Chapter 95: Treating Xingxing as Her Own Daughter

Chapter 95: Treating Xingxing as Her Own Daughter

Wei Pozi's myriad words boiled down to one sentence:

"Never do this again."

Compared to Xingxing's safety, Wei Pozi would rather not have the ginseng.

The difficulty in gathering the tuition was something for the adults to worry about; why should a three-year-old child be burdened with such concerns?

Xingxing nodded her little head repeatedly.

After Li Chunhua and Bai Xiaofeng expressed their concern for Xingxing, they couldn't help but look at the plump, white ginseng.

Li Chunhua whistled in amazement: "This thick ginseng, how much must it sell for?"

Su Rouer recalled: "I remember when I was a child, I saw one in an apothecary shop that was only as big as a thumb, and it sold for fifteen taels of silver..."

Li Chunhua and Bai Xiaofeng both drew in a sharp breath!

The ginseng Xingxing had dug up was as thick as her wrist and as long as her forearm!

How much could it possibly sell for?

Li Chunhua's breathing grew heavier.

She couldn't even begin to calculate!

Bai Xiaofeng, moved to tears, said with a smile: "Xingxing, you truly are our family's little star of good fortune! ... With such a ginseng, the tuition for all the boys to study until they become scholars will be more than enough!"

Xingxing was delighted, swinging her little legs over the edge of the kang: "The brothers can all go to school!"

Bai Xiaofeng couldn't resist and kissed Xingxing on the cheek: "My good baby, they can, they definitely can!"

Xingxing smiled shyly and happily.

Li Chunhua patted her eldest son's back: "Huai Geer, look how much your sister cares about you all! In the future, you must all study hard and earn a substantial dowry for your sister!"

Since learning that Xingxing had fallen down the hill to gather ginseng for them, the four brothers were all deeply moved and saddened.

Each of the young teenagers secretly vowed that if they ever made something of themselves, they would never let Xingxing suffer again!

"Mother, with Third Brother away, what should we do with this ginseng?" Yu Daniu asked Wei Pozi.

In recent years, due to the famine, herbs had become increasingly expensive, and even farmers who had seen little ginseng knew its value!

The best course of action would be to wait for Yu Sanbao to return and handle it.

But Yu Sanbao was currently out on business, and no one knew when he would return.

They knew how to store and handle ordinary herbs, but this precious ginseng was something they had never encountered before, and they had no idea how to preserve it!

What if it spoiled while stored at home?

Wei Pozi made the decision: "Tomorrow, we'll take this thing to the county and ask around!"

She looked at them: "Eldest, Second, Fourth, tomorrow you won't go to work. You'll accompany me and your father to the county."

The adult male members of the Yu family all nodded in agreement.

That night, the Yu family was too excited to sleep.

The next morning, before dawn, the adult male members of the Yu family, along with Old Yu and Wei Pozi, quietly left the Yu household and headed for the county.

Li Chunhua, Bai Xiaofeng, and Su Rouer, the sisters-in-law, didn't sleep well either, anxiously waiting.

It wasn't until the afternoon that the Yu family members who went to the county returned, trudging through the mud.

The more composed ones had a hint of excitement on their faces.

Someone like Yu Erhu, who was simpler-minded, was practically flying with joy!

It was clear that the ginseng had fetched a good price!

"How much?" Li Chunhua asked, anxious, excited, and nervous.

Yu Daniu first closed the gate of the Yu household, unable to hide his excitement. Once inside the main room, they began to rustle through their clothes, pulling out silver ingots!

Farmers didn't use banknotes; they had specifically asked the apothecary to exchange everything for more convenient silver!

One by one, the silver ingots, varying in age and quality, were laid out on the table.

Wei Pozi's voice trembled: "One hundred and fifty taels, we sold it for one hundred and fifty taels of silver!"

Li Chunhua, Bai Xiaofeng, and Su Rouer, the three sisters-in-law, hugged each other tightly, trying not to cry out.

One hundred and fifty taels!

One hundred and fifty taels!

They could never earn that much in a lifetime!

The Yu family's faces were all aglow with smiles!

After calming down a bit, Wei Pozi took out a beautiful small silver lock from her pocket and placed it on the table.

"This ginseng was found by Xingxing, and this longevity lock is something I bought especially for her. Do you all have any objections?"

In Wei Pozi's mind, she had wanted to buy Xingxing a gold one.

But at this time of year, something with gold would be too conspicuous.

This silver longevity lock is better; it has a good meaning, and when worn under the clothes, it’s also safe.

The three sisters-in-law, Li Chunhua, Bai Xiaofeng, and Su Rouer, all shook their heads in unison.

This silver was all thanks to Xingxing. Not only would they not mind buying her a longevity lock, but even if their mother-in-law gave most of the silver to Xingxing, they wouldn’t have any objections.

Wei Pozi glanced at the expressions of her three daughters-in-law and felt somewhat satisfied.

"However, there's one thing I must say upfront," Wei Pozi said seriously. "You all know what our family used to be like. Ever since we had Xingxing, our life has gradually improved. Now, with this substantial sum of 150 taels, we don't need to worry about the tuition for the boys. But, Xingxing has no parents, and your father and I are getting old. If Xingxing hasn't married by the time we pass away, you must swear to me that you will treat her as if she were your own daughter, and her dowry must be no less than, and preferably more than, what you would give to your own daughters!"

Upon hearing this, the three daughters-in-law were all alarmed.

"Mother, what are you saying! You and Father are still young. Even when Xingxing gets married and has children, she'll still bring them back to call you grandparents!"

"That's right, Mother. Don't worry, no matter what, we've always treated Xingxing as our own daughter."

"Exactly! Mother, rest assured, as long as I have a mouthful to eat, Xingxing will never go hungry!"

The three daughters-in-law reassured her, and Wei Pozi, feeling somewhat satisfied, nodded with a smile on her face. "Also, your father and I have discussed this. With such a large sum of money, just keeping it isn't a good idea. We plan to let the third son open a shop in the county."

Su Rouer, who had been listening, was surprised to hear that this good fortune would fall to their third branch of the family:

"Ah?"

Wei Pozi looked at Su Rouer. "The third son can make money through trade, but as I mentioned to your father before, his disadvantage is his lack of a solid foundation. Without his own shop, he can only travel around, earning a meager profit. But if he opens his own shop, the profit will definitely be higher."

Su Rouer was so excited she didn't know what to say.

"However, we still need to discuss the specifics with the third son when he returns," Wei Pozi smiled. "If he agrees, we'll go to the county and look for a small shop, preferably one with a small courtyard. That way, when the boys finish school, they can stay in the back yard, and they won't have to run back and forth!"

Initially, Li Chunhua and Bai Xiaofeng felt a bit envious upon hearing that the third branch would be opening a shop, even if they tried to hide it. But when they heard that the boys would have such a convenient arrangement, they had no objections at all!

This was a good thing for the whole family!