As the thought of six hundred taels of silver slipping into the pockets of these country folk made Zhen Meili feel like she was suffocating, she rushed forward as if driven mad, attempting to snatch back her silver notes.
Seeing this, Madam Gu quickly stepped forward to push Zhen Meili away, her brow furrowed. "Second Madam, what are you trying to do? Are you trying to snatch something from a child?"
Though she was usually kind and gentle at home, outside, if anyone dared to harm her little daughter, Madam Gu would protect her daughter even at the cost of her own life.
Zhen Meili's eyes turned bloodshot, and she shrieked, "That money is mine! You're reneging on your word, you have no shame!"
If she had known this would happen, she wouldn't have made a bet with this bratty girl in the first place.
However, she couldn't entirely blame herself. Who would have thought that this ordinary golden walnut hid a ruby?
No one would believe it, would they?
Seeing this, Xiao Cui stepped forward, tugging at Zhen Meili, and whispered, "Madam, it's come to this, there's nothing more to argue about. It's just six hundred taels of silver, just give it to them!"
Zhen Meili: "..."
Although six hundred taels of silver wasn't much to her, Zhen Meili lost her dignity and face.
To be toyed with by a mere girl who hadn't even fully grown, such a profound humiliation, how could she face anyone again?
Xiao Xitian smiled slightly, handed the golden walnut, silver notes, and ruby to her mother, then took out the guarantee letter and shoved it in front of Zhen Meili. "Second Madam, take a good look. It's clearly written in black and white here that the losing party must obediently hand over the bet. If you dare to go back on your word, I'll take this guarantee letter and report you to the yamen right now..."
With that, Xiao Xitian narrowed her big eyes and smiled, "Second Madam, do you want to go to prison and preserve your reputation, not be disliked by my uncle, or do you want to admit defeat, obediently hand over the money, and from now on, we'll mind our own business and go our separate ways?"
The words were clear enough. If Zhen Meili didn't know any better and caused further trouble, it might be difficult to resolve.
The shopkeeper hesitated for a moment before stepping forward to persuade her. "Yes, Madam, there's a saying that one must accept the consequences of their bets. If you refuse to honor your word, I, as a witness, will be in a difficult position!"
Alas, seeing the ruby in Madam Gu's hand made the shopkeeper's heart bleed.
Why was he so foolish? With such a treasure adorning the shelf, covered in dust, he hadn't even bothered to take a closer look.
Zhen Meili tightly clutched her silk handkerchief, her beautiful eyes seeming to be laced with potent poison as she glared fiercely at Xiao Xitian. "Fine, I admit defeat today, but remember, this matter is not over, humph!"
After speaking, she stamped her foot and walked out without looking back. "Xiao Cui, let's go!"
Xiao Cui let out an "oh," and as she brushed past Madam Gu and Xiao Xitian, she gave a dry laugh, curtsied, and then fled in a hurry.
The shopkeeper craned his neck to look at the doorway and muttered, "Truly rich and powerful. Six hundred taels of silver is enough for an ordinary family to live for several lifetimes!"
Xiao Xitian didn't reply. Instead, she looked at Madam Gu. "Mother, are we still choosing a gift?"
The golden walnut had been smashed and couldn't be given to Xiaoran.
Madam Gu smiled faintly. "Let's choose another one. This time, daughter, you pick the gift!"
No wonder everyone in the family was willing to take Xiao Xitian out. Not only did she bring them good luck, but she also had a pair of hands particularly adept at making money.
Look, she could even win six hundred taels of silver in a bet. If it were someone else, they wouldn't have come up with such a brilliant idea.
"Mother, I think this silver hairpin is nice!" Xiao Xitian pointed with her hand, having taken a liking to a hairpin.
Hearing this, the shopkeeper slowly took down the hairpin for the two of them to examine.
After the 'golden walnut' incident, the shopkeeper was no longer as attentive to other gold and silver jewelry.
The mother and daughter browsed for a while, finally purchasing the silver hairpin and having it beautifully gift-wrapped.
Before they left, the shopkeeper stopped Xiao Xitian again and asked sincerely, "Little girl, please reconsider. Sell that ruby to me. How about eight hundred taels of silver?"
The price had gone up again.
He had observed it carefully just now. Whether it was the craftsmanship, the quality, or the gem itself, that ruby was a top-tier piece.
If it were sold in the prefecture or the capital, it would surely fetch an exorbitant price.
Xiao Xitian pouted. "Shopkeeper, this gem now belongs to my mother. Whether to sell it or not, you can ask my mother!"
Money was an external possession. Xiao Xitian had no less than a hundred ways to get rich, so she wasn't greedy for this small gain.
Hearing this, the shopkeeper quickly looked at Madam Gu. "Madam, are you selling the gem? If you think eight hundred taels of silver is too little, we can negotiate further!"
"No," Madam Gu refused decisively.
She intended to keep the ruby and give it to her daughter as dowry on her wedding day.
Shopkeeper: "..."
This mother and daughter pair, each one more stubborn than the other.
After leaving the jewelry shop, Madam Gu led Xiao Xitian to buy clothes for Gao Jingde, and also bought clothes for Shangguan Fang'er, Xiao Bao, Xiao Zhuzi, Jin Xiaolou, and Yun Jinshan.
The New Year was approaching soon, and these new clothes would serve as New Year's gifts.
"Daughter, do you want candy?"
In the carriage, Madam Gu held the drowsy Xiao Xitian and asked with a smile.
"Mmm, sleepy!" Xiao Xitian wriggled her chubby little body and buried her head in her mother's embrace.
Madam Gu couldn't help but chuckle, patting her back, her eyes filled with doting affection.
As the carriage passed a long street, Madam Gu suddenly heard a commotion outside.
Jin Xiaolou also tightened the reins, stopping the carriage to watch the excitement.
"Xiaolou, what's happening outside?" Madam Gu asked casually.
Jin Xiaolou put down the horsewhip, lifted the curtain in front of the carriage compartment. "Big Madam, look, it seems like a fight is breaking out over there..."
Madam Gu looked over and saw a large crowd gathered in front of a brothel.
In the center of the crowd, a heavily made-up woman was being beaten by a man.
At first, Madam Gu thought she had misread the situation and didn't pay much attention, lowering the curtain and telling Jin Xiaolou to continue driving.
But a sudden cry startled her.
"Wuwuwu, Steward Song, please, don't hit me anymore, I didn't know the people from the Yun family were so fierce..."
"Stop!" Madam Gu frowned.
Lifting the curtain again to look, she saw Steward Song had knocked Liu Cuirong to the ground and was beating her with fists and kicks, quickly turning her into a pig's head.
Madam Gu curved her eyebrows. "Cuirong?"