Chapter 154 He Also Wanted to Exchange for Many, Many Copper Coins
154 He Also Wanted to Exchange for Many, Many Copper Coins
The next day, Zhao Ergou woke up early in the morning.
After eating two mouthfuls of rice, without waiting for his mother to notice, he picked up the bamboo basket and gloves and ran crazily to the dam to wait for his friends.
They were going to show off their skills that day. They were going to pick a lot of p.r.i.c.kly berries and hairy cherries in exchange for many copper coins. They were going to buy white sugar to let their families have a taste of the jam.
Little Peach had fallen and was injured last time. Her mother knew that she was going out with her friends again that day, so she specially made a knee guard for her. As soon as she put it on, Little Peach put on her gloves and ran away. She said goodbye in a childish voice, “Little Peach is leaving~”
!!
Auntie Yang frowned. It was so dangerous for a girl to run up the mountain all day. She was about to scold her mother for indulging her child.
But Little Peach came back with the bamboo basket and waved her hand cutely. “Little Peach is really leaving~”
Auntie Yang waved at Little Peach and watched her happy figure disappear at the door. Then she looked at her second daughter-in-law and advised earnestly, “Why do you allow her to run into the mountains all day? What if something happens?”
Little Peach’s mother smiled and said, “Mother, that won’t happen. Young Master Qingfeng and the others hang on the tree all day long and keep an eye on these children. If they run a little further, they will catch them back.”
Little Peach’s mother even joked, “She’s too energetic. If it were a boy, I would want to send her to learn martial arts. She’s will become so powerful after learning to fly here and there.”
Auntie Yang glared at her. “Our Little Peach has to learn from Madam Cui in the future. Why should she learn martial arts as an outstanding young lady?”
Little Peach’s mother chuckled. “I was just saying. Don’t take it seriously, Mother.”
If Little Peach really wanted to learn martial arts, she would be the first to panic.
The bushes of the thornberry were relatively low, and there were many fruits. They were red and spread everywhere. They looked like flowers, very bright and beautiful.
Zhao Erwa and the others exclaimed when they realized that there were so many th.o.r.n.y berries. They would definitely be able to pick a lot of them that day and exchange for many copper coins.
Everyone smiled foolishly as they put on their gloves. They specially chose the big, plump th.o.r.n.y berries and placed them in the basket one after another.
When they placed them, their movements were careful because Madam Bai had said that the better the quality of the berries, the more two copper coins they could get for each basket.
Even if Bai Wutong did not add two more copper coins, everyone wanted to pick the best fruits and give them to their favorite Madam Bai.
After all, Little Peach was still a young child. No matter how hard she tried, she was still very slow at picking fruits.
Zhao Erwa’s bamboo basket was already full, so he helped Little Peach pick.
When her bamboo basket was full, he said, “Let’s go. Let’s send a basket of p.r.i.c.kly berries to Madam first.”
This way, they could ensure that the fruits were fresh and not damaged. At the same time, it could free up a bamboo basket. He could drink some water at Bai Wutong’s house and rest for a while before continuing to pick the th.o.r.n.y berries.
They carried the bamboo basket and walked forward. Soon, they encountered the children who had been beaten up by Zhao Erwa the previous day.
The leader of the group of children was a boy called Little Cat. He was a year older than Zhao Ergou, but he looked smaller than Zhao Ergou. He looked seriously malnourished.
Little Cat looked at the bamboo basket in Zhao Erwa and the others’ hands. Zhao Erwa immediately lowered his eyes and said, “We have given you the mulberries. But we definitely won’t give you the p.r.i.c.kly berries.”
If Little Cat dared to s.n.a.t.c.h their th.o.r.n.y berries, Zhao Erwa would not tell them that their mulberry fruits could be exchanged for copper coins from Bai Wutong.
Little Cat had already been beaten up by Zhao Erwa the previous day. It still hurt when he thought about it. He shook his head and pointed at Zhao Erwa’s bamboo basket. He kindly reminded, “Thornberries rot very easily. You guys have picked so much. You have to eat it quickly. Otherwise, it won’t taste good.”
Zhao Erwa’s expression relaxed. He gave him a friendly smile and said proudly, “We’re not eating. We’re exchanging it for copper coins.”
Little Cat’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Thornberries can be exchanged for copper coins?”
In the spring, the mountains and plains were filled with wild fruits. The villagers picked some to satisfy their cravings, but the people in the town did not care to eat them, so they could not sell the berries for copper coins at all.
Moreover, it was easier to get hungry if one ate too much. Other than the children, the adults would not bother to pick the fruits.
Little Peach also raised her chin and said cutely and proudly, “Of course, because we have Madam Bai!”
Little Cat’s eyes were filled with envy. If only they could also pick th.o.r.n.y berries to exchange for copper coins. With copper coins, they could buy white and tender steamed buns to fill their stomachs. Unfortunately, their village did not have a woman with the surname Bai.
Little Cat said, “Your Madam Bai is so nice.”
Zhao Erwa and the others nodded in unison and agreed with Little Cat’s viewpoint. “Of course, our Madam Bai is the most beautiful, kindest, and best person in the world.”
Little Peach even said excitedly, “Master Chu is also the most, most, most powerful person in the world!”
The more Little Cat listened, the more confused he became. He nodded perfunctorily. “How impressive.”
The children led by Little Cat also nodded in confusion. “Amazing.”
If they praised someone they liked, they were on the same side.
Zhao Erwa did not hide it anymore. He put his arm around Little Cat’s shoulder. “Call me big brother and I’ll bring you guys to earn copper coins.”
Little Cat did not expect such a good thing to happen. As long as he could exchange for copper coins, he was willing to call Zhao Erwa ‘Big Brother’ a hundred times every day. He accepted it without hesitation. “Big Brother!”
The other children also hurriedly shouted, “Brother! Brother! Brother!” They chattered as if they were afraid that Zhao Erwa would not bring them along.
Zhao Erwa flicked his hair and narrowed his cold eyes. “Since you have called me big brother, then we’re good brothers. Good brothers should enjoy blessings and suffer hardships together! Go and pick some fruits now. I’ll bring you to Madam Bai to exchange for copper coins!”
Little Cat said gratefully, “Thank you! Thank you!”
He was really grateful and regretted hitting Zhao Erwa the previous day.
Although he was the one who had been completely beaten up, he regretted it now.
Zhao Erwa met his sincere eyes and rubbed his head in embarra.s.sment. “If you want to thank someone, thank Madam Bai. It was Madam Bai who agreed to exchange copper coins for you. It has nothing to do with me.”
Little Cat immediately promised, “Brother, don’t worry. I’ll definitely kneel down and kowtow to Madam Bai.”
Zhao Erwa: “…I don’t think that’s necessary.”
If he could give them copper coins, kowtowing was nothing. If not for the fact that Zhao Erwa was too short and did not look like an adult, Little Cat would have knelt down to him on the spot.
Zhao Erwa and the others brought a basket of p.r.i.c.kly berries to Bai Wutong’s house. Everyone exchanged for different amount of copper coins according to the weight of the fruits collected.
Everyone was overjoyed. They gulped down the hot tea, picked up the bamboo basket, and ran into the mountains again.
At the same time, Little Cat and the others quickly ran home with a big basket. When they saw Zhao Erwa and the others return, they immediately ran up to welcome them.
Zhao Erwa placed the copper coins in front of Little Cat and bragged, “I’ve saved up 20 copper coins. It’s the most.”
Little Cat stared at the copper as if his eyes had been glued to it with superglue.
...
He reacted and immediately rushed towards the mulberry tree.
He also wanted to exchange for many, many copper coins!