Chapter 155 - 155 Strange Monster
155 Strange Monster
Zhao Erwa looked at the basket he was carrying and casually threw the mulberries into it. He hurriedly shouted, “You can’t pick them like this. The mulberries below will be crushed. You can’t give our madam the bad ones, the spoilt ones, or the stale ones. You must give our madam the best.”
“If you want to use a small bamboo basket like us, you have to use the leaves at the bottom. When you pluck them, hold them gently. When you fill a small bamboo basket, I’ll bring you to see Madam Bai to exchange for copper coins.” Zhao Erwa emphasized over and again.
Little Cat frowned. He hadn’t expected picking mulberries to be so troublesome.
He took a look at their big basket and then at the small bamboo basket carried by Zhao Erwa and the others. Then, he ran back to Lintian village with his friends and took a basket about the same size.
Zhao Erwa was very satisfied that they were obedient. He recalled the promise from the previous day and said, “The mulberry fruits are all yours, we won’t pick them. Let’s go to the forest at the side to find the hairy cherries.”
The prickly berries had thorns, so the efficiency of picking them was too slow. It was easier to pick the cherries.
It would be even better if he could find a lower cherry tree.
When Little Cat heard this, he was so grateful that tears almost flowed out. He sobbed sincerely and said, “Thank you, Big Brother. When I exchange for copper coins, I’ll treat you to steamed buns.” A steamed bun cost two copper coins.
Zhao Erwa glanced behind him. Little Cat said with heartache, “I’ll treat everyone to steamed buns too.”
If it weren’t for them, they wouldn’t have been able to buy steamed buns.
Zhao Erwa was even more satisfied with his new subordinates. He waved his hand and said domineeringly, “Alright, go ahead and pluck them. Come find us after you’re done.”
“Alright, Big Brother.”
Little Cat was very familiar with the area. Without needing Zhao Erwa and the others to look for it, he pointed out a few cherry trees filled with cherries.
Thinking of the biscuits dipped in cherry sauce the day before, everyone subconsciously sucked in their saliva before starting to pick the cherries.
When Zhao Erwa and the others were only halfway through filling the bamboo basket, Little Cat and the others ran over excitedly.
Little Cat raised the mulberry fruit that Zhao Erwa had requested and said, “Brother, look, is this okay?”
Zhao Erwa turned around and was dumbfounded.
The mulberry fruit picked by Little Cat was dark and beautiful. It even filled an entire bamboo basket.
It had only been a while, but they were already full.
Zhao Erwa secretly envious of their speed. He pretended to be calm and said, “Then wait for us at the side for a while. We haven’t finished plucking.”
Seeing that Little Peach had only picked a little from the bottom of the bamboo basket, being eager to exchange for copper coins, Little Cat hurriedly said, “We’ll help you pick it. We’re fast and can finish it quickly.”
Zhao Erwa was stunned. Before he could react, Little Cat and the other children climbed onto the cherry tree barefoot and said to Little Peach, “Give me the basket!”
Instinctively, Little Peach gave him the basket. As if he had grown three heads and six arms, Little Cat plucked rapidly from the tree. Soon, Little Peach’s basket was full.
When Little Peach saw the bamboo basket in front of her, she shouted excitedly, “You’re amazing.”
Zhao Erwa was dumbfounded. He had a dumfounded expression on his face as if saying ‘What should I do if my subordinates are more capable than me’.
The group of children carried a bamboo basket of wild fruits and walked back happily. The lazy man watching from the top of the field even said disdainfully, “There are even people who think that those sour things are precious?”
It was the first time that the children from the Lintian Village had entered Youjia Village. Their village people scared them saying there were wolves in Youjia Village that especially liked to feed on children. This made them so frightened that they did not even dare to approach.
They could only stand on the hill and look at the smoke that would emit when Youjia villagers cooked, while they secretly felt envious.
When they entered Youjia village and saw rows of beautiful big houses, their eyes were filled with envy.
If only they could live in these beautiful big houses too.
Suddenly, Tiedan from Lintian Village pointed at the canal beside him and hurriedly shouted, “Little Cat, look.”
Everyone looked in the direction he was pointing and saw a group of golden-red koi swimming in the canal.
They swam freely, and the scales on their bodies glowed with colorful light, looking very beautiful.
When Little Cat was in the field or stream, the fishes he caught were all gray. He had never seen a fish with such a beautiful color.
In an instant, they were stunned.
The long row of little children stuck out their butts and stared at the koi fish in a daze. They were all imagining that they would also become beautiful koi fish and not have to worry about food. They would always be happy and free.
Zhao Erwa broke the silence and pointed at the lotus pond beside him. “There are many more there. Do you want to take a look?”
Little Cat nodded quickly. They went to the railing of the pond. At a glance, they saw koi that had rushed to the shore to ask for food. Some of the koi could even swallow Little Peach’s arm with their open mouths.
Little Cat and the others widened their eyes and exclaimed in disbelief, “Wow—so many beautiful fish!!!”
Zhao Erwa chuckled. “Old Master Sheng bought these for everyone to admire.”
Litte Cat was shocked. “For admiring? Can’t you eat it instead of admiring?”
Zhao Erwa said, “It can be eaten, but it’s very expensive. No one is allowed to eat it or catch it.” He pointed at the fish pond beside him and said, “The fish raised there can be eaten.”
When Little Cat and the others heard this, they were even more envious. They could not even fill their stomachs, but these people actually raised very expensive and beautiful fish to look at. They were also children, but why were they living so well?
Little Cat stared blankly at the koi in the water. If only he could turn into a big golden carp and stay in Youjia Village.
Everyone looked at the fishes for a while. Little Cat was still thinking about going to Bai Wutong’s house to exchange for copper coins, so they reluctantly left the lotus pond.
When they arrived at Bai Wutong’s house, before they could enter, Little Cat heard a wolf howl. He looked into the courtyard and met a pair of cold green eyes.
In an instant, he was so frightened that his hair stood on end. He asked Zhao Erwa in a trembling voice, “Brother, there’s a wolf! There’s a wolf!”
Zhao Erwa shouted calmly, “Xiaobai!”
Xiaobai retracted its fangs and claws and leisurely turned to look for Bai Wutong.
Bai Wutong was pulled over by it. When she saw Zhao Erwa bringing a group of unfamiliar children, she opened the courtyard door and smiled gently. “They’re children from the neighboring village, right?”
When Little Cat and the others saw the wolf in the courtyard, they were so frightened that they did not dare to breathe loudly.
When a beautiful woman appeared and smiled at them, everyone stopped breathing.
Little Cat’s gaze landed on her clean fingers and then on their muddy and dirty feet. He immediately blushed and lowered his head, wishing he could hide himself. For a moment, even his fear of Xiaobai dissipated.
Bai Wutong could tell that they were uncomfortable and smiled. “Come in. You must be tired. Have a cup of hot tea and a snack. Madam will weigh the fruits for you.”
With hot tea, snacks and her gentle voice, Little Cat and the others felt their empty stomach. They followed Bai Wutong into the courtyard instinctively.
The flowers and plants in the courtyard were even more shocking than the lotus pond.
Xiaobai the wolf squatted on the lawn and licked its fur, throwing them lazy and arrogant looks from time to time.
As for them, they were dressed in tattered and patched clothes, like monsters who did not fit in.