Disaster Apocalypse: Farming, Family, and My Hidden Secret Space-Chapter 36. Do you accept?

"Ten pouches, ten embroidered handkerchiefs along with sixty cord knots, Lady Qi, check if the numbers are correct," said Shopkeeper Zou as he spread the items on the counter.

"They’re correct, they’re correct. Would I not trust Shopkeeper Zou?" Qi Shi smiled.

Then there was a crackling sound, and Shopkeeper Zou took out a handful of copper coins.

"Each pouch is five coins, totaling fifty coins. Each embroidered handkerchief is six coins, totaling sixty coins. Each cord knot is one coin, totaling sixty coins. Altogether, that’s one hundred seventy coins. Lady Qi, is my calculation correct?"

As Shopkeeper Zou spoke, he counted with an abacus while also allowing others time to calculate.

Jin’er noticed there was no sign of impatience. The first impression of this person seemed good.

The amounts were clear and not difficult to calculate. Lady Qi pondered for a moment and then nodded, confident in saying, "No need to calculate, no need to calculate, Shopkeeper Zou’s count is naturally correct. Who doesn’t know that Shopkeeper Zou is a kind-hearted, honest person?"

Though aware those were just flattering words, who doesn’t like to hear good things? Shopkeeper Zou was no exception.

"Lady Qi, you know how to speak; I truly enjoy hearing that," he said with a laugh, then handed the counted copper coins to Lady Qi at the counter.

"Here you are, that’s one hundred seventy coins."

As they say, when it comes to kin, accounts should be settled clearly. Counting money in front of someone is not disrespectful, especially in business. Lady Qi didn’t say much but carefully checked.

A moment later, after receiving the money, Lady Qi’s face beamed with a smile, "No mistakes, no mistakes."

"Will you take more work this time?" Shopkeeper Zou habitually asked with a slight smile.

"Yes, yes, yes, please prepare the same quantity as last time, Shopkeeper Zou."

Before long, the items they needed were placed on the counter, "I won’t refund the deposit then."

"Of course, thank you, Shopkeeper Zou." Lady Qi and the old lady thanked him repeatedly.

They were sincerely grateful to Shopkeeper Zou. If it weren’t for his kindness in offering them work, there would be no place to earn money even if they had some.

Doing this work twice a month added up to two or three hundred coins, which was quite useful over a year. At least it could cover household oils, salts, and seasonings with some leftover.

"It’s nothing," Shopkeeper Zou smiled as usual.

Meanwhile, Jin’er saw her grandmother and mother preparing to leave and quickly pulled them back.

The mother and daughter looked at Jin’er, puzzled, thinking perhaps the child had taken a liking to something?

Indeed, there were so many beautiful and pretty things here, it’s normal for a child to like and want them.

Though most things inside were a bit expensive, small items could still be bought with some reluctance. The old lady, having no limits in front of her granddaughter, immediately said, "Jin’er, is there something you want?"

As soon as the old lady spoke, Shopkeeper Zou realized there was a child there too. He had been so focused on checking the goods that he hadn’t really noticed.

She was fair and clean, with big and long eyes, a cute and pretty little girl. Shopkeeper Zou, who only had three sons and particularly wanted a daughter, immediately brightened his eyes and said with a smile, "Auntie, is this your granddaughter? You’ve raised her so well; you must have put in a lot of effort, Auntie."

Hearing someone praise her child, the old lady immediately grinned, but still humbly replied, "Yes, my granddaughter. Shopkeeper Zou, you overpraise. How could she be as good as you say? A farm child roughhousing all over the hills and fields, just naturally fair-skinned."

"Good is good, Auntie, don’t be humble," Shopkeeper Zou said, the more he looked, the more he liked this exquisite child, whom he rarely saw.

"Child, what’s your name?" he couldn’t help but ask.

That smile was particularly like a witch about to abduct a child. Fortunately, Jin’er wasn’t really a child, or else she probably wouldn’t dare to meet his eyes.

Facing those eyes, Jin’er beamed with a smile, "Big Sister, my name is Jin’er."

"Oh, my, I’m so old already, why call me Sister? You should call me Auntie." Shopkeeper Zou was overjoyed to hear that, his eyes wrinkles deepening with his smile.

"But Big Sister looks so young!" Jin’er even glanced at her mother while speaking, as if making a comparison.

Shopkeeper Zou felt utterly delighted!

He had heard many words of flattery, but it was the first time hearing such from a young child. Happy, he couldn’t help but touch his cheek.

Kids, what they say must be real.

Looking joyfully at the old lady and Lady Qi, Shopkeeper Zou said, "Auntie, how do you raise children? Do you have any secrets? This little mouth is like it’s been smeared with honey. Auntie, you don’t know, my three rascals at home won’t rest until they’ve driven me up the wall every day. A daughter is just so much more cherished."

"There’s no secret, really, Shopkeeper, you just happen to be youthful," the old lady artfully complimented.

"I understand now; it’s because the child takes after you, Auntie!"

Then he turned to the calm little girl, "Jin’er, Auntie likes you. See if you like anything, Auntie will give it to you."

Looking at this exquisite little face, Shopkeeper Zou liked her more by the minute, truly wishing he could take her home.

"Oh, no, I couldn’t," the old lady quickly interjected.

Shopkeeper Zou ignored her words and stepped out from the counter, familiarly taking Jin’er’s small hand, walking along the counter, "Take a good look, is there anything you like?"

Well... Jin’er hadn’t expected Shopkeeper Zou to be so enthusiastic and straightforward. Caught off guard when her hand was grabbed, she took a few steps before quickly stopping and shaking her head.

"Thank you, Big Sister..."

"Call me Auntie," the soft voice made Shopkeeper Zou’s eyes curve again.

"Auntie," Jin’er obediently called.

"Thank you, Auntie, I don’t want anything."

Though Jin’er didn’t know the prices, she knew that even small items in the embroidery shop weren’t cheap. Even if Shopkeeper Zou wanted to gift them, Jin’er couldn’t be thoughtless.

"It’s okay, Auntie is willing to give it to you. Your grandmother and mother won’t mind."

As he spoke, he took out a few handkerchiefs embroidered with flowers for Jin’er to choose from.

Jin’er: "..."

She quickly shook her head again, "Thank you, Auntie, Jin’er really doesn’t want it."

Her small face was earnestly looking at Shopkeeper Zou. With that expression paired with her cute and delicate face, Shopkeeper Zou grew even fonder of her, though he understood the little girl truly didn’t want anything. freewebnoveℓ.com

"Even if Auntie wants to give it to you, you don’t want it?"

She added, puzzled how a child wouldn’t like pretty, exquisite things.

"Thank you, Auntie."

The message was clear.

While reflecting on how well-behaved the little girl was, Jin’er spoke again.

"Auntie, the flowers on the handkerchiefs are really pretty."

"Right!" Shopkeeper Zou thought Jin’er was changing her mind and was about to take out more handkerchiefs when Jin’er’s next words stopped his actions.

"Yes, yes," Jin’er nodded, then got to her main point: "Auntie, I can also draw pretty patterns. Does Auntie accept them here?"

Jin’er had no intention of letting her grandmother and mother embroider finished products first before negotiating business. They knew how to embroider, but only simple things. The patterns in hand would be too difficult for them.

"You can draw... patterns?" Shopkeeper Zou looked at Jin’er in surprise, then laughed.

Evidently, he was a bit skeptical, but it wasn’t too obvious. The child’s intention was good, she wanted to earn money. Such a cute little girl shouldn’t be discouraged so directly.

"I can," Jin’er said firmly.

Shopkeeper Zou’s reaction was normal and considerate of her feelings; after all, she was just a child, not very convincing.