Chapter 14

After leaving the partitioned room, Xie Jing swept her gaze over the shelves and pointed at the White Rabbit milk candies.

“Give me a bag of those, and weigh out one jin of the rice cakes I bought last time too.”

The moment she finished speaking, Thin Monkey personally took them down and handed them to her.

Two jin of milk candy cost five yuan, while the rice cakes cost two. After buying everything and setting aside Ning Yunqing’s money, Xie Jing still had thirteen yuan left.

She planned to save that money for Ning Niannian’s medical treatment. If they relied solely on Ning Yunqing gathering mushrooms, who knew how many years it would take to save enough?

When Xie Jing returned home, she divided the rice cakes and milk candies into two portions.

One portion was for Xie Zhenzhen, while the other was, once again, meant for Ning Yunqing.

At dinner, Xie Jing placed the rice cakes in front of Xie Zhenzhen.

The little girl’s eyes immediately lit up.

“Sister, did you go into town?”

“Mm.” Xie Jing nodded. “Go ahead and eat.”

Xie Zhenzhen happily grabbed a piece and stuffed it into her mouth.

“It’s so good,” she mumbled indistinctly.

Zhao Cui’e glared at her.

“You look like a starving ghost reincarnated. No one’s fighting you for it. Eat more slowly.”

Xie Zhenzhen swallowed and said, “But it’s delicious! Mom, stop what you’re doing and come try some too.”

Zhao Cui’e shook her head.

“You children eat it. Mom doesn’t need any. read the original at bailiantales.comSave one for your father and one for your brother.”

Xie Jing looked at Xie Zhenzhen and smiled.

“I bought these for everyone. Once we finish them, I can buy more.”

Buy more after they finished?

Zhao Cui’e shot her a look.

“Do you know how expensive something like this is? How can you talk about buying it whenever you feel like it? Are you trying to become a spendthrift?”

Xie Jing laughed helplessly, picked up a rice cake, walked over to Zhao Cui’e, and stuffed it into her mouth.

“I found a way to make money. Just relax and eat.”

“What way?”

Zhao Cui’e immediately looked at her nervously, worried she was doing something reckless.

This child had always been somewhat thoughtless. If she got herself into trouble again, the Xie family might be better off than most households, but they still could not afford to have their savings squandered.

“I heard in town today that someone is buying tea leaves. I remember there’s an abandoned tea garden on the mountain near us, so I was thinking of picking some and trying it,” Xie Jing explained.

Hearing this, Zhao Cui’e relaxed.

At least it was nothing dangerous.

She thought for a moment and said, “That tea garden originally belonged to a landlord’s family. After the landlord was overthrown, the tea garden was abandoned. The production team leader is planning to cut down all those tea trees and plant crops there instead.”

“Then can we go pick some before that happens?” Xie Jing asked.

“Your father only needs to mention it to the production team leader. The place is abandoned anyway, so he’ll probably allow it.” Zhao Cui’e glanced at Xie Zhenzhen, who was happily eating. “Stop eating for a moment and go call your father inside.”

Xie Zhenzhen stuffed the rest of the rice cake in her hand into her mouth in one bite.

That earned another scolding from Zhao Cui’e.

“You really are a starving ghost reincarnated!”

Xie Zhenzhen made a face at her, hopped down from the stool, and ran outside with rapid little footsteps.

Before long, Xie Dahai came in.

Xie Jing repeated what she had just said.

“Is this really reliable?” Xie Dahai scratched his head.

He was just about to sit down when Zhao Cui’e kicked him in the leg and glared.

“Whether it makes money or not, your daughter asked you to go find out, so go ask. At least this is better than her getting herself involved in something else.”

Xie Jing: “…”

Why did that sound so strange?

Xie Dahai chuckled twice.

Zhao Cui’e had not kicked him hard, though a little dust still clung to his trouser leg. He casually brushed it off and headed out.

He did not return until dinnertime.

“How did it go?” Zhao Cui’e asked.

“It’s settled.”

Xie Dahai caught his breath before continuing.

“The production team leader said our family can be responsible for cutting down the tea trees. As for the leaves on them, we can do whatever we want with them.”

The moment Zhao Cui’e heard this, her expression darkened.

“That tea garden has to be at least a hundred mu! He wants our family to cut it [bailiantales.com]all down? Isn’t he obviously bullying us?”

“Oh, stop complaining. Xiao Jing wanted the tea leaves, so I agreed,” Xie Dahai said.

“You…”

Zhao Cui’e was furious.

How had she married such a blockhead?

Xie Jing was equally stunned by the size of the tea garden.

She had originally thought it was only a small patch. She had never expected there to be so much.

Tomorrow, she would go pick some first and test it out.

“Mom, do you know how to process tea?” Xie Jing asked.

“How would I know? That was always something the landlord’s family [unauthorized copy]handled in the past. Poor people like us never even got the chance to drink it,” Zhao Cui’e replied.

“Then what happened to that landlord’s family…?” Xie Jing asked.

Zhao Cui’e laughed and dropped the wild vegetables she had finished sorting into a basin.

“Isn’t that the Ning family? I heard from the older generation that their family used to be wealthy outsiders. They came here from somewhere else, bought land, and planted tea. Their ancestors were very rich. Later, they were overthrown, their property was confiscated, and each generation became worse than the last. Especially those three Ning sons—they’re lazy and gluttonous.”

At that point, Zhao Cui’e shook her head.

So that tea garden had originally belonged to Ning Yunqing’s family.

Xie Jing was slightly surprised.

If it had belonged to them, did Ning Yunqing know how to process tea?

With that thought, Xie Jing stood and returned to her room.

She took out the rice cakes and White Rabbit milk candies she had bought that day.

Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed the half-packet of tea Thin Monkey had given her. After thinking about it, she tucked that into her pocket too.

She did not like drinking tea herself.

Since Ning Yunqing’s older generations had grown tea, perhaps Ning Yunqing would enjoy it.

She might as well give it to her.

After gathering everything, Xie Jing pulled open the door and left the courtyard without looking back.

Zhao Cui’e shouted after her, “Where are you going at this hour? Aren’t you eating dinner?”

“I have something to take care of. I’ll be right back!” Xie Jing called as she walked away.

Once she was gone, Zhao Cui’e muttered, “Was that rice cake in her hand? That child must be going to see Lin Qingqing again.”

Xie Dahai said unconcernedly, “Let her go. You know Xiao Jing likes Qingqing. I think Qingqing is bailiantales.com a decent match for her.”

“What do you know!”

Zhao Cui’e glared at Xie Dahai irritably.

That Lin Qingqing was obviously entangled with Educated Youth Yu while still stringing their Xiao Jing along.

Only this fool of a man could fail to see it.

How had Xiao Jing inherited his wooden-headed nature?

As she thought this, Xie Zhenzhen chimed in, “Lin Qingqing isn’t good at all.”

See?

At least one child had inherited her brains.

Zhao Cui’e instantly felt much better.

After leaving the Xie residence, Xie Jing hurried toward Ning Yunqing’s home.

Perhaps her luck was simply too good, because she ran into the male and female leads again.

Why couldn’t these two go off and properly pursue their romance instead of constantly blocking the road?

Even actual roadblocks were not this dedicated.

The moment Lin Qingqing saw the things in Xie Jing’s hands, her eyes lit up.

Weren’t those rice cakes and White Rabbit milk candies?

Those were expensive!

She had not expected Xie Jing to actually buy them for her.

It seemed she had been overthinking things these past few days.

So what if she ignored Xie Jing?

In the end, Xie Jing still came running eagerly after her, even bringing such expensive rice cakes and White Rabbit candies.

Lin Qingqing deliberately snorted.

“Xie Jing, why is it you again? Didn’t I tell you not to keep pestering me when there’s nothing important?”

“…”

Xie Jing rubbed her forehead.

This was an illness.

It needed treatment.

“That’s right, Xie Jing,” Yu Feng chimed in. “Qingqing has already said so. Stop constantly bothering her.”

Yu Feng had also noticed the pastries and White Rabbit candies in Xie Jing’s hands, and he was practically drooling.

He had never expected Xie Jing to be willing to spend so much money on Lin Qingqing.

His family lived in the city and both his parents were workers, yet even they were reluctant to buy White Rabbit candies.

And Xie Jing had brought so many for Lin Qingqing at once.

Yu Feng licked his lips.

He had to side with Lin Qingqing. Otherwise, once Xie Jing gave her the food, what if Lin Qingqing refused to share any with him?

These two were both seriously ill.

Xie Jing suddenly felt they truly were a match made in heaven.

But since the male and female leads themselves had told her read the original at bailiantales.comto leave, wouldn’t refusing to go mean violating her character setting?

Xie Jing rubbed her nose.

“You’re right. Then I won’t bother you. No need to see me off. Bye-bye.”

With that, she quickly backed away several steps, waved at Lin Qingqing and Yu Feng, then turned and ran.

If she did not leave now, was she supposed to wait for them to ask her for the food?

The moment she turned around, a faint rose fragrance drifted into her nose.

Her gland gave an excited throb.

When she saw who had arrived, Xie Jing immediately broke into a grin.

“I was just about to look for you. What are you doing here?”

Ning Yunqing glanced at Lin Qingqing and Yu Feng behind Xie Jing.

She pressed her lips together, her expression indifferent.

“You were looking for me?”

“Yes,” Xie Jing replied.

Listening to their conversation, Lin Qingqing asked disdainfully, “Xie Jing, what do you need her for?”

There were only a handful of Omegas in the entire village.

Xie Jing was a top-tier Alpha, while Lin Qingqing’s pheromone level was also quite high.

If Xie Jing was not pursuing her, could she possibly have taken a liking to someone else?

She was obviously saying she had come to find Ning Yunqing in front of Lin Qingqing because she had seen Lin Qingqing with Educated Youth Yu and wanted to make her jealous.

The food in her hands had to be meant for Lin Qingqing.

Thinking this, Lin Qingqing’s mood improved again.

Xie Jing glanced at her, then stuffed all the rice cakes and White Rabbit milk candies into Ning Yunqing’s arms.

“These are for you and Niannian.”

Ning Yunqing froze and lowered her gaze to the things in her hands.

What?

They were for Ning Yunqing?

How could that be?

Lin Qingqing stared wide-eyed as Xie Jing shoved everything into Ning Yunqing’s arms.

She wanted to rush forward and snatch them back, but she still had to maintain her gentle and lovable image.

Gritting her teeth furiously, she said, “Xie Jing, there should be a limit to how far you go just to make me angry!”

“Hm?”

Xie Jing turned back toward Lin Qingqing with complete bewilderment.

“What happened?”

Then she looked at Yu Feng.

“You two keep talking. I really do have something to take care of.”

Without waiting for either of them to react, she grabbed Ning Yunqing and pulled her away.

Ning Yunqing lowered her gaze to the hand holding hers.

Her eyes darkened.

Giving her things right in front of Lin Qingqing, then pulling her away like this…

It was all to make the person Xie Jing loved jealous, wasn’t it?

Only after they had walked a considerable distance did Xie Jing release Ning Yunqing.

“Don’t mind what happened just now.”

Mind what?

Ning Yunqing’s gaze turned colder.

Did she mean Ning Yunqing should not mind being used to make her sweetheart jealous?

“I really did come looking for you because I have something to ask,” Xie Jing continued.

“What is it?” Ning Yunqing asked coldly.

“I heard that the tea garden on the mountain originally belonged to your family. Do you know how to process tea?”

Ning Yunqing frowned slightly.

Seeing her stare without answering, Xie Jing awkwardly rubbed her nose.

“Give these back to you.”

“Hm?”

Xie Jing froze.

Ning Yunqing held the rice cakes and White Rabbit candies back out to her.

“What’s wrong?” Xie Jing asked.

With a cold expression, Ning Yunqing said, “Take them back.”

Xie Jing bit her lip and looked down at the rice cakes and White Rabbit candies Ning Yunqing was returning.

Why did Ning Yunqing seem angry?

When Xie Jing had given her things before, Ning Yunqing had at least accepted them despite her cold expression.

What was wrong today?

“Don’t come looking for me again,” Ning Yunqing said.

She paused, stepped forward, and shoved the food back into Xie Jing’s arms.

“I’m leaving.”