The Farm Girl's Charismatic Fortune-Chapter 90 - 87 Is Xuanbao Here to Take Advantage?

The county town was abuzz with its market day today, making the always lively streets even more bustling.

Granny Lei pushed a handcart, accompanied by her four grandchildren, as they walked along the main street.

Aside from the four children sitting on it, the handcart was loaded with two baskets and a hamper of Zizania.

The baskets were covered with coarse cloth, hiding their contents from the eyes of passersby.

The children, not wanting to tire out Granny Lei on the way into town, had not ridden in the handcart and had walked by themselves.

However, upon entering the town, a government officer at the gate had warned Granny Lei that several children had recently gone missing in the county and advised her to keep a close watch on her grandchildren.

Fearing that the children might wander off, Granny Lei had them all sit in the handcart and proceeded to push them into town.

Although nearly sixty years old, she was robust from years of farm work, strong, and had no trouble pushing the cart with several children on it.

Today, there were especially many officers patrolling the streets, and they had encountered two groups of them just halfway down the street.

Granny Lei couldn’t help but instruct the children, "It seems there really are children missing, with so many officers out on patrol. Remember not to run off, stay close to Grandma, and look after your brothers and sisters."

The three boys nodded in unison, then simultaneously reached out to grab Ruo Xuan’s hand.

With a sister as pretty as her, kidnappers would be most inclined—she must be closely guarded.

Ruo Xuan: "..."

Did she look like the kind of child who would get lost?

Even if she did get lost, she’d find her way home anyway!

But it seemed the Lord County Magistrate had discovered that children were missing as well.

This was good; going to report to the officials would make the magistrate believe her even more.

So Ruo Xuan said, "Grandma, let’s bring some Zizania to the Lord County Magistrate as a gift!"

Granny Lei naturally had no objection: "Alright."

With that, she pushed the handcart towards the Governor’s Office.

Governor’s Office

County Magistrate Zhang had been a bit busy these past few days, as several families had come to report missing children, and he had sent out most of his officers to search for them, yet to no avail.

On this market day, he had about a dozen officers dress as common civilians and walk the streets, hoping they might encounter the kidnappers in action.

County Magistrate Zhang wanted to try his luck on the streets as well when an officer came in and said, "My Lord, Madam Ruo requests an audience."

In the entire Shaxi County, there was only one family with the surname Ruo.

County Magistrate Zhang immediately said, "Let her in quickly!"

"Yes!"

Considering his relationship with the Ruo family and the old lady, he waved his hand, "Never mind, I will go and welcome her personally."

After speaking, County Magistrate Zhang stepped out briskly.

As County Magistrate Zhang exited the Governor’s Office and saw Granny Lei with a group of little ones, his first thought was: Madam Ruo was being too bold, daring to come to the market alone with so many children—an invitation for losing one, wasn’t it?

When Granny Lei saw Lord Zhang coming out, she immediately led the children in greeting: "This humble woman pays her respects to Lord Zhang!"

The children also followed suit in paying their respects: "This humble subject/maid pays respects to Lord Zhang."

County Magistrate Zhang quickly stepped forward to help Granny Lei up: "Madam, please, there is no need for formalities."

Granny Lei took the opportunity to stand up, smiling, "Xuanbao has found another new delicacy, and she wanted to bring some for the Lord County Magistrate to taste, to express gratitude for your previous gift."

On hearing this, County Magistrate Zhang breathed a sigh of relief: Fortunately, it wasn’t Xuanbao having another dream!

But a new delicacy? He wondered if Xuanbao had discovered yet another food that could benefit the people.

His gaze fell on the two covered baskets: "Xuanbao, what new delicacy have you discovered this time?"

Ruo Xuan lifted the coarse cloth, twisted a large hamper of Zizania, and handed it to County Magistrate Zhang: "This! Zizania."

County Magistrate Zhang took it and curiously picked up a bamboo fungus to study, "Is this the kind of mushroom that grows in bamboo forests?"

After the flood, he had seen them during his inspections of the water flow conditions in a particular bamboo forest.

He remembered that he had advised the villagers who picked mushrooms not to randomly pick those that were oddly shaped or brightly colored, as most of those mushrooms are poisonous.

"Yes, this type of fungus usually grows in bamboo forests, hence the name bamboo fungus. Bamboo fungus is very delicious, it can also strengthen one’s Qi, improve brain health, calm the mind, and benefit the body... Lord County Magistrate can use it to make chicken soup or hot pot, you’ll know once you try it."

Bamboo fungus inherently has these effects, and most of the ones Xuanbao picked today were grown using her Spiritual Power, making their effects even more pronounced; one could even feel their body becoming exceptionally comfortable after eating them.

"There are so many benefits to eating it? Then I must try it—I thank Xuanbao greatly!"

"You’re welcome, Lord County Magistrate. If you like it after trying, I can bring you some more next time."

"Haha... good!" Lord County Magistrate pointed at the two baskets, "Are these two baskets also filled with bamboo fungus?"

"Yes, we plan to sell them to a restaurant. Lord County Magistrate, would you like some? I can sell them to you for a cheaper price!"

This girl is really a smart one! She’s clearly here to sell bamboo fungus!

County Magistrate Zhang intended to tease her a bit and laughed, "If Xuanbao is giving them to me, then I want them."

Ruo Xuan: "..."

What do you mean by giving? For free?

Didn’t you pay a hundred taels of silver for the zizania last time?

Is the County Magistrate not buying this time?

Ruo Xuan glanced at the two baskets of bamboo fungus, her face showing reluctance, "Alright! I’ll give another basket to the County Magistrate, but I can’t give the other one away! I can’t afford that! My family is still waiting for the silver to clear the land and build a house! Besides, my legs are sore from walking all the way to the city, I have to earn some hard-earned money to buy something delicious to reward my poor feet."

"Hahaha... You are really a clever girl! Alright, I was just joking. I can’t take advantage of you, lest people say I exploit the common people. How much are you planning to sell these two baskets of bamboo fungus for?"

"My uncle sold some freshly picked ones to a restaurant yesterday for 1,500 wen per pound, and the dried ones for three taels of silver per pound. Bamboo fungus is rare, it’s not as common as regular mushrooms, so it’s a bit more expensive."

County Magistrate Zhang, looking at the two large baskets of bamboo fungus, did not feel that they were any rarer than mushrooms.

However, since it’s a new delicacy and has medicinal properties, it’s fine to sell it for a higher price.

When crops are cheap, farmers suffer, and the County Magistrate also hoped that these mountain goods could sell for a bit more, allowing the poor villagers that pick them to earn some extra silver.

If the quantity is high and the price is good, that would be perfect!

Unfortunately, in this world, an abundance of goods leads to low prices, while scarcity drives up value; many things cannot coexist.

County Magistrate Zhang planned to use the two baskets of bamboo fungus to host a banquet for wealthy businessmen to introduce them to this item.

The rich always love to try new things; if they find it to their taste, they’ll look to buy it.

If people buy, villagers will go pick them, and this could increase the common people’s income as well.

County Magistrate Zhang took out a silver note for a hundred taels, "I’ll take these two baskets of bamboo fungus. Xuanbao, if you have any new delicacies in the future, send me a portion, alright?"

"Of course, thank you, County Magistrate!" Ruo Xuan joyfully took the silver note, folded it neatly, and tucked it into her chest, then patted her chest.

Granny Lei’s lips twitched; was Xuanbao here specifically to fleece the County Magistrate?

She glanced at County Magistrate Zhang, relieved that he seemed quite pleased.

The Governor’s Office was solemn and imposing. Ruo Hang and his two brothers stood outside it, not daring to even breathe too loudly. They watched their little sister conduct business like a little adult with the County Magistrate and earn him a hundred taels of silver, which they found extremely impressive!

When it came to business, even their uncle was no match for their sister.

Seeing Xuanbao’s money-loving appearance, County Magistrate Zhang could not help but smile. He turned to Granny Lei and said, "It has been rather unsettled in the county lately, with several households reporting missing children. There are many people on the streets today; esteemed lady, please remember to keep a close eye on the children."

Granny Lei nodded, "Thank you for the reminder, sir, I’ve heard about it too."

Ruo Xuan took the opportunity to say, "County Magistrate, just now on the street, I overheard two people secretly talking about quickly taking a child to ’Pitou Pit,’ and they said to be careful not to be followed. Do you think they could be the kidnappers?"

County Magistrate Zhang grew a bit agitated upon hearing this, "Xuanbao, when did you hear this, and where?"

Pitou Pit was roughly twenty kilometers away, a very secluded area; it could very well be where the kidnappers were hiding the children.

Ruo Xuan: "Just now, on the way to the Governor’s Office."