Chapter 49: Stop Uncle from Selling the Watermelons
Gu Qingming had a good night’s sleep and was woken up by the chirping of birds outside.
Her grandparents lived in the old house next door. Her eldest uncle’s family lived in this new house.
Everyone knew that Gu Qingming was still sleeping, so the people who got up to work were tiptoeing. Even their two little nephews were reminded.
Her aunt wanted to sleep. They must not be noisy next to the house or the window. If they wanted to play, they should go outside lest they wake her with the noise.
But she was woken up by the chirping of insects and birds in the countryside and the crowing of roosters.
At dawn, the little birds outside began to chatter on the branches. Occasionally, they would whistle a few times and the rooster would crow.
Gu Qingming felt extremely comfortable hearing these voices.
Compared to the continuous roar of cars in the big city, the chirping of insects and birds in the countryside sounded more pleasant.
Gu Qingming got up, pulled open the curtains, opened the window, closed her eyes, and took a few deep breaths, enjoying the fresh air.
“Wow, it’s so comfortable!” Gu Qingming couldn’t help but exclaim. “The air smells so fresh!”
How could there be such air in the morning in a big city? One would be lucky if there was no smell of gasoline and dust.
Gu Qingming stretched and looked down. She realized that her uncles and a few young men were gathered in the courtyard.
There were also several baskets in the courtyard.
They were talking, but what puzzled Gu Qingming was that those people were clearly not talking loudly, but she heard them clearly.
“That Boss Liu said that he wanted to collect 20,000 catties of watermelon,” Uncle said with a frown, “but he lowered the price. We clearly agreed that my watermelon would be sold for 50 cents, but now he insists on a price of 45 cents.”
Although the reduction was not much, they would lose 500 dollars for 10,000 catties of watermelon. The loss would be doubled at 1,000 dollars for 20,000 catties.
1,000 dollars was a month’s income for rural families.
Standing in front of his uncle and looking at the man of the same age, he said, “There’s a lot of rain this year, and the market for watermelons isn’t good. I heard that the watermelons in the Luo Family Village only cost between 30 to 40 cents a catty. Your watermelons are delicious and sweet. That Boss Liu accepts your watermelons every year, and the price is a little higher.”
Eldest Uncle, Shi Lichun, said unhappily, “But we clearly agreed on a price of 50 cents previously. Now that we’re going to the fields to pick the fruit, they’re telling us that it’s 45 cents. Isn’t this bullying?
“You said that the watermelons in the Luo Family Village are not delicious at all. They’re small, not juicy, and not sweet at all. They’re salty. It’s already not bad that their watermelons can be sold for 30 to 40 cents. Our watermelons are already sold so cheaply and we still have to lower the price? My brothers’ watermelons are famous for being delicious in the entire Sand River Town, let alone the surrounding villages.”
Hearing this, Gu Qingming immediately shuddered.
“Is Uncle selling the watermelons?”
“That won’t do!”
She muttered, “Yesterday, I was thinking of selling my uncle’s watermelons at a good price. I didn’t expect to wake up and hear Eldest Uncle say that he was going to sell watermelons at such a cheap price. Eldest Uncle doesn’t seem too willing.”
“That won’t do. I have to stop Eldest Uncle.” Gu Qingming couldn’t be bothered to tidy herself up and hurriedly rushed downstairs.
However, as soon as she opened the door, she saw her two nephews sitting beside it.
“Xiao Bo, Xiao Xuan, why are you here?” Gu Qingming asked in confusion.
Shi Jiahao was her uncle’s second grandson and was three and a half years old this year.
Shi Junxuan was his second uncle’s eldest grandson. He was four years old this year.
Both children had gone to kindergarten, but it happened to be summer vacation.
Seeing the door open, the two children rose from the ground and patted their buttocks; their actions looked habitual and practiced. One of them was still holding the small gift she had given them last night.
The two children looked at Gu Qingming with bright eyes and said happily, “Aunt, you’re awake!”
Gu Qingming touched their soft hair and pinched their little heads. She half bent down to look at them and asked with a smile, “Tell Aunt, why are you sitting at the door of Aunt’s room so early in the morning?”
Shi Junxuan said, “I like Pretty Aunt and want to play with her. But Grandma and Grandpa told us that Aunt was tired from the journey last night and wanted to rest. They told us not to disturb Aunt’s sleep. Therefore, my brother and I are waiting at the door. As soon as you wake up, you can play with us.”
Shi Jiahao nodded and said, “Yes, I’m playing with Aunt.”
Gu Qingming pinched their fair and tender faces again and said in amusement, “Okay, play with Aunt.”
Shi Junxuan and Shi Jiahao looked at Gu Qingming with wide eyes. Suddenly, he thought of something and turned to leave.
Gu Qingming asked in confusion, “Xuan’er, why are you going?”
Shi Junxuan said, “Grandma said to tell her when you woke up. I’ll tell Grandma now that you woke up.”
With that, he ran away.
Shi Jiahao raised his head and asked innocently, “Aunt, haven’t you brushed your teeth and washed your face?”
Gu Qingming was slightly stunned and asked curiously, “Yes, Little Yu, how did you know?”
Shi Jiahao pointed at the corner of his lips and said seriously, “There’s something white here!”
The so-called white thing referred to traces of saliva.
Gu Qingming instantly covered her face.
She actually drooled last night!
How embarrassing.
However, she had to rush over now and tell her uncle not to sell watermelons.
But if she went out like this, she would definitely be embarrassed.
Gu Qingming thought for a moment and bent down to say to Shi Jiahao, “Xiao Yu, can you help me do something?”
Shi Jiahao instantly straightened his little chest and said, “Aunt, tell me. I’ll definitely do it for you.”
Little imp!
Gu Qingming said, “Alright. Then go downstairs and tell Big Grandpa not to sell the watermelons now. Just say it like what Aunt said. Aunt will come over after brushing her teeth and washing her face.”
Children were naive too. They didn’t ask why.
He nodded directly. “Okay.”
Then, he ran away.
After the two children left, Gu Qingming quickly returned to her room and brushed her teeth, and washed her face.
Standing in front of the mirror and seeing the traces of saliva flowing out of the corners of the person’s mouth, Gu Qingming had the urge to bang her head against the wall.
She was actually drooling in her sleep.
It was so embarrassing in front of a child!
Why did she drool?
Her sleeping posture had always been very good.
Last night, she didn’t sleep well because of frequent urination.
In the second half of the night, she quickly fell asleep after drinking the spiritual spring water. She slept soundly until she woke up the next day.