He watched Chiang Xiao make the payments, in just a moment, not including the five yuan public fund, she had already spent over ten yuan on her own purchases!
Initially, Chiang Songhai thought they had made a huge profit and expected to save at least ten yuan, but in less than an hour, it was almost all gone!
After buying rice, flour, seasonings, and meat, Chiang Xiao had only eight mao left in her hand.
Chiang Songhai’s steps became even more faltering, as he broke out in cold sweat time and again.
Once the shopping was done, they waited for the village’s ox-cart under the big banyan tree.
After paying one mao for the ride, only seven mao were left.
"Uncle Songhai, you didn’t bring Chiang Xiao with you this morning, did you? How come she’s here?" There were three other villagers on the cart, who were surprised to see Chiang Xiao.
Chiang Songhai forced a bitter smile.
"She came with someone else early in the morning."
He couldn’t be too explicit, or else it might spread gossip around the village if it became known that she hadn’t been home last night and had stayed at someone else’s place.
If it weren’t for Chiang Songhai and Ge Liutao doting on Chiang Xiao, her not returning for a night would typically necessitate a scolding first and foremost.
Fortunately, the three villagers on the same ox-cart trip were not the gossipy kind. They were not interested in how Chiang Xiao had come to town, rather they were surprised to see so much stuff they were carrying.
The rice and flour were packed in burlap sacks, so it wasn’t visible what they were. The meat and vegetables, along with seasonings, were in a carrying basket covered with cloth, also out of sight.
It was just that the pile of items Chiang Xiao was holding was in a plain hemp shoulder bag purchased from the bookstore, with half of the rice paper peeking out. The bag was open, so the paints and pencils inside could be seen.
They certainly knew how expensive these items were. The Chiang family was always so poor that they scraped by, where did the money come from to buy these?
"Chiang Xiao, did the teacher ask you to buy these?" One man started to feel uneasy; his sister was also studying and had never mentioned the need for these things.
Chiang Xiao sensed a hint of familiarity when the man called her name, which made her feel a bit strange.
"No, these are for my own use, the teacher didn’t require it."
Perhaps in the county or city schools, the art teachers might require these items, but at Siyang Village Primary School, it was impossible; their teachers knew the students’ family conditions all too well.
Studying painting was indeed a very cash-burning major, how could the villagers of Siyang Village afford it?
The man breathed a sigh of relief, saying, "I thought as much. My Xiao Xing never mentioned needing to buy such things."
Chiang Xiao suddenly realized, remembering that this man must be Sun Xiaoxing’s second brother, Sun Jinhe.
Chiang Xiao didn’t take the matter to heart.
With too many people traveling together, it wasn’t convenient to confide in her grandfather, but seeing him somewhat distracted all the way, Chiang Xiao felt inevitably guilty.
She knew the speed at which she spent money today had frightened her grandfather.
But today, the money had to be spent.
Upon reaching the village, the two jumped off the ox-cart without delay, walking briskly towards home.
Chiang Xiao was in an extremely good mood because she had finally made some money and bought what she wanted, eager to indulge in painting. She couldn’t wait to draw some usable paintings, partly to practice her skill and further explore the wonders of that brush, and partly to prepare well for her next trip into Bai Gu Mountain.
She was still counting on earning a good sum from those mountain goods.
Whereas Chiang Songhai was still unable to calm his emotions due to the roller coaster of events.
He felt he could only settle down a bit once he was back home, in a familiar place.
They had earned twenty-four yuan that morning!