Chiang Songhai and Ge Dejun had already brought down the sack containing the badger and set it aside, to prevent Ma Jincai from discovering it.
They certainly didn’t sell this item.
However, watching the bags of mountain goods being weighed, and listening to them being reported item by item, they all felt extremely excited.
There were many goods, and after the final tally, they had made a total of three hundred and twelve dollars.
Just like the last time, Chiang Xiao kept a little of each wild vegetable for herself, including the dead partridge that she planned to cook for an additional dish in the evening.
Although there was no wild boar this time, there were still plenty of game meats, including wood ear mushrooms, bracken ferns, and Tianlvxiang that they gave away generously. Adding it all up, it amounted to quite a sum of money.
This time, Chiang Songhai was there to witness such a large sum of money being handed to Chiang Xiao, which left him feeling emotional and his eyes shining brightly.
No wonder they all had smiles on their faces after a busy day. Seeing the mountain goods they gathered fetch such a high price, who wouldn’t be happy?
"Director Ma, I’m going to look for Aunt Ma to return these three vegetable bowls to her. See you next time." Having received the money, Chiang Xiao immediately waved her hand and led Chiang Songhai and the others around to the front door of the restaurant.
Ma Jincai watched her walk in front, followed by three grown men steering the ox cart, as if this young girl was in charge of the household, which made him shake his head and chuckle to himself.
This girl was indeed the most dependable and responsible young lady he had ever seen. It was no wonder she was managing the household.
After Chiang Xiao returned the three bowls to Ma Cuifeng, the group headed straight for the house Liu Pei had impulsively rented that day.
When they reached the entrance of the alley, Chiang Xiao was quite sure they had rented Chu Liang’s house.
Indeed, the ox cart stopped in front of that old house, and Chiang Xiao saw that door again.
That day, she had left with a determination not to abandon Meng Xinian and Zhao Xin, only to find herself coming back on her own initiative. She had pushed open that door, which led to deeper entanglements with Tyrant Meng.
Arriving here, she felt as though she could hear that deep, magnetic voice again.
Chiang Xiao suddenly shook her head.
Tyrant Meng’s presence was too strong. Even though he wasn’t here, she couldn’t stop thinking about him.
But the moment she remembered that he was now her fiancé, Chiang Xiao couldn’t help but feel a sense of absurdity and unreality.
The door creaked open, and Liu Pei stood at the doorway. Seeing them, she exclaimed, "Why are you so late? Come in quickly! We’re waiting for you to have dinner!"
Ge Dejun was momentarily dazed.
Seeing Liu Pei greeting him at the door and hearing her steady and loud voice telling them dinner was waiting, he felt this was a very novel experience.
In the past at home, the dinner time was set by his mother. Anyone who missed it got nothing—there would be nothing left.
And sometimes, when he came back late from work, Liu Pei would open the door for him. She would whisper, trying not to disturb his mother, "I wasn’t able to save any food for you, but there’s half a bowl of leftover rice. Is it alright if you just soak it in some hot water?"
He had to admit, this new feeling was damn good!
"Dad, Second," cried out Ge Xiaotong and Ge Liutao as they came to greet them, with the house giving off a warm, albeit dim, light.
Before, they could only afford to light a kerosene lamp, and not for too long either.
"Grandma, Aunt, Cousin Auntie!" Chiang Xiao also felt this was a good feeling.
"Look at Little, dirty again like a flower cat, tired out, eh? Come on, quickly come in and wash your hands. Auntie will get you a steamed bun to fill your stomach a bit!"
Well, she was being treated like a child again.