Chapter 120: Exchanging Gift

Chapter 120: Exchanging Gift When Yao Zhi opened the gate, she saw Wang Shen holding an earthen jar, with Xiao Shu standing beside her. The little boy no longer looked at her with fear and disgust. Now, his eyes were only filled with curiosity.

"Aunt Wang, what brings you here? Please come in," Yao Zhi greeted her.

Before they entered, Wang Shen patted her grandson’s head and said, "Xiao Shu, greet your Aunt Yao."

Xiao Shu still remembered how he treated Yao Zhi before and how he called her a crazy shrew. Now, facing her smiling face, he felt embarrassed. After hesitating for a moment, he finally called out softly, "Aunt Yao."

Seeing how shy he was, Yao Zhi smiled and said, "Good, Xiao Shu. Come inside."

When Wang Shen walked into the yard, she was surprised to see the thriving crops. She looked at the colorful fruits and vegetables with amazement.

"Yao Girl, you are really good at farming. What kind of crops are those? I never saw them before."

"Aunt Wang, I bought these seeds from a Western merchant in the border market. He said that these crops were vegetables and fruits. I was curious and tried to plant them. I never expected them to actually grow so well."

When she heard this, Wang Shen let out a sigh and said, "Yao Girl, you are really too reckless. You can’t just buy unknown seeds from a Western merchant. What if the seeds can’t grow anything? Aren’t you only wasting money and wasting your time?"

"Aunt Wang, I know that my money comes from my husband risking his life on the battlefield, and I shouldn’t use it carelessly. But if we don’t try, how do we know if it’s a good thing or a bad thing?" Yao Zhi asked her back.

After she said this, she picked a cucumber, washed it, and handed it to Wang Shen. "Aunt Wang, take this as an example. This fruit looks weird, but it’s sweet and refreshing. If you eat it in the summer, it can help cool down the heat."

"Not only can you eat it raw, but you can also use it for making soup, stir-fry, and even cold dishes. If I didn’t buy the seeds and plant them, how would we know that there is such a delicious fruit?" she asked.

Wang Shen looked at the green fruit with doubt. She took a sniff and smelled a refreshing scent with a hint of sweetness. "Yao Girl, are you sure we can eat this?"

Yao Zhi smiled and broke the cucumber in half. She took a bite and gave the other half to Wang Shen.

When Xiao Shu heard the crunchy sound from the bite, he couldn’t help licking his lips. When he saw the juice flowing from the corner of Yao Zhi’s lips, he swallowed hard.

Added with the sweet, refreshing aroma, he pulled at Wang Shen’s sleeve and said, "Grandma, I want to eat that fruit."

Hearing this, Wang Shen hesitated for a moment before she took a bite. The moment she tasted the cucumber, her eyes lit up instantly.

She took another bite before she gave the rest to her grandson. After she swallowed the food, she said, "Yao Girl, this fruit is really delicious!"

Yao Zhi smiled and replied, "Aunt Wang, these vegetables and fruits are so delicious that the military barracks even buy them from me."

"You actually sold these to the military barracks?" Wang Shen was surprised.

"I planned to sell them in town, but when I sent lunch to my husband yesterday, the head cook bought everything. Today, I need to send more vegetables to the barracks," Yao Zhi nodded.

Wang Shen was happy for her. She patted her arm and said, "Yao Girl, it’s great that you have this thought. Although it’s common for women to depend on their father, husband, brother, and son, it is still better for us to have a way to earn a living. Otherwise, we will be looked down upon by our in-laws."

"Aunt Wang, I know. I will work hard to earn more money."

Hearing this, Wang Shen smiled and said, "Ah, look at my mind. I almost forgot about this."

She handed the earthen jar she was holding to Yao Zhi and said, "My nephew sent over some pickled vegetables. The pickles made by my sister-in-law are very delicious. I brought over a jar for you to taste."

Yao Zhi didn’t refuse and accepted the gift. "Thank you, Aunt Wang."

After she placed the pickled vegetables under the roof, she picked the biggest cucumbers, the reddest cherry tomatoes, and a head of fresh cabbage for Wang Shen.

"Aunt Wang, the cucumber and cherry tomatoes can be eaten raw. But you can also put the cucumber into the soup and stir-fry the tomatoes with egg. Take them back and have a taste. If you like them, just tell me, and I will give you more."

Wang Shen didn’t bring a bamboo basket, so Yao Zhi lent her one.

"Yao Girl, it’s too much. You should keep it for yourself or sell it for money. Just give me 1 or 2 is enough," Wang Shen said.

"Aunt Wang, it’s just some vegetables I grew at home. You have helped me so much. If you don’t accept them, I won’t dare to ask for your help anymore," Yao Zhi said with a frown.

Since she had said so, Wang Shen finally accepted them. She let out a sigh and said helplessly, "You, ah, I really can’t do anything to you."

After they chatted for a while, Wang Shen left with her grandson. She didn’t stay for too long since she still had work to do, and Yao Zhi was busy.

When she was alone, Yao Zhi continued picking the vegetables. She harvested a total of 300 jin per type and stored them in her System Storage to keep them fresh.

Afterward, she went to the kitchen and prepared lunch. Since the General paid her 10 taels of silver, she couldn’t let him eat buns every day.