Reborn with a Space: Building a Fortune Amidst Famine

Chapter 67: 67 Unexpected Gain

”Uncle Yang, I’ll make a trip to the grocery store, we’re out of salt at home.”

Yuanyuan bought twenty pounds of coarse salt, which she planned to use for pickling salted duck eggs and cucumbers.

There was sugar in the space, so she bought fifty candles. Although she didn’t use many candles, it was still better to be prepared.

She didn’t buy anything else. As she came out of the grocery store, she saw a child holding a bottle-gourd vase.

Yuanyuan’s eyelids twitched, ”Little kid, the one holding the bottle-gourd vase, could you stop for a moment?”

The child looked at Yuanyuan warily. ”Kid, your bottle-gourd vase comes in a pair, right? Aren’t you afraid of dropping it while running?”

”I won’t drop it.”

Yuanyuan’s temples twitched, ”Kid, why are you carrying a bottle-gourd vase out?”

”My grandpa is sick, and my family has no money. I came to sell this vase; it’s a pair, but I can’t carry two myself.”

”Kid, do you know where to sell it? You won’t get tricked, right?”

”The neighbor told me to go to the grocery store, but I’ve asked several places and no one will take it.”

”How much were you planning to sell this vase for? I mean, how much for the pair?”

”They said one could sell for two dollars.”

”Come on, I’ll go home with you and take a look. If the other one is also in good condition, I’ll buy them.”

”Really?”

”Of course, let’s go.”

On the way, Yuanyuan learned about the family’s situation. The boy’s family used to be large landowners, and they avoided trouble by donating a lot of grain and money to the army.

But when it finally came, things likely didn’t turn out well.

Yuanyuan was carrying twenty pounds of salt, which wasn’t easy, as it was heavier than she was.

The boy’s house looked quite nice. She followed him inside.

”Sister, look, both vases are here.

My grandpa is very fond of them. But we don’t have money now, so we have to sell them.” The boy was a little downcast.

Then a weak voice came from inside the room, and the child ran in. Yuanyuan felt she should also take a look, although she wasn’t sure why she felt that way. But she followed them inside anyway.

Yuanyuan saw a frail old man lying on the heated brick bed.

The child was already telling his grandfather about selling the vases.

Shi Laifu looked at the young girl who came in; having gone through so much, he was good at judging people.

”Xiao Jie, go buy some steamed buns, I’m a little hungry.”

The little guy wiped his tears, glanced at Yuanyuan, and ran off.

”Little girl, do you like these?”

”Yes, grandpa, I like them very much.”

”I still have many at home. I’ll sell them all to you. I’m not going to make it, and I can’t keep them safe.

Better to leave money for my grandson.” He had already planned. Before he died, he would send the child to his maternal grandmother’s house with some money. With money, they would at least take care of him a bit, and when he turns ten or so, he could take care of himself.

”Grandpa, I can take them all.”

Yuanyuan didn’t know why she felt such discomfort. So she followed her heart and agreed with the old man.

”Little girl, could you do me a favor? Help me up, I’ll show you all the good things. I hid them away. Take them all, I can tell you’ll take good care of them.” Shi Laifu didn’t know why he had this feeling.

Yuanyuan helped the old man up, and they went to the wood shed. There wasn’t much firewood left.

”Little girl, do you see these two pieces of wood? This is rosewood; I give it to you.”

”Thank you, grandpa.”

”Move the wood aside. Look carefully, there’s a board you need to lift.”

People had come looking over a dozen times. If not for the firewood concealing it, it would have been lost long ago.

Yuanyuan lifted the stone slab. ”Girl, go down. There are three chests. Go have a look.”

Yuanyuan found candles and matches from a box and went down. The space wasn’t big, just about two square meters of a cellar.

She opened the first chest, which contained gold and silver. Although it wasn’t full, she tried with all her strength and couldn’t move it.

The second chest contained some porcelain ornaments.

The third chest held paintings, calligraphy, and books.

When she came up, she saw the old man already breathing heavily.

She quickly helped him up, brought him into the room, and let him lie down.

”Grandpa, just tell me how much you want for these, I’ll take them all.”

”Hehe, you’re a clever girl. If this gold were exchanged at the bank, it would be worth seven or eight hundred. Just give me a thousand for everything.”

Yuanyuan felt conflicted. These treasures were being sold for only a thousand.

”No problem, I’ll come back soon to take them.”

”Alright, I’ll send my grandson away by then. And in the future, if you happen to encounter this child, help him out once.”

Yuanyuan nodded, ”No problem. I’ll leave for now. After lunch, I’ll come pick them up, and I’ll go back and get the money.”

After Yuanyuan left, she went to the wood shed again, put everything from the three chests into the space, and then left.

There were definitely people eyeing these things, and she understood the old man’s intentions. He wouldn’t make it. His grandson couldn’t protect these things; it’d be better to exchange them for money, much easier to conceal than these items.

Yuanyuan returned to Old Yang’s house, and his eldest apprentice was already back.

”Girl, where did you go alone? See, the front gate is installed.”

Yuanyuan mentioned Shi Laifu’s location, ”Uncle Yang, do you know that person?”

Old Yang nodded, ”Yes, he’s a good person.”

”He’s not doing well. I saw his grandson selling the vases, so I bought them. I also bought three chests and two pieces of wood. After lunch, Big Brother, come with me to load them.”

Yuanyuan decided to do this openly. After all, the chests were empty, she just bought three pieces of furniture.

”Alright, the eldest has already finished eating. You eat quickly too.”

Yuanyuan only ate one steamed bun, and Old Yang went with them to the Shi Family.

They loaded three chests and two pieces of wood onto the cart. Yuanyuan went inside and saw the little boy curled up beside his grandfather, asleep.

This poor child would have to walk the rest of the road alone from now on.

Yuanyuan took out the money and handed it to the old man. The two didn’t say much.

When she left, she took the vases with her. Old Yang handled things well; he knew many people were eyeing the Shi Family, thinking there were still good things there. So Old Yang had his apprentice open the three chests, leaving them ajar for all to see. It saved trouble later.

Yuanyuan holding the bottle-gourd vase climbed onto the cart, ”Uncle Yang, I’m heading back.”

Old Yang’s eldest apprentice was an honest man, not much of a talker. Yuanyuan, feeling weighed down, had no desire to speak either, so they both remained silent until they reached home.