Chapter 184 - Yuan Jinze
And there was also the current situation , if she didn't buy these vegetables now . Then she would not be able to buy these vegetables later on ! In the end - buy !
Under the envious gaze of the crowd , the old woman put on a smug smile and pointed at the bok choy , spinach and lettuce with her bony finger . Maybe she was afraid that people couldn't see her bony finger so she raised her voice and said " Girl , give me a catty no two catties of each of the vegetables that I pointed , and if its just as good as it looks then I will come and buy more from your stall next time "
" Okay " Su Wan swiftly took two catties of the vegetables and then weighed them in front of the old woman , she made sure to select the greenest and freshest one's which made the old woman even more satisfied . She then handed it to the old woman and said " that will be one hundred and six copper coins , Madam "
Lin Rui was in charge of money as he was the only one who studied in their family . So he took the money from the old matron and counted it before putting all the coins in the small box that they brought with them .
The onlookers saw that the old woman brought two catties of those green vegetables and felt their heart ache . Though it was expensive , in the present situation was there anything that wasn't pricey ? Due to this the one who were well off immediately gritted their teeth and with the air of walking down on a battlefield , walked over to the stall .
" Here give me half catties of bok choy and a single cabbage . Remember to weigh the most freshest one , if its good I will buy more from you . "
." Yes give me a head of cabbage as well - here this keep this seventeen copper coins "
" Hey brother , brother ! Take my money first I want to buy some lettuce and bok choy please give me a catty of each and half catty of spinach too !"
" Hey - who pushed me ? Don't push so hard ! I nearly toppled on top of the stall , if I fell who is going to make up for their losses , you better stay put !"
" that's right ! Its first come , first served. - stop pushing me too ! Because of you I almost fell down , if not for this big brother stopping me on time . I would have squashed their stall"
Lin Rui 's hands started to ache as he took everyone's money . He felt like too many hands were pushing money in his hands at the same , if not for his good memory , he wouldn't even know who paid and who did not . Luckily , he was smart and could remember the face of the people who already paid before taking their purchases vegetables , if not he would really feel distressed in case someone took their vegetables without paying .
Even Su Wan who was supposed to sit down and let her husbands do the work , had to hurriedly weigh the vegetables and pack them all up . While Lin Jing was responsible for standing in front of their stall and make sure that no one fall on their stall , he was also responsible for taking the packed vegetables from Su Wan and hand it to the correct customer .
Fortunately , they had brought enough vegetables with them so nobody had to return empty handed . Thus even though their stall was under a rush hour , Lin Jing , Lin Rui and Su Wan could still sell their vegetables without sending anyone back empty handed .
" what's going on there ? Ah Bai go and check out what's going on there " the person who spoke was an old man of gentle temperament , though his hair was completely white - he still had a ruddy and hale complexion . His moustache quivered as he talked , his sharp eyes that were looking around were filled with wisdom . Even though he just lifted the curtain of his carriage and looked out of the window , such small action too attested to his scholarly position . However , even though he acted with so much elegance , the young boy named Yuan Bai easily caught the gossiping glimmer in his grandfather's eyes .
Yuan Bai pursed his lips , he was only ten years old and with his white scholarly robe that matched his grandfather's he looked really cute and loveable. His small face had a delicate charm to it , thus at first glance he could be mistaken as a girl rather than a boy . However , right now he had an impatient expression on his face that didn't match with his young age at all - he was looking at his grandfather with a helpless gaze .
Although , Yuan Bai had no intention to squeeze inside the crowd and find out what happening outside . He knew his grandfather too well , if he didn't go , his grandfather would climb out of the carriage himself - and with his grandfather's identity , he couldn't just run around at will . Thus , Yuan Bai climbed down the carriage then strolled steadily at a fast pace towards the crowd ,as if his legs had wheels underneath .
Yuan Bai who has finally squeezed himself in the crowd was stunned to see that the stall was actually selling vegetables . At first he thought , he wad dreaming - thus he rubbed his eyes but the vegetables were still there . Yuan Bai silently cheered in his heart , for the first time in his life his grandfather's gossiping personality came to a proper use !
Su Wan who was packing a young man's order , saw that a little child had squeezed inside the crowd and smiled gently " little boy , do you want to buy vegetables too ?"
Yuan Bo who took himself a young adult stiffened , he didn't like that a young girl who looked only six or seven year older than him was calling him ' little boy ' . He was angry and upset at being called little but he didn't want to fight with a girl , so he hurriedly nodded and just as he was going to open his mouth and tell Su Wan what he wanted to buy , he suddenly realised an important thing - he didn't have money ! All the money was with his grandfather's - Yuan Bo was anxious he already knew about the current conditions , at present the grain sellers were selling a meter of rice for two taels compared to them this stall was a lot cheaper if he didn't buy - then it will be all gone !
" wai- wait a second , keep some for me I will bring money " Yuan Bai who was in a hurry , dropped this sentence and rushed back to the carriage where his grandfather was already waiting , then he anxiously spoke " Grandfather there is someone selling green vegetables hurry up take the money out or we will miss out !"
" vegetables ? They are selling vegetables in this weather ? In these conditions ? Are the prices reasonable ?" Asked the old man ,named Yuan Jinze . Yuan Jinze was a famous scholar and he was esteemed for his scholarly work by the emperor himself and once taught the crown prince himself - before retiring on the excuse of poor health conditions .
He was the one who established the Xuan academy the one where Lin Rui gave exam a few weeks ago . In other words , he had many achievements , his son was current prime minister and his grandson was filial and a good child thus Yuan Jinze lived a leisurely and comfortable life.
But just like everyone else he too had a flaw - he was a little stingy when purchasing things .