Little Miss Fortune: I Will Bring Prosperity to My Tang Family!-Chapter 52: What Happens to Naughty Children?

Chapter 51

What Happens to Naughty Children?

After a hearty dinner that left Xiaolin bloated and lounging in the living room next to her gluttonous uncle, her father, who had been watering the vegetables, called out loudly, announcing that someone was looking for her.

"Who is it, father?" The round child struggled to move due to her full belly; one more bite and she was sure her stomach would burst.

"It’s Uncle Tan’s workers; they’ve brought something for you."

"Here I comeee" Excited about the delivery from her hefty friend, Xiaolin, forgetting her stuffed stomach, ran outside.

Chubby Xiaolin ran out of the house, seeing four men older than her father and a young man about her uncle’s age, standing next to five carts.

"Little Miss Xiaolin, right? I’ve brought charcoal and sugarcane for you," one of the men said. The young man then carried out a wooden chest about three centimeters from beside the driver’s seat.

"This is the sugarcane, little miss," the young man said as he opened the chest in front of the chubby child.

Xiaolin looked inside the chest wrapped in banana leaves and used her chubby little hand to open it. She found that the chest was filled with square sugarcane blocks, making Xiaolin smile broadly and wave over her father.

"Look, father, sugarcane!"

"What’s this?" Tianrong approached, eyeing the brown blocks curiously.

"The order included one hundred bags of charcoal, ten weights of sugarcane, and about ten jin of fresh sugarcane."

"How much for the charcoal bags?"

"One tael each, miss."

Xiaolin was shocked. So, a hundred bags of charcoal would cost a tael of gold, and ten jin of sugarcane were worth two taels of gold?

That deceiving man still dared to say he wasn’t rich? Ugh!

Lost in her thoughts, Tianrong asked the workers to help move the charcoal bags to their old house and gave them two taels of silver to find accommodation in town since it was getting late to travel back.

Xiaolin, eyeing the sugarcane, muttered complaints about their neighboring city residents before sighing, resigning to the fact that complaining wouldn’t change anything. Besides, it wasn’t her place to set the prices. Still, shouldn’t acquaintances offer some discount?!

"Hmph! How could ten jin possibly be enough? But the price is so high."

The plump child heaved a big sigh, probably contemplating making her own sugar. Indeed, coconut trees could also be used to produce sugar, but she didn’t know the detailed method for doing so.

If she failed, it would be a waste of both time and the coconuts that could grow in the future.

Her round eyes glanced at the roughly ten stalks of sugarcane lying on the ground, thinking that planting them would take a long while before they could grow and proliferate enough to harvest for sugar production.

"How else can we make sugar?"

Xiaolin tilted her head, stroking her chin thoughtfully, trying to dredge up memories of watching clips of three or four Chinese girls.

"Ah! What about young wheat sprouts!"

The chubby child ran to her grandmother who was preparing to bathe. She hugged Zhang Ruo’s waist so tightly that her grandmother had to stoop down to see her.

"What’s the matter, child?"

"Tomorrow, I’d like to go to town with father, okay, grandma?"

"Why would you want to stir up trouble there, hmm? It’s just debris there, and then there are wood and tiles that the workers lift high. It could fall on you. Wait until the construction is finished then you can go," Zhang Ruo patted her granddaughter’s head before walking away to the back of the house. But the little white piglet clung stubbornly, refusing to let go.

"Grandma, please, I just want to do some shopping. I promise not to be naughty or stubborn," Xiaolin blinked pleadingly.

"No way. Do you want to get hurt? I don’t believe you can stay still for long. Just do as I say. Go there after the store is finished," Zhang Ruo was firm, pinching the plump cheek once before heading to the backyard.

Xiaolin could only stand there with a sulky face, pouting. If she waited for the shop to finish, she would have to wait for months. That would be a waste of time. If she could make sugar or syrup from young wheat sprouts quickly, she would have plenty of time to explore other things.

The chubby child’s eyes narrowed into a sly grin as an idea struck her, and she happily skipped into her room.

In the early morning of the next day, having bathed and dressed herself, the chubby child sneakily climbed onto her father’s cart, grabbing a large basket to cover her plump form. As dawn broke, Tianrong and Hui Song, along with several sweet potato flour buns, hitched up the cart and set off from the house, oblivious to the little white piglet hitching a ride with them.

Before leaving, Xiaolin had written a brief note saying she was going with her father, hoping her uncle would decipher her scrawling handwriting. Although she could read the local language, she had never formally learned or practiced writing seriously, resulting in her handwriting resembling chicken scratches searching for worms.

Throughout the journey, the conversation between the father and son-in-law continued intermittently. Xiaolin, who had hidden on the cart since before dawn, began to feel hungry. If it weren’t because her grandmother forbade her from going with her father, she would’ve had so much food by now!

Xiaolin was unaware that her twenty-three years of experience from her old world were almost entirely forgotten. She now fully embodied a five-year-old, sometimes acting impulsively without thorough consideration.

"You’ve arrived early," Hui Song remarked as they reached the construction site of the family’s store.

"Getting here earlier has its own benefits. I don’t have to be in the hot sun. I can rest during the day, so I don’t faint and fall from the shaft," Tianrong replied as he unhitched the cart under a tree not far from the construction area. He then took the two oxen to graze.

As Xiaolin realized they had arrived, she slowly uncovered herself from the basket. Her round eyes scanned the surroundings before locking eyes with Hui Song, who stood dumbfounded at the back of the cart.

"Xiaolin!!"

"Oops! Hehe, grandfather," the chubby child gave a forced smile as she was caught and stepped out of the basket. Tianrong, hearing his father-in-law’s voice, quickly tied the oxen and rushed back to the cart. Seeing his daughter’s plump figure smiling at him, he facepalmed loudly.

This mischievous child might get him scolded by his wife and mother-in-law!

"Xiaolin, why did you sneak here without telling anyone? What if your mother and grandmother couldn’t find you?" Tianrong sighed, beckoning his rotund daughter closer. As she approached, he scooped her up, holding her firmly.

"I wanted to come with her dad. If I told grandma, I was afraid she would scold me," the chubby child nestled her round cheek against her father’s shoulder, her plump belly suddenly making a rumbling sound.

"Hungry, aren’t you, you naughty child?" Hui Song shook his head, but his hand reached into his pouch to fetch a sweet potato bun for his niece.

Xiaolin took the large, beautiful purple bun and bit into it eagerly, chewing delightfully, unaware that at this moment, Zhang Ruo was nearly ready to set the house ablaze with anger...

After refueling her round belly, Tianrong wouldn’t let his daughter out of sight, so he had her ride on his back as they walked around, avoiding the construction site and only walking around its outskirts.

Xiaolin looked at the two shops that were already taking shape and where workers were adding other parts. Her round face turned back to the market side, where many workers were now roofing. Since it didn’t require as much detail as the shops, the construction was progressing rapidly. It seemed it would be completed in a few more days.

"The market is almost finished, father."

"Yes, many people have been asking what we’re building. When they learn it’s a market, they’re eager to reserve a spot. Selling in town means paying entry fees and high stall rents, but roadside selling causes their goods to wilt or get dusty, deterring customers."

"That’s great, then."

"But some are afraid there won’t be buyers since city folks rarely shop outside the city."

"I have a plan, hehe," the chubby child laughed mischievously.

She knew the governor of Jiangnan well and had a somewhat close relationship with him. Certainly, she would use this closeness to her advantage.

By noon, Tianrong and Hui Song took the chubby child into the city. Initially, Tianrong intended to take his daughter back home for lunch, but the insistent chubby child wanted to shop, so they decided to dine in the city instead.

This time, Xiaolin refused to let her father take them to another noodle house; instead, she dragged her father and grandfather into a small but enticingly fragrant restaurant. The restaurant had about four tables, with only one occupied. The three of them found a spot to sit, soon joined by the young restaurant owner ready to take their order.

"What would you like to order, sir?"

"What’s delicious in your restaurant, uncle?" Xiaolin asked, looking up. The man had a cloth tied around his forehead, tied at the back, much like the food vendors in her previous world.

Seeing the chubby little girl asking, the young restaurant owner chuckled softly.

"Everything’s delicious here, little miss. Whether it’s stir-fried, fried, or boiled dishes, and whether it’s fish, pork, or chicken, I can make it all."

"What do you and grandpa want?" Xiaolin turned to ask her father sitting beside her and her grandfather across.

"I’m fine with anything you want," hearing that, Xiaolin then turned to her father, who also said he was fine with whatever she chose. Xiaolin sighed heavily.

It reminded her of her past life. The biggest problem she had with her friends was when she asked about what they wanted to have, and the usual responses were "anything" or "whatever."

But you know what? "Anything" or "whatever" isn’t on the menu!!

Xiaolin sighed heavily again, then turned to the smiling restaurant owner waiting nearby.

"Then, let’s have a fish dish and a chicken dish, and also one plate of stir-fried vegetables, please. And one big bowl of rice."

"Right away, sir. Please wait a moment," the young man went back to his kitchen, efficiently handling woks and pots.

Xiaolin sat, resting her chin on her hands, looking outside, half-listening to her father and grandfather discussing construction work, not really understanding much of it. She only knew about rice in the pot and poop in the bottom!

When you eat, you poop!

"Hehe," she laughed quietly at her silly thought, then turned her attention to the stir-fried vegetables served on the table, followed by a bowl of rice, bowls, chopsticks, and a plate of spicy chicken stir-fry.

"I’ve made stir-fried vegetables, steamed fish with herbs, and spicy chicken stir-fry for you. The steamed fish will take a little longer," the restaurant owner smiled again before going to greet new customers who had just arrived.

Xiaolin’s eyes sparkled at the sight of the spicy chicken stir-fry. The tender chicken with its skin on, if stir-fried with lots of chilies, would definitely taste amazing.

Don’t ask why she thought of a stir-fry holy basil dish, it is because she likes it, of course!

"Let’s eat. The fish will be ready soon." Hui Song tried the spicy stir-fried chicken. Finding it not too spicy, he offered several pieces to his granddaughter.

Xiaolin quickly grabbed a tender piece of chicken, savoring the soft texture and the savory-sweet taste, grabbing a second and third piece. Though it wasn’t very spicy, it was delicious.

Soon, the steamed fish was served. Xiaolin continued to fidget due to the delicious meal. After they finished eating, they paid and headed to a grain shop because Xiaolin wanted to buy wheat and sticky rice.

"Do you have wheat and sticky rice, sir?" The chubby girl stood in the middle of the shop, asking the long-bearded shopkeeper who came to greet them.

"Yes, little miss, how much do you need?" The shopkeeper bent down to look at the articulate child.

"How much are they?"

"Wheat is fifty brass coins per jin, and sticky rice is thirty brass coins."

"Then, I’ll take fifty jin of each, please."

"Alright, I’ll scoop it for you."

The chubby shopkeeper went to scoop the rice into cloth bags while Xiaolin stood looking up, listening to her father and grandfather talk.

"Even sticky rice, which people rarely buy, is expensive," Tianrong noted to Hui Song.

"Indeed, we’ll just have to see if we can plant our own rice this year. The merchant who buys dried squid comes from Jiu Zhou City, right? If he can leave the city, it means the water must have receded quite a bit," the rural folks didn’t always keep up with the news because they were too busy earning a living. By the time they heard some news, it was already old.

"That’s probably true, but it’s almost a month into spring, and that merchant hasn’t come back to buy squid yet," Tianrong mused, frowning, wondering if his daughter’s dried squid might not sell anymore.

"Alright, the total is four taels of silver."

Tianrong accepted the bags of rice from the shopkeeper and paid four taels of silver. Meanwhile, Hui Song crouched down to let his granddaughter climb onto his back. Xiaolin tightly wrapped her arms around her grandfather’s neck.

"Is there anything else you want, Xiaolin?"

"I’d like to also get some snacks for my mother, grandmother, and uncle," thought the little girl, believing that the snacks might cool down the tempers at home a bit.

The chubby girl bought two expensive boxes of snacks with her own money, despite her father and grandfather’s initial objections. They finally agreed after she explained she wanted her pregnant mother and her sibling to enjoy some delicious snacks.

On the way home, Xiaolin sat holding the snack boxes, her face frowned in worry, her heart thumping, wondering if her grandmother would scold or spank her. Imagining her grandmother waiting with a switch at the front door made her gulp nervously.

Upon arriving home, she stood on the cart, craning her neck around the house, not seeing her grandmother waiting as she had feared, which made her sigh in relief. However, after storing the cart and cattle, her little legs froze upon hearing an icy voice from behind.

"Do you realize what you’ve done wrong?"

Xiaolin gulped nervously and slowly turned around. Seeing her grandmother’s stern look and noticing the not-so-small switch in her hand, she dropped the boxes of snacks and ran off swiftly, screaming loudly.

"Ahhh, grandma, don’t hit meeee!"

Chubby legs led the chase, her bangs fluttering to reveal a little forehead.

"Come here right now, you disobedient child!" Zhang Ruo chased after her granddaughter, switch in hand, determined.

"I wrote a note!" the chubby girl gasped as she ran.

"Do you think what you did was alright? What happens to naughty children? Have you thought about the consequences?"

"I’m not naughtyyy!"

"Come here this instant!" Zhang Ruo quickened her pace, trying to catch the plump little escapee.

"Noooo!"

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