Chapter 16: Watering the Ginseng

“Let’s go! There are important matters to attend to; we can’t delay too long.” Lu Yu walked away quickly, with Ling Yi following closely behind.

The two arrived at the backyard of the previous inn and rode their horses out of Sishui Town.

Granny Sheng looked anxiously toward the city gate again and again. Why hadn't Wanqiu returned yet? It was almost time.

“Are they here?” the old man driving the cart approached to ask.

“They should be arriving soon, they'll be back any moment. Just wait a little longer, it won't be long,” Granny Sheng tried to stall for time.

“I say, Granny Sheng, you aren't expecting this whole cart of people to wait just for your Sheng Wanqiu, are you?”

“If you all have nothing better to do, we have cooking and housework to do once we get home!”

“Wasting everyone's time—how do you have the nerve!” Bai Xiaolian took the opportunity to mock her.

Today, this Sheng Wanqiu seemed like a completely different person, and she found her utterly detestable. Since she had caught an opportunity, she had to say a few words to vent her frustration.

“If you have the nerve to stay alive, why shouldn't I?”

“I just saw that the mung bean cakes freshly made at the pastry shop looked good, so I wanted to invite everyone to have a taste. I only waited in line a little longer.”

“Look at you, acting as if you won't live to see the next moment. What’s wrong? Going home to hang yourself?”

Sheng Wanqiu’s voice rang out coldly, leaving Bai Xiaolian’s face turning a mottled red, green, and white with rage.

“Wanqiu, how can you say such things? Xiaolian is only concerned about you,” Bai Jiangshi immediately stepped forward to back her up.

“I don't need your concern. My relationship with you all isn't that good!”

“Grandma, give these mung bean cakes to the aunts to taste. No need to give any to the fake kind; it'll save them from choking to death and causing us trouble!”

Sheng Wanqiu handed the oil-paper package in her hand to Granny Sheng, squeezed her hand, and helped her onto the ox cart.

“Uncle, take this to tide you over,” Sheng Wanqiu reached out and stuffed a small oil-paper package into the old man's hand, then nimbly climbed onto the ox cart.

“You child, you're truly polite. Then Uncle thanks you!”

The old man driving the cart immediately grinned from ear to ear, his slight annoyance from moments ago vanishing instantly. With a flick of the whip, the ox cart began to move.

Understanding her granddaughter's intention, Granny Sheng immediately opened the oil-paper package and distributed the shiny, golden-yellow mung bean cakes to the people sitting on the cart, one piece per person. Of course, she didn't give any to the Bai mother and daughter, and the rest were wrapped up immediately.

“Oh! Today we're in luck thanks to girl Wanqiu! Let me taste what kind of pastries the wealthy families eat!” an auntie said, her face wrinkling with a wide smile.

“Indeed! I've never seen such beautiful pastries before!”

“Wanqiu girl, thank you!”

Voices like these rose one after another from the ox cart. Sheng Wanqiu smiled and waved her hand, indicating it was just a small token of her affection and that they shouldn't take it to heart.

The Bai mother and daughter were so infuriated they nearly fell backward, glaring fiercely at Sheng Wanqiu.

Sheng Wanqiu shrugged indifferently. If a glare could take a piece of flesh away, then go ahead and glare all you want!

“Wanqiu, what about that matter with the money pouch?” Granny Sheng whispered.

“Grandma, don't worry! We'll talk about it when we get home!” Sheng Wanqiu took Granny Sheng's hand and pressed it against her own pocket.

Granny Sheng’s eyes immediately brightened with joy; her granddaughter truly was capable.

After returning home, Sheng Wanqiu handed her grandmother the money pouch and explained that she had inquired with a little beggar, and then, after a single blow from a stick, the person had given it to her.

She didn't mention that there were five of them, nor that they had knives, to avoid worrying her grandmother.

She felt that as she called her "Granny Sheng," it felt more and more genuine, as if this truly were her biological grandmother, without a hint of awkwardness.

“Then what about the money for the pastries?”

Seeing Granny Sheng rolling up her sleeves—likely intending to lecture her about not wasting money—Sheng Wanqiu quickly explained, “The thief compensated me unconditionally! It was two copper coins!”

“I bought buns for the little beggar, and used the rest to buy mung bean cakes.”

“I knew the Bai mother and daughter would definitely use my lateness to nag, so I shut their mouths directly and used this as an excuse at the same time.”

“How was that, Grandma? I'm smart, right!”

Sheng Wanqiu looked at Granny Sheng with a proud, coquettish expression, waiting for praise.

“Well done!”

“Don't you like that boy from the Bai family?”

Granny Sheng was quite puzzled. Usually, wasn't this girl Wanqiu constantly chasing after that Bai boy? How had she changed her ways so suddenly?

“Grandma, to be honest, I've had an epiphany!”

“Father is dead, and I'll treat Mother as if she's dead too. I don't plan on marrying. I plan to take in a live-in son-in-law, raise my younger brothers well so they can study, and take care of you in your old age.”

“Besides, Bai Haoyu's family conditions are too poor. Mother is restless, my sister is a home-wrecker, and there's a younger brother who is lazy and gluttonous. He himself is neither scholarly nor martial, and he isn't even good-looking—he's short, which would seriously affect the next generation.”

“I was blind before, but now, he's not even worthy of carrying my shoes!”

“I want to find a man with no parents, tall and handsome, muscular when undressed and lean when dressed, capable in both literature and martial arts, and good-looking. Hehe! The babies born to a man like that will definitely be beautiful!”

“Ouch! Grandma, why did you hit me!”

“Grandma! Ow! Ow!” Sheng Wanqiu clutched her head and jogged out of the courtyard.

“Grandma, I'm going to the village entrance to see if my brothers are back!” Once she reached a safe distance, Sheng Wanqiu turned back with a grin and ran off.

At first, Granny Sheng was quite moved by her words, sighing inwardly that the girl had finally grown up to be filial and sensible.

But as she listened, the words became more and more outrageous, and she couldn't help herself from picking up a broom.

Granny Sheng shook her head amusedly and put the broom down. This girl had her own ideas; let her be.

Sheng Wanqiu had no intention of wasting time waiting for her two brothers; she jogged straight into the mountains.

She quickly climbed a tree, looked around to ensure no one was watching, jumped down, and buried a ginseng seed in the soil.

Using her willpower, she drew out the spring water from her space and poured it directly onto the ground.

A miraculous scene occurred. As Sheng Wanqiu's mouth hung wider and wider, the ginseng seed grew at a speed visible to the naked eye, rapidly taking root, sprouting, growing, and blooming. Sheng Wanqiu hurriedly reached out with her hands to catch the ginseng seeds that were about to fall.

Hehehe, she wouldn't have to spend money on seeds anymore.

Then, the ginseng grew thicker and sturdier. Feeling that if it grew any more it might become a spirit, she quickly reached out and pulled it up.

Looking at the ginseng, which was as thick as a child's wrist, Sheng Wanqiu fell into deep thought. Should she drink some of this spring water herself? Maybe she could grow to be 1.7 meters tall?

A rustling sound suddenly came from her ears. Sheng Wanqiu quickly found a patch of moss to wrap the ginseng in; she had seen videos saying this could keep ginseng fresh.

Then, carrying the ginseng, she climbed straight up a tree. Looking down, she finally understood what was happening.

(End of Chapter)