an leaving the store. So she inhaled deeply and straitened her back. She slowly entered the store and waited for her turn. Luckily there were not many people there.

A young woman stood there with short bangs, cute appearance and greeted her politely. ''Welcome. How may I help you?''

Liu Mei was calm on the outside so her voice could be heard steadily under the hat. ''I just bought a house not far from here and need supplies. May I ask do you have someone to transport it to my house, I will pay for the transport.''

The young woman shook her head. ''No need. It is our customer service. May I ask what you need?''

''Then, in that case, thank you in advance. First I need to know the prices of rice bags, oil, grains, beans, vegetables, meat, candles and firewood.''

''A rice bag is 20 bronze coins a bag for last year's and for this year 30 bronze coins. The grains are 15 per bag, oil is 20 bronze coins the jar. Beans are 15 bronze coins per bag, candles are a bronze coin per piece, firewood is 10 bronze coins a carriage, one catty of meat is five bronze coins, eggs are five bronze coins for a dozen. The vegetables have various prices...'' She continued to hit her with prices and when she finished, she just saw a calm woman.

Liu Mei so far realized that 100 bronze coins are a small silver piece. 100 small silver pieces are one big silver piece. 100 big silver pieces turn into one small gold piece, 100 small gold pieces into big golden tael.

Thinking so far, she still listened about prices and sighed. The medicine family boy wouldn't recommend this place if it's too expensive.

''Before buying the goods can I see the rice from last year and from this year? Then I will decide.'' She loved eating rice, but even there you needed to know how to see the difference.

The girl brought the rice bags and now she could clearly see the difference. It seems that the yield from last year was better than this year. The people didn't want to buy this rice only because it was from the last year, but she could clearly see that difference in quality. Maybe buy more of a good one, better safe than sorry.

She had about 37 silver pieces in her pocket. ''Give me 30 bags of rice from last year. Ten oil jars, five..no wait six bags of beans. Fifty candles. One carriage of the firewood as I have only that much space for it. Two cattie's of fresh meat, a dozen of eggs, do you have some dried meat and seasonings?''

''Of course. Lean dry meat is fifty bronze coin a slab, bacon is one silver a slab.'' The girl calmly waited to write the order.

''Then give me one slab of lean meat and one slab of bacon. From vegetables...''

She ordered quite a bit. After that, she bought twenty empty jars that she plans to bring to the attic and store her food inside. Or does she has a cellar? Does it even matter?

When she paid and the order was out, the young woman looked at her attire. ''Down the street, we have a clothing store that is not expensive. I am sure that your landlord is able to afford new clothes for you.''

Liu Mei actually realized for some time that the people liked now wide-sleeved clothes that had striking colours and a bunch of embroidery on it. Her clothes seem to make her being in the mid of attention and that is no good.

''Thank you, I will order clothes now and will come back, so could you prepare everything until I am back?'' The young woman pointed at people that already started preparing the carriages and filling it with her order.

''Oh, nice. Then I shall rush. Will be right back.'' But the young woman stopped her.

''They have pre done clothes as well. Maybe not the best quality but better than this what you wear. ''

''I understand. Thank you. I will buy one set right away then.'' She picked up a bit of her veil and winked at the young woman with a smile, showing her dimples and then leaving her all stunned.