Chapter 34 - Just like that, he was sold out by his wife and mother

“Blight disease. This kind of disease usually happens under high temperature and high humidity.”

Shi Qingluo continued, “The capital wasn’t as hot and humid as our county. Hence, your chrysanthemum fell ill not long after you brought it back.”

“It can be treated, but I need to bring it home for a period of time.”

She really knew how to treat it.

Although there was no modern disinfectant, the spring water could replace it.

She had tried it many times before.

As long as the plants were not truly dead, they would recover after a period of time and grow better.

Bai Xu thought for a moment. “Can’t you come to my house every day to treat it?”

Shi Qingluo…

She didn’t have the time. Besides, she could only do some basic treatments in front of Bai Xu, not with the spring water.

“No, my master said that we can’t share our flower nurturing techniques to outsiders.”

She paused for a moment. “Besides, I have to take care of your sick flowers in the morning, noon, and evening. I can’t come here every day.”

Bai Xu thought for a moment and asked repeatedly, “Are you sure that you can heal it when you bring it back?”

Shi Qingluo rolled her eyes at him. “Of course, I’m sure. But if you don’t believe me, then forget it.”

When it was time to impress others, she would.

This way, she would look more capable.

Business transactions made in a hurry weren’t good.

Then she gave Bai Xu an expression that said, “Believe it or not, if you don’t believe me, then forget about treating your plants.”

Bai Xu remained silent. Xiao Hanzheng’s wife was a little arrogant!

Seeing that Shi Qingluo was serious in her words, Bai Xu felt helpless.

Not only did he spend so much money on purple chrysanthemum, but he really liked it.

It was a unique chrysanthemum flower in the county.

From time to time, other scholars would come to admire it, allowing him to blend in with the circle of scholars.

Therefore, it shouldn’t be a big deal if he asked a few more questions?

He asked, “If it’s not treated, what will happen to the flower?”

Shi Qingluo answered truthfully, “The leaves will turn dark brown, rot, droop and whither. Then, it will die very quickly.”

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Her words were similar to what the best gardener in the county had told Bai Xu.

He said, “Alright, I trust you.”

There was nothing he could do now.

He could only believe that Shi Qingluo could heal these flowers.

Otherwise, these flowers would be useless.

He added, “You can bring them back and treat them, but I will come to see them.”

Shi Qingluo uttered under her breath, he made the flower look as if it was his true love.

But she could tell that Bai Xu was indeed a flower lover, but not a blind lover.

She reckoned that apart from his hobby, he had other motives for keeping these flowers.

She had to admit that she had guessed correctly.

Bai Xu wanted to use the flowers to break into some circles that he couldn’t get into.

She replied. “Sure, as long as you’re happy.”

Bai Xu asked, “If you manage to treat the flower, what do you want in return?”

Shi Qingluo didn’t know the price for the treatment. “You can give based on how much you think it’s worth after it’s healed.”

Bai Xu thought for a moment. I think it’s worth a thousand taels of gold. How about I give you a thousand taels of gold?

Shi Qingluo added another sentence.

“Oh right, not only can I heal your flower, but I can also make its colour darker. Its colour will be brighter and purer than when you first bought it.”

The spring water was indeed amazing when used on plants.

Bai Xu wasn’t so sure after hearing this.

Not only could it heal the flower, but it could also make it better.

Was this for real? Was it really that amazing?

But since he had to hand it over to Shi Qingluo for treatment, even if he had a lot of doubts, he didn’t show it on his face.

He thought for a moment and said, “Why don’t you name a price? I’ve never asked anyone to treat a flower before, so I can’t be sure of the price.

“If you name a price, I think we can make a deal. If not, I’ll have to bear with the pain and let the flower wither.

Shi Qingluo thought for a moment and asked, “Tell me honestly. How much did you spend on the flower?”

Only then would she be able to estimate the price to treat it.

She didn’t think it was a few hundred taels of silver like what Number Five mentioned.

Bai Xu…

This little wife of Xiao Hanzheng was a little difficult to deal with!

He said helplessly, “One hundred and sixty taels of silver.”

This was the truth. The few hundred taels were something that his servant used to brag to others.

However, when the flower had just been nurtured, it could indeed be sold for a few hundred taels.

In order to prevent Xiao Hanzheng’s wife from slashing him further, he told her the real price.

Shi Qingluo realised that this fellow wasn’t honest either. “I’ll treat the flower for you, and I guarantee that it will be even better than when you bought it. How about you give me twenty taels as a reward?”

She didn’t ask for too much just because Bai Xu was in a hurry to treat its purple chrysanthemum.

Firstly, she wasn’t that kind of person.

Secondly, she also wanted to befriend Bai Xu.

She felt that in the future he would be useful to help her in other matters.

This price was within Bai Xu’s acceptable range.

In fact, he was already prepared for Shi Qingluo to raise the price.

Anyway, as long as she raised the price above fifty taels of silver, he wouldn’t let her treat it anymore.

At most, he would just go to the capital and buy a new one.

After all, who knew if she could really heal it.

“Sure.” Bai Xu nodded and changed the topic. “What if you can’t heal it?”

Shi Qingluo waved her hand. “Nothing like this would happen.”

Bai Xu was speechless. Wasn’t her confidence a little too much?

He felt that it was better to have a clearer explanation. “What if it happens?”

He was a businessman.

He could spend money to treat it, but if something went wrong, he would not want to bear it alone.

After all, she was the one who came to his door and offered to help treat it.

Shi Qingluo knew what he meant in a glance. “If it can’t be healed, I’ll compensate you at the original price.”

She continued, “You know my husband, Xiao Hanzheng, right? I’ll use his reputation to guarantee it.

“If I can’t heal it, if I can’t bring out 160 taels of silver for you, my husband will pay you back.”

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She looked as if she was pressuring her husband.

After saying that, she turned to Mother Xiao and asked, “Isn’t that right, Mother?”

Mother Xiao trusted Shi Qingluo and nodded. “Yes, my son can guarantee it.”

Bai Xu…

He suddenly pitied Xiao Hanzheng for being sold out by his wife and mother.

“Alright, even though I’m not familiar with Elementary Scholar Xiao, I trust his character.

“But should we still have an agreement written in black and white as evidence?”

Shi Qingluo nodded. “No problem, let’s use them as evidence.”

This fellow was indeed a profiteer.

It was obvious that he was very bright and won’t be at the losing end.

Seeing that she agreed, Bai Xu immediately instructed Number Four to bring over a brush, ink, paper, and inkstone.

Then, he wrote a letter and read it once for Shi Qingluo to hear.

“If you don’t have any questions, you can ink your handprint.

“If you don’t believe me, you can find someone outside to read it before you put your handprint.”

Shi Qingluo was speechless. “Do I look like someone who can’t read?”

After she finished, she picked up the brush and signed her name.

Bai Xu was speechless.

She really didn’t look like a village woman from her sallow and emaciated appearance.

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Moreover, he believed that there weren’t many women in the county who could read, let alone in the rural villages.

However, when he looked down and saw Shi Qingluo’s name written in beautiful hairpin script, he silently retracted his words.

He was wrong. Xiao Hanzheng’s wife seemed to be a little unusual.