CHAPTER 445: CHAPTER 445: SEEKING A VISIT

Zhao Xuran anticipated many visitors, but he hadn’t expected that they wouldn’t even wait a moment.

Watching the villagers hurriedly using baskets to carry herbs, Zhao Xuran was stunned.

Gong Ruini’s mouth was wide open; there were indeed too many people, and these herbs were not ordinary in quantity.

Knowing that everyone’s stock wouldn’t be small, Gong Ruini finally understood why everyone was so excited seeing this abundance of herbs.

Just the herbs they’ve brought alone weigh a hundred pounds or so. Don’t say it’s not a lot, as after all, it’s not grain.

If there’s no major effort, Gong Ruini really can’t imagine whether they’ll be able to purchase all the herbs from the villagers.

Earlier, Gong Ruini thought their money was plenty, not only could they buy herbs from their village but also scoop up herbs collected by neighboring villagers.

Now Gong Ruini doesn’t dare think like that, truly it’s not an ordinary amount.

While Zhao Xuran and his crew had their jaws dropped, even the villagers carrying herbs were stunned. Would they perhaps not purchase so many?

Think about it, how could Zhao Gang afford this outlay, as after all, he’s just helping.

But if they don’t pay now and wait for Zhao Gang to give them money later, they can’t fully trust it either, as each household could earn a few tens of yuan, and nobody would be generous enough not to want their money.

"My parents are sleeping, and we don’t have money," Zhao Xuran realized they could not rush now; should they purchase outright?

They haven’t secured the house yet and were keen to negotiate, or else if Li Jian Country realizes they’ve already collected the herbs, and suddenly decides that since no benefits were given, they’ve collected the herbs and taken back the house, what then?

"Uh-huh, we also don’t have a place to store them, we’re currently packing, the house is a mess." Gong Ruini added, "Don’t worry, when Uncle Zhao wakes up, we’ll discuss the purchase."

Zhao Guangran felt pained seeing so many herbs before him, as they were all money. The pity is after partnering with the wealthy master, they likely won’t manage to buy many herbs, and all that loss is money, making Zhao Guangran heartache.

If his parents weren’t considering buying a house, it would be great; at least this time they could earn more money, and about the house, once in Beijing, selling these could bring unknown profits.

Thinking about this, Zhao Guangran felt his idea was quite good; yes, he planned to discuss it with his parents later.

Before, Zhao Guangran felt his parents investing more money would squeeze the children’s shares, but now, thinking the parents’ profit could let them eat better in Beijing. Otherwise, if they bought a house and had no money, would they lower the food standards, requiring the children to chip in money for better meals, which isn’t just spending their money?

One side insists they can’t buy without money, and the other insists not wanting to take it back, as then it’s a question if they could get everything purchased when the whole team is notified.

Earlier they noticed Zhao Guangran mentioned there’s not enough money, but now they wonder what to do.

It was just a brief mention without follow-up, enough to make everyone wonder about Zhao Gang’s means to purchase the herbs.

This made them more unwilling to take it back: "Why don’t we just leave it here and settle it later."

"Yes, yes." That idea was agreeable, leaving it here, Doctor Zhan and the likes wouldn’t dare not collect.

What’s this, leaving things here without care? "What if it goes missing?" Gong Ruini was anxious; they couldn’t let them leave things at the house unweighed, what if something’s missing, then it’s hard to explain.

If quantities match, all’s fine; if not, it’s a big issue, having worked with absolute integrity before, if herbs don’t match quantities, rumors spread about them skimming off herbs under the guise of help.

Don’t think such lies have no ground; they certainly do, like some educated youths, this time Cai Ming scored well, even Gong Tao’s performance was satisfactory, not knowing how much jealousy this might incur, with claims on Cai Ming’s stingy nature not helping others in tutoring.

No matter past reasons for not demanding tutoring from Cai Ming, once scores are out, blame goes to Cai Ming.

Now they have such a great chance to humiliate Cai Ming, would they pass it up? They sure wouldn’t, riding on various slanders, and after all, this wasn’t their composition, they were just fanning the flames at most.

"If you don’t take back these herbs, we’ll inform Uncle Jian Country to retrieve them, we’re not responsible if trouble comes," Gong Ruini shouted to the fleers.

"Also, we’ll hold off on buying until the last," why do these people insist on leaving things here is due to utter trust, Gong Ruini knows they’re worried about not collecting money when their turn comes.

Gong Ruini seized this angle, testing if they dared to risk leaving things here.

If told Li Jian Country would take them back, they wouldn’t fear. But Gong Ruini’s remark on buying last spooked them; being last in the queue was worrisome, even buying mid-way worried them about selling.

"Ni Zi, let your uncle cut a deal, how about it?" Although some had returned, they still struggled to strike a deal.

Ni Zi? Are they familiar? Gong Ruini honestly wasn’t familiar with them beyond a vague sense of familiarity, "No way, we must be responsible to everyone."

"Moreover, we promised Uncle Jian Country to notify him before buying herbs." Zhao Xuran articulated the purchase timing, not theirs alone to decide, must notify Li Jian Country.

Zhao Xuran doubted whether Li Jian Country’s silence had actually misled villagers long enough, now wouldn’t he want a louder reputation; they’d not miss the opportunity, right?

Since Li Jian Country sought fame, Zhao Xuran freely shifted this burden upon Li Jian Country; surely he wouldn’t object.

So it was Li Jian Country’s proposal, alas, no choice, ultimately those with backing stood firmly, even unwilling they must comply, begrudgingly carrying back herbs.

"Xuran..." a final plea.

Zhao Xuran waved to them, "Uncles, take care on the way." Now, what’s the point of begging, they enjoyed knocking others down in the past, now it finally returned to their hands.