Chapter 31: Buying a Mule

Meng’s brow twitched incessantly. After talking for so long, her daughter hadn’t taken a single word in. Instead, Ning Kui, Ning Zhuang, and Ning Dalang all chimed in together.

“Sis, are you really going to buy a mule?”

“Axin, you want to buy a mule?”

Ning Xin nodded. “Once we have a mule, Father can earn money by hauling goods to the county town during his free time. Kui and Zhuang can learn too, and we can even go pick up Grandma and Grandpa…”

Ning Xin thought that buying a mule would be a grand affair. Their mother and younger siblings had never been to the county town, so they could ride in their own mule cart to the market there. With her limited wisdom, she was convinced that buying a mule was a good thing.

“Sis, I support you. I’ll give you all the twenty-five wen I have.”

“Sis, me too. I only have twenty wen, but I’ll give it all to you.”

Ning Kui and Ning Zhuang quickly spoke up. Ning Nuan and Ning Huan also expressed willingness to contribute their savings. The two of them had saved thirty-one wen over a long time—usually, when peddlers came to the village, Ning Xin would buy snacks for her younger siblings, while Nuan and Huan hoarded their money, reluctant to spend.

Ning Dalang scratched his head awkwardly; he couldn’t contribute a single wen.

“No need,” Ning Xin waved her hand. “I’ve made an arrangement with Shopkeeper Yuan to deliver deer tomorrow. If I make several trips, it’ll be enough.”

A mule cost more than ten taels of silver, so it was very hard for the younger siblings to save that much. Besides, Mother had said that any money earned in the future would belong to Ning Xin herself. So the mule would be hers, and it wouldn’t be right to ask her siblings to pay.

“From now on, just bring back some fresh grass to feed my mule.”

Ning Kui and Ning Zhuang quickly promised to take care of that. Ning Nuan and Ning Huan were also happy to help. Ning Wen and Ning Wu said they could help pick up the mule’s droppings and fetch water. Ning Qi said he could play with the mule. “I’ll be in charge of carrying water,” Ning Dalang said earnestly.

Meng looked at her husband and children, all so happy because Ning Xin was about to buy a mule, and found herself unable to spoil their joy. Her daughter had been sincere and straightforward for over ten years; teaching her to be cunning and sly would take time. There were still two years left—she could teach her gradually.

“Everyone, hurry up and wash your face and feet, then go to sleep.”

Compared to the excited younger siblings, Ning Xin was the first to fall asleep. She woke punctually, entered her secret space to practice martial arts and study characters. After an hour, she was kicked out of the space.

She got up, picked up the firewood knife and rope she had prepared the night before, climbed over the wall, and ran into the mountains.

Remembering her agreement with Shopkeeper Yuan, aside from the fixed number of deer, she caught whatever she saw.

One sable, two roe deer, two wild goats, and two deer. It was a bountiful haul.

Without returning home, she headed straight for Changning County town.

When the city gates opened, Ning Xin carried her prey into town. The guards were stunned.

“Did these really come from the mountains? Not farmed at home?”

Ning Xin nodded as she walked inside. She had already decided that if they stopped her, she would pay; if not, she would pretend it was nothing.

“Miss.”

Being called out made Ning Xin nervous.

“You really hunted these wild animals in the mountains?”

She nodded again.

“You’re quite talented,” the guard said, giving her a thumbs-up.

Seeing they didn’t ask for an entry fee, Ning Xin chuckled, “Sir, if you need anything, just tell me, and I’ll get it for you.”

Then she walked away swiftly.

“Altogether, these must weigh at least three hundred jin, and she’s carrying them and running? That’s incredible strength,” the guard marveled.

Others entering the city were equally amazed and envious.

That load of wild game must be worth dozens of taels of silver.

Shopkeeper Yuan’s mouth dropped open in delight. He politely and warmly invited Ning Xin to put the game in the backyard, already calculating how to pay her.

If he overpaid once or twice, it would be fine, but if it happened often, it would be a huge expense. Underpaying was out of the question; Ning Xin was so straightforward bringing her goods to his Drunken Immortal Tavern, and other tavern owners were watching.

They might find Ning Xin and snatch her supply source away.

That would be truly unprofitable.

He had to keep Ning Xin firmly in his grasp, making her willingly bring all her wild game to his tavern.

Whether he resold it to wealthy families or sent it to the capital…

Ah, yes, he could send it to the capital for his nephew.

His nephew traveled a lot, and having these wild game could open many doors.

“This sable is really beautiful,” Shopkeeper Yuan praised.

Pure white, without a single stray hair.

Ning Xin thought this little creature was definitely valuable.

So when Shopkeeper Yuan offered her fifteen taels for the sable, Ning Xin was stunned.

“This thing, actually, ten or so taels is already a high price, but you caught this sable and really saved me. We hit it off right away; I can’t let you lose out.”

“The deer will be five taels each as we agreed, and for the roe deer and goats, I’ll give you eight taels total. How about that?”

How could she refuse? It was truly wonderful.

Ning Xin’s heart soared, and her face showed it. She nodded with a smile.

In total, thirty-three taels—more than enough for buying land, managing affairs, or repairing the house.

“Shopkeeper Yuan, I want one tael in silver coins, and another tael in copper coins.”

It wasn’t an unreasonable request, and Shopkeeper Yuan immediately agreed.

Thirty-two taels in silver coins—already a large sack—and two thousand copper coins besides.

Ning Xin asked Shopkeeper Yuan where she could buy a newly adult mule.

“You want to buy a mule?”

Ning Xin nodded.

“Just so happens, a friend of mine sells mules. I can take you there.”

“Thank you.”

Shopkeeper Yuan had people cage the deer, roe deer, goats, and sable in bamboo cages, wrote a letter, and sent someone immediately to the capital city.

“No delays on the road; get it there as soon as possible.”

Then he took Ning Xin to buy the mule.

The mule seller lived in the county town, but his mule farm was just outside, and Shopkeeper Yuan had bought his mule from him.

Yuan’s friend was very enthusiastic and introduced Ning Xin to a one-year-old mule, considered an adult, very strong.

Sleek and shiny, with sharp, bright eyes.

Ning Xin looked at the large reddish-brown mule before her.

She was very tempted.

She reached out to touch it but got sprayed in the face with saliva.

“?”

“This one, miss, look: its father is that horse over there, and the mother is also a mule. That’s very rare.”

The mule seller didn’t tell Ning Xin that this mule was a tyrant.

Since birth, it bullied the other young mules. Only after it was full did the others get fed.

As it grew older, it fought with other mules it didn’t like and would even bite people.

Especially those who wanted to buy it—no one could touch it, let alone lead it away.

“It’s really good,” Ning Xin said, eyes shining.

She wanted this mule.

“Yes, it’s good. You have a good eye, miss. Usually, I’d ask twenty taels for this mule, but since Shopkeeper Yuan brought you, I’ll give it to you for eighteen taels, plus ten days of feed.”

The mule seller was eager to sell this mule quickly.

It was disobedient and a glutton.

Every extra day he kept it, he lost money.