Chapter 152: Give First, Then Receive Return

On the day of the Moon God Festival, the Qiao Jia Puzi was nearly packed to bursting, and Qiao Mai, after returning from Fucheng, loaded a cart full of fruit, yet still couldn't sell it all.

Strawberries sold at ten taels per jin were snapped up by the rich without a blink, watermelons at eight hundred wen each were bought without haggling, all the fruit was pricey, and by nightfall the shelves were empty.

All the bowls for snacks were also spotless.

The Shopkeeper did the accounts and found that day's revenue was eight hundred taels of silver, most of it from strawberries.

Good goods really don't fear selling; the rich's silver comes like a gale, they buy as soon as they see it—truly enviable.

That evening the Qiao Family set up several tables—one for the Main Family and three for the servants—with identical dishes on each, and everyone celebrated the festival together in a lively bustle.

Yuan Jiaqi's side was also quite lively; on the Moon God Festival the students couldn't go home, and many of their families sent over plenty of good things.

In his Dormitory, Yuan Jiaqi's items were the best.

He gave some of that day's items to the teacher who taught him, and kept some for himself.

So just the goods filled an entire cart; no wonder the journey took ten days on the road, with such a large convoy of old and young who simply couldn't move quickly.

Ling'er stared with wide eyes, looking at that person's bag, then that person's bag, then at her own bag.

This time heading to Jingcheng, she brought four children and Yuehong and Yuexia, and no one else.

She said she was about to reach for more, but everyone grabbed her by the neck and pulled her aside.

"Even the Qian Family's Wei Xiang Zhai can't match this Moon Cake; this plate doesn't even seem enough for me alone,"

"Yes, my Niang Jia is in Jingcheng; at my age my parents are gone, I have three older brothers and an older sister, I'm the youngest at home and they dote on me, so it's perfect to go to the capital now to see them."

Qiao Mai, reluctantly, gave a quick reminder to the three children, then with Ling'er, Yuehong and Yuexia, boarded the old lady's carriage.

"In the future I won't point fingers at anyone; when I can move, I'll move myself, and when I can't, I'll keep a fallback for myself. Rather than lying in bed being tended to while immobile, I'd rather end it, be reborn soon and start anew, which is better than bearing that sin."

"Ha ha, you,"

"Is your Niang Jia in Jingcheng?"

The old lady opened all the curtains, looked at the scenery outside, and felt a mix of joy and melancholy.

Ling'er took a paper bag from her small pouch and pinched out a piece of jerky.

The Qiao Family's maid helped, and they quickly loaded the carriage.

"You, can't you just speak properly?"

"Of course, it wasn't a real fight."

At Yuan Jiaqi's place, dinner was a brawl, fighting and scuffling, and they only managed a few bites.

The congratulatory gifts had already been given to her, so there was no need to prepare more.

"Mmm, this Moon Cake is so delicious."

"I'm just making the worst-case plan, you know."

She handed one piece to the old lady and peeled another to eat herself.

"If you can finish a whole Moon Cake at once, why bother with rice?"

"As for snacks, with her and her Platform, what can't she get?"

"Hmph, then I'll eat more rice and grow up quickly."

She packed a small box, and her clothes were also in a small box; when traveling, just bring more money, nothing else is truly necessary— the more you carry, the heavier you become.

"You and your three Wang Jiaru's Student sit in one carriage; keep an eye on them. I want to ride with Qiao Niang in a carriage."

Qiao Mai bought seven cloth crossbody backpacks online and called them all forward.

The shops on both sides of the Guan Dao hadn't opened yet, but the Qiao Family's carriage was already on the Guan Dao, slowly heading southward.

"Servant Girl, it's been decades since I've returned to the capital."

"If I'm kind to them, they'll be kind to me in the future; you must give first to receive later."

One carriage for the family, one for the Wang Family, one for the Wang Family's Servants, with guards on horseback, and two cargo wagons trailing behind them.

Yuan Jiaqi, copying Qiao Mai's method, squeezed juice for them, arranged a small plate of Moon Cakes like the ones Qiao Mai sent, and made a fruit platter.

"Even if they're so good to them, they don't know about repayment and think it's natural; what do you think?"

A mischievous one secretly took a Moon Cake and took a bite.

It's no wonder they're tasty; her Moon Cakes even have Linghe Water added, and the ones bought from the Platform are high-tech—though the texture isn't as good as with Linghe Water, they're still incredibly delicious.

"So sweet."

"You still call yourself a village woman? Come off it. A village woman who can read? A village woman who knows martial arts? A village woman who can cook all kinds of dishes? Tell me what you still can't do?"

"Of course, what my wife makes is definitely tasty."

"Great-grandmother, eat, fragrant, so tasty."

Three carriages at home weren't enough, so she ordered two more at a high price from the horse-drawn carriage service.

But the old lady couldn't; as an elder she needed to bring clothing, gifts, some common medicines for the road—very troublesome, and there were many servants and guards attending to the couple, each of whom needed to bring something.

"You're still young; when you grow a bit more, mother will make you a bigger one."

There was nothing more to explain; she went to the old lady, and this side was also almost packed up.

"Ha ha, big eyes, small belly; your short stature carrying such a big load—it's absurd."

Qiao Mai handed Ling'er to Yuehong and Yuexia, then took a paper bag from her own pack and pulled out two pieces of roasted sweet potato.

The teacher was very pleased with the Moon Cakes and fruit he received, and after tasting them, found the student's gift especially delightful.

The old lady glared at her, "You mustn't say that; raising children for old age—you have three kids, you're still young; when you truly become a couple with him, you might even have ten or eight children. Stop talking nonsense."

"I don't care how filial they become; if they don't slam me against the wall to death, I'll just burn incense high."

On the Moon God Festival night, a few schoolmates set up a large table in the house; each ordered two different dishes from the kitchen, making a total of ten dishes.

Early the next morning, when the carriage arrived, they ate together with everyone, then began loading the carts.

The old lady looked at the old man, and no matter how she looked, she couldn't stand him.

At this pace, covering two hundred li in a day is already good.

So she brought nothing, seven people, seven boxes.

"Here, one per person; you can put snacks and such inside—very convenient and practical."

"Old lady, let's be clear, I'm just a village woman from the countryside, I know nothing, so I won't accompany you."

When the children learned we were going far away, they were so excited they couldn't even sleep, following Qiao Mai all day asking this and that.

The old lady opened her mouth to take the great‑granddaughter's feeding, her eyes narrowing with delight.

"Mother, I want to carry my brother like that."

The next day, Qiao Mai began packing, starting with the children's things; everything was kept simple, only portable clothes for changing were needed.

"The children are truly blessed to follow you."

Oh right, the two skirts prepared for Miss Wang are also ready in the space.

"Just have a taste; do you think it's a meal? Will you still eat something else later?"

The old lady suddenly changed her mind and kicked Mr Wang off the carriage.

Before leaving, Qiao Mai stocked the shop with goods, all stored in the warehouse; Niu Shopkeeper has the key and can fetch them himself.

Feng'er and his two brothers each have a medium‑sized cross‑body bag, Ling'er's is small, and Yuehong, Yuexia, and hers are large.

"There are plenty of reasons; I practice Martial Arts so I won't be bullied, I study literacy to avoid being cheated, and I cook because I have a sweet tooth."

"Could your things be any worse?"

"One should always think of the good."

"Hmm, when the bad shows up, you can't bear the blow; I call that being prepared for any trouble."

The old lady absentmindedly ate a sweet potato, looking at the view outside the window.

"Why are there so many refugees this year? Even now, some are still coming to Beifang."

(End of chapter)