The next day, Xiao Jingting and Xu Mu’an got up early. Knowing what the two planned to do, Xiao Xiaofan and Xiao Xiaodong clamored to go help as well. After thinking it over, Xiao Jingting agreed.
Xiao Jingting held Xiao Xiaofan’s hand, his face showing some worry.
Seeing Xiao Jingting’s expression, Xiao Xiaofan blinked his jet-black eyes and said, “Daddy, what’s wrong with you? Are you unhappy?”
Xiao Jingting smiled and said, “Daddy is worried the grapes won’t sell.”
“The grapes are delicious, they’ll definitely sell!” Xiao Xiaofan raised his little fist to cheer Xiao Jingting on.
“Really? The grapes are delicious?” Xiao Jingting asked with a gentle smile.
Xiao Xiaofan nodded solemnly and said, “Yes, the grapes are delicious. Xiao Fan loves eating them.”
“What good does it do if you love eating them,” Xiao Xiaodong said irritably, glaring at Xiao Xiaofan.
Xiao Xiaofan looked at Xiao Dong and said, “Big brother, you love eating them too! You ate even more than me. Mother-father also likes eating them – the two bunches of grapes I left for mother-father, mother-father ate them all up.”
“Really?” Xiao Jingting looked toward Xu Mu’an with a face full of smiles. Xu Mu’an’s face quickly turned red.
Xiao Jingting shook his head inwardly. Xu Mu’an was only in his teens – at this age in his previous life, he would just be a high school student, still a child.
When the four reached the village entrance, an ox cart was already waiting there. Seeing the four people, Li Sheng, who was sitting at the front of the ox cart smoking a pipe, was surprised for a moment, then broke into a smile.
“Little Xu! Going to the city again!” Li Sheng asked warmly.
Xu Mu’an nodded and said, “Yes.”
“This time going together with the head of household and the children!” Li Sheng looked at Xiao Jingting with a beaming smile.
Xu Mu’an felt somewhat embarrassed by Li Sheng’s smile and said, “Yes.”
“Head of Household Xiao, I heard you’ve recently seen the error of your ways and turned over a new leaf. That’s right! Working the fields honestly and supporting your family – with your abilities, life will surely get better and better,” Li Sheng said.
Xiao Jingting nodded and agreed, “Elder is quite right.”
“What are you all going to the city to do?” Li Sheng asked.
“We’re going to the city to sell some things,” Xiao Jingting replied vaguely.
Li Sheng nodded and said, “I see! Get on the cart.”
There were already three or four people sitting in the cart. Seeing Xiao Jingting and Xu Mu’an get on, the several people in the cart looked over with curiosity.
Xiao Jingting was notorious throughout Tuqiu Village. Everyone knew that Xiao Jingting and Xu Mu’an didn’t get along well. Seeing the two of them get on together now, the people in the cart all curiously stared at Xiao Jingting, sizing him up. Being watched like a giant panda, Xiao Jingting felt quite awkward.
Xiao Jingting felt that one person in the cart was looking at them with somewhat unfriendly eyes. Xiao Jingting racked his brains and finally remembered – this person was Qiu Li, Qiu Bai’s older brother.
“Brother Xiao, what are you going to the city to do this time?” Qiu Li asked.
“Sell some things to supplement the household income,” Xiao Jingting replied indifferently.
Qiu Li glanced at Xiao Jingting’s basket and said, “Brother Xiao is probably grasping at straws in desperation. Grapes – not many people in the city like eating them. They won’t fetch a good price. I’m afraid you’ll make this trip for nothing and even lose money on the round-trip travel fees.”
Xiao Jingting smiled nonchalantly and said, “It’s fine, I’m just giving it a try.”
Seeing that Xiao Jingting wasn’t getting the hint, Qiu Li snorted lightly and said nothing more.
Xiao Jingting held Xiao Xiaofan and didn’t bother with this person anymore.
Xiao Xiaofan lazily yawned in Xiao Jingting’s arms. Xiao Jingting dotingly rubbed Xiao Xiaofan’s head.
Xiao Xiaodong looked enviously at Xiao Xiaofan in Xiao Jingting’s arms. When he saw Xiao Jingting’s gaze come over, he quickly turned his face away.
Once everyone was aboard, the ox cart started running swiftly. Xiao Jingting experienced the power of otherworldly ox carts for the first time – so oxen could run this fast and this steadily.
Xiao Jingting thought to himself: If he had money, he could also buy an ox cart. That way, when going to the fields every day, he wouldn’t have to walk so far. Right now he only had five acres of farmland and was quite idle every day, so wasting a little time on the road didn’t matter. But when he got all his fields back, he would be much busier.
“Elder Li’s ox cart – how much silver would it be worth?” Xiao Jingting asked Xu Mu’an in a lowered voice.
Xu Mu’an was stunned for a moment and said, “Demon beasts are very difficult to domesticate. Many demon beasts will turn on their masters when they grow up. Elder Li’s demon ox was raised from small and has a very close relationship with the Li family. For ordinary people to buy demon beasts, they have to go to Beast Control Hall outlets. The demon beasts there are all controlled by beast control talismans. The price for taming demon beasts is very expensive. If Elder Li’s demon beast were bought from Beast Control Hall, the price wouldn’t be less than eight hundred taels.”
Many people couldn’t bear the training fees from Beast Control Hall, so many families would buy gentle demon beast cubs to raise. Raising them from small to large and developing affection, there generally wouldn’t be major problems.
Xiao Jingting nodded and said, “Really expensive!” He was indeed just a penniless wretch now.
Qiu Li, who had originally been resting with closed eyes, heard Xiao Jingting’s words, opened his eyes, and swept a mocking glance at Xiao Jingting.
Xiao Jingting was angered by Qiu Li’s completely disdainful gaze, making his stomach and liver hurt.
This Qiu Li was typical of someone who wanted to be a whore and erect a memorial arch at the same time. Xiao Jingting was certain that the affair between Qiu Bai and the original owner definitely had Qiu Li scheming behind the scenes. The Qiu family favored men over women, and Qiu Li’s status in the Qiu family was much higher than Qiu Bai’s.
Qiu Bai was the same type as Qiu Li – wanting the original owner’s money while also despising the original owner. After taking advantage, he still thought the original owner was improper. A toad wanting to eat swan meat.
