Kong Xingzhuo tied up his horse and entered the main hall.
Xiao Jinheng was sitting on a stool, seemingly waiting for Kong Xingzhuo's return.
"Master!" Kong Xingzhuo knelt and saluted, his face covered in weariness.
Xiao Jinheng, shedding his usual playful demeanor, raised his hand. "Get up!"
Kong Xingzhuo stood up and cupped his hands. "Master, the situation in the court is not optimistic. It's fortunate you escaped early, otherwise..."
"I know!" Xiao Jinheng lowered his dark eyes, lost in thought.
The next morning, as soon as Xiao Xitian woke up, a pair of large hands scooped her out of the covers.
"Mmm?" Xiao Xitian rubbed her sleepy eyes, a flicker of annoyance in her heart.
Who was this?
Couldn't this baby stretch first?
Kong Xingzhuo grinned from ear to ear and eagerly kissed the little sweet treasure.
"Sweetie, do you still recognize me?" Kong Xingzhuo asked with a smile.
Xiao Xitian blinked her big eyes, then broke into a bright, sweet smile.
"Brother Kong!~"
As her little voice emerged, Kong Xingzhuo's heart melted.
During his days in the capital, he had missed Xiao Xitian constantly.
"Look what good things Brother Kong brought for you?"
Kong Xingzhuo produced a pure gold longevity lock from his embrace.
He dangled it in front of Xiao Xitian. "How is it? Do you like it?"
Madam Gu's expression tightened. "Young Master Kong, we cannot accept such a valuable gift!"
Old Man Yun also repeatedly refused.
Young Master Kong was not related to the Yun family, and he had already given them a lot of money before.
This longevity lock gleamed with gold; it was clearly a valuable item, and they dared not accept it.
"Brother Kong, I don't want the lock!~" Xiao Xitian sensibly pushed him away.
Kong Xingzhuo gave a wry smile. "If Sweetie doesn't want it, then Brother Kong will have to throw it away!"
After all, it could only be worn by a child.
He had bought it and couldn't return it; what use was it to keep?
Xiao Xitian was helpless.
Madam Gu and Old Man Yun also looked troubled.
Gold was scarce in those days.
Such a large longevity lock, if sold, would fetch at least two to three hundred taels of silver.
Kong Xingzhuo felt a bit awkward.
Just as he didn't know what to do, Xiao Xitian reached out and grabbed the longevity lock.
"I'll keep it for Brother Kong!"
Well, that was a sufficient reason, wasn't it!
She would keep it for him, and when Xiao Xitian grew up, she would return the longevity lock to Brother Kong.
Kong Xingzhuo was amused, he helped her put on the longevity lock, and then took the opportunity to kiss her again.
"My young lady has something else to discuss with me, so I'll take my leave!"
Madam Gu and Old Man Yun escorted him to the main entrance before hurrying back.
"Oh dear, daughter, you can't wear this thing out!" Old Man Yun picked up his daughter and took off the longevity lock.
Xiao Xitian: "..."
So, it wasn't hers before it even got warm?
Madam Gu took out a handkerchief and wiped the snot bubble from Xiao Xitian's nose.
She coaxed her with a smile, "Daughter, this item is too precious. Will Mother and Father keep it safe for you?"
Xiao Xitian pouted.
If she said no, would her parents agree?
Anyway, the lock had already been taken off.
As everyone knew, any New Year's money or gifts that parents kept safe would mysteriously disappear.
At noon.
Just as the family finished lunch, a strange merchant arrived in the village.
He wore a satin robe and drove a carriage.
After entering the village, he loudly hawked, "High prices for tables, chairs, benches, wood, and wood carvings!~"
Dàshuǐ Village had never seen anyone buy wood.
In an instant, everyone poured out of their homes, crowding around to watch.
Fu Daqiang directly pulled out a bench used to cushion the vegetable缸, and carried it to the merchant.
"Shopkeeper, what do you think of my bench? It's been passed down from my ancestors."
Shopkeeper He reached out and felt the bench, shaking his head. "No, no, this is just ordinary pine wood. It's worthless!"
Du Lao San then offered his small kang table, grinning foolishly. "Shopkeeper, this kang table was left by my great-grandfather. How much silver do you think it's worth?"
Seeing this, the villagers covered their mouths and snickered.
Passed down from your great-grandfather?
What a joke!
Didn't you make it yourself last year~?
Shopkeeper He raised an eyebrow, took the kang table with both hands, and brought it to his nose to sniff.
"This is a poplar wood table, worth at most ten copper coins!"
"What did you say? Ten copper coins?" Du Lao San's eyes widened.
Was this dog merchant bullying him for being uneducated?
"Give it here!" Du Lao San snatched the kang table back.
He'd rather break it and burn it for firewood than sell it to you.
Shopkeeper He: "..."
He felt despised by the villagers.
"Do you have any other good things? Wood carvings or wood are fine!" Shopkeeper He shouted to the crowd.
Village Chief's wife, Liang Yue Shui, took off the hairpin from her head and presented it to Shopkeeper He.
"Shopkeeper, how many taels of silver do you think this hairpin is worth?"
It was a finely crafted peach wood hairpin.
Due to its age, the hairpin had turned a dark red.
The surface was smooth and delicate, with clear grain, and it also had a butterfly pendant.
Shopkeeper He's eyes lit up. He examined it carefully and held up three fingers.
Liang Yue Shui asked excitedly, "Three... three taels of silver?"
Shopkeeper He shook his head. "Three hundred wen!"
The villagers burst into laughter.
Liang Yue Shui, did you really think those three taels of silver were like cabbage, found everywhere?
Liang Yue Shui's cheeks flushed red. She snatched the hairpin back and cursed, "Keep your three hundred wen to buy paper for burning, humph!"
Shopkeeper He's expression sank. "Tsk, why are you cursing a patron, woman?"
"I can't be bothered with you!" Liang Yue Shui rolled her eyes and went home.
Shopkeeper He was extremely helpless.
It seemed there was nothing he needed in Dàshuǐ Village, so he should pack up and go to the next village.
Just then, Old Man Yun walked over, holding Xiao Xitian.
After eating their fill, the father and daughter also came to join the fun.
Shopkeeper He saw that Xiao Xitian was beautiful and spirited, so he leaned over to tease her.
"Little girl, do you have any wood to sell?"
"I have bone bone!~" Xiao Xitian said in a milky voice.
She rummaged through her small satchel and pulled out a small bone. "Here, bone bone!~"
Shopkeeper He didn't take it, but stared intently at another item in her satchel.
It was a piece of wood about the size of a palm.
Dark gray.
The bark was cracked in places.
But with just a slight sniff, a refreshing sweet aroma filled his nostrils.
Shopkeeper He suppressed his excitement and coughed lightly. "Oh, your little bone is so pretty!"
He pinched Xiao Xitian's cheek and asked, "Do you have any other good things?"
The villagers chuckled.
Was this shopkeeper confused?
Everyone in Dàshuǐ Village knew that Little Sweet Treasure liked to pick up bones.
That thing was not even worth as much as Du Lao San's kang table.
Xiao Xitian rolled her big eyes and began to search again.
She took out several more bones, and Shopkeeper He was almost going crazy.
Finally, he couldn't resist anymore and pointed to the wood in her satchel. "Little darling, can I take a look at that?"
"No!~" Xiao Xitian refused with a smile.
She wanted to keep the good stuff for herself...