Selling Green Jade Pears

"Bai Jing, push harder!"

"Cousin-in-law, push a little harder!"

"Push!"

"Ah—"

Bai Jing's heart-rending cries came from inside the room.

Xu Chuan heard every word clearly from the kitchen, his heart in turmoil as well.

"Is the hot water ready?"

Xu Yan poked her head out the door and shouted toward the kitchen.

"Coming, coming."

Xu Chuan immediately carried over two kettles and handed them to Xu Yan. "How is it?"

"Soon, soon."

With that, she slammed the door shut again with a bang.

Time passed second by second.

"Bai Jing, the child's head is out. Push a little harder!"

"Cousin-in-law, it'll be over soon."

"Ah—"

All at once, a clear infant's cry rang out from inside the room.

"It's born!"

"It's born!"

A smile spread across Xu Chuan's face, and at last, the stone in his heart dropped.

"Brother Chuan, see? I told you Sister-in-law would be fine. From the sound of it, it must be another male child." Chen Ergou congratulated him.

Xu Chuan chuckled. "Not like you—you have both a son and a daughter, making the perfect character."

At that moment, the door opened, and the Midwife came out carrying a basin of bloody water. Looking somewhat exhausted, she said, "Mother and son are safe. It's a boy. Go in and take a look."

Xu Chuan said nothing more. He nodded and immediately entered the room.

At the bedside, he saw Bai Jing, utterly exhausted. He went over with an aching heart, took her hand, and said softly, "Wife, you've worked hard."

"It wasn't hard. Bearing children for the Xu Family is what this concubine ought to do."

Hearing this made Xu Chuan's heart ache even more. "Rest well."

Only then did Bai Jing slowly close her eyes.

"Cousin, hold him."

Xu Chuan took the child, his face brimming with smiles as he cooed, "Hehe," teasing the baby.

After a while.

His Father-in-law's family also arrived.

A group of people gathered around the child and chatted idly.

"Sanshu, have you decided what to name the child?" his Father-in-law, Bai Fuzi, asked with kind features.

"Yes." Xu Chuan nodded, his gaze falling upon the child.

"Xu Mingxuan—bright and radiant, possessing dignity and bearing."

"His childhood name will be Tantou."

After Xu Chuan rewarded the Midwife, she left.

After that came Chen Ergou's family, followed by his own Father-in-law's family.

After Tantou was born, Ergou brought Xu Mingwei and Xu Mingyuan over.

"Father, Little Brother's skin is all wrinkled, like a little old man." Shitou said with some distaste.

"You looked the same when you were born."

Bai Jing said with a smile. Xu Chuan had given her the Qi and Blood Pill, and her complexion was no longer deathly pale. It had become much rosier, and she even had enough strength to get out of bed.

But Xu Chuan would not allow it, making her lie down and rest peacefully.

Xu Mingwei seemed to have suffered a blow and doubtfully touched his own face.

"A Yuan, Father will keep his promise today. Tell me which big rooster teased you."

The moment Xu Mingyuan heard there would be chicken to eat and chicken soup to drink, drool immediately ran from his mouth.

He hurriedly pulled Xu Chuan outside. "Father, I'll take you there."

"Shitou, take good care of your Mother."

"Don't worry, Father." Xu Mingwei patted his chest.

Once the paddy field work was finished, it was time to harvest the Green Jade Pears.

Basket after basket of Green Jade Pears was carried home.

Green Jade Pears were comparable to the lowest-grade spiritual fruits. Only because they lacked sufficient Spiritual Energy were they inferior to true spiritual fruits. Though there were only ten mu, they could still fetch an extremely high price.

They sold best in Qingjiang County Town, after all, since they were not cheap even in the Prefecture City.

However, Dongxi Village was more than a hundred and eighty li from Qingjiang County Town.

Bandits occasionally appeared along the road.

It was not very safe.

More importantly, his former employer had also set his sights on the Green Jade Pears, so last year he had gone with the flow and proactively sold them to the Xu Family, leaving them no chance to make trouble.

After all, better to fear a thief who coveted you than one who stole from you.

Xu Family courtyard.

"Third Master Xu, these are this year's Green Jade Fruit, six thousand four hundred jin in total," Xu Chuan said respectfully.

Before him stood a Plump Middle-aged Man in his forties with a short beard.

"Four hundred jin more than last year?"

"The yield has more or less reached its limit. Unless we expand the scale—but Third Master, you know Green Jade Pears are not easy to cultivate."

Third Master Xu nodded. "We'll use last year's price."

"No problem."

"Start weighing them. If there are no discrepancies, the silver will be settled on the spot."

The Xu Family's servants began weighing them continuously, and it was finished before long.

Beside Third Master Xu stood a Brocade-robed Young Man. He looked at the Green Jade Pears with burning eyes, then glanced at Xu Chuan, his face full of disdain.

"Master, the weight is correct."

Third Master Xu nodded slightly, and the money and goods were immediately exchanged.

"Xu Chuan, you're truly skilled. Are you interested in selling the secret method for growing Green Jade Pears to my Xu Family? The Xu Family is willing to buy it at a high price."

"Third Master, I do have some experience, but there truly is no secret method."

"If Third Master needs it, Xu Chuan will tell you everything he knows. But I was merely somewhat lucky. I cannot guarantee that I can make Green Jade Pear Trees survive again next time."

"After spending six or seven years, perhaps even longer, only to end up with nothing, I would not only fail Third Master Xu, but also fail my late Father."

Third Master Xu lowered his head and pondered for a moment, then smiled. "I was only asking."

"Alright, now that the matter is settled, I have other business to attend to. I'll be leaving."

"Take care, Third Master."

Xu Chuan saw the Xu Family group out. Only after they had gone far away did he let out a breath and return inside.

After leaving the Xu Family, the Brocade-robed Young Man finally could not hold back. "Father, why are you being so polite to an ordinary commoner?"

"He was nothing more than a long-term laborer who depended on our family for food."

"Green Jade Pears are good things. Why not just seize the secret method? Would he dare refuse?"

"Do you really think our Xu Family is the sky over Dongxi Village?"

Third Master Xu glared at the Brocade-robed Young Man. Hearing him say such things, his eyes were full of disappointment.

"Putting aside whether there is truly a secret method, Green Jade Pears are indeed difficult to grow. I have only heard that some Families in the Prefecture City possess cultivation methods. Do you think he could figure it out in just a few years?"

"Xu Chuan was right about one thing. If we spend seven or eight years and invest vast manpower, resources, and money, only to end up with nothing, it would be far from worth it."

"Now, we have ready-made fruit to purchase. We can turn around and sell it in the county town, directly earning several hundred taels in profit. Is there any easier way to make money than that?"

"Father is right."

Seeing that his eldest son was still somewhat unconvinced, Third Master Xu said, "Do not underestimate Xu Chuan. He has even made an impression before Old Master Xu."

"The Xu Family has reached where it is today by relying on credibility and reputation."

"Do not ruin the Xu Family's reputation over a few Green Jade Pears, or I will not go easy on you."

Ever since Old Master Xu passed away, the Xu Family had not produced a capable head of household. They could only barely maintain what they had.

Now, some disciples in the clan had begun indulging in extravagance and pleasure, and the family had begun to decline as well.

Xu Family.

"Husband, how did the Green Jade Pears sell?"

"Of course, they sold for a bit more than last year. They aren't ordinary pears, after all—they're hot commodities in the county town!"

Xu Chuan took out the banknotes. Bai Jing patted her chest and said, "Then I can rest easy. I was truly afraid the Xu Family would simply seize them by force."

"That is unlikely for now, but who knows about the future."

"What does Husband mean?"

"I think Xu Tao, Third Master Xu's eldest son, seems to have some thoughts."

"What should we do?" Bai Jing's heart rose into her throat again, and worry appeared on her face.

"Don't worry. Third Master Xu is a wise man." Xu Chuan held her hand. "He would not destroy the reputation and credibility the Xu Family has built over many years for such a small profit."

"Husband is still the clever one." Seeing that her man possessed such foresight, Bai Jing could not help praising him. "With Husband here, the Xu Family will one day become a wealthy local clan like the Xu Family."

The two boys had gone outside to run wild.

They were still young, and Xu Chuan did not want to restrain their natural dispositions, so he let them be.

With no one else around, seeing Bai Jing's voluptuous figure, Xu Chuan's hands began to wander.

"Husband, in broad daylight, this isn't appropriate."

"What is inappropriate about it? Shitou and A Yuan aren't here either."

"Tantou is here."

Xu Chuan turned his head and saw that the little one in Bai Jing's arms had somehow already awakened. His dark eyes were open, staring at Xu Chuan.

Big eyes stared into big eyes.

Xu Chuan did not know whether to laugh or cry. He rubbed the child's little cheek. "That's true."

"Forget it. I'll make a trip to Ergou Family. That Qi and Blood Pill was worth a great deal—I need to repay the money."

As soon as Xu Chuan left, Tantou slowly closed his eyes again, as though there was no longer any excitement to watch.