Since the blue bricks were purchased and didn't require the time-consuming process of making and sun-drying adobe bricks, Song Jinzhao's new house was built faster than initially planned.
In less than five days, the main hall and the two side rooms were completed.
Old Man Song counted on his fingers, calculating the money spent these past days. The blue bricks and roof tiles alone had already cost thirty-two taels of silver.
He found Song Jinzhao to discuss: "You and Shixue can share one room. When Anhao grows up, he can stay with Qiming. The blue-brick rooms are enough for the four of you now. How about building the rest with adobe bricks?"
Song Jinzhao refused without hesitation and handed him another twenty taels.
Old Man Song, holding the silver, had no choice but to go back to the brick kiln.
After a construction period of ten days, the new house was completely finished.
The three-meter-high earthen walls were thickly built, making it impossible to see what anyone was doing inside the courtyard from the outside.
Entering through the main gate, on the right-hand side were a sheep pen and a woodshed built from adobe bricks, wood, and bamboo. Walking forward, on the left were two rooms side by side, and on the right was the kitchen.
Further ahead stood the main hall flanked by two more rooms, along with the outhouse.
The zigzagging corridors, shaped like the character for 'mountain', were all covered with tiled eaves for shelter from rain, so there was no worry about getting wet even in wind and rain.
Song Qiming and Song Shixue couldn't wait to explore every corner of the house; they had never seen such a beautiful building before.
The thought that this was their new home, where they could live every day, made the smiles on their faces unstoppable.
Old Man Song stood silently beside Song Jinzhao, his eyes filled with both joy and worry.
He had personally overseen every aspect of the construction—the beams, bricks, tiles, and even the tables, chairs, and benches inside the rooms were bought through his contacts.
No one knew better than Old Man Song exactly how much money had been spent.
Compared to the original thirty taels, it had more than doubled, costing over seventy taels of silver in total.
He truly hadn't expected Song Jinzhao to have so much money; every time the funds ran out, she provided more.
After the completion, when Old Man Song did the final calculation, he almost lost his breath in shock.
Second Aunt Song dragged Elder Aunt Song on a tour around the house, from the outhouse to the woodshed, her eyes full of envy.
"When will I ever get to live in such a fine house?"
Elder Aunt Song glanced at her. "Perhaps when your husband has the same capability as Jinzhao, you might get to live in one."
Second Aunt Song rolled her eyes; relying on him, she'd never live in one in her lifetime.
While looking at the house, Old Lady Song grinned but also complained: "Building such a fine house is such a waste. Anhao isn't even grown yet."
The speaker might have been unintentional, but the listener was deliberate. Second Aunt Song's eyes lit up, and she immediately sought out Song Jinzhao.
"Anhao doesn't need the west room right now. Could Yaozu move in for a few years? He can move back once his father builds a new house later."
Old Man Song, already burdened with a hundred worries, instantly darkened, his face as black as soot from a pot.
"Your family's three rooms are just enough. If you want to live in a blue-brick house, give Jinzhao ten taels of silver."
Second Aunt Song immediately fell silent. If she had the money, why would she need to live in someone else's house?
In reality, just as Old Man Song worried, after the housewarming feast, Song Jinzhao was truly out of money.
The construction had exceeded the budget, eating up a small half of the money earned from selling grain.
It was like going back to square one overnight. Now she only had three taels of silver left, which was indeed rather little.
Thinking of the wild boars and deer herds she had seen across the North Mountain River while gathering mushrooms, she decided to attempt something big.
Previously, with small-scale efforts, she had never bought proper weapons. An axe was sharp but only useful in close combat, greatly increasing the danger.
The bow and arrows made from bamboo and hemp rope were sufficient for shooting pheasants and rabbits, but to take down a wild boar, they likely wouldn't pierce deep enough, and even if hit, it would probably escape.
Song Jinzhao went to the blacksmith's shop in Xining City to buy a proper bow.
The young blacksmith Sun Youli, who was forging iron, saw Song Jinzhao lingering at the entrance and curiously asked, "What brings you here, miss?"
The temperature inside the shop was extremely high. The blacksmiths forging iron were all bare-chested, so few women came by.
Even those passing by would cover their eyes and hurry away. Someone like Song Jinzhao, staring so directly, was almost unheard of.
Song Jinzhao stepped forward, her eyes fixed on the various iron tools displayed on the table inside the shop. "I want to buy a bow and a dagger."
Sun Youli looked at her in surprise, then slowly gestured to invite her into the shop.
"These are all bows made recently. They can pierce through flesh, extremely sharp."
Song Jinzhao picked up a bow from the table, drew it to test, and found it quite good—it should be able to kill a wild boar. So she asked, "How much for this one?"
Sun Youli replied, "Two taels of silver for a bow, fifteen copper coins per arrow."
Song Jinzhao blinked, not expecting them to be so expensive.
She took two steps forward and picked up a dagger from the rack. The reflection from the blade was glaringly bright, clearly indicating its sharpness.
"And this one?"
Sun Youli held up one finger. "One tael of silver."
Wanting both, Song Jinzhao began to bargain.
"If I buy one bow and one dagger, could you give me ten arrows?"
Sun Youli shook his head, opening his palm. "Five at most."
Song Jinzhao pursed her lips, frowning as if in difficulty. "Five arrows aren't enough. How about nine?"
"Six at most."
Song Jinzhao took a deep breath, putting on a pained expression. "Eight. I'll come back to buy from you next time."
Sun Youli hesitated for a second, then turned to look at Sun Tieshan, who was forging by the furnace. The other man was noticeably older.
They weren't of the same generation, likely father and son or master and apprentice.
Sun Tieshan stopped his hammer and said to Song Jinzhao, "Seven at most. A single arrow costs fifteen copper coins. Seven is one hundred and five coins. Any more and we'd be losing money."
Seeing he was the one in charge, Song Jinzhao nodded in agreement. "Seven it is, then. I want to pick them myself."
He gave a slight shake of his head. "Pick as you like. Every arrow from my shop can pierce the air and sink deep into wood. Any that aren't sharp enough are melted down and reforged."
...
At the third watch of Yin hour, the sky outside was still dark.
Song Qiming and Song Shixue watched Song Jinzhao leave with faces full of concern.
"Brother, did building the house use up a lot of money?"
Otherwise, why would Elder Sister have to rush up the mountain to hunt in the dark just two days after moving in?
Song Qiming gazed at the pitch-black sky. The courtyard gate was closed, and he could no longer see his elder sister's figure.
Why couldn't mushrooms be available all year round? If they were, he wouldn't be so helpless.
"Grandpa and Grandma said building the house cost dozens of taels of silver, using up all the family's money."
He didn't know the exact amount, only that the wooden box under Elder Sister's bed was now empty.
It used to be stuffed full, all silver and copper coins.
Song Shixue's round, tender little face scrunched up.
The new house was beautiful and comfortable to live in, but it cost too much money, making Elder Sister work so hard.
