Chapter 189

Although Xu Ran often came to town, the places he visited the most were Zhuo Yun’s house, Mr. Chen’s restaurant and Qin Shuwu’s shop. If not for grocery shopping, he would never visit other places. Therefore, Xu Ran was definitely not so familiar with the town as Qin Shuwu, who had been doing business in town for so many years.

Qin Shuwu said that he would show them around, and the happiest one was nobody but Lin Hua, because he enjoyed crowds, as well as delicious food.

Xu Ran looked at the excited Lin Hua and tugged at Zhao Chen’s sleeve, “Has he always been like this?”

Zhao Chen glanced at Lin Hua and nodded, “From the day I ever knew him.”

The two families were family friends, so Lin Hua had been like this for more than 20 years.

Xu Ran patted Zhao Chen, “I’m impressed that you could put up with him.”

Zhao Chen smiled, “I’m used to it. If it were you, you would also get used to it since you’ve been watching him from childhood .”

Xu Ran nodded in agreement, indicating that habit was a terrible thing.

Qin Shuwu took them to a lot of places. Lin Hua and Zhao Chen also bought a lot of things. According to them, those were the things they could never find in He Shui Town, and most of them were food.

Xu Ran didn’t quite believe their words. If it were something else, Xu Ran would have believed it, but food? And so much food? Was it even possible that so much food was nowhere to be found in their town?

Were they fooling a kid?

However, since both of them were guests, Xu Ran was kind enough not to expose them.

They went to Mr. Chen’s restaurant to have lunch at noon. Dr. He also joined them. Well, it was Qin Shuwu who specifically called Dr. He over, which also fulfilled Mr. Chen’s previous promise that he would invite Dr. He for a meal.

Xu Ran felt so gossipy at this moment. He really wanted to know whether Dr. He had done anything to Qin Shuwu on their way back that day.

However, seeing that neither of them intended to talk about it, Xu Ran couldn’t broach the subject either. He blinked at Mr. Chen a few times, but the latter just pretended not to have seen it.

Xu Ran felt so itchy, as if a cat was scratching his heart.

Luckily, the meal didn’t last for long. Once Dr. He finished lunch, he went back, and Qin Shuwu also had to go back to the shop.

Xu Ran asked Lin Hua and Zhao Chen for their opinions. Both of them said they wanted to go back. They also knew that Xu Ran was actually quite busy. After all, he had to deal with the aftermath of the feast.

Meanwhile, Xu Ran was indeed thinking about home. He didn’t know what had Zhuo Yun written in the letter arrived yesterday. Had he mentioned the fruit trees or the deli? That would cost Xu Ran a large sum of money. He also needed to discuss it with Liu Tong. And most importantly, he had to check how much money was left at home, and whether it was enough to buy fruit trees.

Xu Ran thought it over and over again. His mind was entangled with money. As the old saying goes, a cent defeats a hero.

When Xu Ran and the others returned home, he saw Gao Quan coming over from the village entrance, his hands carrying something. Xu Ran could even hear their screams from afar.

It was when Gao Quan got closer that Xu Ran realized that he was carrying two piglets, both tied up, one in each hand. Gao Quan couldn’t look more relaxed.

Xu Ran smiled. He had previously mentioned that he should buy two pigs and raise them at home. However, since he had been busy, and not known who had piglets in the village, he could only have put it off. It didn’t occur to him that Gao Quan still remembered this.

Xu Ran got off the carriage, took a piglet from Gao Quan and asked him, “Where are these from? It weighs 20 to 30 jins!”

Gao Quan said, “I don’t know. It was Shao Yu who asked me to go. He made a deal with them. As long as we give the money, we can take them back.”

Gao Quan had been here for almost a year, and was still not very familiar with the people in the village. However, it was normal for him not to know them since he had always been minding his own business quietly.

Xu Ran asked, “Did you give that money? Or do I need to pay for them?”

Gao Quan nodded, “I did. Shao Yu gave me the money.”

Gao Quan didn’t mention where Shao Yu’s money was from. Probably they paid for the piglets with their own money. Gao Quan and Shao Yu were paid every month. However, they didn’t go out that often, and usually it was Xu Ran who did the grocery shopping for all, so they didn’t need to spend much money. Therefore, their savings should be enough to buy a piglet.

Xu Ran asked Lin Hua and Zhao Chen to unload the carriage while he went to the pigpen with Gao Quan, each person with one piglet.

When the two piglets landed on the ground, they immediately found a corner to hide. They just arrived at a strange place, and did that to protect themselves by instinct.

Gao Quan went to scoop up a gourdful of water, kept the water in his mouth and spat out a few mouthfuls of water into the pigpen. Meanwhile, he was murmuring something. Xu Ran didn’t understand him, and assumed that this was probably the custom of somewhere. And it must be because Shao Yu had told him so that Gao Quan did this.

Xu Ran said to Gao Quan, “You have to work hard again.”

Gao Quan was stunned, and then he realized that Xu Ran was talking about feeding piglets.

He shook his head. “It’s fine. It’s what I should do.”

Xu Ran said, “There’s nothing you should or shouldn’t do. I did buy you back to work for me, but I’ve been with you for almost a year now, and I know that you guys are very kind, so I treat you as my family. There’s nothing a family should or shouldn’t do.”

After that, Xu Ran left before Gao Quan could answer.

When Xu Ran got to the front yard, no one was there, so he assumed that people were all in the room. Xu Ran saw Liu Tong in the living room, who was holding the baby alone.

Liu Tong saw Xu Ran and said with a smile, “Ran, you’re back. Did you have lunch?”

Xu Ran walked over and sat down beside him, “I did. Is Baozi being a kind boy today?”

Liu Tong smiled, “He is much better than Tangtang and Guoguo when they were young. I don’t know if he will keep being so good when he grows up. I just hope he will be the same as now. After all, he is a Ge’er.”

Xu Ran took Baozi into his arms and said to Liu Tong, “I don’t think so. We have never worried about Tangtang or Guoguo, so we need to worry about Baozi. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be able to enjoy the pleasure of being a daddy or dad. Anyway, as long as our children don’t do anything against their conscience, it’ll be fine if they are a little naughty.”

Xu Ran said as if Baozi would definitely be naughty in the future. Liu Tong had no opinion about that. No matter what, he loved this child.

After teasing the child for a while, Xu Ran suddenly asked Liu Tong, “Tongtong, Gao Quan came back with two piglets. Did you know that?”

Liu Tong nodded, “Shao Yu told me about it this morning.”

“Then, how did they pay? Did you give them money?”

Liu Tong shook his head, “They didn’t ask me for money. Shao Yu said you would give them the money when you were back.”

Xu Ran said, “It seems that the two of them paid by themselves. I happened to bump into Gao Quan when I came back. He told me that the piglets had already been paid.”

“That won’t do.” Liu Tong stood up when he heard Xu Ran’s words, “I’ll go ask Shao Yu.”

Xu Ran pulled him down. “Alright, since they want to buy them, we will say no more on this matter. I told them we were family. If we draw a clear distinction between us, they’ll feel they are being treated as a stranger instead. We do have to give them the money, but not in this way. We will just give them some bonus when we pay them every month in the future. It’s time to give them a pay rise.”

Xu Ran had always been the one who decided on things like this, and Liu Tong wouldn’t have any opinion on it, “Then Ran, it’s up to you.”

“Okay!” The two of them talked intimately for a little while, and then saw Zhao Chen and Lin Hua coming in with Lin Xi following behind.

Thinking of the fact that Lin Xi had been left at home and not brought to town today, Xu Ran felt a little embarrassed.

He stood up and said, “Lin Xi, I didn’t take you to town today. I’m really sorry.”

When Lin Xi heard this, he waved his hand immediately, “It’s fine. Childe Xu, don’t say that. I’ve been happy at home.”

After Lin Xi said that, Lin Hua chimed in, “Xu Ran, just leave him alone. He is an adult. He will definitely find something to do.”

Lin Xi nodded at once. Since the young master said so, that must be the case.

Lin Hua and the others lived in Xu Ran’s house until March 10th, and then there was nothing fun left to do. It was getting warmer, and the shop was about to get busy. Furthermore, Lin Hua had great interest in the branch shop Xu Ran mentioned, so they planned to go back.

Xu Ran gave them all kinds of food available at home, and came up with a few new dishes. Lin Hua got satisfied.

When they left, Lin Hua slipped a few notes to Xu Ran. Xu Ran unfolded them and saw that there were 500 taels in total!

Xu Ran wanted to hold Lin Hua’s thigh and call him “rich man”. One casual shot was worth 500 taels!

Lin Hua said to Xu Ran, “These are for Baozi. Speaking of this, I wanted to have Baozi to recognize me as his godfather, but he is too young now. When he is one year old, I’ll come again. Just don’t object to it then.”

Xu Ran held the notes in his hand, not knowing to take them or not. He felt like he was selling his son.

After thinking for a while, Xu Ran said, “There’s no problem with you giving the money to Baozi. As for the godfather thing, I have to discuss it with Tongtong and Baozi’s brothers. If they agree, then I have no opinion about it.”

Lin Hua clapped his hands. “Okay. No matter you agree or not, I will come over anyway.”

“I appreciate your kindness. When you get back, have a nice chat with Zhao Chen’s father. They can’t just remain deadlocked like this forever. It would naturally be best if the ending is to the satisfaction of all.” Xu Ran’s last remarks were told in a low voice, and only he and Lin Hua could hear them.

Lin Hua nodded. “I know that. I will handle it well. Thank you for your concern.”

Xu Ran smiled and patted him, “Don’t mention it. Alright, you guys might leave now! It would be better for you to find a place to spend the night on your way home. I know what happened to you during the Spring Festival. It was freezing and that took toll on your health. I will say no more. Write to me if anything happens. I will just take your money. I need it now anyway.”

“Alright, then we’re leaving. You can write to us too if something happens.”

Xu Ran nodded and said goodbye to Zhao Chen. Then he watched the three of them get into the carriage. Xu Ran waved his hand, “Be careful on the road.”

The carriage went further and further away. Xu Ran still heard Lin Hua’s voice, “Got it.”