After returning ho, Xu Mumu saw a few little ones eagerly looking at her. Xu Mumu found it amusing and decided not to tease them anymore.
"Hey, here’s the money you earned. Go ahead and split it." Xu Mumu said with a smile. Recently, Xu Jiaojiao and Xu Tao worked as a team, and Xu Minglei and Tiedan worked as another team, spending a lot of ti collecting mushrooms apart from studying.
"Big sis, why is there so much?" Xu Jiaojiao could barely breathe, overwheld by the sum of money, as she had never seen so much before.
"It’s all thanks to your hard work. You’ve been so diligent every day, so naturally, you’ve made money." Xu Mumu said with a smile, taking the opportunity to praise the little ones. The money was in small denominations, making it easy for them to divide.
"Sis, if I keep my money in my room, Mom will definitely take it away. Could you save it for ?" Xu Minglei said happily. Usually, his Lunar New Year money is only a few cents, and his mom takes that too. This ti, he could have over two dollars, but his mom would surely take it from him.
"Yeah, sis, save mine too." Tiedan quickly added. His mom is even more tight-fisted than Li Caixia; taking it back ho would be too risky. Better to keep it with his sister and save up for a toy tank.
"Big sis, save mine too." Xu Jiaojiao chid in, unwilling to be outdone, knowing that adults think kids waste money, so her mom would take theirs too.
Xu Tao agreed, figuring it’s safest with their big sister.
"Alright, I’ll keep track of it. Ask for money when you need it." Xu Mumu nodded, knowing the little brats’ intentions well.
She pulled out a notebook, flipped to the last page, and recorded the little ones’ accounts.
"Big sis, can we go collect mushrooms now?" Little Xu Jiaojiao was eager to make more money since earning so already increased her enthusiasm.
"It’s almost evening, let’s go tomorrow, no lessons for today, just play." Xu Mumu said with a smile.
The little brats were tight-lipped, and at dinner, they didn’t ntion their earnings at all, secretly pleased.
Xu Mumu watched her younger brother giggle foolishly, a bit speechless. Her younger brother appeared to be getting sillier, like he’d never seen money before, so unambitious.
Considering how much earnings ca from these mushrooms surprised Xu Mumu. If there were mushrooms to collect every day, the inco could be substantial, Xu Mumu ntally calculated.
Yet, the kids were interested in collecting mushrooms to make money, so Xu Mumu didn’t interfere, as she had other ways to earn.
The quickest thod was still hunting wild ga, but Xu Mumu didn’t want to do that. Their household already had a father and brother too lazy to cook snake at; if she managed to save a fortune like this, they’d surely beco couch potatoes, making reform even more difficult.
That night, lying in bed, Xu Mumu kept pondering how to teach Song Jiayan a lesson, as they nearly had her way if not for Xu Mumu’s abilities.
She thought about it all night but didn’t co up with anything good for now.
"Sis, didn’t sleep well last night?" Seeing Xu Mumu looking off-color, Xu Minghui asked.
"Yeah, mosquitoes kept up." Xu Mumu nodded. Thinking about Song Jiayan’s matter, along with mosquitoes, she was bitten awake shortly after falling asleep, which troubled her.
"No worries, I’ll soak a pack of bitter sandalwood leaves in the toilet, then there won’t be mosquitoes." Madam Chen said sympathetically, seeing Xu Mumu with a red bump bitten on her neck and bites on her arm.
"Nana, we’ll go up the hill to play later; there’s bitter sandalwood there, we can collect it." Xu Mumu said, smiling.
"It’s in the North Mountain’s valley, let your brother go. These days, the paddy fields are done, and he’s idle." Madam Chen arranged for her eldest grandson to work.
"Nana~ the North Mountain valley is so far." Xu Minghui said, wincing.
"What’s far? Or you’d let mosquitoes bite your sister?" Madam Chen glared at her grandson.
Watching her son and grandson lazier than each other worried her about finding wives—the eldest grandson would turn twenty later this year.
"Alright, alright, I’ll go." Xu Minghui reluctantly complied, planning to nap after his morning rest, but that’s not happening.
"Call your dad along to fetch so firewood." Her eldest son was still sleeping in bed, and thinking of these things, Madam Chen fud.
"Got it." Xu Minghui said weakly, resigned to the chore, hoping there’d be so wild fruits up the hill.
"Sis, we’ll go over to West Mountain too." Xu Minglei scooped the porridge into his mouth swiftly, as their family didn’t work outside, causing their als to be simpler by midday.
"Alright." Xu Mumu nodded. West Mountain was wetter, more suitable for mushroom growth.
After breakfast, without needing Xu Mumu to call anyone, the Boy Scouts reported in early.
"Sis, let’s go." Tiedan said excitedly, holding a cake his mom baked. Though it didn’t taste great, he was thrilled last night and resolved to collect more mushrooms today.
"Don’t run too fast, don’t fall." Xu Mumu said helplessly. Earning so money seriously encouraged the little guys too much, and they were lively with excitent. Xu Mumu had to speed up to keep pace.
"Mr. Xu, you guys going up the hill to gather wild vegetables?" Yin Yang was helping his grandpa gather pig fodder when he saw Xu Mumu’s group coming.
"No, my brothers are going to collect mushrooms. Yin Zhiqing is gathering pig fodder, huh." Xu Mumu said with a smile.
"Yeah, my grandpa isn’t well." Yin Yang smiled, lowering his voice when ntioning his grandpa.
"He’ll get better." Xu Mumu dryly smiled, unfamiliar with Professor Song, choosing not to ask more.
"Where are the mushrooms? I want to collect so for my grandpa to try." Yin Yang, noticing Xu Mumu’s awkwardness, changed the topic with a grin.
"Just a bit ahead of the trap." Xu Mumu said, not hiding it from Yin Yang, "Just go alone and don’t tell others."
Xu Mumu added, willing to do Yin Yang a favor but not others.
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