Chapter 152 - 152: Give Before You Can Receive

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

On the Moon Goddess Festival, the Qiao family was packed with people. When Qiao Mai returned from the Capital, she brought back a whole cartload of fruits, which sold out quickly.

Strawberries were ten taels per pound. The wealthy didn’t even blink before buying them. Watermelons were eight hundred coins each, and nobody haggled. The fruits were not cheap, but the shelves were empty by nightfall.

Even the bowls used to serve small snacks were cleaned out.

Shopkeeper Niu calculated the earnings for the day. They had made eight hundred taels of silver, mostly coming from the strawberries.

Good things sell well. The money from the wealthy flowed like a strong wind. They bought whatever they fancied, truly enviable.

In the evening, the Qiao family set up several tables – one for the family and three for the servants. The dishes on each table were identical, and everyone celebrated together with great joy.

On the other side, Yuan Jiaqi’s celebration was lively. Students couldn’t go home during the Moon Goddess Festival, so many families sent them various goodies.

Among them, Yuan Jiaqi had the best treats in his dormitory.

That day, he gave some of the treats to his teacher and kept some for himself.

His teacher was delighted with the mooncakes and fruits he received. After tasting them, he felt this student’s gift was the most heartfelt.

On the Moon Goddess Festival night, a few close friends in his dormitory set up a big table. Each ordered two different dishes from the kitchen, making it ten dishes.

Following Qiao Mai’s example, Yuan Jiaqi squeezed fruit juice and arranged Qiao Mai’s mooncakes on a small plate, turning the fruits into a fruit platter.

One mischievous friend secretly took a bite of a mooncake.

“Hmm, these mooncakes are so delicious.”

“Of course, my wife makes the best ones.”

“Even the famous restaurant from the Qian family doesn’t make mooncakes as delicious as these. I feel like this plate won’t be enough for me.”

“Just taste it. Are you treating it like a full meal? Are you not going to eat anything else later?”

“If I can have my fill with these mooncakes, why eat anything else?”

As he reached out to take another one, everyone grabbed him and pulled him away.

These mooncakes are naturally delicious. Qiao Mai’s mooncakes were made with water from the spiritual river, and the ones she bought from the platform were high-tech. While they didn’t have the same texture as those made with spiritual river water, they were still incredibly delicious.

Dinner at Yuan Jiaqi’s place was more of a playful struggle involving wrestling and bickering.

Of course, it wasn’t actual fighting.

The next day, Qiao Mai packed their luggage, starting with the children. She kept it simple, taking only a change of clothes.

She had one small box for herself, and her clothes were packed into a small box. When traveling, it was best to bring just money and nothing else. The more they carried, the heavier the burden.

However, Old Mistress Wang was different. She was older and needed clothes, gifts, and common medicines for the journey. It was troublesome. There were also many servants and guards who each had to bring something.

The carriages were filled to the brim. It was no wonder they would take ten days on the road. With such a large group, they couldn’t travel quickly.

This time, Qiao Mai brought four children with her, along with Yuan Hong and Yuan Xia. She left everyone else behind.

As for snacks, she had herself and her shopping platform. What couldn’t she get?

So, she didn’t bring anything, just seven people and seven boxes.

She had prepared two dresses for Miss Wang in her space.

The gifts were given to her, so there was no need to prepare them again.

When the children learned they were going on a long journey, they were so excited that they couldn’t sleep at night. They followed Qiao Mai, asking questions every day.

Qiao Mai had bought seven sling bags online and handed them to the children.

“Here, one for each of you. You can put snacks and other things in them; they are convenient.”

The three brothers had medium-sized sling bags, while Ling’er had a small one. Yue Hong, Yue Xia, and she had large ones.

Ling’er stared at her bag, her brothers’ bags, and then back at her own. “Mother, I want to carry one like my brothers.”

“You’re still too young. When you grow bigger, I’ll make you a bigger one.”

“Haha, you have a big appetite. With your small stature, carrying such a big bag looks odd.”

“Hmph, I’ll eat more and grow faster.”

Before leaving, Qiao Mai stocked up the store and stored everything in the warehouse. Shopkeeper Niu had the keys and could help himself.

There wasn’t much else to instruct, so she visited the old lady. The preparations were almost complete as well.

The family had three carriages, which were not enough. Qiao Mai had arranged to hire two more carriages at a high price.

One carriage was for their family, one for the Wang family, and one for the Wang family’s servants. Guards rode horses, and two carriages were loaded with goods trailing behind them.

The next morning, when the hired carriages arrived, they ate with everyone before loading the stuff.

Qiao Mai’s maids helped, and soon, the carriages were packed.

The old lady looked at her husband with a disapproving look.

The old lady changed her mind at the last minute and kicked Old Master Wang out of the carriage.

Helpless, Qiao Mai gave some instructions to her three children. With Ling’er, Yue Hong, and Yue Xia, she got on Old Mistress Wang’s carriage.

The stores along the official road were not open yet, but the Qiao family’s carriages were already on the road, slowly heading south.

At this pace, traveling two hundred miles daily was considered good.

Old Mistress Wang opened the curtains and looked at the scenery outside, feeling a complex mix of happiness and melancholy. “Girl, I haven’t been back to the Capital in decades.”

“Your family is from the Capital?”

“Yes. At my age, my parents are no longer alive. I have three elder brothers and one elder sister. I’m the youngest, and they all loved and spoiled me. Since I’m going to the Capital this time, I want to visit them.”

“Old Mistress Wang, let’s make it clear in advance; I’m just a countrywoman who doesn’t know anything. I won’t be accompanying you.” “countrywoman( come on, don’t be modest. A countrywoman wno can read and write? Who can practice martial arts? Who can cook various delicacies?

What else don’t you know?”

“There are plenty of things I don’t know. I learned martial arts so I wouldn’t be bullied, I learned to read and write so I wouldn’t be deceived, and I learned to cook because I have a big appetite.”

“Haha.”

Ling’er took a paper bag from her bag and handed it to the old lady. From inside, she pinched a piece of dried meat.

“Great-grandmother, have some. It’s fragrant and delicious.”

Old Mistress Wang opened her mouth and accepted her great-granddaughter’s offering, her eyes narrowing with delight.

“Children are so fortunate with you.”

“I treat them well, so they’ll treat me well in the future. You have to give before you can receive.”

“But even if you treat them well, you never know if they’ll repay it. Some people might feel it’s only natural and won’t appreciate it. What do you think?”

“I don’t expect them to be particularly filial in the future. I’ll consider myself lucky if they don’t throw me against the wall and kill me when I’m helpless.”

“Can’t you speak nicely?”

Qiao Mai took Ling’er back from Yue Hong and Yue Xia, then took a paper bag and pulled out two roasted sweet potatoes.

She handed one to the old lady and peeled one for herself.

It’s so sweet.”

“Can your things be anything less?”

“In the future, I won’t rely on anyone. When I can move, I’ll move by myself. When I can’t, I’ll keep an ace up my sleeve. Instead of lying in bed, dependent on others, I’d rather take matters into my own hands and start anew in the next life. It’s better than enduring that suffering.”

Old Mistress Wang glared at her. “You’re not allowed to say that. Raise children to care for you in your old age. You have three children, and you’re still young. When you and your husband become a real couple, you might even have ten or eight more. What nonsense are you talking about?”

“I’m planning for the worst.”

“People should think positively.”

“Well, if something bad happens, I’ll be unable to cope with the shock. I’m being fully prepared.”

Old Mistress Wang casually ate her sweet potato and looked out the window at the scenery.

“Why are there so many refugees this year? Even now, there are more coming from the north..