Rebirth: Not Being a Waste - Chapter 13
Zhang Shu carries the large basket of goods on his back and walks out of the Mo Residence under the envious gazes of the others.
Since it is still early, and some have earned money and want to buy things to take home, Laiwang announces that everyone can wander around for an hour. After that, they are to gather at the city gate. Anyone who is late will not be allowed to come next time.
The group scatters in twos and threes—some buy white flour to make steamed buns for their families, while others plan to buy half a pound of pork to add some richness to their meals.
Zhang Shu thinks for a moment and heads toward a jewelry store in the county. He glanced inside earlier and felt that one particular item would suit Mujin.
It is a hairpin, designed with vine-like branches wrapped around it. It looks unique without being too feminine.
Zhang Shu hesitates at the entrance of the silver shop. He always feels that such places are meant for nobles and high-ranking officials, and that a small farmer like him, dressed in coarse cloth, has no right to enter.
However, the thought of giving Mujin something occupies his mind completely. Pushing aside his apprehension about such an upscale place, he gathers his courage and steps inside.
“Good day, sir! What are you looking for? Is it a gift for your wife or husband? A senior or a younger one? We have a full range of items—please take a look!”
The shop assistant, a round-faced young man of about eighteen or nineteen, greets him warmly, easing Zhang Shu’s nervousness.
“I… I want to look at hairpins.” Once he speaks, he realizes talking to others isn’t as difficult as he imagined.
“Of course! What kind of hairpin are you interested in?”
The assistant, named Wang Xiaohu, might be young, but he has already worked there for two years. He has only recently been moved to the front counter, where he has quickly proven his skills by making several large sales. The shopkeeper smiles every time he sees him. What makes him stand out is his equal treatment of both the rich and the poor, making every customer feel respected.
He unlocks the cabinet, takes out a tray, and displays over a dozen hairpins, each with a different design, all looking exquisite.
Zhang Shu immediately spots the one he saw before—someone had played with it earlier but put it back.
“How much for this one?”
The hairpin is delicate and lightweight in his hand.
Wang Xiaohu takes it, places it on a silver scale, and then calculates on an abacus. “Sir, this hairpin weighs 1.2 qian. Including a thirty- craftsmanship fee, the total comes to 121 . I’ll round it down for you—just 120 wen.”
His bright smile and willingness to offer a small discount make it hard to refuse.
Zhang Shu does the math. It will take him about three and a half days of work to earn enough for this hairpin. It isn’t particularly large, but jewelry is a luxury—being expensive is unavoidable.
He unties the string holding his wages, counts out 120 wen, and hands it to Wang Xiaohu.
Wang Xiaohu takes the money and gives him a long, narrow wooden box to store the hairpin.
Zhang Shu carefully places the box inside his coat, treating it like a treasure.
After buying the hairpin, he decides to get some pork belly as well. His family has roast chicken and wine, and while Mujin’s family isn’t short on meat, they mostly eat game, which is lean. A chunk of fatty pork will be much more satisfying.
The butcher wraps the meat in lotus leaves and secures it with straw before handing it to him. Zhang Shu places it in his basket and heads for the city gate.
By the time he arrives, the others are already there, chatting while sitting against the city wall. They haven’t bought much—what little money they have could feed their families for half a month, but in the county, it feels like tossing a stone into a river, making no splash at all.
“Zhang Shu is lucky—Steward Mo gave him that whole basketful. He’ll have plenty to show off when he gets home.”
“Exactly! Looks like it’s better to keep quiet and speak only when it really matters.”
Zhang Shu simply smiles shyly at their teasing without saying much.
Their return journey is much faster than their trip to the county. Everyone is eager to get home, and the forty-li mountain road takes them less than an hour and a half to cover. By then, it is almost lunchtime in the village.
At the village entrance, they part ways. Since Zhang Shu and Laiwang live nearby, they walk together.
Before they even reach home, a little boy comes running up, shouting from a distance, “Father, you’re back!”
“Ah, my good boy!” Laiwang bends down and scoops up the chubby child. “Where’s your mother?”
“Mom is cooking with Grandma. I just came out to play. Father, did you bring me something to eat?”
“Of course! I’ll give it to you when we get home. This is your Uncle Zhang Shu—why aren’t you greeting him?”
The little one obediently calls out, “Uncle,” staring at Zhang Shu with wide, curious eyes. He has seen him before but has never been told to call him Uncle.
“Good boy!” Zhang Shu feels a bit embarrassed. It is rare for a child to sweetly call him Uncle. After a brief hesitation, he turns to Laiwang and says, “Brother Laiwang, wait here for a moment.” Then, he hurries home.
His grandmother sees him rush inside but doesn’t even have time to call out to him before he dashes into the kitchen. Moments later, he reappears with a bowl in his hands.
She can’t quite see what is inside but chuckles and scolds, “You little rascal,” before going back to her work.
Zhang Shu steps outside with the bowl and sees Laiwang still standing there, holding his son. Smiling, he says, “Brother Laiwang, here, take this bowl of food for Xiao Bao. It’s a gift from this uncle.”
Laiwang looks inside and sees half a roast chicken and a large, glistening drumstick, instantly whetting his appetite.
“No, no, no, roast chicken isn’t cheap, and this was given by Steward Mo, right? You should take it back for your grandparents,” Laiwang says, adjusting his grip on his son. Xiao Bao lies on his father’s back, staring intently at the chicken leg without blinking, but he remains obedient and doesn’t ask for it.
“Brother Laiwang, don’t be like this. This is what I should do. If you hadn’t taken me out to work, how would I have earned these copper coins or gotten this roast chicken? If you refuse, you’re looking down on my gesture.” Zhang Shu blocks his path, determined not to let him leave without accepting it.
Seeing Zhang Shu’s earnest expression, Laiwang has no choice but to relent. “If it weren’t for your quick thinking, no one would’ve gotten an extra day’s wages. Alright, I’ll take it this time, but don’t be so polite next time!” He tries to keep a stern face, but deep down, he admires Zhang Shu even more.
Zhang Shu grins and nods, pleased with the mention of a “next time.”
When he returns home, the atmosphere in the dining room isn’t great. His grandparents seem fine, but his second aunt, who is usually warm and caring, looks particularly displeased. Zhang Shu hesitates at the table, unsure of what is going on.
Grandma Zhang pulls him aside and says, “Shu, your second aunt said she saw you take a bowl of roast chicken out. Who did you give it to? Explain it to her.”
Zhang Shu suddenly remembers—when he went to the kitchen to fetch a knife to chop the chicken, his second aunt had been cooking inside.
“Oh, there’s still half left. I’ll go chop it now.”
He heads to the kitchen, takes out the remaining half of the roast chicken wrapped in lotus leaves, and carefully chops it into several pieces with a kitchen knife.
The chicken from Steward Mo is quite large. Even after giving half away, it still fills an entire plate.
After a moment’s thought, Zhang Shu takes out a jar of wine, steps back into his room to hide the basket, then returns with the roast chicken and wine.
“Grandpa, Grandma, Brother Laiwang took me out to find work, so it’s only right that we show our gratitude. I simply shared half of what I earned. This way, they’ll be willing to take me along again next time.”
He places the roast chicken and wine on the table, quickly picking up the drumstick and handing it to his grandfather, then giving the wing to his grandmother. “Try it and see if it’s good. Steward Mo specifically told me to bring it back for you two.”
His grandparents beam with joy, their wrinkled faces folding into delighted smiles.
“Our Ah’shu has really grown up! He even understands how to maintain relationships. That’s the right way to do things. We may be neighbors, but they weren’t obligated to take you along. Ah’shu did the right thing!”
Grandfather shoots a glance at Second Uncle, signaling him to reassure his wife that Zhang Shu hasn’t favored outsiders. After all, there is still plenty of roast chicken and a jar of wine left.
Speaking of the wine, Grandfather reaches to open the lid for a taste, but Grandma Zhang swiftly snatches it away. “Shu, this wine is too good. Let’s save it for the next festival!” She happily stashes it away in the room.
Zhang Shu glances at his second aunt, who still wears a sulky expression, and feels a small sense of satisfaction. He has made his own decision about his belongings, and no one else has the right to criticize him for it.
The younger family members, seeing their grandparents start eating, eagerly reach for the roast chicken. Zhang Shu helps serve his grandparents a piece before taking two for himself.
When Wang Cuilan tries to grab a piece, only the chicken head and feet are left. Her expression darkens slightly before she mutters that she isn’t feeling well and leaves for her room.
When Grandma Zhang returns after hiding the wine, she notices someone is missing and asks, “Where’s Cuilan?”
“Grandma, Second Aunt isn’t feeling well. Let’s save some food for her so she can rest properly.”
Grandma Zhang nods in agreement. She picks up a bowl and fills it with food for Cuilan. But just as she is about to add some roast chicken, Zhang Shu stops her. “Grandma, greasy food isn’t good for someone who’s unwell. You should eat it instead.”
His grandmother nods approvingly. “Ah’shu is such a thoughtful boy.” Then, she lets it be.
No one thinks much of the situation, but Zhang Huai notices it. He can’t shake the feeling that something has changed about his usually timid older cousin.
