Chapter 217: Chapter 217 Selling Peony Flowers
217 Selling Peony Flowers
Zhao Guifen’s eyes crinkled with a smile. She reached out and pinched Zhao Zhitong’s little face, saying, "When your grandmother was young, she had seen some temple fairs and wasn’t particularly interested in them anymore. This time, I won’t go. If you all have fun, that will make me happy."
Zhao Zhitong pouted. Adults always say they don’t like to eat or play; they just want to save things for the younger generation.
With this in mind, Zhao Zhitong hugged her grandmother tightly and comforted her, "Then, Grandmother, you must think of Tongtong while you’re at home. Tongtong will bring back soft pea filling for you and Grandfather."
Her grandmother and grandfather were instantly amused by this little girl’s words and both laughed, "Good, good, your grandfather and I will wait at home to eat the pea filling you bring back."
Having recovered from their excitement, Sun Daqing, Sun Daji, and the others heard Zhao Zhitong’s words and all promised to bring back delicious food for Sun Kang and Zhao Guifen.
Sun Youcai had already put the three-colored peonies into a back-basket, and the other two were also transplanted into pots and brought back home.
At this moment, they were being treasured in their courtyard.
Everyone in the Sun Family had seen the three-colored peonies, but they were still amazed every time they saw them.
Because of the three-colored flowers, Zhao Zhitong’s status in her maternal grandparents’ home had become even higher. Her maternal grandparents already doted on her, and her status was already high at her maternal grandfather’s home. Now, she had become someone the boys in the family couldn’t bully.
Especially her eldest aunt and second aunt; they had never disliked Zhao Zhitong to begin with. After the three-colored peonies appeared, they regarded Zhao Zhitong even more as the family’s Little Lucky Star.
They treated Zhao Zhitong even better, so much so that Sun Daqing and the others exclaimed their mothers must have been bewitched to act so gently.
Then, they would be chased all over the courtyard by their eldest and second aunts.
Sun Youcai carefully placed the bamboo basket containing the peony flowers on the wooden cart.
Sun Lan also quickly took out the embroidered handkerchiefs and Tiger Head Shoes she had made and put them on the cart.
Sun Mei was also happy that Sun Lan had found something useful to do and smiled, "These handkerchiefs and Tiger Head Shoes are sure to sell well at the temple fair in the coming days."
Sun Lan nodded with a smile, "That way I can also contribute to the family’s living."
Chatting and laughing, the group left the house in a grand procession.
The older children were unwilling to sit in the cart, so only Sun Xiaoyu and Sun Daru, the youngest two, sat on Sun Youcai’s cart, helping to hold the bamboo basket.
Zhao Zhitong was also forced to sit in the cart, but after a short while, she became unwilling, got off, and followed Sun Daqing and the others, running and playing on their way to the county town.
However, the county town was not far away, so Sun Mei just let her be.
Once they entered the town, they found that it was indeed a temple fair, and the town was even more lively than usual.
To avoid any trouble, and also fearing the peony flowers being crushed in the bamboo basket, Sun Youcai planned to go directly to the Peony Flower Shop to sell them.
But Zhao Zhitong stopped him and suggested, "Younger Uncle, let’s go to Ruoliu Street!"
Sun Youcai was puzzled. "What would we do on Ruoliu Street?" he asked. "Is there a Peony Flower Shop there?"
Zhao Zhitong shook her head. "No, but instead of selling them to the flower shop, let’s go to Lingjian Villa."
Seeing Sun Youcai’s confused face, Zhao Zhitong said, "My friend told me that her father loves peony flowers. Let’s sell directly to them. It will definitely make more money than selling to the flower shop."
Sun Youcai looked puzzled. "Your friend?"
Zhao Zhitong proudly patted her small chest. "Yes, she’s my good friend! Her name is Bai Xue, and she’s very beautiful."
The last time Zhao Zhitong went to the Liu Clan to sell polygonum multiflorum, Liu Baixue had taken down Zhao Zhitong’s home address. Since then, the two had started to exchange letters.
In one of her letters, Zhao Zhitong mentioned that she was growing peony flowers. Liu Baixue found this very interesting and also said that her father loved peony flowers.
That’s when Zhao Zhitong had the idea of selling them to Lingjian Villa.
Seeing Sun Youcai looking puzzled, Zhao Dong explained with a smile, "I’ve been to Lingjian Villa a few times to sell medicinal herbs. And your little niece here has become friends with their Young Lady."
Sun Youcai couldn’t help but widen his eyes. His niece can make friends even like this? She really is something!
Zhao Dong led the way, driving the ox cart familiarly to Ruoliu Street. This time, he didn’t go to the front gate but turned directly into the alley, heading for the back door.
Zhao Zhitong had already excitedly hopped off the cart, rushed to the back door of the Liu Clan, and knocked a few times.
After a short while, the door was opened by a slightly plump woman dressed in brown clothes.
She saw an unfamiliar young girl at the door, then looked at Zhao Dong standing behind her. "And you are?" she asked.
Zhao Zhitong smiled and said, "I’m your Young Lady’s friend. I’m here to play with her."
The woman was puzzled at first, then it dawned on her. "Oh, I remember now! You’re the young lady from the Zhao Family that our Young Lady mentioned, right?"
Zhao Zhitong nodded, grinning. "Yes, that’s right. My name is Zhao Zhitong. I’m not a young lady, though! You can call me Tongtong."
The woman smiled and nodded but still addressed her as Miss Zhao. "Miss Zhao, please wait here a moment. I’ll go and call our Young Lady right away."
With that, she shouted towards the back, "Old Woman Xi, go call the Young Lady! Her friend is here!"
At this moment, Sun Youcai came over carrying the back-basket, carefully observing the towering courtyard walls. This courtyard must be huge! he sighed to himself.
Sun Youcai walked over to Zhao Dong, glanced at the old woman guarding the door, and whispered, "What’s happening now?"
Zhao Zhitong turned her head and whispered, "Wait a moment, Xue’er will be out soon."
"Oh," Sun Youcai nodded. He didn’t dare to make any more noise, but his eyes were still examining the towering walls.
After a short while, a figure in white approached the back door. "Tongtong!" a girl’s voice, slightly cool yet tinged with pleasant surprise, called out.
As the voice faded, Liu Baixue appeared before Zhao Zhitong. She looked at Zhao Zhitong with excitement. "You finally came to play with me!"
Zhao Zhitong also enthusiastically ran towards Liu Baixue, happily saying, "I’ve been attending school, so I haven’t had time to come to the county town to play."
As she said this, she noticed that Liu Baixue’s hair, visible beneath her cloak, had turned black. She couldn’t help but be overjoyed. "Xue’er, you’re cured!"
Liu Baixue took Zhao Zhitong’s small hand and said happily, "Not completely. As long as my condition doesn’t flare up, my hair won’t turn white. This is all thanks to the two polygonum multiflorum roots you sold me. I really must thank you properly."
Zhao Zhitong was genuinely happy for Liu Baixue but didn’t feel it was her doing. She laughed, "It’s not my credit! I just sold you the medicinal herb, and I accepted money from your family for it."
Liu Baixue didn’t care whether it was a purchase or not; in her heart, she had already defined Zhao Zhitong as her benefactor. Her good friend, her only good friend.
Once the two good friends met, they held hands and chatted happily, talking about everything from their hair and clothes to what they had eaten for breakfast, completely forgetting about selling the peonies.