Chapter 30: An Unexpected Interference in Fubao’s First Deal

Liu Xiuhua had been at the black market for nearly two hours. Quite a few people had stopped by her stall, and she had successfully sold all her vegetables.

As the vegetables were nearly gone, the three ginseng roots she had tucked at the bottom of her basket still hadn’t found a chance to be mentioned. Several times, she had wanted to ask if anyone needed ginseng, but each time, before she could finish speaking, the people would toss her some money and leave.

She waited and waited like this until the black market was almost closing, yet Liu Xiuhua still hadn’t found a suitable opportunity. Seeing that no one was left, she had no choice but to reluctantly pack up and carry the three ginseng roots back near the state-run hotel.

The three siblings finally saw her return and ran up excitedly.

“Grandma, you’re finally back! Let’s go. I want to go home.”

“Grandma, did you get everything done? Little sister was sleepy just now.”

Liu Xiuhua looked at He Xi, who was squatting nearby yawning, and quickly picked her up. “It took a bit longer than expected, but we’ll go home now.”

He Xi leaned heavily on her shoulder. When she glanced down, she noticed the three ginseng roots in the basket. Her yawn vanished, and she looked up at Liu Xiuhua in confusion.

“Grandma… ginseng.”

At just two years old, He Xi didn’t quite understand why Grandma had brought the ginseng back. She had already heard from her brothers that Grandma had gone to sell ginseng, so what was happening now?

He Lei and He Tian, hearing He Xi’s words, peered into the basket and saw the three roots wrapped in leaves. They were equally surprised.

“Grandma, you didn’t sell them?”

“Let’s go home first.” Liu Xiuhua’s expression showed she didn’t want to talk about it. She carried He Xi and led the two boys back home.

She had finally made it to the black market, yet the ginseng hadn’t sold as she had hoped. Perhaps she had gone to the wrong place, maybe she should have tried near the health clinic or other locations? Liu Xiuhua thought that was quite possible. After all, who would casually chat with her after buying things at the black market? Next time, she would try near the supply and marketing cooperative, hoping to find a buyer who could recognize the value and buy all the ginseng.

She quickly came to terms with it. Though a bit disappointed, she told herself that if it didn’t work this time, there would be a second chance. Eventually, the ginseng would sell.

Liu Xiuhua consoled herself like this, but He Xi just couldn’t understand. That feeling from a few days ago returned. She didn’t understand why today felt the same as on the mountaintop before. Grandma should have earned a lot today, so where was the money now?

Fang Mingxi didn’t immediately return to her original form but followed the route back on foot. Fortunately, Maple Leaf Brigade wasn’t far from Hongqi Town. Walking briskly, she could reach it in roughly an hour and a half.

She followed the main road, passing several villagers headed to the town to buy supplies. Many of them glanced at Fang Mingxi, their eyes filled with curiosity.

Who’s this?

Fang Mingxi lowered her gaze, holding a package and quickly passing by. At a fork in the road, she veered onto the left path.

Only when the view behind her disappeared did she stop and breathe a sigh of relief. She waited a while in the woods until the team members who had been watching her walked away, then slipped out and continued along the right path.

As she neared Maple Leaf Brigade, Fang Mingxi made her way into the forest at the foot of Maple Leaf Mountain, following a familiar route. She ran through the hills near the cattle shed and saw a group of people clearing a small vegetable field. She quickly messed up her hair a little and squatted on the spot until her face flushed red.

After that, Fang Mingxi picked up the prepared package and climbed up a small hill.

Tong Lingxian and Wu Meixia were gathering firewood in the forest. Hearing noise behind them, they turned and saw a girl in a floral shirt with two braided pigtails climbing up from the hillside.

The girl’s forehead was dotted with stray hairs, her cheeks flushed and sweaty, and she carried several packages in her hands. Once on the hill, she looked around in the forest, and her eyes lit up when she saw Tong Lingxian.

Fang Mingxi took two steps toward Tong Lingxian. “Excuse me, ma’am, may I ask, this is Maple Leaf Brigade, right?”

Tong Lingxian and Wu Meixia exchanged a cautious glance and nodded. “This is Maple Leaf Brigade. Who are you?”

Hearing that she had found Maple Leaf Brigade, Fang Mingxi finally relaxed. She set down the kraft paper packages and fanned her flushed face with her hand.

“Luckily, I didn’t take the wrong path. I came to visit my relatives, my grandaunt married near Hongqi Town many years ago. I asked around in the town for quite some time before finding this place.”

Hearing she was visiting relatives, Tong Lingxian and Wu Meixia relaxed their guard.

Tong Lingxian pointed to the right side of the forest. “Follow the forest path, and when you reach the main road on the right, you’ll see the others from Maple Leaf Brigade. Most of them live there; few people stay over here.”

Fang Mingxi memorized the directions and thanked them with a smile. “Thank you so much, ma’ams. I really appreciate it.” She paused, then added shyly, “Ma’am, could I have a cup of water? I’m so thirsty.”

Wu Meixia and Tong Lingxian exchanged a glance, hesitant. While giving water to a stranger wasn’t a big deal, their status…

In the end, Tong Lingxian set down the branch she was holding and called inside, “Bo Song, pour me a cup of water.”

Fang Bo Song, who was cleaning the house, heard her voice and obediently poured a cup of cool water and brought it out.

“Here you go.”

Fang Bo Song, holding the cup, saw Fang Mingxi in the forest. He cautiously approached Tong Lingxian while observing her. “Who’s this?”

Tong Lingxian took the cup from his hand and handed it to the expectant Fang Mingxi. “Little girl, here, drink.”

“Thank you, ma’am.” After walking for so long, Fang Mingxi was indeed thirsty. She grabbed the cup and drank deeply in large gulps.

Once she finished the water, her parched throat finally felt alive again. She returned the cup to Tong Lingxian. “I walked all the way from Hongqi Town. There wasn’t a single river along the way. I almost died of thirst.”

Holding the cup, Tong Lingxian asked kindly, “Do you want more? I can pour you another cup.”

Fang Mingxi shook her head, wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, and picked up the kraft paper package from the ground. She took out some fruit candies and offered them to Tong Lingxian.

“No, I’m not thirsty anymore. Here, ma’am. Thank you for giving me water.”

Tong Lingxian quickly waved them away, pushing the candy back. “What are you doing? I can’t accept this. It’s just a cup of water, not something valuable. Take it back.”

“No, Grandma taught me never to take things for free. I’d feel bad if I didn’t give this back. Please take it.”

Fang Mingxi forced the candy back into Tong Lingxian’s hands, but she still refused.

In their little scuffle, the kraft paper package in Fang Mingxi’s hands fell to the ground. The bottom package hit a stone hard and cracked open, spilling its contents across the ground.