Chapter 231: Chapter 231: Stunned Chapter 231: Chapter 231: Stunned After Big Bull gave Master Zhang a beating, Master Zhang, with his group of unruly friends, skulked away in defeat.
With some loaches left over, Xuexue decided not to sell them anymore. She packed them up and handed them to Auntie Zhang: “Auntie, take these remaining loaches home for the children to try.”
Knowing the price of the loaches, Auntie Zhang became fearful and astounded. Good gracious, these are even more expensive than meat: “Xuexue, such precious things, you better keep them to sell for silver. It’s a waste for us to eat them.
Xuexue couldn’t help but laugh: “Auntie, listen to yourself, how could eating them be a waste? Take it, you’ve looked after us so well, it’s only right to give you some.”
Unable to refuse her generosity, Auntie Zhang accepted them, but her hands shook as she took the bag. Goodness, it felt like it weighed a couple of pounds. She sold jewelry for a living and still didn’t make several taels of silver in a whole year. Xuexue was just too generous to her.
Right after Xuexue and the others left, a dozen strong men arrived, tools in hand and looking aggressive. It seemed they were out for revenge on behalf of Master Zhang.
Auntie Zhang couldn’t help but feel anxious for them, thankful that Xuexue and her companions had left quickly. Otherwise, given the situation, they surely would have been at a disadvantage.
She was so worried because she didn’t know about Big Bull’s capabilities.
Just from selling two baskets of loaches today, Xuexue had made dozens of taels of silver. She was ecstatic. There were still a few more baskets of loaches hidden in her “space,” and just thinking about it filled her with joy. All those shining pieces of silver.
She and Big Bull went on a shopping spree in the street, filling two baskets with daily necessities, food, and two bolts of cloth. She planned to make two sets of clothes for her elder sister’s family, for convenience and to have something clean to change into. Tuantuan and Yuanyuan were too ragged, and she noticed that the two little tykes had their pride. Whenever someone called them little beggars, they’d get upset and show a hint of inferiority. Xuexue felt heartache seeing such small children feeling this way.
Previously, Old Master Mo had sent over a lot of cloth, but Old Lady Mo took it all away. Now that she’d earned some silver, Xuexue simply decided to make two sets of clothes for them.
Seeing Big Bull coming back carrying two baskets full of items, Mo Yaner thought the loaches hadn’t sold.
“Xuexue, what happened? Aren’t loaches delicious? Did no one want them?” Mo Yaner asked as she came up to her.
Xuexue simply smiled without a word.
No wonder she said that; the top of the two baskets was covered with miscellaneous items to avoid a repeat of the previous incident.
Just as the family members were all at home, Xuexue walked into the main hall in high spirits.
“What happened? Come on, speak up,” urged Madam Xie and Mo Yaner, who had followed her in.
Big Bull set down the two baskets from his shoulders, and Xuexue quickly lifted the miscellaneous items covering them. With a face full of smiles she announced, “Ta-da! Look at this.”
“My goodness, Xuexue, are you spending money recklessly again?” Madam Xie’s eyes widened in shock. The girl was becoming more and more extravagant with spending: “Did you spend all the silver you earned today on these things?”
“No, there’s more.” While they weren’t paying attention, she slyly reached behind her back, pulled out a bag of silver from her “space,” and triumphantly dangled it in front of Madam Xie. She gleefully asked, “Guess what this is?”
“Stop teasing us, please tell us already, what is it?” Mo Yaner was impatient and couldn’t stand the suspense.
Xuexue untied the cloth bag. Whoosh! A bag of silver coins poured out onto the table, leaving everyone speechless.
After a long moment of stunned silence, Mo Yaner, in a dreamlike daze, asked, “Xuexue, don’t tell us, this is the money from selling loaches today, is it?”
“Yep! That’s right,” Xuexue nodded vigorously.
“My heavens! Mother, Xuexue is amazing, there must be dozens of taels of silver here.”
Mo Yaner and her husband were astounded. They couldn’t believe that the loaches they ate without a second thought were worth so much. Now they regretted it to death, wishing they hadn’t eaten so many. All those shiny silver coins had been wasted in their stomachs!