Chapter 89

Since they had come to the town, Zhuo Yun decided not to go to the Xu Village. He let Xu Ran’s family get into the carriage and leave for the Zhuo Mansion.

On the carriage, Zhuo Yun told Xu Ran a piece of good news. Qin Shuwen’s eldest brother had helped him find the strawberry seedlings. Not only that, he also found an old man who was good at growing strawberries.

Xu Ran jumped up happily hearing such good news.

He grabbed Zhuo Yun’s hand and thanked him. He asked eagerly, “Zhuo Yun, when can the strawberry seedlings be delivered? Are they from that old man?”

Zhuo Yun shook his head, “I’m not sure about that. I went to see you today because my eldest brother-in-law is in my house, so I came to talk to you. Shuwen hasn’t asked his eldest brother for anything for five years. Plus, he is still pregnant, so my brother-in-law is really active about your case for his sake. This time, you’ve really got the best of the bargain.”

Xu Ran rolled his eyes and said to himself, ‘Is it really good that you show off like this? But for the sake of your help, I won’t blame you for it.’

As both of them were chatting, their carriage had soon arrived and stopped at the entrance of the Zhuo Mansion. The shopkeeper came to meet them.

At the moment, Qin Shuwen and his eldest brother, Qin Shuwu, were talking in the living room. As soon as Qin Shuwen saw Xu Ran and Zhuo Yun coming in together, his eyes were fixed on their hands without blinking. However, when he found that they had nothing else but the hands of the two children’s they were holding, his face was filled with disappointment, which was very funny.

Seeing this, the two children were in a muddle, but the adults present all covered their mouths to stifle their giggles. Of course, there was also a muddleheaded man on the scene, Qin Shuwen’s eldest brother, Qin Shuwu.

He looked at Qin Shuwen, and then at Xu Ran as well as the other two people present.

As Qin Shuwen shot him an angry glance, Zhuo Yun didn’t dare to laugh again. He explained to Qin Shuwu, “Shuwen likes the food from Xu Ran’s family, but this time they didn’t bring anything, so Shuwen is very disappointed.”

What Zhuo Yun said made Qin Shuwen blush and he tried to silence him with a glare. Zhuo Yun rubbed his nose and pretended that he didn’t see it. He took Xu Ran over and introduced,

“Eldest brother-in-law, this is Xu Ran I told you. Over there is his spouse, Liu Tong, and their two children, Tangtang and Guoguo. Xu Ran, this is Shuwen’s eldest brother, so you can also call him brother!”

Xu Ran bowed and greeted, “Nice to meet you, Bro Qin.”

It was improper for Liu Tong to speak in such an occasion. He just smiled, nodded and let the two children go over to call him Uncle.

Tangtang and Guoguo were obedient and did as they were told. Qin Shuwu gave them two oranges, which should have been specially prepared for Qin Shuwen.

Both Tangtang and Guoguo thanked him and obediently returned to Liu Tong.

After the introduction, they began to sit down and talk about their business. Qin Shuwen felt that he was free from here, so he invited Liu Tong to go to another room to have a chat with him together.

After they left, Xu Ran started to consult Qin Shuwu about the strawberry seedlings.

Qin Shuwu told him, “The strawberry seedlings were seen when I once went out for my purchase of merchandise. The place is not far away from us here, which is a two-day’s ride by carriage. At that time, there was an old man picking up wilted leaves in the field. I was surprised and went up to ask about the situation. He told me that the strawberry trees were planted by him, and his family had made a fortune by growing strawberries. His sons had already moved to another place. He didn’t want to go with them. At the end of last year, however, his spouse passed away, and none of his sons came back. He had to manage the funeral for his spouse on his own. At present, he was not in the mood to serve the strawberries, but it was a pity to throw them away, so he came to weed occasionally. ”

“Then is he willing to sell them?” Xu Ran asked.

“I’ve also asked him about it. The strawberry plantation is his life’s work from his painstaking labor. He said that it’s better to sell it to someone who wants to work on it than to let it go, ” replied Qin Shuwu.

“His strawberry plantation should have been in operation for many years. Maybe those trees are too old and useless. Do they have new sprouts?”

Qin Shuwu nodded, “I know this. I went to see it in the field at that time. There were indeed a lot of new sprouts on the trees, which should be enough for you to plant in five mu of land. Many of them were planted last year. If you move those trees here this year, you will surely have a good harvest.”

Xu Ran knew that the strawberry trees in the first year couldn’t give much harvest. Their second year, however, was different. At that time, the harvest of this five mu of land was expected to be more than that of the ten mu of land planted with new strawberry seedlings.

“Did Bro Qin ask how the strawberry seedlings would be sold then?” Zhuo Yun asked anxiously.

Xu Ran also stared at Qin Shuwu. To him, money was an important issue!

Qin Shuwu looked at them two and smiled, “That man said that he only needed one hundred taels of silver for it. He just hopes that you can really take good care of the strawberry trees.”

“One hundred taels!” Xu Ran was surprised and felt that he had asked for too little. In modern times, a strawberry seedling should be sold for at least two yuan, and here, they had ten mu of land! Obviously, Xu Ran had no any concept of conversion.

“Mm,” Qin Shuwu nodded, “This price isn’t expensive. Ten mu of land is not a small area. I reckon that you should move all strawberry plants from his place. I know you guys have never got such planting experiences before, so I’ve invited the old man to come over to your place for help.”

Xu Ran thought he was really a considerate person, “Thank you, Bro Qin, for having arranged everything so well.”

Qin Shuwu waved his hand, “Not at all. I am grateful for your helps to my brother. Of course, I have conditions for my work. If you succeed in the strawberry planting, you should let me be your sales agent. What do you think of it?”

“No problem,” Xu Ran agreed without hesitation. Actually, he was worrying how he could sell his future produce. Qin Shuwu had his own shops and social contacts, which would save him too many troubles.

Xu Ran asked again, “Bro Qin, when can the plants be transported to my place then?”

“It can be arranged as soon as it is agreed. Someone on my side is in charge of it. We will deliver the plants directly to you at that time, but you’ll have to pay all the expenses. And I’ll send the old man to you first. You’ll fix him up with a place to stay, “Qin Shuwu said.

Xu Ran nodded, “Okay, I will. Thank you so much, Bro Qin.”

The matter of the strawberry seedlings was thus settled. Zhuo Yun kept silent all the time. Seeing that both of them had made an agreement, Zhuo Yun asked, “Xu Ran, didn’t you say you were going to sit for the imperial examination? Have you registered with Yamen? ”

Xu Ran was stunned. He had been busy recently and had completely forgotten about this. But it was only the 2nd lunar month now, was it too early to register?

Seeing Xu Ran’s confusion, Zhuo Yun explained, “There is a limit on the number of people taking the examinations. In the past few years, the test was held in February. Later, it was changed to March. However, the registration time is still in February. It’s just the right time for you to register now.”

Qin Shuwu also nodded, “I’ve heard of this. You might as well go today!”

To sign up, he needed to have an identity document, but usually, who would go out with this? Xu Ran shook his head and said, “I’ll go tomorrow then. I didn’t bring any document with me today, so it won’t work. Oh, by the way, Bro Qin and Zhuo Yun, you see I have never participated in this kind of examinations. And I was a fool for so many years that I’ve forgotten many things. Please tell me if there’s anything I need to pay attention to in this case.”

“There are not many things to pay attention to actually, but you have to stay for three days for the test, and we don’t know if your health can bear it. After all, it’s not too hot in March. You can take nothing when you go to the test. However, are you sure you can pass it?” with that, Zhuo Yun couldn’t help worrying for Xu Ran, because he often saw him doing other things, but never saw him preparing for the test.

Xu Ran rubbed his nose and replied shyly，”No matter what, I have to try it. Otherwise, I can’t even afford to pay taxes for so many fields in my family.”

Zhuo Yun rolled his eyes at him, “You are a real success. You want to be a scholar just for not paying taxes.”

Xu Ran shrugged, “What else can I do? I don’t want to be an official.”

Looking at them two bickering, Qin Shuwu didn’t get in a word. He was thinking about what Xu Ran just said about his past that he had been a fool for so many years.

At last, both of them stopped arguing, and Qin Shuwu asked, “Xu Ran, what’s the matter with you saying that you used to be a fool?”

Xu Ran didn’t feel much about this now. After all, the fool wasn’t him actually. Plus, he trusted Zhuo Yun and Qin Shuwu treated Qin Shuwen well. At least he wouldn’t do harm to his brother. Thus, he told them the truth,

“When I was 17 years old, my brother poisoned me and pushed me down the mountain, and thus I had been a fool for seven years. Fortunately, God had an eye on me, and I recovered from it.”

Although Xu Ran said it in a plain tone, the two listeners didn’t think so. Xu Ran was actually poisoned by his own brother. Zhuo Yun now understood why Xu Ran had never mentioned his dad and daddy. When he went to visit him during the Spring Festival, he used to wonder why his family lived in a bamboo house and there was no elder in the family.

Now，the case was entirely cleared.

Qin Shuwu felt a little embarrassed. He didn’t expect that there was such an inside story. He apologized, “Xu Ran, I am sorry. I was just curious and asked casually. Don’t take it to heart.”

Xu Ran waved his hand and said indifferently, “Never mind. It’s all past. I’m fine now and my life is good. If I were still thinking about what had happened in the past, were I finding troubles for myself?”

“You should take it easy for yourself,” Qin Shuwu appreciated for Xu Ran’s attitude to his past.

At noon, the whole family dined at Zhuo Yun’s house. In order to reward Qin Shuwen, Liu Tong and Xu Ran did the cooking themselves.

Finally, all of them enjoyed a full table of delicious food.