Chapter 102: Finding a Profitable Path Together

Gu Xixi said, "The Zhang Family Nursery is what your parents left you, especially those few old trees—aren't they your most treasured?"

Gu Xixi had already inquired; to the west of Qing Tian County there are several nurseries.

Local varieties of peach, apricot, pear trees, and even the Western Regions' pomegranate.

She had long wanted to go; now with ample funds, the price of saplings is no problem.

Just wait until after the holidays, then we can formally launch the plan to plant fruit trees.

Shitou flipped over with a jerk, his hands propping on the heated brick bed, staring anxiously and said:

"Sister Xixi, I'm not a child anymore; I'm not joking when I say this!"

"I really want you to use my family's fruit trees!"

Gu Xixi smiled, "I know you're sincere."

"But I brought you to the village and let you study just so you could grow up well."

"As for whether you follow your father's trade or do something else, I only want you to have more choices in the future."

Shitou pouted, muttering softly, "I know you treat me well."

"Last time I went with Gouwa to chase the kidnappers, you worried about me, you were anxious—I saw it all."

"If it were someone else, I wouldn't give them my fruit trees."

Gu Xixi's gaze softened—this child!

Usually she seems lively and mischievous, but who knew she could hide things in her heart.

Shitou lifted his head again, took a deep breath, his eyes shining bright.

"Grandfather said, fruit trees are like crops: the more effort you put in, the more they return."

"Sister Xixi, the villagers all say you're the best at growing crops."

"These past few days I've been thinking, if I entrust the fruit trees to you, you'll surely make them better and better."

Gu Xixi hesitated, "Well..."

Shitou grabbed her arm, shaking it coquettishly, "Leaving the nursery idle for a day wastes a day's cost; going specially to tend them isn't worth it."

"Sister Xixi, since you'll buy trees anyway, why not use my family's trees?"

Gu Xixi already had an idea in mind.

"Alright, I'll take over the Zhang Family Nursery."

Shitou jumped up cheering, "Great!!!"

Gu Xixi pressed him down, "No jumping! Before New Year's you jumped and collapsed the heated brick bed—watch out, Grandma Zhang will spank you!"

Shitou stuck out his tongue, already obedient.

Gu Xixi said, "But I'll hire an intermediary to appraise and count all the fruit trees, converting them into your shares."

"What are shares?" Gouwa asked, puzzled.

Gu Xixi laughed, "You'll know when you press your handprint."

In the afternoon, Qin Dasao brought over a bowl of her homemade cabbage-and-meat buns.

Just then Mu Nan Zhao came by with a tea kettle toward the west room.

Qin Dasao bowed with a smile, "Mr. Chen, good day."

Mu Nan Zhao nodded politely, "I'm here."

Qin Dasao said smiling, "Gouwa was also supposed to come see Mr. Chen, but I feared he'd cause a disturbance and disturb your quiet, so I told him to wait until after the holidays to come pay his respects and kowtow."

Mu Nan Zhao said, "Gouwa is smart and learns quickly; at school he won't make noise recklessly, and he can even help maintain order."

Qin Dasao stared, stunned for a long while, wearing an expression of disbelief.

Mu Nan Zhao looked doubtfully at Gu Xixi, his eyes asking her why.

Gu Xixi reached out and pulled Qin Dasao's arm, "Gouwa was praised by Mr. Chen—sister-in-law, you must be overjoyed, right?"

Qin Dasao came to her senses, nodding quickly, "Yes, yes, overjoyed! So overjoyed!"

"When I first sent that boy to school, I never dared hope he'd be studious material."

"Now suddenly hearing Mr. Chen say he's smart and learns quickly, oh, my heart..."

Mu Nan Zhao glanced again at Gu Xixi, saying he had other matters and wouldn't disturb their chat.

Qin Dasao linked arms with Gu Xixi toward the main hall, glancing back at Mu Nan Zhao's retreating back, she whispered:

"Just now you gave me quite a fright."

"Our Gouwa earning Mr. Chen's praise is already surprising enough."

"Even more surprising is that Mr. Chen actually said three sentences to me—three! All praising Gouwa! Quick, pinch me—am I dreaming?"

Gu Xixi chuckled, "Nothing that exaggerated; Gouwa is naturally a good child."

"Shitou, influenced by Gouwa, has recently also started reciting texts and practicing calligraphy."

Qin Dasao sighed, "Actually I truly hope Gouwa does well in his studies."

"If one day he becomes Top Scholar, I could be like the old lady on the opera stage, earning a phoenix crown and rosy robes."

Saying this, Qin Dasao herself couldn't hold back laughter, doubling over.

She looked around, then whispered, "I've never said this to Gouwa's father—I know only you won't laugh at my daydream."

Gu Xixi said, "What's there to laugh about? Our dynasty has produced many poor-but-brilliant scholars."

"If Gouwa truly loves studying, he may well succeed."

Qin Dasao nodded, thoughtful.

The two entered the house and climbed onto the heated brick bed; Flower rose from the corner, walked over to Gu Xixi's side, and rubbed against her hand.

Qin Dasao said, "But although I don't know many characters, I know studying costs money."

"Now it's just early education, saving on paper, brush, and books."

But if he wants to keep studying deeper, later he'll have to take the imperial exams—I can't let all the characters he writes be practiced only on the board, can I?

Gu Xixi lightly scratched the cat's chin, saying, "The imperial exams require answering test papers, so naturally one must get used to the Four Treasures of the Study."

"Not to mention," Qin Dasao sighed, "the imperial exams also require travel expenses and room and board."

"Counting on my fingers, every layer is an expense."

"I really fear that one day he might advance step by step, and I, as his mother, won't be able to come up with the money, holding him back."

Gu Xixi looked at Qin Dasao with a smile, "Sister-in-law, you came to find me—aren't you just looking for a way to make money together?"

Qin Dasao's face flushed, "You really have a few more tricks up your sleeve than others; nothing can be hidden from you."

She let out a breath, speaking solemnly, "My family only has four mu of land; earlier, out of selfishness imitating you, I left two mu fallow."

"But after the New Year passes, we'll have to decide what to plant next year..."

Gu Xixi laughed, saying, "It's my fault—I already knew what you were thinking; I had planned to have things ready after the New Year before telling you. Instead, I made you worry."

Qin Dasao quickly shook her head, "I trust you; it's not that worrying."

"Whenever I think of having a chance to really go all out, my heart feels like a ball of fire that I can't calm down."

Qin Dasao holds Gu Xixi in high regard and trusts her without reservation.

Otherwise, why would she ignore the opposition of the dog baby's father, leave two mu fallow, and devote herself wholeheartedly to working with Gu Xixi?

Gu Xixi understood Qin Dasao's feelings and, taking the opportunity, laid her cards on the table: "I want to plant fruit trees."

"Fruit trees that could reach the standard of imperial tribute fruit."

"Tribute fruit?" Qin Dasao exclaimed in surprise, "You mean the fruit given to the emperor to eat?"

Gu Xixi said, "More or less."

Qin Dasao said, "I know planting fruit trees is not easy; it's common for them not to bear fruit for three to five years."

"Even when they finally bear fruit, the fruit is often small and unpalatable, and the yield may not be high either."