Chapter 62: Helping Sister Du Zhi Prepare Her Dowry

With her mind occupied with preparing her sister's dowry and having found a new way to make money by selling goods in the county, Du Yun spent the next few days in a flurry of activity. Since selling pastries in the county didn’t require waiting for market days, she no longer needed to make them every three days. As it happened, Du Song was heading back to the county, so Du Yun took out five pounds of glutinous rice flour and made a full fifteen pounds of pastries for Du Song and Du Yang to take with them.

“Big Brother, if the shop owner doesn’t like these pastries, just sell them in the county or share them with the shop workers. It’s hot in summer, and these don’t keep well,” Du Yun said, noticing Du Song’s nervousness as he prepared to leave with so many pastries. She smiled to reassure him.

“Alright, I guess I was overthinking it,” Du Song replied, looking at Du Yun. The little girl who used to run after him had grown up in the blink of an eye, now offering comfort and understanding. He reached out to pat Du Yun’s head, smiling.

“Head off early, son. It’s still a long way to the county,” Du Yun’s grandmother said, filled with joy as she looked at her eldest grandson. Though reluctant to let him leave, and not wanting him to travel at night, she finally steeled herself and urged them to go.

Du Song left, carrying Du Yun’s hopes for their business. Turning around with a grin, Du Yun said, “If Big Brother can seal this deal, our family could make quite a bit of money.”

“You and your clever ideas. If it really works, that would be wonderful,” her grandmother replied with a smile, full of hope for the future, before heading back inside.

“Mother, when the market comes in a few days, let Eldest Sister go with me. We’ll buy some things in town for Sister’s dowry.” With Du Song gone, Du Yun considered the money she had left, as well as what she hoped to earn next time at the market. She felt confident they could buy plenty for her sister and voiced her thoughts.

“You’ve already given me so much. What more is there to buy? You’re coming of age, too. It’s time you thought about dressing up yourself,” Du Zhi replied, waving her hands in refusal. She reached out to touch Du Yun’s hair. “I know you mean well, and I appreciate it deeply.”

Du Zhi had long accepted their family’s modest means. She was prepared to leave home with a new outfit and bedding. The money and earrings their brother had brought home were already a delightful surprise. Now, with Du Yun offering to add to her dowry, Du Zhi felt overwhelmed.

“Sister, don’t rush to refuse. Look at our family now—it’s not so hard anymore. I can earn money, too. How could I let you leave without a dowry?” Du Yun said, holding Du Zhi’s hand.

When Du Yun first arrived, the original owner had been injured and spent her days in a stupor, cared for exclusively by Du Zhi, who fed and bathed her tirelessly. For that kindness alone, Du Yun was determined to prepare a proper dowry, ensuring her sister would marry happily.

Besides making pastries for extra income, Du Yun’s greatest asset was her storage compartment, filled with all sorts of sundries—many perfect for a dowry: washbasins, buckets, pots, and pans. Though trivial, these items were essential for daily life.

“I think I’d better not go,” Du Zhi said hesitantly, clearly swayed by Du Yun’s words but worried about her spending money, so she decided not to go to town.

“That’s fine. I’ll choose everything myself, but don’t complain later if you don’t like what I pick,” Du Yun replied, thinking it might be better if her sister stayed home. That way, she could mix in items from her storage compartment with the things bought in town, making it look natural.

The next day, Du Yun set off for town with her small basket and pastries. At the usual spot, selling her usual treats, she was greeted by many returning customers—even one who bought a whole dollar’s worth in one go. Before the sun was fully up, her basketful of pastries sold out, leaving her pleasantly surprised.

With plenty of time left, Du Yun wandered the market, comparing her own wares with what was on offer, weighing which items would suit her sister’s dowry best.

Holding more than ten dollars in her hand—a small fortune at this market—Du Yun realized she could buy almost anything she wanted, apart from larger items. Bedding, clothing, pots, dishes—all within reach.

Yet, no matter how finely made, the market goods couldn’t compare to what was in her storage compartment.

Take washbasins, for example. The market offered two kinds: brown-black glazed earthenware and yellow enamel with green rims—both so unattractive that Du Yun suddenly found her own stack of white enamel basins with red flowers, tacky as they were, comparatively charming.

The bowls at the market were all crude blue-rimmed pottery, just like the ones at home, rough to the touch. Her storage compartment’s bowls were white with pink flowers—much prettier, if not much better quality.

The more Du Yun compared, the less interested she became, though Du Zhi, who hadn’t seen much of the world, chirped excitedly in Du Yun’s mind.

Bored, Du Yun wandered until she spotted a bamboo stall with finely made baskets. Thinking these could help conceal her purchases, she bought a few. For everything else, she planned to use her own supplies.

After checking all the sundry stalls and finding nothing special, Du Yun was about to leave when she unexpectedly saw a stall selling gourds for storing water and oil.

Though not rare, the gourds were cheap—just a few cents each, and buying a large one came with a bonus. In these times, aside from ceramic bottles, there was nothing better than a gourd for storing things. Du Yun couldn’t resist buying several, planning to fill them with water and stow them in her storage compartment for use in the zombie world.

Leaving the sundry section, she bought a few yards of floral fabric and half a pound of sugar. She didn’t buy much, nor spend much. Of course, these were mainly to throw others off the scent—the key items were all in her storage compartment. She placed the purchases in her basket, planning to mix in her own items before reaching home, so no one would suspect a thing.

Heading home with her purchases, Du Yun suddenly felt someone watching her. She turned, but saw nothing. The sensation lingered as she left town and entered a lonely stretch of fields, when suddenly, she heard hurried footsteps behind her.