Steward Huang's fingers, which had been stroking his beard, paused. The look he directed at Qin Sang held a trace of admiration.
For a village woman to so quickly realize something was amiss and not show fear was truly remarkable.
"Indeed, Doctor Qin, there's no need for excessive worry. Once the situation clarifies, I, Huang, will return to Songbai Town. After all, this is my ancestral land, not something one can easily part with."
Qin Sang nodded. This was his way of telling her there would be future opportunities to continue doing business. Qin Sang then asked another question:
"And Madam Huang and Brother Lei? Have they already gone ahead to the county town?"
Steward Huang nodded. That Doctor Qin would think of the safety of his wife and child at such a time genuinely warmed his heart:
"They were sent off early this morning. The commotion yesterday was quite significant. Brother Lei is fine, but he mustn't be subjected to fright."
"That makes sense. By the way, Steward Huang, I've drawn up some toy sketches for Brother Lei.
Because the actual items are quite large, and good timber is scarce in the countryside, three days definitely wouldn't be enough, so I didn't have them made.
Now that you're moving again, the sketches are the best option. Once in the county town, Steward Huang, you can hire a carpenter to make them."
Qin Sang pulled several sheets of paper from her bosom. On them were charcoal sketches of a modular Slide. The reason she hadn't made it herself was simply to avoid wasting money.
Steward Huang took the drawings and examined them carefully, quite perplexed:
"This... this is a toy?"
Qin Sang stepped forward with a smile to explain:
"Yes and no. This Slide caters to a child's innate love for climbing and playing. Having a toddler who's learning to walk climb and move more can better promote their physical coordination, making them steadier on their feet in the future."
Although Steward Huang only half-understood, he carefully folded the drawings. The Innkeeper, who had been craning his neck nearby trying to get a look, didn't catch a single glimpse:
"Anything Doctor Qin comes up with is surely good. Just like the Building Blocks you gave Brother Lei last time. My wife has told me several times how much Brother Lei adores them; he can play with them for a full half-hour at a stretch."
Speaking of this, Steward Huang seemed to remember something. He beckoned behind him, and a servant immediately approached with a tray:
"Doctor Qin, to be frank, I found that Building Blocks set you sent last time truly excellent. So, I had another set made from Rosewood and gifted it, which brought considerable benefit.
My meaning is this: in the future, the method for making those Building Blocks, and this Slide, Doctor Qin could sell them to me for one hundred taels of silver. What do you say?"
Qin Sang's eyes lit up. This Steward Huang was impressive! Was he planning to open a toy shop and sell toys?
Although the current situation was unfavorable, for officials and wealthy households, it likely just meant relocating.
Moreover, the wealthier the family, the more emphasis they placed on their children's development. Those middle-class families in later generations wouldn't blink at spending hundreds of thousands on tutoring classes—what was buying toys in comparison?
However, Steward Huang's intention seemed to be an exclusive buyout, meaning she couldn't give the designs to anyone else. That was fine; she knew plenty of other toys.
She desperately wanted that hundred taels, but her words remained polite:
"How could I possibly accept one hundred taels? This was originally a gift for Brother Lei. It's unnecessary. Steward Huang, saying such things makes you seem like a stranger."
Steward Huang waved his hand:
"Ah, personal favors are one thing, business is another. I appreciate your kind intentions, Doctor Qin, but I cannot profit from your goodwill."
Qin Sang declined a few more times before reluctantly agreeing to accept.
The servant presented the silver ingots on the tray. Qin Sang stuffed them into her bundle. After concluding the toy business, and seeing things weren't fully packed yet, Qin Sang spoke up:
"Actually, Steward Huang, there's another matter I'd like to discuss with you."
A look of difficulty appeared on Qin Sang's face. Steward Huang, understanding, took a few steps aside. The Innkeeper and the servant tactfully did not follow. Qin Sang lowered her voice:
"Steward Huang, I wonder if you could sell me two bows?"
Bows were essentially the only ranged weapon commoners in ancient times could possess. The Mall did sell them, but such handcrafted items were expensive. The cheap ones were toys—fine for play, useless for killing or hunting.
Steward Huang raised an eyebrow:
"Doctor Qin, this is..."
"Steward Huang, I know they are controlled by the Government officials, and ordinary people are not allowed to own them privately.
The situation is special now. I've also earned a fair amount of money through dealings with you, Steward Huang, so I have some assets.
If any riots truly occur, I don't want to be a fish on the chopping block, at the mercy of others.
Please rest assured, Steward Huang. If the Government officials inquire, I will absolutely not say the bows were a gift from you."
Steward Huang nodded. In truth, he wasn't overly concerned. Having attained the status of a steward, what were a couple of extra bows in the household?
"It can be done. However, bows are expensive, and arrows aren't cheap either. One bow costs twenty taels. Moreover, does your household have anyone who knows how to shoot?"
Qin Sang, of course, knew they were expensive, but this was money she still had to spend:
"That's acceptable. As for archery, there's a Hunter in our village. I've hired him for escort this time. I can ask him to teach my two sons later."
Steward Huang was also considerate towards Qin Sang, charging only for the bows and giving her the arrows for free. There were forty arrows in total, neatly wrapped in cloth.
Qin Sang hefted the bows in her hand. They were heavy.
She couldn't draw the string. Steward Huang explained:
"One of these is a One-Stone Bow, the other is a Two-Stone Bow."
Qin Sang nodded:
"Thank you, Steward Huang. Having these two bows makes me feel much more at ease."
A flicker passed through Steward Huang's eyes. He lowered his voice once more:
"Doctor Qin, let me share some news with you. Please don't panic."
The serious tone made Qin Sang's heart skip a beat:
"Please go ahead, Steward Huang."
Steward Huang's expression grew solemn as he whispered:
"There has been an uprising in Qingzhou Prefecture. The rebelling soldiers and civilians number fifty thousand, with signs of expanding. Our area lies on the necessary route to the capital. Doctor Qin, you should make preparations early."
Qin Sang's fingers involuntarily tightened around the bow in her hand. She had thought it hadn't happened yet.
"Thank you for informing me, Steward Huang."
Seeing Qin Sang's calm demeanor and her ability to thank him composedly, Steward Huang couldn't help but view this woman in an even higher light.
After their conversation, the mosquito coils and herbs had also been tallied. The Innkeeper brought over the account book:
"Doctor Qin, the total for this batch of herbs is fifty-seven taels, three hundred and seventy wen. Please review it."
Qin Sang smiled and gave it a cursory glance before closing it. Last time, most of what she brought was mugwort; other valuable herbs she mostly sold to the Mall herself, keeping some of the good ones. This time, she brought most of them, while the mugwort was less, so naturally, the payment was higher.
"The Innkeeper is truly skilled, calculating accounts swiftly and accurately, and your handwriting is excellent. Each entry is clear and easy to follow."
The Innkeeper smiled as he took back the account book:
"Doctor Qin flatters me. It's merely my duty."
There were five hundred bundles of mosquito coils in total. The Innkeeper didn't dare take too many, only fifty bundles. The rest were all taken by Steward Huang.
The eldest son had accompanied Qin Sang twice before and had even witnessed her receiving a hundred-tael silver ingot last time. So now, seeing the small mountain of silver piled before Mother, he wasn't as wildly excited as before.
Unfortunately, the third son and the fifth son were here for the first time. They had no idea these mosquito coils and herbs could sell for so much money.
Especially the third son, already money-minded, who now stared at that pile of silver without blinking.
Was he dreaming?
Had the family really earned this much?
Heavens, that was over two hundred taels of silver!
Tian Sangui slapped himself hard across the face. The crisp sound startled Qin Sang and the others, who were still chatting and laughing.
Qin Sang turned to see her third son, drool practically dripping from the corner of his mouth, and thought to herself how utterly mortifying this was.
No experience of the world at all.
She hurriedly bid farewell and left.
Not long after leaving the rear courtyard of Steward Huang's Residence, Tian Dazhuang remembered something even more important than the silver and anxiously called out:
"Mother, the water? You haven't bought water from Steward Huang yet?"