In the end, Zhu Ping'an did not tell Aunt Xiao Si, because Zhu Ping'an had not left the ancestral hall yet when his grandmother came. She had forgotten to put the cakes in the food box, and her grandmother was worried that her uncle would not be full, so she specially brought two cakes over.
Soon, the roar of the grandmother could be heard in the ancestral hall. But the grandmother was partial after all, and the thunder was loud but the rain was small, so the uncle did not receive any punishment. Zhu Ping'an was almost used to this.
It was a calm night, and the next day, after breakfast, my grandmother urged my father to go to town to sell the wild boar, as the family was in a tight financial situation. The gluttonous wild boar was tied up and slept in the yard all night, and in the morning, my grandmother fed it a large bowl of food. The glutton didn't know what he was facing, and he ate it all up happily.
Because the wild boar was too big and heavy, my grandmother sent my fourth uncle to go to the town with her. It happened to be the day when the town's big market opened, so the Chen sisters-in-law decided to go together. So an ox cart was loaded with a wild boar, a basket of wild flowers that were once again ridiculed countless times by the family, and Zhu Pingan, Zhu Pingjun, and Zhu Pingchuan, and the cart set off. The fourth uncle, several Chen sisters-in-law, and Zhu's father, who drove the cart, followed behind the cart and set off to the town. It can be said that the whole family was mobilized.
It was so crowded and lively that I didn't hear any chatter along the way.
"Zhu'er, why are you selling flowers again?" Little Fourth Aunt was walking nearby and saw Zhu Ping'an sitting on the ox cart with a large basket of dried wild flowers. She couldn't help but want to laugh at him.
Chen rolled her eyes.
"Yes, last time they gave me a fellow board member." Zhu Ping'an said seriously.
As a result, Little Fourth Aunt, Little Fourth Uncle, and Big Aunt laughed even more happily. A copper coin, you really think it's the money you earned from selling it, it's just a gift from someone who thinks you're too stupid.
Aunt Xiao Si started the conversation, and everyone in the family began to tease Zhu Ping'an. After all, the journey was boring, so it would be nice to have someone to entertain him.
The first one to be affected is Fourth Uncle, who is a nonchalant person and has a unique way of making people laugh.
"Zhi'er, do you know why grandma wants us to sell pigs?" asked my fourth uncle with ill intention.
"To change money." Zhu Ping'an replied indifferently.
Hearing this, the evil look on the Fourth Uncle's face became even stronger, and he deliberately frightened Zhu Ping'an, "Yes, it's for money. But our family is still short of a lot of money. So, the money from selling pigs alone is not enough, we have to sell people."
As soon as Fourth Uncle finished speaking, Zhu Ping'an clearly felt that Zhu Pingjun, who was sitting next to him, shuddered all over and was frightened by Fourth Uncle's words.
This is the kind of bad taste that adults have! Zhu Pingan was very disdainful.
Of course, Zhu Ping'an also cooperated and acted scared. His chubby face trembled and he asked, "Who are you going to sell it to?"
Zhu Pingjun also turned his head to look at his fourth uncle, expressing his concern.
Seeing Zhu Ping'an's frightened look, the fourth uncle was very happy and said to Zhu Ping'an without hesitation, "Of course I'll sell you."
The fourth uncle thought his words would scare the little brat Zhu Ping'an into tears, but unexpectedly Zhu Ping'an grinned and said, "Haha, I knew that the fourth uncle is worthless."
The fourth uncle who was waiting to see the joke was dumbfounded. It’s not a question of who is more valuable.
Chen was the first to laugh, followed by Third Aunt, Eldest Aunt, and Fourth Aunt. Fourth Uncle was even kicked by Fourth Aunt as she laughed at him.
When they got to the town, everyone split up. The eldest aunt and several of Chen's sisters-in-law went to the women's shop they often visited to sell the purses they had sewn, and also bought some women's supplies such as colored threads. The fourth uncle and Zhu's father went to sell wild boars. Zhu Pingchuan led Zhu Ping'an to sell wild flowers. Of course, everyone except Zhu's father and Chen laughed at them.
It was the same pharmacy, Jimin Hall, as last time. This time, as soon as he entered the door, one of the two apprentices came over with a smile on his face.
"You are here! The honeysuckle in the shop is almost out of stock again." This young apprentice was the one who almost turned away the Zhu Pingan brothers last time. This time he was very enthusiastic.
Zhu Pingchuan was carrying a large backpack and didn't know what to say.
Zhu Ping'an's cute little face was full of smiles, "Haha, then little brother, you have to give us a higher price."
The old Chinese doctor who was twisting his beard and reading a book of medicine couldn't help laughing when he heard this. "As long as the honeysuckle is of good quality, it doesn't matter if I give you a few more coins."
Zhu Pingan heard this and smiled even brighter, "Thank you, old doctor."
The honeysuckle picked this time was still calculated as top quality, at 50 wen per catty, the same as last time. The difference was that this time it was a large backpack of honeysuckle, not Zhu Ping'an's small basket last time. This time there were a total of 5 catties, 6 liang and 3 qian of honeysuckle, and the price was 267 wen. Because the old Chinese doctor had spoken, the young apprentice made the decision on his own and gave Zhu Ping'an and the others 270 wen.
Before leaving, the old Chinese doctor kindly reminded Zhu Ping'an and the others that the honeysuckle was about to bloom and that they should go back and pick them quickly.
After leaving the pharmacy, Zhu Ping'an and his elder brother put the copper coins in a backpack, and then covered it with a rag.
Zhu Ping'an and his elder brother gained a lot, and Chen over there also had an unexpected surprise.
Chen and her sisters-in-law went to the women's shop they usually go to and sold the purses they worked hard for more than half a month. Purses are not simply sewing cloth together, but require many processes, including seams, embroidery patterns, etc. It takes about two days to make a purse. Because the patterns of the purses made by Chen and her sisters are not new, and the fabrics used are relatively cheap cotton cloth, the purses they worked hard to make are not very valuable. A purse is about 10 Wen.
"You are really sisters-in-law. The workmanship is impeccable. The price is still the same, 10 cents each. Do you think it's worth it?" The female shopkeeper is very tactful and treats people as warmly as ever, making people feel valued.
The price was the same as before, so Chen and her family had no objection. The eldest aunt and the third aunt made eight and received eighty cents. Chen only made seven and received seventy cents. The fourth aunt made nine and received ninety cents, the most money, and was very happy.
"Please take a look at these three purses and see if they are worth keeping."
When the aunt and the others were about to leave, Chen thought for a moment and stopped. She then took out three purses from her bag that were different from the ones made by everyone else and called the female shopkeeper.
These three purses were made from the scraps of cloth that Zhu Ping'an brought back last time. Many of those scraps of cloth were of very good materials, including silk, satin, and gauze. These three purses of Chen were made of such good materials. If there was not enough cloth, they just pieced several pieces together.
The female shopkeeper took it and touched it, with a smile on her face. "This is quite novel, and the material is good. How about this, I will charge 15 cents each, no, 20 cents each, do you think it's feasible?"
Chen's heart was beating fast. 20 cents, 20 cents each. Happiness came too suddenly.