The cracked sunlight poured down, quickly dehydrating the white mushrooms.
Under the window sills of the courtyard, by the well, and in the open spaces, everything was a expanse of white.
A dry, slightly fishy scent wafted out.
Some people liked the smell, while others shied away.
The little boy next door, however, was peeking over the wall, watching the commotion.
He sniffed with his little nose, his expression delighted, "Wow, it smells so good!~"
Granny Jin's face paled in panic, and she hurried over, "Oh, my little ancestor, hurry and come down! Don't fall!"
If he were to have any accident, how would she explain it to the master back home!
The little boy glanced back at her, raising an eyebrow, "Granny Jin, this young master has a name. Don't call me little ancestor!"
Granny Jin wiped the sweat from her forehead and sighed, "Yes, Young Master Jin Heng, if you don't come down soon, this old servant will have to climb up and carry you down!"
This wall was nearly two meters high; how did the young master manage to climb up?
Xiao Jin Heng snorted and pointed to the large courtyard next door, "What's that smell? I like it!"
Mainly... is it edible?
Granny Jin sniffed carefully and murmured, "It smells like mushrooms!"
Could the Yun family have had a bumper mushroom harvest?
The scent was indeed very rich.
"This young master wants to eat mushrooms!~" Xiao Jin Heng sat on the wall, swinging his little feet.
Granny Jin heard him and smiled, coaxing him, "Alright, alright, I'll have the kitchen prepare mushroom soup for you later!"
"No!"
Xiao Jin Heng refused outright, "I want to eat their mushrooms, and it has to be... delivered by that little village child herself!"
Granny Jin felt utterly defeated.
Last time, you angered that little girl, and she hasn't come back since.
Now you want her to deliver mushrooms!
This matter might be difficult to handle!
"Granny Jin, why aren't you saying anything? Can't this young master even eat mushrooms?" Xiao Jin Heng glared at her.
Granny Jin forced a dry smile, "Alright, this old servant will go next door and buy some mushrooms!"
The young master had been frail and sickly since childhood. He couldn't eat rich meats or delicacies.
They were hard to digest and easily led to weight gain.
"Granny Jin, I want you to buy all their mushrooms!~"
Xiao Jin Heng gestured a large circle with his small hand, "Buy as many as there are. Remember, make sure that little village child delivers them personally!~"
Granny Jin: "..."
No, young master, why do you need so many mushrooms?
Besides the hidden guards, there were only a few people in this residence. Could they possibly eat them all?
Even though dried mushrooms could be stored, there was no need to buy them by the sackful!
At the Yun family's, beside the doghouse.
Little Xi Tian was clumsily hiding something in the doghouse.
In her milky voice, she instructed Xue Ling, "Xue Ling Ling, watch it!~"
Watch her things, don't let anyone steal them.
Actually, there weren't many treasures, just some dry, hard bones and a few oddly shaped pebbles.
When her small satchel couldn't hold them, she stuffed them into the doghouse.
"Woof woof!~" Xue Ling nudged her out of the doghouse.
Implying, is it really okay for you to hide bones in my little den?
Coincidentally, Liu Cuirong, who had come to fetch water, saw this scene.
Her eyes darted around, and her heart filled with joy.
At this point, she knew her sister-in-law was 'miraculous and boundless in her abilities.'
Whatever was hidden in that doghouse was either gold bracelets or agate and jade.
They were definitely treasures.
She was short on cash lately, and if she could steal these treasures...
This matter couldn't be spoken of, not even to Erman or Jinshan.
With this thought, Liu Cuirong returned to her room in high spirits.
Little Xi Tian patted Xue Ling and rolled her eyes, "Hmph, stingy!~"
She wouldn't even let her hide something!
"Woof woof!" Xue Ling protested.
Just then, Granny Jin knocked on the main door, "Is anyone home?"
Zhao Guihua, having just finished washing the bowls, wiped her hands and came out.
She recognized Granny Jin and smiled as she approached, "Granny Jin, welcome, please come inside!"
Granny Jin smiled faintly, her eyes sweeping over the white mushrooms filling the courtyard, and she couldn't help but twitch her lips.
Good heavens, so many mushrooms, enough for her young master to eat for half a year.
Granny Jin smiled and asked, "Is your little girl... at home?"
Zhao Guihua was stunned for a moment, then immediately understood.
The only girl in their old Yun family was Little Xi Tian.
"Is Granny looking for Tian Bao for something?" Zhao Guihua asked curiously.
Granny Jin explained her purpose, stating that she could buy all the mushrooms at a high price.
The prerequisite was that Little Xi Tian had to personally deliver them to the courtyard next door.
Zhao Guihua: "..."
What kind of bizarre and nonsensical request was this?
Her little Tian Bao was so young.
She couldn't even lift a water bucket, so how could she transport several sacks of mushrooms?
Zhao Guihua gave an awkward laugh, "I can't make this decision, I have to discuss it with my mother-in-law!"
Upon hearing this, Madam Gu quickly scooped Little Xi Tian out of the doghouse and brought her to meet Granny Jin.
"Oh, little girl, don't you recognize Granny anymore?"
Granny Jin took out a handful of milk candies and stuffed them into Little Xi Tian's arms.
"Gaga, Granny... auspicious!~"
Little Xi Tian flashed an innocent and pure smile.
"Oh, you little darling, how can you be so lovable!"
Much more adorable than their young master.
Indeed, daughters were a mother's close little padded jackets.
Madam Gu, seeing that Granny Jin liked children, swayed Little Xi Tian, "Thank Granny quickly!~"
"Thank you, Granny!"
"You're welcome. If you want to eat candy, Granny will bring you more tomorrow."
Madam Gu smiled and politely declined, "You sent so many pastries last time, we already feel undeserving!"
"Sister-in-law Gu, there's no need to be so formal. We live as neighbors, why be strangers."
The two chatted back and forth, slowly getting to the matter of buying mushrooms.
"If Sister-in-law Gu doesn't mind, I'll take all these mushrooms. You name your price!"
Madam Gu should have been happy to sell the mushrooms.
But upon hearing Granny Jin's request, she refused without a second thought.
Wasn't this deliberately making things difficult for her daughter?
Although the Yun family was poor, they were not short on pride.
"Absolutely not!" Madam Gu's expression turned displeased.
Granny Jin also felt troubled.
Who could blame them when their young master's request was so demanding and unreasonable?
"I... I can pay more!" Granny Jin said.
Just as Madam Gu was about to refuse, Little Xi Tian reached out her hand, "Money, money!"
It was just a few sacks of mushrooms, she could transport them in minutes!
Although she couldn't carry them, she had Xue Ling!
A certain large white dog lying by the doghouse sneezed, whimpered, and rolled its eyes.
"Little Tian Bao, you agree?" Granny Jin's face lit up with joy.
"Mhm!~" Little Xi Tian nodded emphatically, then shook her little hand, "Give money, money!"
As long as the money was sufficient, her eldest nephew would have the confidence to study at the academy and wouldn't be looked down upon!
She couldn't openly give money to her family.
Every income was earned through labor.
Granny Jin was not stingy either, pulling a ten-tael silver note from her sleeve...