After that, during the day, Ye Yunniang would first go to work at the Baise Embroidery Shop.
After closing the shop, she would run all over Jiangcheng, buying mountain goods, dried fruits, salted fish... anything edible and storable was put into the cellar.
Ye Yunniang also used the change of seasons and the excuse of fearing the elderly and children at home might fall ill to buy many prepared medicinal pills from the pharmacy and store them in the cellar.
Watching the shelves in the cellar gradually fill up gave Ye Yunniang a great sense of accomplishment.
During this time, Jiangcheng also began a city-wide cleanup and deepening of wells. News about the drought this year spread.
People in Jiangcheng rushed to line up and panic-buy grain.
For a time, grain prices rose extremely fast.
To avoid arousing suspicion, Cai Damei and Ye Yunniang took turns lining up at the rice and flour shops to buy provisions.
The price of rice and flour changed daily.
Flour, originally 8 wen per jin, rose to 20 wen per jin in just eight days.
Rice also increased from 6 wen per jin to 30 wen per jin.
Even at these prices, it was hard to buy. Those at the back of the line every day couldn't get any grain, leaving their families to go hungry.
The common people groaned with discontent.
Bao Min, as the Prefect of Jiangcheng, intervened promptly, summoning major grain merchants for talks.
The rice and flour shops resumed normal sales, but with purchase limits—five jin per person per day. Prices dropped somewhat but were still 8 to 10 wen more expensive than the usual price.
Ye Yunniang, queuing early in the morning, bought five jin of rice, and Qiongniang behind her bought five jin of flour.
Returning to Wanxia Lane, they went to the Li house first.
Ye Yunniang measured out two jin of rice for Mi Qiongniang.
Qiongniang measured out three jin of flour for Ye Yunniang.
They settled the cost with each other.
Satisfied, Qiongniang went home.
Ye Yunniang put the rice and flour in the kitchen.
A knock sounded at the door.
Opening it, she found Chunyao.
After entering, Chunyao said mysteriously, "I have a channel to buy rice and flour. Do you want some?"
"Is it safe? Reliable?"
"Absolutely no problem. My husband found the connection. My family has ordered five thousand jin of rice and three thousand jin of flour." Chunyao reported the quantity her family had ordered.
Hearing this, Ye Yunniang said she wanted to buy some. However, "What's the price? I don't have much money on hand."
"The price is a bit higher than the market. Rice is 29 wen, flour 25 wen."
"So expensive!"
"It's smuggled into the city from the south. All the necessary arrangements along the way cost money." Chunyao explained the reason for the high price.
After calculating, Ye Yunniang gave the amount she wanted.
"I'll take 100 jin of rice and 200 jin of flour."
"You're only buying that little?"
"I'd like to buy more, but the family can't afford it." Ye Yunniang was short on funds.
"I'll lend it to you." Chunyao offered readily.
Chunyao believed that by helping Ye Yunniang now, she could get double or even a hundredfold returns from Jiang Mingzhe in the future.
"Sister Chunyao, I appreciate your kindness. But I can't borrow. You don't earn money easily either." Ye Yunniang shook her head.
"I bought some earlier by queuing, plus this purchase. It should be enough for the family for two or three months.
By the time it's eaten, the summer harvest will arrive. Grain prices should drop a bit then."
"It hasn't rained for over a month. If it continues not to rain, who knows if there will even be a summer harvest." Chunyao urged Ye Yunniang to prepare early.
"I believe the court won't abandon us. I can still save a little by queuing to buy grain every day now."
Seeing Ye Yunniang was determined, Chunyao didn't persuade further and went home.
"What did the mistress say?"
"100 jin of rice, 200 jin of flour." Chunyao reported the weight Ye Yunniang ordered.
"Buying only that much, how can it be enough?" Chef Jin frowned.
"I tried persuading until my tongue was dry. She just wouldn't buy more." Chunyao was also helpless.
"Let's buy some more ourselves. If she runs out later, you can deliver some to the mistress." Chef Jin thought for a moment and said.
"Where does the family have the money?" The money for buying grain now was raised by Chunyao pawning some jewelry.
"I have a way." Chef Jin didn't elaborate.
Ye Yunniang didn't ask Chunyao when the rice and flour would arrive, continuing to queue up early every day to buy provisions.
Half a month later, Ye Yunniang received notice from Chunyao that the rice and flour had arrived.
Ye Yunniang gave the prepared money to Chunyao.
One night, Chef Jin brought twenty sacks of rice and flour with trusted helpers.
"Brother-in-law Jin, you brought too many. Please take the extra back." Ye Yunniang's money was only enough for three sacks at most.
"Take the grain and eat it first. If it's not enough, I'll send more." Chef Jin left these words and departed with his men.
Afraid of waking the Xu family next door, Ye Yunniang didn't dare to speak loudly or stop them.
Looking at the twenty sacks of grain in the main room, she rolled up her sleeves.
The main room faced the courtyard gate; anyone peeking in during the day could see.
Ye Yunniang tried to carry one on her back but couldn't lift it.
The sack slipped, about to fall on Ye Yunniang.
A strong hand caught the sack that nearly hit Ye Yunniang.
Ye Yunniang looked up to see Tong Mo.
"What are you doing here?"
"I heard noise and came to check." Tong Mo explained, picking up one sack in each hand.
A sack of grain as heavy as a mountain to Ye Yunniang was as light as a toy in Tong Mo's hands.
Tong Mo effortlessly moved the grain into the cellar.
"I boiled some hot water. Take it back to wash up."
"Alright." Tong Mo took the bucket of hot water from Ye Yunniang's hands.
As Ye Yunniang withdrew her hand, Tong Mo's other hand grasped hers.
"I acted rashly before and hurt you. I apologize to you. I will change. I will become mature and steady. Give me a chance, okay?"
After speaking, Tong Mo released Ye Yunniang's hand and left.
He was afraid of hearing Ye Yunniang's refusal.
Ye Yunniang watched Tong Mo's somewhat flustered retreat and smiled.
Where was the steadiness?
The well-cleaning project reached Wanxia Lane.
For the wells, after assessment by specialists, those unsuitable for further deepening were left as they were.
The well in the Li family's backyard was confirmed to remain unchanged, while the one in the front courtyard could be dug deeper.
After Wanxia Lane was finished, time moved into July.
The heat became unbearable.
Several children at the school suffered heatstroke one after another, so Teacher Du suspended classes, sending the children home to rest.
To care for Li Pan, Li An, and Bao Shuyi, Ye Yunniang decided to temporarily close the embroidery shop.
"Does your head still hurt?"
"No." Li Pan, lying in bed, shook his head listlessly.
"No matter how hot it is, you can't be greedy and eat too much ice." Ye Yunniang instructed Li Pan.
The weather was too hot. Li Pan, craving coolness, ate three bowls of shaved ice and had a stomach ache in the middle of the night.
Even without Ye Yunniang saying anything, Li Pan wouldn't eat so much again. This time, he had suffered greatly.
"Pan'er, Grandma made you shredded pork congee. Have some." Cai Damei entered the room holding a bowl of congee.
Hearing "pork," Li Pan's stomach growled.
“Here, let Grandma feed you.” Cai Damei said with concern, holding a spoon to feed Li Pan.
Li Pan, weakened from the diarrhea, had no strength. He opened his mouth, waiting for Cai Damei to feed him.
After finishing the congee, Li Pan fell asleep.
Ye Yunniang and Cai Damei went out, stopping Li An who wanted to go in and see Li Pan.
"How is brother?" Li An felt very guilty. He didn't like shaved ice, but Li Pan wanted it, so he gave his bowl to Li Pan.
Li Ping was delayed by matters and hadn't returned, so his bowl, to prevent it from melting, was also given to Li Pan to eat.
"He drank a bowl of shredded pork congee and fell asleep." Ye Yunniang took Li An's hand. "Have you had any?"
"I won't drink it. Save it for brother."
"Grandma made plenty. How much can your brother drink?" Ye Yunniang pulled Li An to the kitchen, served a bowl of shredded pork congee, and opened the cupboard to take out some pickled side dishes.
Li An ate the side dishes and drank a large bowl of pork congee.
After finishing, without waiting for Ye Yunniang to do it, he took the bowl to wash it himself.
"An'an, sit down and keep your mother company for a chat." Ye Yunniang called out to Li An, who was about to leave the kitchen.
An'an sat down on the stool opposite Ye Yunniang.
"Who did you see?"
