Chapter 24 Ding Ding Ding, Essential Gear for a Little Rich Lady
The next day, several boys rushed out early in the morning. They all headed to the canal to search for river mussels.
“What’s up with you boys so early?”
“Fourth Grandpa Huang, are you out fishing already?”
“I’m checking my fish traps!”
Fourth Grandpa Huang shook his smoking pipe on the riverbank.
“A big boss got sick and needs a wild old softshell turtle as a medicinal guide. I set a trap last night but caught nothing.”
Xingchi asked curiously, “Are there still softshell turtles in the canal?”
Fourth Grandpa Huang rolled his eyes.
“In this Grand Canal of ours, apart from dragons, there’s nothing you can’t find!”
“Aren’t you the Shao family’s kid? You’re just like your father, know nothing. The boatmen’s traditions are getting lost!”
Shao Xingchi had no comeback.
If he said more, it would involve criticizing his own father — he didn’t dare.
“White kid, if you catch one, save it for me. I’ll pay a good price. I also buy rare river delicacies!”
“Alright, you’re buying fish too?”
What perfect timing — it was like offering a pillow to someone who’s dozing off.
“I know lots of bosses. Just earning a bit of margin!”
Fourth Grandpa Huang was being honest.
“In a few more days, the canal water will turn cold.”
Fourth Grandpa Huang strolled away with his hands behind his back. Meanwhile, Bai Zimo and the others plunged into the water.
“Today’s haul is pretty good!”
Thanks to his god-tier diving skills, picking river mussels was like child’s play for Bai Zimo.
Of course, river mussels aren’t worth much. Otherwise, no one would let a few kids snatch up such an easy opportunity. Still, even if they weren’t valuable, they still went to sell them to people they knew.
They needed eighty yuan, so they asked Haikuo’s dad for it — supplementing if necessary — like an advance payment.
“Eighty yuan? You’re robbing me!”
River mussels usually sold for only two or three yuan per kilogram. Asking eighty for ten or so mussels was outrageous!
“Uncle Zhou, if a pearl comes out of the mussels, you’ll make a fortune!”
“Zimo, you’re good at sales — why don’t you say you can even string them into a necklace?”
“Sure! String them into a necklace! Aunt Mei would look even prettier wearing one.”
This Zimo kid sure knew how to sweet-talk!
But the next second, his temper flared up. Zhou Haikuo snatched the money straight from his hands.
“Dad, just hand it over! If it’s not enough, we’ll go get more!”
When your own son scams you, who can you complain to?
“Yanlin, you can’t spoil them !”
Some of the mothers who were running stalls hurried over to mediate.
“Oh, it’s not a bad thing. It shows the kids have a business sense!”
When Ma Siyi stepped out into the courtyard — she got a surprise.
“Siyi, do you like your new backpack?”
“Yeah, we each got a new one!”
“Don’t just stand there! If you don’t like it, we can swap it.”
“I love my new backpack!”
For a long time afterward, Ma Siyi was the darling of the group. In the Flower Street courtyard, at the dock market, among all the kids!
In the morning, she received everyone’s gifts. At noon, she received Bai Zimo’s gift.
“Siyi, this is a present from me!”
“Ding ding ding, essential gear for a little rich lady.”
Bai Zimo opened a box and pulled out a pink piggy bank.
“Yeah! Is there money inside?”
“I put a fifty yuan bill inside. I hope it can grow and multiply!”
Ma Siyi hugged the pink piggy, reluctant to let go. The once melancholy look in her eyes was replaced with hope for the future. She felt like she was wrapped in surprises. That lonely feeling of living under someone else’s roof began to fade. Life only changes when it’s noticed.
She had been noticed, loved, and cherished by everyone.
“Grandma, do I need to give them something back?”
“Affection should be mutual, but you don’t always need to give gifts. Your grandpa settled down here on Flower Street because of the people’s warmth.”
“Then what about the people Grandpa was looking for? Did he find them later?”
“Too many years have passed — even if he found them, what difference would it make?”
“People are emotional beings. Just like here in our courtyard — neighbors care for each other like family. Sometimes even closer than real family.”
“Some blood relatives drift apart if they don’t keep in touch.”
“Like… me and my mom!”
At that moment, Bai Zimo’s words floated through her mind.
At this time, Bai Zimo had already gone off with his fishing rod to the Scholar’s Bridge’s deep pool. The only cure for sorrow was to get rich. The treasure hunt had officially begun!