Chapter 362: Changing Charcoal

Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation

Liu Xing’s offer was incredibly enticing. The weather had turned cold this year, and there was an insufficient supply of charcoal. Currently, everyone was scrambling to buy cotton, causing the price of cotton to rise by an extra cent per half a kilos.

Back then, a cent was significant. One quilt required at least five kilos of cotton, meaning that making a quilt now cost an extra coin!

A coin could buy a pair of cotton shoes.

Had Jiang Xia been a mere child, she would’ve been dazzled by such an offer and would’ve instantly agreed. However, Jiang Xia was sharp-minded. What she was after wasn’t just the cotton but the continuous supply of charcoal in Liu Xing’s home.

Compared to cotton, the real need now was the daily-used charcoal!

Seeing Jiang Xia remaining silent, Liu Xing assumed she didn’t understand the value of cotton. He thought she only cared about food and proceeded to explain the significance of cotton, from its origin to its insulating properties.

After delivering a lengthy spiel, he wrapped up, emphasizing, “So, you must buy the cotton.”

Jiang Xia just listened to Liu Xing’s flowery words, his saliva almost sprinkling like rain. She waited until he took a sip of water before flashing her harmless smile and replied, “Uncle Liu, I still don’t want the cotton.”

“Cough!” Liu Xing choked on his water, coughing for a while before recovering. He felt a mixture of frustration and anger at Jiang Xia. Why hadn’t she said so earlier? He had been talking his mouth dry, and she just declined his offer. Who was she trying to annoy?

Indeed, Jiang Xia had a knack for exasperating people. It wasn’t surprising that Liu Xing was irate. He could only blame his bad luck.

When Xiao Li heard Jiang Xia decline the cotton, he was stunned, fearing that she didn’t know better. He was concerned that Jiang Chuan would blame him for not supervising her. So, he quickly reiterated the benefits to her.

He then whispered in her ear, “With cotton, we can make padded jackets for you and Xiao Gu. Once you two start school, you can wear the new jackets to class. No one else will have them.”

It felt like he was coaxing a child.

Seeing Xiao Li’s earnest expression, Jiang Xia felt a pang of regret. Of course, she knew the benefits of cotton; she didn’t need someone constantly reminding her. Given the circumstances, if she refused the cotton again, she’d appear foolish.

However, she had to make a choice: it was either the cotton or the charcoal, and she absolutely needed the latter.

She remembered a conversation with the youngest child of the Zhang family on Grand Cloud Mountain. He had spoken proudly of their life there. Despite the inconvenience of traveling to the city, which took half a day, they had everything they needed.

Furthermore, the Zhang family lived by hunting and maintained a close relationship with Su Zhen. The money they earned from selling their game was substantial. Every winter in the past years, they would haul carts loaded with coal back to their house. They didn’t skimp on coal during the cold season. Every night, they would light enough coal to keep them warm throughout, ensuring that by the next morning, the house was cozy.

As for clothing and shoes, although there’s a scarcity of cotton up in the mountains, they possessed various animal furs to make padded jackets. These jackets, tailored from animal hides, provided resistance against the cold, making them even warmer than regular cotton jackets.

It had been many years since the eldest sister had returned home. Jiang Xia did not wish for her life to be any lesser than what she had experienced in the mountains.

In the past, the eldest sister had endured much hardship at home for their sake. She had left empty-handed, but now that she was back, the Jiang family intended to make up for all that they couldn’t provide for her before.

Jiang Xia believed this reflected her parents’ sentiments too.

Although the Jiang family’s past hardships were not closely linked to Jiang Xia and her siblings, in the hearts of Zhou Lan and Jiang Chuan, there was always a feeling of guilt towards their daughters. They hoped to make up for their previous shortcomings as best they could.

So, even if Xiao Li and Liu Xing praised the cotton to the skies today, Jiang Xia’s only objective was the coal.

Jiang Xia sighed inwardly, then looked up at Xiao Li with a resolute gaze. “Uncle Li, I truly don’t want the cotton. I’d like to exchange it for something else.”

Xiao Li stayed silent, realizing that this young girl was not one to be easily swayed.

“Oh? What do you want in exchange?”

It was Liu Xing who asked, his curiosity piqued. Seeing that both men were unable to persuade her, he became more intrigued by what she might have in mind..

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