Transmigrated into the role of the matriarch, I ensured my family had enough to eat and wear during

Upon hearing that Tang Susu had chosen Tang Liqiang to accompany her, Yang Gousheng's eyes widened immediately, and he stubbornly argued, "Mom! I can do math, I can help you collect money! Brother Liqiang can't do math, he's useless!"

As she spoke, she glared fiercely at Tang Liqiang.

Tang Liqiang wasn't angry at all, and replied with a smile, "I'm strong, I can help Mom carry things and move heavy objects, you're not strong enough to lift anything."

"Stop arguing," Tang Susu explained with a smile. "Liqiang is stronger, and we need to buy some daily necessities like oil, salt, and cloth when we get back. There are a lot of things, and they're heavy, so he'll be responsible for carrying them home. Gousheng, you stay home and help Aunt Yulan look after the house. We'll take you to town to play next time the business is more stable."

She had other plans in mind: Tang Liqiang was honest and simple-minded, unlike Yang Gousheng who was clever and shrewd. She could buy things on the trading platform when no one was looking, making it less likely that Tang Liqiang would notice, and thus safer.

Tang Liqiang had no idea of ​​the "unique reason" for being chosen; he only knew that he could go to town and help out, so he was overjoyed.

He jumped out of bed, humming a tuneless little tune, and ran to the yard to wash his face.

Although Yang Gousheng was still somewhat unwilling, seeing Tang Susu's resolute attitude, he could only pout and agree.

When the three siblings finished getting ready and went out, Yang Defu had already parked the oxcart at the entrance of the village.

The oxcart was empty—in this year of famine, everyone was starving, and spending a copper coin on a ride was less worthwhile than saving it to buy a steamed bun. Even if it was a tiring walk to town, they could save money, and no one wanted to waste that coin.

Tang Susu, Tang Lifu, and Tang Liqiang boarded the oxcart, which carried four large wooden buckets: one filled with cold jelly, one bucket of water for washing dishes, one bucket with empty wooden bowls, and one empty bucket for later use.

Tang Susu planned to buy fifteen sets of bowls and spoons first when she got to the street. The wooden bowls at home had been used for too long and were blackened, which would look unhygienic and undignified for guests.

Moreover, having extra bowls and spoons on hand, in case they're not enough, actually proves that the jelly is selling well.

Yang Defu cracked his whip and slowly drove the oxcart toward Dongtai Town.

He casually asked, "Dog's mother, what are you doing in town?"

"I've come up with some food ideas, I'll go to the street and see if I can sell them and earn some money to help with household expenses," Tang Susu replied with a smile.

She intentionally wanted the whole village to know that she was making money, so that when she used the money to build a new house and live a stable life later, it wouldn't cause any gossip.

However, she certainly wouldn't reveal all the details about how much she could earn.

Yang Defu didn't ask any more questions.

It's not surprising that people from Yangqu Village often go to town to sell small items like eggs, firewood, embroidered handkerchiefs, and pastries, all for the sake of making a living.

The oxcart moved forward smoothly, and before long, something suddenly flew down from a tree by the roadside and hit Tang Susu squarely on the back of her hand.

It's a locust.

She was also hit by locusts the last time she took an oxcart home.

When Tang Liqiang saw the locust, his eyes widened, and he reached out and precisely pinched it, popping it with a "snap".

His hands were covered in the sticky juice of locusts, but he didn't care and simply wiped them on his trouser leg.

Tang Susu had a terrible headache.

They were there to sell food, and they were particular about cleanliness and hygiene.

Tang Liqiang's slovenly appearance is simply a "hygiene disaster".

If customers saw this, they would definitely be scared away, and who would want to buy her jelly?

She quickly picked up a gourd ladle from beside the car, scooped up a ladle of water, and handed it to Tang Liqiang: "Quickly wash your hands clean! We sell food, you can't have your hands this dirty."

Tang Liqiang's dark face instantly turned bright red. He hung his head and muttered softly, "Mom, I was wrong. I'll never do it again."

No sooner had he finished speaking than another locust slammed into his face.

Tang Liqiang reacted extremely quickly, raising his hand and slapping down, instantly covering his face with the remains and juices of locusts, turning it into a filthy, cat-like face.

Tang Susu's eyelids twitched, and she gave him a disgruntled look.

Tang Liqiang immediately realized his mistake and quickly picked up a gourd ladle to scoop water, carefully cleaning the stains off his face and hands, afraid that Tang Susu would be angry and send him home.

Tang Susu looked up at the sky and saw many locusts flying around in twos and threes.

The number isn't particularly large, but it shouldn't be ignored.

Yang Defu frowned, his face full of worry, and said, "Last year, the locust plague was rampant and ruined a lot of grain. If there is another locust plague this year, not only our Yangqu Village, but the entire Dongtai Town will suffer."

"No way," Tang Lifu shook his head vigorously in rebuttal. "Uncle Village Head said that once locusts fly away, they won't come back. These are probably just a few scattered ones that didn't fly away last year. They're few in number and easy to deal with."

Yang Defu didn't reply, but silently drove the car, his expression still solemn.

Tang Susu also silently counted the locusts in the sky, and there were about a hundred of them at a casual count.

She secretly worried: if these locusts spread, the rice that had finally been watered and was starting to grow might be destroyed.

She suddenly remembered seeing the "locust-sweeping chicken and duck army" on the trending topics in her previous life—thousands or even tens of thousands of chickens and ducks that could eat all the locusts.

But now there are only three chickens at home: Zhuangzhuang, Dahua, and Erhua. Even if the hen broods and hatches chicks, it can't keep up with the speed at which the locust plague spreads.

She made up her mind that once she got to town, she would see if there were any chicks for sale, and buy a lot to raise at home, so that they could lay eggs and also protect against locust plagues.

The three siblings each had their own thoughts, and the oxcart bumped along the way, soon arriving at Dongtai Town.

The sun had just risen, and golden sunlight bathed the streets, marking the bustling time of the morning market day.

The streets were packed with pedestrians, and all sorts of stalls lined both sides of the road. Shouts and calls of vendors filled the air, and every stall was surrounded by a large crowd.

Yangqu Village is far from the town, and although they set off before dawn, they were still a step too late.

The best stalls with high foot traffic on the street were already taken by the vendors who arrived first.

The three of them pushed the oxcart around the market for half a day, and finally found an empty space at the end of the street. They quickly unloaded the four wooden barrels from the cart and put them away.

Tang Susu immediately assigned tasks: "Liqiang, you stay here and guard the things. Don't wander off or talk to anyone. Lifu, go to the restaurant across the street and ask if we can borrow a couple of tables. Just say you'll pay the owner four copper coins for rent. If they don't want to lend them to us, let's just forget about it and not force it."

After settling the two of them in, she turned around and went to buy bowls and spoons.

Tang Susu arrived at the only grocery store in town.

The shop displayed all kinds of bowls and spoons, among which a set of exquisitely designed porcelain bowls looked quite nice.

She stepped forward to ask the price, and the shopkeeper raised his eyelids slightly and said slowly, "Thirty-eight coins each."

Tang Susu clicked her tongue in surprise: one bowl costs thirty-eight coins, so buying fifteen bowls would cost five hundred and seventy coins. Add in the spoons, and the cost is too high.

Even if I sell a whole bucket of cold noodles, I won't even make enough to cover the cost of the bowl. That won't do.

She asked tactfully, "Shopkeeper, do you have any cheaper bowls?"

The shopkeeper looked impatient and pointed to a pile of defective goods on the ground in the corner: "Yes, these broken bowls, one copper coin each, take your pick."

Tang Susu squatted down to examine them closely. These bowls either had cracks on the edges, or the patterns were rough and unsightly. Some were even stained with stains that were difficult to clean. They were only slightly better than the broken wooden bowls at home.

She shook her head helplessly, got up and left the grocery store.

The shopkeeper watched her retreating figure with a hint of disdain, muttering under his breath, "Such a poor, slovenly girl, always picking and choosing."

Tang Susu didn't care and walked straight into a deserted dark alley.

She brought up the system's trading platform and searched for "bowls and spoons." Immediately, a wide variety of bowls and spoons appeared on the platform, each one exquisite and pleasing to the eye, and the prices were much cheaper than in general stores.

She chose a set of medium-sized white porcelain bowls with beautiful cloud patterns printed on the bottom. The set of bowls and spoons cost only twenty-five coins, which was extremely cost-effective.

She immediately placed an order, and in the blink of an eye, a brand new set of bowls and spoons appeared in her hands.

When Tang Susu returned to her stall with her bowl and spoon, she found that Tang Lifu and Tang Liqiang had already set up the two tables.

She was somewhat surprised: Tang Lifu had always been tongue-tied and not good with words, but she never expected that he would be able to borrow tables and chairs from the restaurant so easily.

This might be a good omen.