CHAPTER 54: CHAPTER 54: LITTLE DING’S FAMILY’S OX CART

After eating the wontons, the sun became more intense. When paying, Jiang Hu asked the owner of the wonton stall where he could buy ice cream bars.

Xiangma Town isn’t very large, but there are ice cream bars available. However, they aren’t sold everywhere; only three restaurants have them, along with other cold treats to beat the heat!

Although Jiang Hu frequently delivers vegetables to the restaurants, he always leaves in a hurry once he’s done. He really didn’t know about this. Hearing the wonton owner mention it, he immediately took his wife and children to Tongfu Restaurant.

Upon arriving at the restaurant, the waiter enthusiastically welcomed Jiang Hu.

"Brother Jiang, you’re finally here." However, seeing only a child in Jiang Hu’s arms, he quickly turned his head, looking behind Jiang Hu and then in Second Aunt’s hands.

Seeing nothing, the waiter immediately frowned: "Brother Jiang, why didn’t you bring anything today? Our guests have been waiting to taste your vegetables."

Ever since Jiang Hu started delivering vegetables to the restaurant, not only the shopkeeper and chefs, but even the customers have constantly been asking about them.

Apart from the initial green vegetables, there were later various new cultivations like cucumbers, peppers, loofahs, eggplants, and so on. Recently, in the months of June, July, and August, it’s the season when these vegetables mature and are harvested.

During this period, Jiang Hu has been making quite a bit of money, as Shopkeeper Liu offered good prices.

Of course, Shopkeeper Liu always helped conceal the real prices. When someone from the village brought in some game meat and asked about the price, Shopkeeper Liu always quoted a much lower one.

So, while the villagers knew he was selling vegetables and were envious of Jiang Hu for finding such a good market, they didn’t become too jealous.

After all, Jiang Hu seldom goes up the mountain now. Instead, other villagers take manure from Jiang Hu’s home, and two days later, they must go up the mountain and have a great harvest once.

To get back to the point, the waiter was very disappointed to see Jiang Hu empty-handed—lately, Jiang Hu almost delivered vegetables daily, and the restaurant’s business was booming because of it. The waiter’s tips even increased, with the shopkeeper occasionally giving him a little bonus.

Jiang Hu felt a bit embarrassed but could only explain, "Sorry, I brought my wife and children to town today. Our place is just too far from town, and I couldn’t bring vegetables this time."

Actually, it’s not impossible. Xiaomi weighs less than twenty pounds, so if he carried another twenty pounds of vegetables, it would be fine.

But with Erni being there too, such a long distance is exhausting. Even Big Doll gets a bit tired toward the end, let alone Erni, who needs her father’s embrace midway.

Shopkeeper Liu was behind the counter doing accounts, so when Jiang Hu arrived, there was no chance to say hello. Once the customers left, he looked up in surprise: "Did you walk here?"

He had never asked this before and didn’t know.

Jiang Hu nodded: "Yes, we don’t have a cow cart in the village yet."

Shopkeeper Liu fell silent. He had forgotten that Fuan Village was settled by refugees. He knew this before. Since they were people fleeing hardship, their grain was distributed by the government; there’s no way they could have a cow.

But soon, Shopkeeper Liu looked at the waiter and brought up another matter: "Xiao Ding, doesn’t your family have a cow cart?"

Xiao Ding nodded: "Yes, once it helped carry goods and earned a little money. But for one or two years, there hasn’t been much work, and it’s almost always idle at home."

Shopkeeper Liu nodded: "Feeding it every day brings no income, yet every day the cow needs to be let out, and the pen cleaned."

The waiter agreed wholeheartedly: "Yes, though my dad is unwilling to sell it—it’s his life’s treasure."

The shopkeeper smiled and looked back at the still somewhat confused Jiang Hu: "I suggest you go and have a look at Xiao Ding’s family’s cow; you don’t need to buy it. Just rent it, one copper coin a day. As long as you care for the cow properly, Xiao Ding’s father surely won’t refuse."

Xiao Ding’s eyes lit up: "Yes, yes, Brother Jiang, if you had a cow cart, no matter if it’s for delivering vegetables or going to market, it would all be very convenient. You could deliver vegetables and then get home early to do your work."

Indeed for farmers, there’s no idle time in the fields. Being able to return early is beneficial for both doing more work or getting a good rest.

Jiang Hu was also very tempted: "Really? But would your father be willing to rent it to me?"

And one copper coin a day seems unbelievably cheap, doesn’t it?

Xiao Ding grinned cheekily: "To anyone else, my dad surely wouldn’t agree. That cow is his treasure, his life’s work. When our home was almost ransacked before, that cow even killed two bandits."

Jiang Hu was shocked: "Really? That’s amazing!"

Xiao Ding: "Of course, that cow is our savior. Others have asked my dad to lend the cow cart nearby, and my dad didn’t want it to work hard."

Jiang Hu: "If it were me, I wouldn’t want to either. But in that case, your dad might not be willing to rent out the cow cart, right?"

Xiao Ding waved his hands: "Others might not persuade him, but you’re different, Brother Jiang. Your family has Little Lucky Star; everything grows well under your care. If my family’s Big Water Buffalo stayed with your family for a time, who knows, it might grow even better!"

Perched on Jiang Hu’s body, eyes darting around in search of ice cream bars, Xiaomi didn’t miss the conversation. Hearing what Xiao Ding said, she quickly lifted her head and nodded enthusiastically.

A cow cart would be great! With a cow cart, Dad wouldn’t be so tired delivering vegetables to town every day, and she could give the cow lots of Spiritual Spring water!

Xiao Ding and Shopkeeper Liu had no idea that Xiaomi could already understand what people were saying. Seeing Xiaomi’s actions now, they were greatly surprised.

"Brother Jiang, what about Xiaomi?"

Even though they only met once, Shopkeeper Liu remembered the twins in Jiang Hu’s family: the daughter is called Xiaomi, and the son Tiedan.

Jiang Hu said proudly: "My Xiaomi can understand what people are saying. She’s been able to for over a month now."

Shopkeeper Liu was instantly amazed: "Really?"

His eyes widened.

"Why haven’t I heard anyone mention it before?"

Many people from Fuan Village came to send game meat, yet he hadn’t heard anyone talk about it.

Jiang Hu patted Xiaomi’s head and chuckled: "It’s not really a significant thing, so we seldom mention it outside."

Shopkeeper Liu nodded understandingly: "That makes sense. By the way, Brother Jiang, have you eaten? Why not have something to eat first? I’ll have the kitchen prepare some dishes."

Jiang Hu also remembered the main purpose, and then looking over at Big Doll, who was already eager—merely holding back because he was talking with Shopkeeper Liu.

"We just had some wontons, and the kids want ice cream bars. But we heard only a few restaurants sell them, so we came over to check it out and buy some for them to try."

Shopkeeper Liu quickly said: "Why didn’t you say something earlier? Xiao Ding, take Brother Jiang to the back to have a look. We have all kinds of ice cream bars and ice shavings. No charge, take whatever you like."

Xiaomi’s eyes instantly lit up. There’s even ice shavings!