At dinner, everyone in the Xiao family learned that Xiao Xiao had already taken care of the problem.
The man surnamed He would never come asking to buy the white plum blossoms again.
Their happiness was accompanied by a great deal of confusion.
"Xiao Xiao, how did you do it?"
Xiao Grandmother asked curiously, then remembered to praise him. "My grandson really is amazing."
"You solved such a difficult problem in no time."
Xiao Xiao could only smile; he had no idea what else to say.
As for the question they'd asked earlier, he repeated what he had told Madam Xiao that afternoon.
"He realized that the flowering plum tree he saw had only been a dream."
"Since it's just an ordinary plum tree, naturally he's no longer interested in buying it."
"How could it have been a dream?"
Madam Xiao couldn't help asking.
A guest had happened to come by during the day, so she hadn't pursued the matter.
Now, at last, she could ask the question she'd been keeping to herself all day.
It was a fact that the white plum blossoms in their courtyard had bloomed in summer.
"That's right."
Xiao Grandmother chimed in. "Xiao Xiao, what do you mean by that?"
"You two sure do talk a lot."
Grandpa Xiao remarked disapprovingly.
"Old man, what do you mean, we talk a lot?"
Xiao Grandmother was displeased, too. "Aren't you curious?"
"Grandma."
As soon as Xiao Xiao spoke, he drew the old lady's attention, and she stopped arguing with Grandpa Xiao.
"I used a special method."
"I made him think that the flowering plum tree he'd seen before had only appeared in a dream."
"That it wasn't real."
"A special method?"
Xiao Grandmother and Madam Xiao exchanged a glance.
What