Chapter 7: Lucky Draw, An Unexpected Encounter with an Acquaintance

After instructing A-Shui, Ying Zhao returned to her room to disguise herself, then immediately set off with a small wicker basket on her back.

She walked so quickly that Ying Changsheng, who was sulking in the house, didn't notice her at all.

By the time he heard the door closing and sensed something was wrong, he walked out suspiciously to investigate, but Ying Zhao had already vanished without a trace.

There were no horses in the family, nor were there ox carts. This was because only specialized shamans possessed the skill to tame oxen; since shamans held high status, the oxen they tamed were naturally no ordinary beasts, and their prices were even higher than horses, making them unaffordable for ordinary people.

Only the nobles of the various clans would specially purchase oxen tamed by shamans to demonstrate their status, using them for riding or pulling carts.

Ying Zhao knew very well that although there were several people in her family, in reality, all sources of income—aside from her father Ying Zhan's salary—came solely from the harvests in the fields.

Their family owned over a hundred mu of land, but the yield per mu was quite mediocre. After a year of hard work, even with favorable weather, they could only harvest one hundred and fifty dan of grain.

This grain included millet, broomcorn millet, wheat, hemp seeds, and beans. Specifically, *su* was millet, *shu* was broomcorn millet, *mai* was wheat, *ma* was hemp seeds, and *shu* was soybeans.

One hundred and fifty dan was not much, especially since the amount available for consumption was even less after the husks were removed.

Furthermore, they couldn't farm all that land by themselves, so they had to hire help during the busy farming season, which was another expense.

After harvesting, taxes had to be paid. After deducting expenses, grain taxes, and the grain selected for seeds, what remained was naturally even less.

Fortunately, both her father and A-Jin were skilled hunters who frequently went into the mountains. They could occasionally catch rabbits or wild chickens, and sometimes, with good luck, even a wolf.

It was only because of this that their lives weren't too difficult.

Before she fell into her deep sleep, Ying Zhao had already begun following A-Jin to hunt. Moreover, her luck was excellent; she could find something every time she entered the mountains.

Unfortunately, during the year she was unconscious, her body had been occupied by some unknown wandering ghost. That person's mind wasn't even right, as they frequently gave things away to the siblings Su Qi and Su Xi.

The current situation at home was not very good.

Therefore, she had to find a way to make money now!

The salt in the Mall was very cheap, making it a very good business opportunity. Unfortunately, the quality was too high, which meant the risk was too great; she couldn't sell it openly yet, or she would surely be targeted by the great clans. It was too risky.

Or... should she sell it secretly?

Right, she still had ten chances to draw a prize. Should she try drawing them now?

Ever since she was a child, her luck had always been quite good. With ten chances, surely she could draw something good?

Ying Zhao acted on her thought immediately. Since there was no one on the road, she could draw them freely.

She opened the Mall, and the lucky draws began quickly.

[Congratulations, Master, you have drawn a pair of Divine Speed Boots. When used in conjunction with a light, swallow-like step, they can travel a thousand miles in a single day.]

Looking at the boots she had drawn, Ying Zhao was overjoyed. She knew her luck was indeed good!

However... these boots had exquisite embroidery and clearly weren't ordinary items; they didn't match her coarse cloth barbarian clothing at all.

Never mind, she would continue drawing. What if she drew clothes?

Ying Zhao decisively continued the draws.

[Congratulations, Master, you have drawn ten watermelons.]

[Congratulations, Master, you have drawn a pair of Jade Ruyi scepters.]

[Congratulations, Master, you have drawn five hundred catties of refined salt.]

[Congratulations, Master, you have drawn one storage compartment.]

[Congratulations, Master, you have drawn one Mid-grade Rejuvenation Pill.]

[Congratulations, Master, you have drawn one storage compartment.]

[Congratulations, Master, you have drawn one storage compartment.]

[Congratulations, Master, you have drawn a Moon Shadow Sword.]

[Congratulations, Master, you have drawn the "Flying Immortal Sword Technique."]

[Prizes have been stored in the storage compartment. Would the Master like to view them now?]

Of course Ying Zhao wanted to see them!

She looked through every prize and arrived at the county town in a daze.

Looking at the low, rammed-earth walls of the county town, Ying Zhao snapped awake instantly!

For some reason, a towering, magnificent wall made of massive stones suddenly flashed through her mind.

It was so unreachable and awe-inspiring.

Ying Zhao raised an eyebrow in surprise, unable to understand: where exactly had she seen that image in her mind? Why was there no memory of it at all?

However, the wall before her was only about three meters high and made of rammed yellow clay; one could even see cracks on the surface, making it look like tofu that would crumble at a touch.

Ying Zhao couldn't help but stare several times, drawing wary looks from the soldiers at the city gate.

One of them walked toward her aggressively: "Hey, who are you? Who gave you permission to stare? Do you not want your eyeballs anymore!"

Ying Zhao quickly withdrew her gaze and said pitifully, "Please calm your anger, officer. I didn't do it on purpose. I was sick for quite a while and thought I'd never see such a grand county town again. I didn't expect to recover, so I couldn't help but look a few extra times."

The man scrutinized her for a moment. Seeing that her clothes were ordinary, she was thin and scrawny, and her hands were empty, suggesting she wasn't a threat, he gave a disgruntled huff. "You're lucky you ran into me this time. If you run into those with bad tempers next time, they won't let you off!"

Ying Zhao hurriedly thanked him, acting timid and weak: "Yes, yes, yes! Thank you, officer!"

The man likely found it boring; after another warning huff, he waved her through. "Fine, I'm in a good mood today. Go on in."

Ying Zhao thanked him again and hurried into the city.

Inside was a dirt road street, which was not only narrow but also riddled with potholes.

Because it was near the city gate, there were no shops on either side of the street, only a few scattered stalls selling common items.

Ying Zhao walked along, looking at everything. She had been asleep for a year, yet she had experienced a long nightmare.

Looking at this county town now, Ying Zhao felt it was both familiar and strange, as if she were in another lifetime.

Thus, she planned to look closely to see what goods were available and what the prices were.

As it turned out, after walking the whole way, she found that the variety of goods sold here was pitifully small.

The pedestrians on the road mostly wore coarse cloth and hemp, and they looked sallow and thin, clearly having a hard time.

Ying Zhao frowned, feeling uncomfortable.

This county town wasn't large. After walking for a short while, she saw the only grain shop in town. Seeing the sign on the shop, her eyes flickered, and she walked inside.

The shop wasn't very large. There was a counter at the entrance, behind which stood a powerful-looking manager and a shop assistant. Behind them were sacks and ceramic jars filled with grain.

Customers were blocked by the counter and could only stand outside to make their selections.

Ying Zhao inquired and found that the variety was quite rich. In addition to unhulled millet, broomcorn millet, wheat, hemp, and beans, there were also hulled millet, broomcorn millet, and hemp seeds, as well as processed rice flour, wheat flour, and fine flour.

Generally speaking, hulled grain was much more expensive than unhulled grain, and the processed flours were even more expensive. Fine flour was particularly costly because the bran had been removed, making it more expensive than rice flour.

Presumably thinking Ying Zhao was a pauper, the manager didn't even lift an eyelid while she was asking; only a shop assistant with a kind face answered her.

As soon as he finished speaking, another shop assistant with a sharp, monkey-like face asked rudely, "Which kind do you want to buy?"

Ying Zhao's family still had grain and didn't need to buy any; she was just there to ask about prices.

She thought for a moment and asked, "Can I see your flour?"

She remembered that the Mall also sold flour, and it even had pictures; that flour was exceptionally white and very fine. The flour sold in this shop certainly wouldn't be that good, but she would have to see it to know the actual quality.

Unexpectedly, as soon as she finished speaking, the sharp-faced assistant sneered, "You want to see the flour? A dou of flour is ten wen. Can you even afford it?"

Ying Zhao frowned in displeasure. Just as she was about to speak, she heard someone behind her ask unpleasantly, "What's going on?"

The sharp-faced assistant's expression changed instantly. "Eldest Miss, why have you come?"

For convenience, one dan here was approximately one hundred catties, and one dou was approximately ten catties.