“Big brother, you didn’t get it wrong, did you? Over sixty taels?” Qiu Bai couldn’t help asking.
Qiu Li shook his head and said, “How could I get it wrong? Xiao Jingting sold dozens of bunches of grapes in the market and earned several taels of silver. Later, he sold all the grapes to the shopkeeper of Yueho Restaurant at 200 wen per bunch, earning over sixty taels.” He had spent some money to bribe a server at Yueho Restaurant to find out this information.
He hadn’t expected that grapes could actually make money. Thinking about what he had said to Xiao Jingting before, Qiu Li felt terribly embarrassed.
Qiu Bai widened his eyes and asked in confusion, “What kind of grapes are so valuable?” The wild grapes on the back mountain were ones no one ate.
Qiu Li shook his head and said, “I don’t know either. Tomorrow you should go probe Xiao Jingting’s attitude.”
Qiu Bai said somewhat awkwardly, “Xiao Jingting has been strange lately. He doesn’t really pay attention to me anymore.”
“Probably because you’ve been stringing him along, letting him look but not touch. Since he didn’t get any advantage, he’s being cold toward you,” Qiu Li said.
Qiu Bai snorted coldly and said, “Big brother, what are you talking about? You want me to sleep with that bastard Xiao Jingting for some small favors? As if he’s worthy.” Everyone in the village thought he was the most outstanding-looking and would definitely be able to marry into a wealthy family in the future. If Xiao Jingting were still Young Master Xiao it would be one thing, but now he was just a fallen household sent into exile.
Qiu Li frowned and said, “Times have changed. Xiao Jingting may not amount to much now, but with that skill for growing grapes, he’ll emerge sooner or later. Besides, that little courtyard of the Xiao family is unique in this village.”
Hearing this, Qiu Bai couldn’t help feeling somewhat tempted. But then, thinking again, he felt it wasn’t right. “Big brother, it’s not like you don’t understand what kind of person Xiao Jingting is – eating, drinking, whoring, gambling, committing every evil. No amount of silver could withstand his spending. Recently he seems better, but who knows how long he can persist.”
Qiu Li nodded and said, “Your concerns also make some sense. Let’s wait and see.”
Qiu Bai continued persistently, “If Xiao Jingting’s type of grapes can make money, the news will spread sooner or later. When more people plant them, they naturally won’t be valuable anymore.”
Qiu Li nodded and said, “That’s also right. You go see how Xiao Jingting grows his grapes. If possible, we’ll follow suit and plant them too.”
Qiu Bai’s eyes lit up, thinking: Right! If grapes really make this much money, there’s no reason to let others benefit.
…
The next day, on their way to the fields, Xiao Jingting and Xu Mu’an encountered Qiu Bai again.
Seeing Qiu Bai, Xu Mu’an couldn’t help feeling completely disgusted.
“Big Brother Xiao, where are you going?” Qiu Bai asked enthusiastically.
Xiao Jingting said impatiently, “Hurrying to the fields.”
“Big Brother Xiao, you’ve been getting more and more diligent lately!” Qiu Bai flattered.
“When you’re about to run out of food, naturally you have to be more diligent,” Xiao Jingting said indifferently.
Qiu Bai smiled and said, “Big Brother Xiao, you’re really joking. Didn’t you just sell grapes and earn a large sum of money?”
Xiao Jingting’s heart sank. The news of his grape sales had reached Qiu Bai’s ears so quickly. Thinking about Qiu Li who had gone to the city with them yesterday, Xiao Jingting suddenly understood. Qiu Bai knowing about this was most likely because Qiu Li told him. “That money has all been spent.”
Qiu Bai frowned and said, “So much money, how could it all be spent?”
“Spent means spent.” He didn’t want to either! But money just couldn’t withstand being spent.
Qiu Bai’s face tightened, and he smiled awkwardly, responding with an “Oh.”
“Let’s go,” Xiao Jingting said to Xu Mu’an.
Xu Mu’an nodded and said, “Alright!”
Xiao Jingting and Xu Mu’an walked to the fields and got busy.
Xiao Jingting discovered that the original owner did have some good points – for instance, this body of the original owner was much better than his original one. Originally, he would get backaches and sore backs from working, but now it seemed like he had inexhaustible strength.
Keeping several bags of spirit rice to eat themselves, Xiao Jingting planned to sell all the remaining spirit grain. Xiao Jingting didn’t like going to town, and Xu Mu’an was also afraid that if Xiao Jingting went to town, he might be tempted by the flashy world and revert to his former ways. So he volunteered to take on the task of selling the grain.
A body thats not getting sore from hard work… that really is a blessing.