Hearing these shameless remarks, Tao Lengshuang and Mo Lingxi had different expressions, one with a cold sneer, the other with disgust.
The young man remained unfazed, having encountered countless greedy individuals like the Tao family.
He glanced at his attendant.
The attendant swiftly drew his sword, pointing it at Tao Fangfang, "Still not leaving?"
The cold, sharp sword, reflecting a murderous gleam under the sunlight, startled Tao Fangfang into falling onto her backside, nearly losing control of herself.
The attendant let out a heavy snort from his nostrils and left, supporting his master.
Despite this incident, the Tao family was unwilling to give up on the seemingly wealthy son-in-law they had set their sights on, and began to inquire about him from Tao Lengshuang.
They were eager to find out immediately.
"Lengshuang, who was that noble young master just now?"
"Old woman, who cares who he is? Hurry and ask Lengshuang for help to marry a few granddaughters to that noble young master."
"Lengshuang, I'm your elder brother. You must keep such a good opportunity for my daughter."
"Brother, what are you dreaming about? With your scrawny and ugly daughter, how could that noble young master possibly fancy her? If he fancies anyone, it'll be my daughter."
Immediately, the various branches of the Tao family began to argue, each wanting to marry their daughters to the noble young master.
Seeing this scene, Tao Lengshuang couldn't help but let out a cold laugh. Look at them, look at how greedy human nature is. They've completely forgotten their own suffering from the medicine.
She directly closed the main door and looked at Mo Lingxi with a smile, "Your nephew has become a hot commodity."
"In the future, when your nephew comes for treatment, he'll inevitably be pestered by the Tao family's daughters."
Just like before, when the Tao family and the original owner had tried to coerce and entice Mo Lingxi into marriage.
Mo Lingxi also recalled past events, his handsome face turning cold. He cast a dark glance at her and turned to go into Xiao Feng's room.
Tao Lengshuang could roughly guess the reason and shrugged helplessly. If it were her, she wouldn't be giving a pleasant look after experiencing something like that.
She returned to her own room, harvested some medicinal herbs from her spatial medicine garden, and placed them on the heated brick bed, preparing to sell them in town another day.
She had to prepare enough supplies before the heavy snow blocked the roads, otherwise, the months of winter would be very difficult.
Thus, the next day.
Tao Lengshuang handed Xiao Feng over to Mo Lingxi to look after, while she, carrying a basket, set off for Lotus Town again with Aunt Shen Er and Aunt Wang San.
This time, Aunt Shen Er would handle the buying and selling in town, as Tao Lengshuang needed too many copper coins to enter the town.
Aunt Shen Er was a bit worried, constantly asking Tao Lengshuang how to sell the medicinal herbs, how much silver was appropriate, and so on.
Tao Lengshuang patiently explained several times, thinking about when the world could truly be at peace and the common people could live good, stable lives.
If things continued like this, life would only become more difficult.
Upon reaching the city gate of Lotus Town, the three saw a line of people paying entry tax one by one.
Aunt Shen Er quickly informed Tao Lengshuang and Aunt Wang San and went to join the queue with her large bags.
However, when it was her turn, the constable demanded fifty copper coins from her, claiming that she was carrying too many items, with each item counting as one person.
This statement frightened her, and she retreated back to Tao Lengshuang and Aunt Wang San, "They want fifty copper coins from me..."
Upon learning the reason, Tao Lengshuang and Aunt Wang San looked utterly incredulous, finding it hard to believe what they had heard.
"Each item counts as one person, this..." Aunt Wang San's face turned as dark as ink. She wanted to scold them but dared not: "What should we do?"
"The weather is getting colder and colder. If we don't sell some things soon, not only will we not get through this winter, but we won't even be able to pay that sum of silver."
Those who couldn't pay the five taels of silver would have their entire families arrested to build royal villas for the Emperor, possibly with no chance of returning.
This was also what Tao Lengshuang and Aunt Shen Er were worried about.
"M-family, what do you think we should do? We absolutely must go in and sell things this time, but fifty copper coins is really too expensive."
"It would be great if we could do business with the townspeople right at the city gate, or even with these people outside the city."
Aunt Wang San and Aunt Shen Er exchanged glances and looked at Tao Lengshuang in unison: "M-family, what do you mean by that?"
"Let me think." Tao Lengshuang looked around.
There were many other common people around who also needed to buy and sell goods, all of whom were stopped outside the city due to the expensive entry and exit taxes.
Occasionally, carriages, ox carts, or donkey carts could be seen at the city gate, and people dressed well could be seen entering and exiting the city, as well as common people who paid the tax to enter and exit for the sake of survival.
Seeing these scenes, she had an idea. She pulled Aunt Wang San and Aunt Shen Er to a spot not far from the city gate.
She spread out a piece of tattered cloth on the ground, placed the medicinal herbs and mountain goods she had brought on it, and shouted energetically.
"Fresh medicinal herbs, fresh mountain goods, selling cheap, come and take a look!"
Seeing this, Aunt Wang San and Aunt Shen Er followed suit, shouting loudly.
"Eggs laid by the chickens raised at home, selling cheap, come and take a look!"
"Five-year-old hens, selling cheap, everyone come and take a look!"
Those around who were quick-witted copied the method of Tao Lengshuang and the other two, setting up stalls and shouting next to them.
Before long, a small market had formed, attracting countless people to watch or buy goods.
"This old hen is good, it'll be suitable for stewing soup for my mother and them when I buy it."
"This bamboo basket is quite sturdy, how much is one? I'll buy it if the price is right."
"Hey, hey, hey, these mountain goods look good, quite fresh, and the quality looks good too."
The constables at the city gate saw the situation, exchanged glances, and walked over to drive away those setting up stalls, "Go, go, go, get out of here quickly. How can you set up stalls here? Be careful, we'll arrest you and throw you in jail."
Many timid people, or those who didn't want trouble, smiled ingratiatingly and packed up their stalls.
When it was Tao Lengshuang's turn, she raised her smiling face, her eyes filled with a cold glint, "Everyone, we are not causing trouble, nor have we committed any offense. Why are you driving us away?"
A constable looked at her with annoyance and arrogance, "Seeing how fat and ugly you are, it makes me sick."
"You are gathering here at the city gate to cause trouble. Get out of here quickly, or you'll regret it."
Tao Lengshuang stopped Aunt Wang San and Aunt Shen Er with a look, her smile turning colder, "Oh, according to the constable, does the Eastern Jin Dynasty belong to you?"
The constables' faces changed drastically, and they reprimanded, "What nonsense are you spouting? When did we ever say that the Eastern Jin Dynasty belongs to us? Be careful, you'll regret it, get out of here quickly."
Tao Lengshuang was not intimidated at all. She crossed her arms and said coolly, "Since the Eastern Jin Dynasty does not belong to you few, then which law of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, article by article, states that we are not allowed to set up stalls here, and states that setting up stalls here is gathering to cause trouble?"