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Liu Pozi listened with envy, moving closer to touch Xingxing's little hand: "Is it really that special?... Come on, let me feel!"

Xingxing hid fearfully in Wei Pozi's arms.

Wei Pozi was displeased: "Don't scare my Xingxing."

"Doesn't feel special," Liu Pozi pouted. "See? I told you it wasn't that special. Otherwise, why would she have been abandoned..."

As soon as she said this, Liu Pozi realized her mistake and quickly stopped.

Wei Pozi's face changed!

She pushed away Liu Pozi's hand from Xingxing and scolded angrily: "You nasty old thing, how can you say such awful things first thing in the morning? Your words stink!"

Liu Pozi knew she was in the wrong and forced a smile, not daring to say more.

But Xingxing lifted her little face and whispered to Wei Pozi: "Grandma, don't be angry. You said it was heaven that sent Xingxing to our family! What was it called..."

She tried hard to remember but couldn't remember the word.

Ju Geer, being older, quickly jumped in: "Fate, fate!"

"Yes, yes!" Xingxing lit up. "That's it—fate! Grandma, we have fate!"

She then looked admiringly at Ju Geer: "Ju Geer knows everything!"

This made Ju Geer puff up with pride!

He hmphed and raised his little chin haughtily!

The little grandchildren's interruption cheered Wei Pozi up, bringing a smile to her face.

Liu Pozi, knowing she was at fault, put on a smile and made nice.

But Wei Pozi ignored her.

When they reached the county gate and got off the cart, Liu Pozi hurried away with her basket.

Wei Pozi kept hold of Xingxing with one hand and Ju Geer with the other, turning to Su Rouer: "We'll meet back at the city gate after noon."

Su Rouer agreed but hesitated, glancing at Ju Geer, who refused to go back to the Su family with her.

Su Rouer had to let it go.

Chapter 42: "How Heavy Can a Blade of Grass Be?"

Wei Pozi, expecting lots to carry, discussed with Old Xu that if they hadn't returned by noon when he drove back to the village, he should wait a bit and take them back too.

Happy to make extra money, Old Xu readily agreed.

Wei Pozi headed into the county town, holding Xingxing with one hand and Ju Geer with the other.

"Let's sell the herbs first," Wei Pozi told the kids. "Once we sell them, Grandma will buy you both a treat."

Xingxing nodded obediently. Not wanting to be left out, Ju Geer not only nodded but also eagerly asked Wei Pozi: "Grandma, are you tired? Want me to carry it?"

Wei Pozi burst out laughing: "How heavy can a blade of grass be?"

Xingxing also giggled.

Ju Geer snapped out of it, his little face turning beet red!

The trio—grandma and her grandkids—were laughing and joking as they headed toward Renhui Hall, where they had previously sold the Burning Heart Herb.

However, before they reached Renhui Hall, they heard a familiar voice blaring from the herbal shop across the street.

Wei Pozi recognized it immediately—it was Liu Pozi, who had ridden in the same cart with them earlier:

"Hey, hey! My herbs are top quality! How can you offer so little? Isn’t this just bullying?"

Curious, the three of them peeked into the shop and indeed saw Liu Pozi haggling with the shopkeeper.

The cloth over her basket was now off, revealing not the "needlework" she had claimed, but some sad-looking, dried-out herbs.

The shopkeeper said with a tired sigh. "Madam, your herbs have been dried too much—they’ve lost most of their kick. Fifty coppers is more than fair."

After some arguing, Liu Pozi, unconvinced, angrily covered her basket again. "Fine! If you won’t take them, I’ll just go to Renhui Hall across the street!"

The shopkeeper shrugged, waving her off. "Madam, let’s be real, Renhui Hall might not even offer you as much as I did."

Liu Pozi had meant to intimidate him, but his words made her hesitate.

Just then, she glanced outside and saw Wei Pozi and the two children watching the scene.

With an audience, Liu Pozi couldn’t lose face now. She dug in her heels. "I don’t believe it!"

As Liu Pozi stepped out with her basket, Wei Pozi, still sore about her earlier dig about Xingxing, scoffed. "I thought this was a needlework trip?"

Liu Pozi backpedaled. "I already sold the needlework. These are just some extra herbs I thought I’d trade for a bit more money..."

Wei Pozi smirked, but didn’t let it slide.

They had gotten off the cart together, and in the brief moment Wei Pozi had spent talking to Su Rouer, Liu Pozi couldn’t possibly have had time to sell any "needlework." Clearly, she had dug up some herbs somewhere and didn’t want others to know, hence the flimsy excuse.

Liu Pozi made a beeline for Renhui Hall, while Wei Pozi led Ju Geer and Xingxing in the same direction.

Liu Pozi suddenly stopped, clutching her basket tighter as she gave Wei Pozi the side-eye. "Why are you following me?"

Since the Burning Heart Herb business was out in the open, Wei Pozi smirked. "Can’t I also go to Renhui Hall?"

Caught, Liu Pozi scurried ahead into the shop and called out, "Is the shopkeeper here? I’ve got some rare herbs—do you buy them?"

The Renhui Hall shopkeeper emerged from behind the counter, all smiles. "Of course we do. May I see them first?"

Confidently, Liu Pozi lifted the cloth covering her basket.

The shopkeeper leaned in for a closer look, but his eager expression quickly turned to disappointment.