"Hmm? Did you hear what I said? Why are you playing here alone?" Bai Jiang asked again.
She didn't say anything, just stared straight at Bai Jiang.
Bai Jiang frowned, feeling that Bai Zhen seemed a little strange today.
Just as she was about to say something, a man's voice came from behind.
"Miss Bai, have you arrived? Are you here to deliver the fruits? Please follow me."
"Yes, I'm coming." Bai Jiang replied and then looked at the small figure. "You wait here for Mommy. Mommy will go inside to deliver the goods. After I'm done, I'll take you back with me."
The small figure still didn't speak. Bai Jiang picked up the cart again and followed the butler ahead.
Due to Bai Jiang's squatting position and the cart being next to her, the butler didn't notice the small figure.
Bai Jiang delivered the goods to the front of the villa and said to the butler, "Sir, do you need to weigh these goods?"
"No need, just give them to me. What's your account number? I'll transfer the payment to you now," the butler said.
The first time the butler bought something from Bai Jiang, she advised him to buy less. Knowing that she wasn't concerned about earning money, he didn't worry about her shortchanging him.
If Bai Jiang had heard the butler's thoughts, she would have countered, "Who doesn't want to earn money? I just think you don't need to buy so much. Fruits can be sold easily."
Bai Jiang nodded and provided her account number to the butler, then turned and left.
Of course, she wasn't worried that the butler would default on payment. Someone who could live in such a grand villa wouldn't cheat her out of a small sum of money.
Upon hearing the sound of the money being deposited into her account, Bai Jiang's brows relaxed, and she felt very happy.
Ever since she returned to the village, there had been many expenses, and money was always insufficient. But now, she had earned over one hundred thousand RMB, so she was naturally pleased.
At 300 RMB per catty of lemons, 300 catties of lemons amounted to 90,000 RMB. At 264 RMB per catty of waxberries, 300 catties equaled 79,200 RMB. The total sum was 169,200 RMB.
Furthermore, she had to supply fruits for two months. 169,200 RMB this month and the same amount next month added up to over 300,000 RMB.
Apart from some regular expenses, she finally had the capital to start a business.
After considering it, Bai Jiang decided to open a restaurant for Bai Shu.
Bai Shu was skilled in cooking, and he had mentioned his dream of opening a restaurant. However, he lacked the capital to do so.
Thinking about this, Bai Jiang's footsteps became even lighter as she walked back. But when she reached the riverside to bring Bai Zhen home, she was surprised to find that the small figure by the river was nowhere to be seen.
Bai Jiang furrowed her brows and muttered, "Where did this child run off to again?"
As she walked, she saw that Bai Zhen was currently in a household's vegetable garden. She seemed to be choosing vegetables.
"Bai Zhen!" Bai Jiang called out.
Bai Zhen was shocked. She quickly got up and saw Bai Jiang's figure.
"What are you doing?" Bai Jiang asked.
Seeing that it was Bai Jiang, the frightened Bai Zhen heaved a long sigh of relief. "Mommy, you scared me with your sudden loud call."
She then placed the vegetables in her hands into a nearby basket and informed the owner of the vegetable garden, "Grandma, I'm going back now. My mommy is here to find me."
"Alright, thank you, my dear, for your help," the owner of the vegetable garden replied with a gentle smile.
Bai Zhen bounced to Bai Jiang's side. "Mommy, did you come to call me home for dinner? I was just helping grandma pick vegetables, and she praised me!"
Picking vegetables?
"Were you here all this time?" Bai Jiang asked.
"Yes, Mommy. I've been playing outside with Brother Gou Sheng since I woke up from my nap. I've been helping grandma this whole time. If you don't believe me, you can ask Brother Gou Sheng or grandma," Bai Zhen answered.
The whole time?
That was strange. Who was it that Bai Jiang saw by the riverside earlier?
"Have you not been to the riverside?" Bai Jiang asked again.
Bai Zhen looked confused. "No, Mommy. You told me the riverside is dangerous, so I've never been there. Did you see me there?"
Judging by Bai Zhen's reaction, she didn't seem to be lying. However, Bai Zhen was mischievous by nature, and Bai Jiang couldn't completely trust that she hadn't been to the riverside.
"Alright, let's go back for now and say goodbye to grandma," Bai Jiang suggested.
"Okay!" Bai Zhen happily bid farewell to the vegetable garden owner and returned home with Bai Jiang.
Once they arrived home, Bai Shu had already finished cooking. Seeing Bai Shu, Bai Jiang suddenly remembered her plan. She planned to open a restaurant in town.
As a result, she immediately forgot about seeing Bai Zhen by the riverside.
She approached Bai Shu and explained her plan, but Bai Shu and Xu Hua had different reactions.