Chapter 31 - Freakin’ bandit
In a few days, the walls around the hut were finally built, the roof was renovated, and even the four walls of the house where the wind leaks were patched up.
Although it's old, it no longer looks bleak and run down.
It's more like a home.
Over time, the grapes in the vine grove have ripened and are ready for picking.
Since they are wild grapes, everyone could pick them, and in order to avoid disputes, the Liu family had a discussion. Grandpa Liu went to the village chief to negotiate purchasing those grapes.
Anyone in the village who goes to pick grapes can sell 2 catties for 1 wen.
When the news broke, the village men, women, and children were all shocked and flocked to Xinghualing Mountain, scrambling to pick grapes.
But it's just wild fruit, five or six bunches can make up two catties and earn them a wen. A day of picking can let them earn at least thirty or forty wen. It's worth the income of a day or two of hard work by manual labor. It's enough for the family to live on for days on end.
The children, on the other hand, were unusually enthusiastic about selling grapes and earning some sugar money for themselves.
"Brother Axiu! Brother Axiu! Let's go pick grapes!" In the afternoon, Liu Yusheng ran to the hut and dragged Axiu with her, "Auntie, come with us, you can sell the grapes to our family! It's more rewarding than digging a day's worth of herbs!"
Grandma Liu entered behind her and took the same stance as Liu Yusheng. She picked up a wicker basket in the corner of the house and pulled Wanrong out of the house, "Let's go, pick grapes and have fun with everyone. You've been staying alone long enough. You don't know anyone else in the village except our family, so that's no good. Walk around with the villagers more, and everyone can help out if anything comes up."
"Auntie, I, this …" Wanrong wanted to refuse, but she clammed up in the face of Grandma Liu's goodwill.
In the end, she could only deeply sigh.
At this moment, the vine grove in Xinghauling Mountain is full of beans.
From a distance, peals of laughter could be heard along with chatters and roars among the children.
Everyone has smiles on their faces as they carefully picked bunches of grapes and filled their baskets.
The vivid picture, the upbeat vibe, makes tempts anyone watching into joining them without realizing it.
"Auntie, Brother Axiu, let's go pick too! I'm going to make grape fruit wine at home and sell it later!" Liu Yusheng approached the two and feigned whispering to them mysteriously.
"Grape wine?" Astonishment flashed across Wanrong's face, "Nannan, your family will brew this?"
Liu Yusheng puffed her little chest up, "I will! I made it last year and my grandparents, parents, uncle and aunt all said it was delicious! It's really yummy! I'll give a jar to auntie when it's brewed, so you can try it too!"
Wanrong was totally shocked and scrutinized Liu Yusheng deeply.
Grape wine is only unique to Fanwai, who sends only 10 jars annually to Nanling as a tribute.
It's never been on the market.
It's something that only the Emperor in the palace has the pleasure of drinking. Occasionally, a jar would be given a reward to the highly meritorious courtiers.
"Nannan, once it's really brewed, can you bring some to Aunt for a taste first? Maybe, I can give you some advice then."
Axiu is fond of Nannan, and she also adores this well-behaved, kind and intelligent baby. Moreover, the Liu Family has been kind to them, mother and son.
"Really? Sure! When it's ready, Nannan will give some to Aunt!" Liu Yusheng's eyes shone brightly.
She always had this hunch that this Aunt was no ordinary person.
Thus her initiative to give advice is definitely not off the cuff.
"Nannan, let's go pick grapes." Axiu pursed his lips and took Liu Yusheng's hand, grabbing her attention in one fell swoop.
"Yippee! Brother Axiu, let's go over there, have you seen Dabao? That group over there has gone wild today, saying they'll buy sugar once they sell their grapes and also save money. Hahaha, greedy kittens!"
The two little ones held hands and dug into the vineyard. Wanrong followed behind, the corners of her mouth raised in helplessness.
Xiu'er, eating vinegar even of your mother.
"Ey, Wanrong, come here! The grapes are relatively dense on my side, let's pick them together!" Chen Xulan turned back to see her and yelled in greeting.
When the village women heard her, they all looked back, "This is the sister who lives in the hut, right? Is her name Wanrong? Quickly, come and pick grapes with us, pick more, and go back to Xulan's house for money, hahaha! It's rare being able to earn some money in the village, so let's work hard and empty their family's silver!"
"These guys, go ahead and dig in, when my house is out of food, we'll just go up to your houses to freeload!"
"Big deal, come whenever you like. Can't we even spare a bite for you?"
Their bickering elicited a burst of hearty laughter.
Wanrong smiled lightly and joined in.
These villagers are not snobs and they bicker with each other light-heartedly. They invite others in shedding any sense of restraints. When they noticed that she's being silent during the conversation, they would bring up a subject and throw it to her from time to time to help her blend in.
They're all kind people, simple and unpretentious, heart-warming.
"Dabao, you've already picked so much?" Liu Yusheng marveled, walking to the group of little friends while watching them with their back baskets almost filled to the brim.
They're really nimble, so she shouted at the one with the most harvest.
"Of course! This is all for my sugar money!" Dabao raised his chin smugly, "Nannan, Axiu, hurry up too or else you will have no grapes to pick! Come on, when mine is full, I'll come and help you!"
Axiu frowned a little, there were too many people around to his liking.
And Nannan talking to everyone else, he dislikes it even more.
He wanted to drag Nannan to a place where it was just him and her alone, but there was no clear ground in the whole grape grove.
Besides, Nannan is happy now.
His lips squeezed into a line as he scowled at Dabao's almost full basket. He reached out and dug bunches of grapes and piled them into his own empty one.
The speed of his hands was almost inconspicuous.
Dabao was dumbfounded, "…. Axiu, what are you doing? I picked all that!"
"Nannan, stay here and eat grapes when you're thirsty." A line of admonition, before he looked at Dabao, "I'll help you pick again."
"….."
Freakin' bandit! And what kind of imposition was that?
Dabao wanted to swear like adults, but the little lunatic's ability to knock people out pinched her guts.
Forget it, he'll be helping Nannan pick after he's done anyway. So, let Nannan have hers first!
He won't care, he's generous!
Beside them, Liu Yusheng stared at the bunches of grapes that she had won without any effort and then at Axiu, who took it for granted, and facepalmed. No, she's too ashamed to face the little ones.
This boy with mania, by all means don't mess with him….
She dropped her hand and squeezed out a bright smile, "Thanks Dabao!"
Dabao was suffocated, but had no way to vent it.
From now on, he won't play with Nannan anymore!
Woo-hoo-hoo~!