“One thousand, one thousand one… a total of 1260 RMB.” Mother Xiao counted the money they got from selling vegetables again and again.
She could not control the excitement in her heart and kept asking, “Yu ‘Er, did I get this correct? Did we sell the vegetables for 1269 RMB today? That’s equivalent to four months of a rural farming family’s income.”
Xiao Lingyu said, “Mom, you’re right. We started with 186 tomatoes, 132 eggplants, 35 cabbages, 20 catties of spinach, and 10 catties of chilies. I reserved 30 tomatoes, 15 eggplants, 5 Chinese cabbages, 3 catties of spinach, and 2 catties of chilies. We gave away some for free samples, so 1260 RMB sounds about right to me.”
Mother Xiao was stunned. She asked curiously, “Yu ‘Er, how did you know all that?”
Xiao Lingyu said, “It was in the invoice my friend gave me.” The truth was Xiao Lingyu counted all that in the magical space yesterday night.
Mother Xiao nodded. She folded the money and handed it to Xiao Lingyu, saying, “Keep this money well. Actually, we should deposit this money in the bank. Yu ‘Er, did you carry your account book with you?”
Xiao Lingyu shook her head. “Nope. I don’t think we should save it. We’ll have to withdraw it every time. It’s more convenient for us to carry it.” Xiao Lingyu missed the future where everyone had a phone, and virtual wallet was ubiquitous.
Mother Xiao instructed, “Then hide the money well. Don’t reveal your wealth. You must be careful with so much cash!”
“Okay!” Xiao Lingyu nodded and said, “Mom, it’s almost lunchtime. Let’s go find little brother. We can give him these tomatoes to eat as fruit!”
“Okay!” Mother Xiao nodded.
The two of them tidied up, locked the door, and went to County One High School together.
When they reached the school, they asked the guard to help them notify Xiao Lingye. Not long after, Xiao Lingye ran over.
“Mom, Sis, why are you here?” Xiao Lingye asked as he ran.
Mother Xiao said, “Ye ‘Er, let’s go out for a meal together.”
“Okay!”Xiao Lingye nodded.
Xiao Lingyu handed a tomato to Xiao Lingye and said, “Come, try it. This tomato tastes really good!”
Xiao Lingye did not refuse. He took the tomato and bit it. His eyes widened in surprise. He said, “Wow, Sis, what kind of tomato is this? How can it be so delicious?”
Mother Xiao explained, “Your sister’s friend from the Academy of Agricultural Sciences sold them wholesale to Yu ‘Er.”
Xiao Lingye nodded in understanding. “No wonder it’s so delicious.”
The three found a restaurant and ordered a few dishes.
..
When Yang Yan returned home and saw the dishes she bought at an exorbitant price this morning, she felt a little regretful. However, it was too late for regret. She sighed and prepared to cook. If the taste were normal, she wouldn’t buy them next time. After being fooled once, she wouldn’t be fooled again.
She washed the spinach and cut the eggplant. When everything was ready, she slid them into the pot for a stir-fry. The moment she did, she was shocked. “They smell so amazing! No wonder it has a high asking price!”
What Yang Yan didn’t know was that the smell had wafted out of her house. Even her neighbors could smell the fragrance.
“Who is cooking? Why does it smell so good?”
“Hmm… I was feeling quite lightheaded earlier but I woke up immediately once the fragrance entered my nostril. It’s so refreshing. What is the smell, is it fried vegetables?”
“Actually, I feel like that too!”
…
Yang Yan’s husband arrived home, holding the briefcase. Before he reached home, he could already smell the beautiful fragrance. It made his work exhaustion disappear immediately. The closer he came to his home, the stronger the scent. Yang Yan’s husband wondered, “What has Yan ‘Er cooked tonight?”
Once he opened the door, he was hit by the fragrance around the house. It woke him up immediately!
He tossed the briefcase aside and raced into the kitchen to ask, “Honey, what are you cooking? How can it smell so delicious?”
The drooling Junxuan, who stood beside Yan Yan, answered loudly, “Dad, mom is cooking a spinach and eggplant dish!”
Li Ping frowned and said with some doubt, “Wait, just some normal vegetables?” How could two vegetarian dishes smell so heavenly? The fragrance was all over their building.
Li Junxuan nodded his little head. “Dad, Mom still has to make two more dishes, a beef, and a sweet and sour fish.”
Li Ping breathed in the beautiful smell.
Li Junxuan tottered out. Then, he ran back, holding a tomato in his hand. He gave it to his father. “Dad, eat this. This tomato is very delicious. Mom and I have tried it.”
Li Junxuan wanted to finish the tomato earlier but his mother told him to keep it for his father. After all, his father must be tired after a long day of work.
Li Ping thought nothing of it. He assumed this was just an ordinary tomato.
He took the tomato and said with a smile, “Thank you, son!” Then, he took a bite. His expression was similar to when his wife took her first bite.
“Damn, is this really a tomato? It’s so delicious!”
Li Jinxuan put his hands on his waist proudly. “Hehe, Dad, we bought this from an older sister. Mom only bought it because I asked her too!”
That afternoon, Li Junxuan, who never liked eating vegetables, obediently finished a full bowl of rice for the first time. He even ate most of the vegetables. He never even glanced at the beef and fish. After that, he told his mother, “Mom, we need to buy from that older sister again!”
“Of course!” Yang Yan promised. Even though they were expensive, they were delicious. Plus, it helped with her son’s diet.
The same thing was happening at Granny Song and Granny Li’s homes.