03. Getting hungry with empty storage

Mina was on her way to the Elder Kang's house while looking around. The village was like any other village. Spread over the hills with space between. Trough the trees she could see roofs and sometimes even hear the voices of people living. The day was long and buzzing of the village, the sound of birds mixed with sounds of people living made it even more likeable. It was not quiet at all and she found it fine that way.

Then she looked closer at the houses and saw big differences. Some houses were small and made simply like a cluster of small dwellings. Some houses were bigger and had porches and gardens and some were quite big where a multitude of people could live inside.

Looking curiously around she knew that her house was neither big or smaller. It was a smaller version of the middle one. She just wondered why no one lived there for so long as it was as it seems one of bit better houses in this village. Maybe because of the size? It had only two rooms and a kitchen. that must be it.

As she looked with interest here and there, villagers were curious about her as well. One woman was working in her garden and called her as she passed by her. "Child, stop for a moment."

Actually, Mina was indeed curious about villagers but she was hungry so she planned to ask Elder Kang if anyone sells produce at the village and the prices.

The woman saw her polite bearing and bow so she smiled at her cautious expression. "I don't bite. Our family is Lee. We came here as well a couple of years ago, so I can help you with any questions you might have. Now first your name."

Mina bowed deeply again. "My name is Mina Leng. Nice meeting you." But to stop any further questions she quickly asked. "Elder Kang told me last night that in the nearby city is a big market every now and then, but when is the next one... I forgot to ask. I need to buy food."

The woman nodded. "In two days will be next market. Old Lee can drive you there, he is my brother. Just go ask him."

Mina smiled but then got serious. "I planned... but I don't know where his house is."

"Oh, right. Go left in that small street next to the big stone and go up the hill. His house is visible even from far away." The woman smiled at her and waved her hand as she bowed to continue working in the garden.

Mina bowed one more time in respect and walked the way that woman told her and was astonished by the sight. In the middle of the hill, a big house was almost implanted into the hill giving the feeling as it was part of it.

As she looked at it in wonder a small boy passed her and remembered her from the day before. "Oh, I remember you." He bowed his head and then smiled brightly at her. "You are old Lee's family."

She shook her head. "I am not. Old Lee just drove me here as I wanted to buy a house here. By the way, you know many things in the village right?"

Kids usually knew many things so she could comfortably ask him. "I need to buy some food and wanted to ask Old Lee or Elder Kang who is selling what in the village. But I can ask as well you."

He smiled brightly and puffed his chest. "I know it all. Lee's sell vegetables and eggs, Hong's sell rice, Mo family sell chicken and ducks..."

As he continued explaining she realized she could have asked any house as in basic they all sold similar things. This village was rather small with something over a fifty households. She lived in the outer corner so there is a chance that many villagers might pass her house when they go to the forest.

Mina was curious. She really needed to learn so many things. "I lived in the city all my life, so... what can you actually find in the forest?"

He clapped his hands as he realized that she had no idea. "Oh, then you don't know anything, like my little sister. You need to learn if you want to survive. Miss, what about this. In the early morning, I and other kids will go to the forest to find some wild herbs and we can show you as well wild vegetables."

Actually he felt sorry to her. He saw an old dress she was wearing and old shoes as well. In his eyes, she probably was dirt poor and had nothing to eat and as grumbling sound came from her stomach he was completely sure.

Mina held her stomach and chuckled. "I need to go and buy some food. If you and other children can teach me how to recognise wild vegetables I will be more than grateful. I wanted to go to the forest alone, but I was worried I would eat something wrong. But ask your parents first. They might be against it."

She was hungry, that is true but if she went with children to the forest, their parents might get upset so she wanted to make sure.

"I'll go ask now. Be ready in the early morning." He rushed away with unusual speed and disappeared quickly. Mina scratched her head. ''How fast! Maybe because he lives in such a place filled with good air and lots of good food?"

Her legs took her in front of the big gate and just when she rose her hand to knock, the door opened up and an older woman looked at her with scrunched eyebrows. "Who are you and what do you want?"

Mina was a bit shocked but calmly bowed. "My name is Mina Leng and came to ask Elder Lee if he had some space to take me with him to market in two days."

The woman coughed and nodded. "We can take you. Three coins one way, five coins two ways. You need to be here in the crack of dawn. If you are late we will leave without you. Anything else?"

She could see that Mina had more questions but then suddenly a long grumbling could be heard from her stomach.

Mina held her belly in shame and with a red face, she quickly explained. "The young boy told me your family is selling vegetables and eggs. If I can buy some... I have nothing at home."

The woman started mumbling and pointed at her garden. "If you help me washing all those vegetables I will sell you some of them cheaper.''

Mina had no other option. If she wanted to make sure to get something to eat today and stay in good looks with these people she needed to show her cooperation as well. So she smiled brightly and rose her sleeves. ''Fine. Could you explain to me please what I have to do?''

When Lee's wife saw her soft and white skin and speckles hands she almost rolled her eyes. ''Looking at you, you probably have no idea. I will bring you vegetables, and all you have to do is to wash it cleanly. It's not much as we need some for today and some will be sold to you.''

Mina calmly nodded and went to nearby well and started clumsily gathering water into the big pot. Until pot was filled with water she was almost half soaked as well, making woman hold her head. ''How did you...? Never mind. Just finish what I asked you to do and then we can talk about what you need.''

She looked at her and saw Mina calmly washing the plants thoroughly without even changing face as the water was quite cold. Mina's hands became completely red and ached but she went through it not even changing her expression.

After she was done she looked up and saw woman nodding. ''You did well. I will sell you our vegetables from now on for half of the price than I sell in the city. By the way, do you know how to cook?'' She was concerned about this young woman that probably run away from home.

Mina nodded. ''I was taught to cook when I was younger. My mom felt that she needed to teach me such things just in case I needed to prove myself in front of new inlaws.''

Lee's wife nodded. ''Yes. To know such stuff like that are truly needed to survive. Half of the vegetables you just washed is yours. Two coins the basket. Bring me the basket back. Do you have rice, oil and eggs?"

"I have some rice but I plan to buy more in the city. Or is there a place I can get cheaper than in the city?" She hopefully looked at Lee's wife.

But she shook her head. "Go to the city. There are more choices and you can find sometimes last years rice for small money. Eggs are five coins dozen."

"I'd like to have two dozen. If you could sell me some oil or lard... " Mina looked at the woman and saw her nodding.

"I'll sell you a small pot of oil for five coins. I need lard, can't sell it." The woman recounted all on fingers and smiled. "All together seventeen coins."

Mina nodded and as she got a small pot of oil and eggs she bowed deeply and left. The huge door behind her slammed shut and scared her so she just rushed back her home.

Seeing her again the woman in the garden stopped again in her work and shook her head. "You bought stuff at his wife? That money-grubber probably made you pay a huge price. Child, buy yourself own chicken and when you go to the city go only one way. She will bring you there and even back, but she will deny if you buy a bunch of stuff. When you get there look for one of the other carriages and pay them ten coins and with that, you have rented them for that day."

Mina smiled brightly and bowed respectfully. "Thank you. Thank you. Is there something I can help you with?"

The woman shook her head. "No. I don't like people touching my garden. Not even my family."

Mina smiled and said her goodbyes as her stomach became even louder. "I need to go home. Thank you one more time for your advice."

The woman chuckled as she heard repetitive grumbling noises that came from Mina's belly. "Go, go or the monster from your stomach might come out and eat me as well."

Mina started laughing and bowed one more time. "Then, see you soon again. Have a nice day."

As soon she came home, she cooked a few simple dishes and ate her fill. When she saw the messy kitchen she sighed and went again to change the clothes. She had only the two sets of simple clothes that she snatched from servants rooms before she left home.

She wanted to keep her last pretty dress in case it is needed so she put it away safely. But thinking about her life, she found it ridiculous to keep it. "Maybe if there is a chance I might as well sell it for good money. I'll need to make some nice embroidery on it to raise the price."

She knew already how much such a dress would cost in the normal case so she smiled brightly as she closed the door. The cleaning of the kitchen took her longer than she expected and as the evening came she couldn't wait to wash her hair and body.

As soon she closed her eyes she fell asleep. The long walk that lasted weeks, a whole day of cleaning and full belly made her have healing, dreamless sleep.

In the early morning, she heard a light knocking on the main gate. She jumped up as she remembered the boy's words. "Wait a bit, I'll be right out!" She shouted and heard chuckling and kids laughter.

She needed just to put an outer skirt and shoes on and then opened the gate. What she saw were over a dozen children looking at her with curiosity with big back baskets and little hoe's in their hands.

The little boy rolled his eyes and pointed at the big back basket that hung on the wall of the house. "Miss, you need that and small hoe next to it."

Just now she realized that she didn't even see these things so far and chuckled. "I guess I do, don't I?"

So she put it on her back and with a smile followed chirping crowd of children.