Chapter 221: Town Entrance Fee Increased
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
In the end, when Wang Dashan was about to enter the town, he found out that the entrance fee had increased.
And it was a 100% increase.
In his situation, he only needed to pay three copper coins for himself and the goods in the past. This time, he had to pay six copper coins.
When Wang Dashan thought of how little he was earning from his handcart of firewood, he was so angry that he almost wanted to turn around and leave.
However, he swallowed his anger eventually. After paying the fee, he entered the town.
In the end, after he entered the town and went to the place where he sold firewood, he found out that many things in town had increased in price.
This was particularly true for the grains in the grain store.
The price of brown rice and coarse flour had reached 22 copper coins per catty. And it could continue to rise at any time.
The prices of other food-related items also rose.
Everyone was talking about this, thinking that a famine was coming.
When Wang Dashan heard this news, he felt a very heavy weight in his heart.
Fortunately, there was also good news.
The price of firewood had also increased.
Previously, two bundles of firewood were only sold for five copper coins, but now the price had risen to eight copper coins. It could be considered a big increase.
After selling the firewood, Wang Dashan pushed the firewood meant for the Song family to Yong An Lane.
On the way, he met some regular customers. When they saw Wang Dashan, they all ordered firewood from him.
For those who had ordered from him earlier, Wang Dashan immediately accepted their orders and said that he would send the firewood over after he went back.
As for those who ordered later, Wang Dashan said they would have to wait until the next day.
Although some people were unhappy with the price increase, most people expressed their understanding.
After all, there were too many items that had increased in price.
Wang Dashan finally arrived at the Song family’s place.
When Wang Xiaomei learned that Wang Dashan was here, she quickly came out to meet her big brother.
Wang Dashan was relieved to see that Xiaomei was fine.
“Knowing that you’re fine, Big Brother can be at ease.”
“Mm-hmm,” Wang Xiaomei answered, touched by his concern.
“I’m doing well in the Song family. Aunt Song and Mrs. Song take good care of me.”
“How’s the situation at home? How are you and Father doing these past few days?” Wang Xiaomei asked again.
The disaster in the countryside was definitely more severe than in the town.
Wang Xiaomei had been worried about them these past few days.
“It’s alright. Father and I are fine.” Wang Dashan replied with a smile.
“Oh yes. When 1 entered the town today, I realized that the price of firewood in town has increased!”
“From now on, Father and I will work harder so we can earn more money!” Wang Dashan couldn’t wait to share this good news with his younger sister.
However, Wang Xiaomei didn’t smile. Instead, she frowned.
“But the price of grain has also increased, and by a large margin. Also, the prices of almost everything related to food have increased,” she said.
As soon as these words came out, the smile on Wang Dashan’s face froze.
Only then did Wang Xiaomei realize that her big brother already knew about this.
After a short pause, Wang Xiaomei asked again. “Is there still food at home?”
Wang Dashan was stunned.
“There is.” Then, he quickly flashed a smile at Wang Xiaomei. He didn’t want his younger sister to worry.
Wang Xiaomei’s expression indicated she didn’t quite believe him.
After all, she was the one who gave them the food.
And each time, she didn’t give a lot.
“How much more?” Wang Xiaomei asked again.
Wang Dashan paused.
After being stared at by his sister for quite a while, he eventually told her.
“There’s still about 20 catties.”
“If we use them sparingly, it’s enough to last Father and me for another half a month,” he quickly added.
“The locust plague isn’t entirely a bad thing. Father and I have caught a lot of locusts during this time. Those insects can also be used to fill our stomachs after we dry them over the stove.”
Wang Xiaomei’s face changed.
“So, you’ve been eating locusts all this time?” she immediately asked.
Previously, Mrs. Song had said that the locusts from the locust plague were poisonous.
Moreover, with her family’s situation, Big Brother and Father would definitely be reluctant to use oil to fry them.
If they were dried and eaten directly, notwithstanding the bad taste, the toxicity might even become higher.
Wang Dashan did not reply. It was considered a tacit acknowledgment.
“You’re not allowed to eat them anymore!” Wang Xiaomei said hurriedly.
Only now did she understand why her big brother’s face appeared so dull gray today.
This was clearly because he was poisoned and starving.
“Xiaomei…” Wang Dashan spoke up. He wanted to tell his younger sister not to worry about him.
However, he only managed to say one word before his younger sister shot him a look and he shut his mouth.
Then, Wang Dashan lowered his head.
As a big brother, he was really incompetent. He couldn’t even support himself and his father.
He even said that he wanted to redeem his younger sister, but in the end, he still had to accept her help.
When she saw her big brother lower his head, Wang Xiaomei gave a sigh.
“Those locusts are poisonous. If the temperature is not high enough during the processing, the toxicity will be even higher. I’m just afraid that something will happen to you and Father,” she explained.
Wang Dashan was surprised.
“It’s true. That’s why Mrs. Song didn’t allow us to fry and eat the locusts.”
Wang Xiaomei looked at Wang Dashan.
“If there are still locusts in the house, you and Father should stop eating them.
“After you dry those things, you won’t get much left, and they won’t be enough to fill your stomach.”
“I still have some brown rice and coarse flour stocked up here,” she said.
Wang Dashan immediately looked at Wang Xiaomei.
“But…” He still wanted to object.
However, when his eyes met Wang Xiaomei’s, he swallowed the words he wanted to say.
“Also, when the Liu family bought their courtyard house, I went to look for Brother Daniu and the others.
“They have agreed. If you and Father need it, they can rent out a room to you.
“The rent is only 100 copper coins a month.”
Wang Dashan was shocked.
Just as he was about to refuse, he heard Wang Xiaomei continue, “After the locust plague, the famine will start, and the lives of every family will be even more difficult.
“If the people of Brook Falls Village flee just like the Qian family’s village, you and Father can move to the town at that point.
“Our whole family will stay in town, so we won’t get separated.”
Wang Dashan did not object anymore.
This was because his younger sister’s considerations were right.
Ever since the locust plague started, almost everyone in the village was in a state of panic.
Many of the villagers were already discussing the matter of fleeing.
Wang Dashan’s second uncle had also come to talk to him about this last night. He said that if he couldn’t find a job in the town, he might leave Brook Falls Village with his family.
He even asked Wang Dashan whether he wanted to bring his father along and leave with them.
At that time, his father rejected the invitation from Wang Dashan’s second uncle without even thinking. He said that he didn’t want to leave his hometown and didn’t want to leave his daughter behind.
When Wang Dashan heard that, he even praised his father in his heart.
After that, Wang Dashan also turned down his second uncle’s offer.
As long as his younger sister was still in Mountain Spring Town, he would not leave.
However, even his second uncle had thoughts of leaving. There were probably many families in the village who had such thoughts.
In that case, there might really be a large number of villagers leaving.
If the villagers really left, it would indeed not be safe for him and his father to stay in the village.
When she saw her big brother’s expression, Wang Xiaomei knew that he had taken her words to heart.
She continued, “It’s safer to live in the town. Life will also be more convenient.”
“At that time, you and Father can still go out of the town to gather firewood.”
“There are a few mountains outside the town. You can go to the mountains to gather firewood directly. You don’t have to return to Brook Falls Village.”
Wang Dashan was tempted again.
“Alright. If the village chief really decides that we should flee, I’ll bring Father to look for the Liu family,” Wang Dashan finally said.
The rent of a hundred copper coins per month was indeed not expensive. Wang Dashan and his father could pay for it themselves..