Chapter 213: Chapter 213: Eavesdropping by the Wall
213 Eavesdropping
A few little ones gathered around Zhao Zhitong, craning their necks to look at the illustrations in the book, excited by the prospect of making a lot of money.
Sun Youcai, on the other hand, didn’t hold much hope for this. He had never even heard of the three-color peony, let alone seen one.
So, he subconsciously thought that it didn’t exist. If they really could grow a three-color peony as Zhao Zhitong said, even just one plant would undoubtedly cause quite a stir.
The ground was already hoed, so Sun Youcai set the hoe aside and walked over to the nursery bed to divide the peony plants they had propagated by cuttings last year.
Due to their inexperience with the first planting, only sixteen plants had survived: four white peonies, eight yellow peonies, and four purple peonies.
They had marked the plants when they took the cuttings, so they could distinguish them clearly.
By now, the little ones were already fantasizing about all the delicious treats they would buy with the money they earned.
Sun Youcai called out to the children, a hint of exasperation in his voice, "Alright, stop daydreaming! Come on, we need to start planting."
Zhao Zhitong quickly scrambled up from the ground, closed the book, carefully placed it into a nearby basket, then patted her bottom and trotted over.
Younger Uncle was in charge of digging the holes, Sun Daji and Sun Daqing were responsible for handing him the peonies, while Zhao Zhitong and the other children were tasked with carrying water for the peony flowers.
Every time she fetched water, Zhao Zhitong would secretly add some space water to the basin to improve the peonies’ survival rate.
However, as they continued planting, Younger Uncle learned from Zhao Zhitong’s incessant chatter that the so-called three-color peony supposedly involved grafting different peony varieties onto a single plant. He found the idea deeply unreliable.
He had originally planned to sell the sixteen peony plants in the county town once they bloomed; they could at least recoup some of their investment. But if they followed Zhao Zhitong’s idea, all the plants might die, and they wouldn’t be able to sell a single one!
Thus, Younger Uncle began to firmly oppose the idea.
This time, neither Zhao Zhitong’s coaxing and cuteness nor her tantrums had any effect.
"Younger Uncle is mean! I don’t like you anymore! I’m not playing with you ever again! HMPH!"
Zhao Zhitong folded her little arms across her chest and sat pouting at the edge of the field, sulking by herself.
Sun Youcai completely ignored her, letting her chatter on.
Just then, Grandpa Bai said, "Young girl, why don’t you try cultivating one plant yourself first? When your Younger Uncle sees that it’s feasible, he’ll surely agree."
Hearing this, Zhao Zhitong’s eyes instantly lit up. "Oh, right! That’s right! Grandpa Bai, you’re so clever!"
Zhao Zhitong’s earlier gloom vanished in an instant. Full of energy, she ran over to Sun Youcai, planning to seize an opportunity to ’steal’ three peony plants and put them into her space.
Seeing the girl, who had just been pouting and threatening to break off ties, now approach with a flattering grin to help, Sun Youcai’s first instinct was a clear thought: This little rascal is up to no good again!
He immediately asked, "You little girl, what mischief are you brewing now?"
Zhao Zhitong huffed, "Younger Uncle, you’re judging a noble heart by your own mean standards! I just saw how hard Younger Uncle was working and wanted to help, that’s all."
Sun Youcai didn’t believe her nonsense for a second. He chuckled and said, "Alright, you can help me water then."
He thought, Let’s see what mischief you, little girl, can stir up.
Zhao Zhitong, on the pretext of fetching water, ran over to the nursery bed and slipped three peony plants into her space.
So, when all the planting was finished, Sun Youcai hadn’t noticed that Zhao Zhitong had ’stolen’ a few peony plants.
However, when he counted the peony plants, he realized something was amiss. With a puzzled expression, he asked, "Hey, what’s going on? Why are there only thirteen plants?"
Zhao Zhitong feigned ignorance, shook her head, and even turned the tables, saying, "Younger Uncle, did you misplant three of them?"
Sun Youcai was baffled. He questioned Sun Daqing and the others, asking if they had taken them.
Sun Daqing and the others, feeling quite wronged, insisted they hadn’t.
Then Younger Uncle began searching all over the field but ultimately couldn’t find the missing plants.
"Huh, what happened? I clearly counted sixteen plants. How could three of them just vanish into thin air? This is really strange."
Younger Uncle paced back and forth beside the field, muttering to himself as he walked.
Sun Daqing and the other little tykes also joined in, searching the area around the field.
Zhao Zhitong suppressed a giggle and, forcing herself to appear calm, called out, "Younger Uncle, maybe you miscounted? Perhaps there were only thirteen to begin with."
At this point, even Younger Uncle began to doubt himself. Scratching his head, he tried hard to recall. Could I really have miscounted?
Zhao Zhitong blinked her eyes and tugged at Younger Uncle’s hand. "Let’s go, let’s go! If we can’t find them, it’s okay. We can still make a lot of money with thirteen plants."
Younger Uncle looked exasperated. "...You little girl, I don’t know where you get all this confidence."
Zhao Zhitong grinned and even lectured her Younger Uncle in return, "Younger Uncle, you have to be confident in everything you do! As long as you believe you can do it, you definitely will. We’re not aiming for failure, are we, Younger Uncle?"
She spoke with such absolute conviction.
At least, that was what the young girl believed at that moment.
Whatever she did, she always approached it with the greatest enthusiasm and the utmost confidence.
Sun Youcai couldn’t help but be infected by Zhao Zhitong’s spirit. He chuckled, pinched her little cheek, and said, "The young girl speaks well! Let’s go, time to head home! When we pass by the river channel, Younger Uncle will take you all to catch some river snails to eat!"
"HOORAY! HOORAY!" A cheer erupted instantly.
Sun Daji licked his lips. "I’m craving the Liuzhou river snails rice noodle Auntie makes. It’s so delicious."
Zhao Zhitong said happily, "Then let’s catch a lot to take back! I want to eat Liuzhou river snails rice noodle too!"
One big child leading a group of little children, they joyfully descended the mountain.
After they finished catching river snails, Sun Youcai carried Zhao Zhitong on his back, leading Sun Daqing and the others as they hurried back to the Zhao Family’s home.
Just as they were about to reach their house, they suddenly noticed someone furtively crouched by their main gate, pressing an ear against the door, clearly eavesdropping.
Evidently, Younger Uncle and the others had also spotted the person. They immediately lightened their footsteps and approached stealthily.
Once they were closer, Zhao Zhitong saw that the eavesdropper was none other than Mrs. Zheng, who was in cahoots with her step-grandmother.
Mrs. Zheng was listening with a look of sheer excitement, completely oblivious to the arrival of Zhao Zhitong and her group.
Zhao Zhitong cupped her hands around her mouth and suddenly shouted, "Auntie Zheng! What are you doing at our family’s gate?"
Her shout startled Mrs. Zheng so much that she leaped up and then plopped down onto the ground with a thud.
Zhao Zhitong had deliberately raised her voice, and her shout caused Zhao Dong, who was in the courtyard explaining composting to the villagers, to pause. Everyone in the courtyard then headed towards the gate.
Opening the main gate, they saw Mrs. Zheng sitting on the ground right outside, while Sun Youcai, still carrying Zhao Zhitong, stood by the doorway looking at her.
Sun Mei frowned. She knew without asking that Mrs. Zheng must have come to eavesdrop.