Chapter 225: Chapter 225: Manbao Clearly Won Just Now

Thinking of the vegetables, Hu Kaicheng put down his chopsticks and looked eagerly at Qi Quanjin.

Qi Quanjin paused in his movement to pick up vegetables and quickly put down his chopsticks, “Sir, do you feel something is not right?”

Hu Kaicheng waved his hand, pointed to the vegetables on the table, and asked, “How much of this fresh vegetable does your family grow in the winter?”

“Well…”

Qi Quanjin hadn’t expected the other party to bring this up, and for a moment didn’t know how to answer.

They grew quite a bit, but he couldn’t say that!

Fortunately, Hu Kaicheng didn’t really want to know exactly how much, and continued, “I wonder if these vegetables from your family are for sale to outsiders? If they are, how much do they cost?”

Without waiting for Qi Quanjin to answer, Hu Kaicheng added, “My elderly mother is frail and always likes light food.”

“In the summer, it’s fine as there are many kinds of vegetables, so she can eat to her satisfaction. But once winter arrives, the variety available at the table significantly decreases.”

“So if your family’s vegetables are for sale, I’d be willing to pay for them.”

Hu Kaicheng’s self-reference changed from “this official” to “I,” a clear sign of his changing attitude and role.

Qi Quanjin took a look at Qi Zheng.

Qi Zheng blinked, giving Qi Quanjin an answer.

Qi Quanjin thought for a moment and said, “Sir, to tell you the truth, besides what our family consumes during the winter, we do sell some vegetables to the city’s restaurant.”

“It’s the Jianghai Restaurant in town.”

“However, if the old lady wants some fresh taste, there’s no need to be so formal. Next time we send vegetables to the restaurant, we’ll send some to your home as well.”

Of course, they had to sell them, but since it was the county magistrate’s family that wanted to buy, they couldn’t talk about selling anymore.

This bit of social etiquette, Qi Quanjin understood.

Hu Kaicheng waved his hand, “That won’t do, how can I take things from your family for free? Whatever price you sell to Jianghai Restaurant for, I’ll buy at that price.”

“Well…”

Qi Quanjin was in a dilemma.

This was really hard to say!

According to the agreement with the restaurant, the winter vegetables this year were still priced at one hundred and twenty wen per pound.

If he were to sell them to the county magistrate at this price too…

Qi Quanjin was troubled.

At this moment, Qi Zheng suddenly said, “Lord County Magistrate, please wait a moment.”

Hu Kaicheng looked at Qi Zheng in confusion, thinking the old man wanted to discuss the vegetables.

Unexpectedly, Qi Zheng told Qi Quanjin, “Fourth brother, your wife needs to take her prenatal medicine. Go quick and make sure she drinks it, or she’ll throw a fit and refuse if others try to make her.”

Qi Quanjin: …

When did his wife need to take her prenatal medicine?

And since when did getting her to drink medicine become such a fuss?

Qi Quanjin was mentally complaining, but he stood up immediately.

After apologizing to the county magistrate and getting permission, Qi Quanjin left the main hall.

Walking towards the backyard, Qi Quanjin was muttering to himself.

What’s the old man up to, asking him to supervise his wife taking medicine at this moment? It doesn’t make sense.

But as he didn’t walk far, Qi Quanjin realized.

His old father was telling him to go ask his wife’s opinion!

Thinking this way, Qi Quanjin’s pace quickened considerably.

At this time, Yi Meng was writing and drawing in the room, with Qi Manman and Qi Shilang next to her, playing string games.

Mrs. Qi was also there, but she was mending clothes.

When they heard someone coming in, the two adults looked over.

Seeing Qi Quanjin enter, Yi Meng was surprised, “Brother Jin? Aren’t you dining with the magistrate? Why are you here?”

Mrs. Qi also said, “You came out, then who’s accompanying the magistrate? Is it just your father?”

“Yes, my father is with him!”

Qi Quanjin first answered his mother’s inquiry, then was about to tell Yi Meng why he came when Mrs. Qi interrupted, “You dumb boy, how can your father alone properly accompany the county magistrate? What if he says something wrong?”

“Mom, don’t be anxious, it’s father who asked me to find Meng Niang.”

Qi Quanjin raised his hand to dodge; otherwise, the broom his mother had would land on him.

Yi Meng frowned, “Father asked you to find me? Did something happen?”

If it wasn’t something important, father-in-law definitely wouldn’t let Brother Jin come to find her at such a time.

Qi Quanjin picked up the teacup on the table, lifted his head, and drank the water in it all at once, then explained why he had come.

“Wife, father’s intention should be to ask how you think we should handle it. You said the county magistrate has spoken, so we must send the vegetables over. But this money… should we take it or not?”

Qi Quanjin was so anxious he wanted to pull his hair, but then remembered he had to see the county magistrate later, so he refrained.

Yi Meng furrowed her brows even more.

Of course, she wanted to take the silver.

But in this era, an official who actively pays for things?

It’s already considered a clean official if they don’t exploit common folk to their last breath.

So this money really shouldn’t be taken.

“Brother Jin, is the county magistrate insisting on paying?”

Yi Meng asked.

Qi Quanjin nodded.

Yi Meng was troubled, pondering how to solve this dilemma, when suddenly Qi Manman shouted, “Papa, take the money, take the money! Use the money to buy candies for Manbao!”

Beside her, Qi Shilang, not knowing what the adults were discussing, joined in enthusiastically after hearing about buying candy, “Buy candy! Uncle Four, buy candy!”

“You two little ones, when has the family ever been short of treats for you?”

Qi Quanjin was amusedly exasperated, reaching out to ruffle the hair on the two little ones’ heads.

But after hearing Qi Manman’s words, Yi Meng glanced at her mother-in-law.

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law exchanged a look, and both reached the same conclusion almost simultaneously.

“Brother Jin, since the county magistrate insists on paying, let’s accept, and also mention the price we sell to the restaurant.”

Yi Meng said, “Then you mention that villagers also grow vegetables, mostly for their own consumption, and the vegetables for sale primarily come from what villagers grow. Do you understand?”

“Ah? You mean to let the county magistrate know that we want the money not for our own good, but for the villagers?”

Seeing his wife nod, Qi Quanjin felt the cloud over his head dissipate instantly.

He clapped his hands and laughed, “Let’s do that! I’ll go now!”

With that, he ran outside.

He really ran, as if a hungry wolf was chasing him.

Yi Meng and Mrs. Qi exchanged another look, then both shook their heads with a smile.

Qi Manman was tugging on the string in Qi Shilang’s hand, defiantly saying, “Brother Shi, Manbao clearly won just now!”

“Little sister, I won, you’re cheating.”

Qi Shilang protested indignantly.

Amongst everyone in the Qi Family, young Qi Shilang was the only one who dared to contradict Qi Manman.

And Qi Manman wasn’t even angry when she heard it, batting her eyes and sweetly calling him Brother Shi, even praising him as the best in no time.

The young Qi Shilang, inexperienced in social traps and the world’s cruelty, crumbled immediately upon hearing his little sister’s praise.

“Little sister, you won, it was Brother Shi cheating!”

The small Qi Shilang promptly took the blame upon himself.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep