Chapter 180

180. Chapter 180: Zhao Ergou's Repentance

After Liu Dagang finished speaking, he also helped unload the ten jin of firewood on Zhao Ergou's back, saying, "Calculate them together."

Jiang Xiaoxiao looked at Zhao Ergou twice.

Zhao Ergou seemed unable to bear her scrutiny and ran away with his head buried, not even wanting the firewood on the ground.

"Hey, why is this kid running..." Liu Dagang sighed, then turned to look at Jiang Xiaoxiao, saying, "Xiaoxiao, don't mind it; Ergou treated you badly before, it was his fault, and now he knows he was wrong... He picked this ten jin of firewood all morning, so he's been diligent. Now that his father is dead and there's no one left at home, you..."

Jiang Xiaoxiao nodded.

She knew what Liu Dagang meant.

He was afraid that she was still minding the fact that Zhao Ergou had bullied her before and wouldn't accept the firewood he picked.

"Big Brother Dagang, I'm not that petty; as long as he knows his mistakes and corrects them, my family will accept his firewood." Jiang Xiaoxiao said, counting out fifteen copper coins and handing them over.

"Alright, then I'll thank you on behalf of Ergou!" Big Brother Liu happily took the copper coins and went to find Zhao Ergou.

Unexpectedly, Jiang Xiaoxiao called out to stop him.

"Big Brother Dagang, I have a job here; I wonder if you have time to do it?"

"What job?" Big Brother Liu stuffed the fifteen copper coins into his bag and leaned over to ask.

Jiang Xiaoxiao then said she wanted to hire him to purchase firewood for her, "... This job isn't tiring, and Chunya is there to help; as long as you come to do it, my family is willing to pay you eighty wen a day."

"Really!" Liu Dagang's eyes were glowing with joy.

Jiang Xiaoxiao nodded.

With Liu Dagang's strength, he could carry over a hundred jin of firewood down from the mountain in a day, earning sixty or seventy wen, so paying eighty wen was essential to get him to take over this job.

Moreover, Liu Dagang was literate, so simple recording wouldn't be a problem.

Naturally, Chunya, who was helping on the side, would also have to have her wages raised...

In no time, Liu Dagang successfully sat in Jiang Xiaoxiao's original position, holding paper and a brush, responsible for purchasing firewood.

Chunya helped on the side as usual.

The two cooperated very harmoniously.

Jiang Xiaoxiao watched for a while and was very satisfied; seeing that there were no problems, she left with peace of mind.

She went to find Gao Xiaoshuan.

Taking advantage of the fact that flowers could still be picked in autumn, she had to let Gao Xiaoshuan go up the mountain to pick more flowers to dry; otherwise, when winter came, there would be no flowers to pick in the wild mountains and forests.

When she arrived at the Gao house, Jiang Xiaoxiao saw the courtyard full of firewood being dried.

The Gao family were also honest people; knowing that it had rained a few days ago, the firewood chopped in the mountains still had moisture, so they wanted to dry it in their own courtyard before carrying it to her house to sell.

"Brother Xiaoshuan!" Jiang Xiaoxiao called out from outside the courtyard.

"Sister Xiaoxiao?" Seeing her, Gao Xiaoshuan hurriedly came to open the door.

Gao Xiaoshuan was only a year older than her but was already much more sensible; he invited Jiang Xiaoxiao into the house and then, like a little adult, went to pour tea for her to drink.

Jiang Xiaoxiao waved her hand with a smile, "Thank you, Brother Xiaoshuan, Mother said I'm still young and shouldn't drink tea."

Gao Xiaoshuan's face turned bright red instantly.

At this time, Gao's parents also returned, both carrying full loads of firewood on their backs.

Seeing Jiang Xiaoxiao come to their house, they were naturally happy and welcoming.

Jiang Xiaoxiao then told them about picking flowers.

"Brother Xiaoshuan, you know the growth locations of those wild flowers on the mountain best; take a few more people to pick those osmanthus and wild ginger flowers back... My family will purchase them at the price of ten wen per jin."

"This, this won't do!"

Before Gao Xiaoshuan could speak, Gao's parents waved their hands hurriedly, "Xiaoxiao, previously you let Shuanzi help you pick flowers, and ten wen a day was already considered high; how can you give such a high price! The flowers on the mountain aren't worth much, how can we take so much silver from your family..."

Jiang Xiaoxiao shook her head, "Auntie, this ten wen per jin is appropriate; after Brother Xiaoshuan picks these flowers back, it will take a lot of time and effort, and he also has to help my family dry them, and the petals become lighter once dried... I even feel that ten wen per jin is too little."

After hearing Jiang Xiaoxiao's words, Gao's parents finally agreed with gratitude.

They knew that Jiang Xiaoxiao was taking care of their family; picking flowers was much easier than picking firewood, and Gao Xiaoshuan was young and couldn't pick much firewood, so it was better for him to help Jiang Xiaoxiao pick flowers.

This was also a considerable income.

However, Gao Xiaoshuan, who had taken this job, didn't keep it to himself but went to find Wang Goudan to do it together.

Jiang Xiaoxiao naturally didn't object when she found out.

Not to mention that Wang Goudan had helped her before, and this year he was eight years old, two years older than Gao Xiaoshuan, and was more mature and stable in his work; with him sharing the load, Gao Xiaoshuan could also be much more relaxed.

After Auntie Wang learned that her son had taken such a good job, she was overjoyed and showed off in the village all day long.

This made Li Dayong's wife, who already disliked the Jiang family, even more unconvinced—why didn't they find her Dazhuang for such a good job?!

What was her Dazhuang inferior to that brat Wang Goudan!

Of course, these were all stories for later.

After Jiang Xiaoxiao left the Gao house, seeing that it was still early, she thought about going to Zhao Dasao's house to take a look.

Since Zhao Wulai's death, Zhao Dasao's state had clearly worsened, so her mother had given her two days off to rest.

Jiang Xiaoxiao found the thatched cottage where Zhao Dasao was now living.

Unexpectedly, just as she arrived in front of the cottage, Jiang Xiaoxiao saw Zhao Ergou wandering around outside the courtyard sneakily.

She frowned instantly.

What does this Zhao Ergou want again?

His father, Zhao Wulai, loved to do things like stealing chickens and dogs before he died; could it be that this Zhao Ergou was following in his father's footsteps and wanted to learn to do these things?

Hmph, it was a waste that she had sympathized with him a little at the time; she didn't expect this brat to be incorrigible!

Jiang Xiaoxiao walked up angrily, about to scold Zhao Ergou.

Unexpectedly, Zhao Dasao heard the movement before her and walked out.

"Ergou?"

A familiar voice rang out from the small courtyard.

Zhao Ergou was startled.

He raised his head abruptly and met Zhao Dasao's kind and gentle eyes.

His eye sockets turned red instantly.

Immediately, he lowered his head to avoid those eyes.

"Why are you here?" Zhao Dasao said as she opened the courtyard gate and walked toward him.

Zhao Ergou seemed afraid, hanging his head and taking two steps back.

But soon, he stopped his footsteps, stuffed a document he had already squeezed into sweat into Zhao Dasao's hand, and then turned and ran away.

Jiang Xiaoxiao walked over and asked suspiciously, "Auntie, what did he give you?"

Zhao Dasao was stunned, looked at the document in her hand, and then fell silent.

After a long time, she said, "... It's the land deed for those twenty mu of fields of the Zhao family."

Hearing this, Jiang Xiaoxiao couldn't help but be stunned.