176 Someone must have done it on purpose
Like an agile monkey, Little Cat jumped up and down and picked the fruits from the tree faster than an adult.
With the help of the two people sent by Yu Suisheng, under the watch of all the Lintian villagers, the ripe fruits from Little Cat’s home were all picked.
There were a total of 100 catties of pears, 120 catties of bayberries, and 100 catties of lychees.
At the rate of three copper coins per catty of pears, five copper coins per catty of bayberries, and six copper coins per catty of lychee, they were sold for a total of one tael of silver.
After obtaining this huge amount of money, Tao Yinzhen hid the money everywhere, afraid that thieves would visit their house that night.
After hiding the money bag in the hole under the kitchen firewood pile, Tao Yinzhen’s excited heart calmed down a little.
She closed the door and whispered to the happy and tireless Little Cat, “Little Cat, come here. Mother has something to say to you.”
Little Cat came over eagerly. Tao Yinzhen grabbed his hand and looked around. She said carefully, “Elder Lin wants you to plead with Madam Bai and help the entire village sell their fruits. Don’t go. If Elder Lin asks you, tell him that Madam Bai didn’t say anything.”
It was impossible for Elder Lin to personally ask if Little Cat had pleaded for the villagers.
Little Cat was stunned for a moment before shaking his head. “I’m going to help the villagers ask. If Madam Bai is unwilling, I won’t say anything else. They’ve helped us before. Mother, you said that we have to repay kindness and only take revenge on the deserving people.”
Tao Yinzhen did not expect Little Cat to say this. She pulled him into her arms and sighed. “Silly child.” In the end, she did not stop him from pleading with Bai Wutong.
Tao Yinzhen was afraid that someone would steal the money, so she didn’t sleep well the entire night. She was only relieved in the morning and made up her mind to buy a ferocious wolf dog to guard the house later.
Otherwise, if a thief really came, there was only her, a weak woman, and Little Cat. They would not be able to resist a fight at all.
Before Little Cat went to meet Bai Wutong, he specially washed his feet, put on new shoes, and changed into his most appropriate clothes.
Xiaobai already knew him. When Little Cat stood at the door, it looked at him lazily, and lay down again.
Little Cat felt that it was so lazy that it did not look like a wolf at all. It was as fat as Xiaobai the pig in his pigpen.
That’s right. His pig looked fair and clean, so it was also called Xiaobai.
Every time he saw his pig, he would say, “Xiaobai, Xiaobai, grow fatter quickly. As a pig, how can you be thinner than the wolf next door?”
Bai Wutong was getting up to make breakfast when she saw Little Cat standing outside the courtyard. She waved at him. “Have you eaten?”
Little Cat quickly nodded, afraid that she would leave food behind for him. “Yes, yes.”
He could not suppress the joy on his face, and even Bai Wutong felt happy when she saw him.
Little Cat sat for a while. Then, he clenched his fists and his gaze gradually became firm. “Madam Bai, Elder Lin asked me to persuade you to accept the fruits of the entire village. Madam, you don’t have to answer. I’m just asking.” He emphasized again, “You really don’t have to answer!”
In any case, he had asked on their behalf. He could return and inform Elder Lin.
Before Bai Wutong could react, he quickly bowed deeply to her. “I’m done asking now. I’m leaving. Goodbye, Madam and Master.”
With that, he ran away. It was obvious that he was just here for that.
As she watched him run away, a smile appeared on her face.
This child was really smart.
He knew how to repay kindness and knew when to advance and retreat. He was much wiser than the adults in Lintian Village.
As soon as Little Cat arrived home, Elder Lin arrived.
He asked Little Cat anxiously, “How is it? What did Madam Bai say?”
Little Cat lowered his head and said, “I told Madam to collect the fruits from our village, but Madam didn’t say anything, so I came back.”
Elder Lin stomped his feet and asked anxiously, “You didn’t ask again?”
Little Cat bit his lip and took a step back in fear.
Tao Yinzhen hurriedly shielded Little Cat behind her. “If Madam Bai is unwilling, there’s nothing a child like Little Cat can do.”
Elder Lin glanced at the honest-looking Little Cat and felt even more depressed. He flicked his sleeves and left.
Just as Elder Lin was feeling heartache that his few fruit trees could not be sold for a single copper coin, Yu Suisheng suddenly came to his house door.
When Elder Lin saw him appear, he thought that something had changed. His sunken heart was suddenly lit up.
Could it be that Madam Bai was moved by Little Cat?
So she had agreed?
The more he thought about it, the more excited he became. He asked expectantly, “Master Yu, are you here to collect fruits?”
Yu Suisheng glanced at him, feeling extremely oppressed.
Elder Lin’s heart was in his throat. Wasn’t he here to collect fruits?
Just as his heart continued to pound, Yu Suisheng nodded.
Elder Lin was so happy that his old face was blooming like a chrysanthemum.
Little Cat had not been taken care of by their village chief for nothing.
But he didn’t laugh for long.
“Little Cat is so kind. Madam Bai and I are deeply touched, but—”
“But what?”
“Lin Tian Village’s past behavior had me worried. Therefore, the price I can give you is only one copper coin per catty for pears, two copper coins per catty for bayberries, and three copper coins per catty for lychees.”
Elder Lin was stunned. This was less than half the price for Little Cat’s family.
He pleaded, “Can’t it be higher?”
Yu Suisheng was already letting them off easy by only lowering to this price.
Even if Yu Suisheng said that one copper coin was for four catties, a large number of people in the village would rush forward to sell their fruits.
Elder Lin naturally knew this. Therefore, facing Yu Suisheng, who had no room for bargaining, Elder Lin could only compromise.
...
Compared to not having a single penny, this was a pleasant surprise.
As soon as Elder Lin told the villagers the news, everyone cheered. Before they could pick the fruits, Little Cat ran out crying.
Little Cat carried his empty basket and cried. “Master Yu, I can’t give you fruits today.”
Yu Suisheng handed him a handkerchief to wipe his tears. “What’s wrong? Isn’t there still a few hundred catties on the tree?”
Hearing Yu Suisheng say that there were still hundred catties on the tree, the men in Lintian Village suddenly hunched nervously.
Elder Lin’s heart skipped a beat. Could it be that some despicable people had damaged all the fruits from Little Cat’s family?!
Huge tears rolled down from Little Cat’s face, “No more, there’s no more fruits on the trees, wuwuwu-”
The fruits were growing well on the trees. All the families also had a few trees themselves and did not have to worry about food at all. If the fruits were suddenly gone, someone must have done it on purpose.
Yu Suisheng hugged the crying Little Cat and looked at Elder Lin. He said coldly, “The character of the people in your village is really ‘good’.”
Hearing this, Elder Lin was extremely afraid that Yu Suisheng would not accept their fruits again. He hurriedly said, “Perhaps the wind was too strong last night and the fruits fell off, but it’s fine. Our villagers can make up for it!”
As soon as these words were spoken, the villagers who knew who did it were unhappy. Why should they compensate Little Cat’s family for the fruits even though they were not the culprit? They immediately said, “No! If anyone has to compensate, it should be those with dirty hands!”
...
Now, they directly admitted that their character was really “good”.
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