Disaster Apocalypse: Farming, Family, and My Hidden Secret Space-Chapter 39. Somewhat expensive

"Mom, I don’t want silk flowers, plus I already have one. I don’t like wearing those," Hua Jin quickly said.

"No silk flowers? Then what cotton are you talking about?" Mrs. Qi was really stumped by her daughter’s words.

"Well... I don’t remember the specifics too clearly, but I vaguely recall seeing it somewhere. It seemed like it could be used for extra warmth inside clothes. When you mentioned grandma’s winter clothes had lost most of their willow fluff, it suddenly came to mind. I thought we might have it here?"

"So that’s what it is." Mrs. Qi didn’t think too much about it, knowing her daughter often had a fuzzy memory due to her head injury.

However, she was quite interested in the cotton her daughter mentioned.

The lives of poor families were difficult, unable to afford animal furs for warmth. Winter days could only be endured by stuffing collected willow fluff, reed flowers, or even straw inside clothes for warmth.

I’ve heard that rich people sometimes use duck down or cashmere stuffed into clothes or quilts to keep warm, but collecting these materials was very tough. It would take who knows how long to gather enough for one winter garment just from what’s available at home.

Another point is, duck down and cashmere are fine and delicate, requiring more delicate fabrics to prevent them from escaping. Their homespun linen clothing wouldn’t work, and the price of dense fabric was too high for ordinary folks like them. Therefore, even if they knew about it, almost no one would choose these for warmth.

If, as her daughter said, there really was cotton that could keep you warm and comfortable, then life in winter would be much better. Mrs. Qi couldn’t help but be tempted.

Hua Jin was just probing. Now she confirmed that there really was no cotton in this place.

From her few memories of very cold winters here without cotton and only relying on stuff like reed flowers and willow fluff, Hua Jin started to worry about how she’d get through her first winter here.

Seeing the tempted look on her mother’s face, Hua Jin thought and said, "Mom, although my memory isn’t clear, I might recognize it if I come across it."

So if she ever brought out the cotton from her space, she might have an explanation for it.

"Really?" Mrs. Qi’s eyes lit up a bit.

"I should be able to," Hua Jin nodded emphatically.

"Then let’s go find it now. We might just come across it, you know?"

Beside them, the old woman (grandmother) also nodded eagerly. She wasn’t deaf. If there really was cotton that could keep you warm, then winter would be much easier. She fully agreed with her daughter-in-law’s suggestion, and as for their stall, didn’t they have the old man and son?

Hua Jin was amused by her mother’s bustling demeanor, realizing this was her mother’s impulsive side. Most importantly, grandma was very supportive too.

Anyway, with nothing much going on, maybe there’d be a pleasant surprise?

She nodded immediately.

Thus, they followed her mother and grandmother, walking along the street, checking every stall and shop, but unfortunately, there were no results.

They even checked the flower and seed shops.

Hua Jin thought these shops had more potential. She even asked the shopkeeper to show the novel seeds, but still found nothing.

Hua Jin kept shaking her head until the last shop.

Mrs. Qi and the old woman had already lost hope after visiting several shops. The well-informed shopkeepers hadn’t heard of cotton. It might really not exist here.

They continued only because their daughter seemed interested, and it was their suggestion originally. They couldn’t dampen the child’s enthusiasm.

"Mom, it’s fine. Maybe it’s just the wrong time. Not finding it now doesn’t mean we won’t find it later. We can come back and check again," Hua Jin suggested after returning from the last shop empty-handed.

"Yes, our Jin’er is right. You’ve worked hard, accompanying mom for so long. You must be exhausted," Mrs. Qi said, not really hopeful, since she’d never heard of such a thing. She figured they would try anyway; not finding it was expected.

She wasn’t too disappointed, just a bit regretful. If they found cotton, life would be much better for the whole family during winter.

"Not at all. Shopping is interesting, although a bit costly," Hua Jin looked at the sugar painting in her hand, the new hair ribbon her mom bought at a stall, and the small naiguo (apples) in the basket.

On seeing the naiguo, she almost blurted out "apples," but fortunately held back at the last moment. "Apple" is the modern name, but she really couldn’t recall what they called it here.

Luckily she didn’t say it. Otherwise, mom would definitely ask her about it.

Perhaps seeing her eager gaze, grandma and mom didn’t ask her anything and simply bargained with the vendor to buy a few. freewebnσvel.cøm

At this time, fruits were truly expensive. These little ones cost more than meat; larger ones were even pricier.

Six naiguos, under two pounds, cost a few dozen coins, money that could have bought a lot of coarse grains to feed the family for days. It was such a luxury item; who would be willing to buy it?

Once more, Hua Jin felt her family’s love for her, unknowingly growing closer to them in her heart.

"What money? We don’t eat it often, and it’s for you to enjoy, Jin’er, don’t feel bad,"

The old woman quickly said this, seeing her granddaughter’s guilt.

As she said, they didn’t usually buy it often. It was rare for the child to visit town, so she bought it. At worst, they’d work harder later; they couldn’t bear to let the child suffer.

Her unconditional love made Hua Jin exclaim, "Grandma, mom, you are the best. Jin’er loves you both so much," and in a rush, she threw herself into the old woman’s arms, naturally speaking these soft words.

If it were before, she’d never have said such things, even if she died. Of course, no one would have asked her to either.

"Oh my, dear, your little mouth is so sweet. But it’s crowded here, no need to be playful. Let’s head back," the old woman lovingly patted her granddaughter’s back, smiling widely.

How could they not adore such a sensible and lovable child?

Some village wives might whisper behind her back.

Saying things like a girl will eventually marry out, so isn’t favoring an outsider’s child foolish?

Unaware that they’re women themselves, not respecting their status as women, they see themselves as burdens, so how can they stand tall?

The old woman had no regard for them, usually not even bothering to respond to them.

Their children were lovely, intelligent, sweet, and, importantly, very considerate and filial. Why wouldn’t she pamper them, gladly so?

Considering that as a girl she only had a few comfortable years at home, once they belonged to someone else’s family, life would slip from their control. This thought made her cherish the child even more.

Hearing her grandmother’s indulgent words, Hua Jin displayed her girlish coquettishness, "Grandma, my mouth is sweet because I ate sugar. You and mom should try it too; it’ll taste just as sweet." She lifted the sugar painting as she spoke.

Sparking laughter from the two adults all the way back to their family stall, their smiles never faded.