"Hahahaha..." Du Qing burst into hearty laughter, delighted, and asked with a smile, "Jiaojiao doesn’t buy meat, so where does the meat come from?" She thought little Jiaojiao didn’t know that meat had to be purchased.
But upon hearing this, both Ruan Jianguo and the Ruanlin Family were taken aback, then glanced at each other, understanding the meaning behind Jiaojiao’s words.
Fearing that she would speak carelessly, the Ruanlin Family quickly intervened, "Du from the store next door, you should head back now. We’ll leave the items at your place first, and we’ll come to pick them up later when we head back."
Du Qing nodded and said, "Alright, I’ll head back first. Jiaojiao, how about a kiss for your aunt before I go?"
Jiaojiao complied sweetly, puckering her small mouth and planting a kiss, and Du Qing left, thoroughly content.
After she had departed, the Ruanlin Family looked sternly at Jiaojiao, "Jiaojiao, did you forget what Grandma told you?" Du Qing is a good person, but you can never tell what people might think. Xiu Xi and Jiaojiao’s abilities must be kept secret, otherwise who knows what kind of disaster they may invite?"
"Grandma, Jiaojiao knows she was wrong." Seeing the Ruanlin Family’s stern expression, Jiaojiao lowered her little head, speaking in a tiny voice, looking quite pitiable.
Xiu Xi, at a loss for what to do, could only look up at her with concern, hating himself for not being tall or big enough to hold her in his arms from Ruan Jianguo and comfort her.
The Ruanlin Family felt pained too.
Holding her close, the Ruanlin Family softened her voice and coaxed, "Jiaojiao, Grandma isn’t blaming you, but these are things you can’t tell anyone, not even your auntie, understand?"
"And not your brothers either," she added. "They are careless with their words and might slip up without meaning to."
"Mhm, Jiaojiao understands." Jiaojiao nodded and nuzzled her little cheek against the Ruanlin Family’s, melting her heart completely. She kissed her and said, "Let’s go, Grandma will buy you some treats to eat in the carriage."
At a neighboring store, the Ruanlin Family bought some mung bean cakes – the sweet, soft cakes melted in the mouth, and Jiaojiao quite liked them. But eating them in the carriage while facing the wind, she could not have too many; afraid that the wind would cause a tummy ache, she only had two pieces before the Ruanlin Family tucked them away.
However, Jiaojiao’s earlier reminder got them both thinking.
The Ruanlin Family had the capital; selling almost any item would secure the necessary funds.
After Shu Jiao left, Ruan Jianguo had stopped working and could not remain idle forever. He had planned to start some small business after finding Shu Jiao, and now it seemed a restaurant would be a good idea. Especially for them, with fresh ingredients readily available – they could grow vegetables or buy them from the collective, and with a diverse range of meat available, not much capital was needed...
Both deep in thought, an hour later, they finally arrived in the city.
The city was much busier than the town. Jiaojiao noted several restaurants, observing their booming business – they mostly catered to groups rather than individuals, ordering elaborate dishes since those who could afford to shop in the city did not lack the money for a meal.
As Jiaojiao sized up the restaurants, so did Ruan Jianguo and the Ruanlin Family. Only Xiu Xi, frowning, clung to Jiaojiao amid the throngs of people, sensing an overwhelming unease.
He hated such bustling markets.
Often, seeing Jiaojiao surrounded by people, enjoying the love and care shown to her, he would feel a surge of violence, and he even began to regret.
Back in that deep forest, where it had been just the two of them, how nice that was...