"…Alright, I underestimated them." Fu Wenwen nodded heavily, her eyes opened.
She would never underestimate these aunties again.
"Remember to empty all the grain later and check it; otherwise, there might even be old rice at the bottom!" Chen Lingling cautioned.
"..." Fu Wenwen's eyes widened. "That's too much?"
The three of them looked at Fu Wenwen and nodded seriously.
"Fu Zhiqing, please calculate it for me!" Chen Lingling, holding the clothes she had snagged, asked Fu Wenwen to calculate the price.
Fu Wenwen chuckled lightly. "Since you're all sisters of Sister Xiao Hong, here are five pieces. Originally fifteen, you can pay fourteen!"
"This… this is too cheap, isn't it?" Chen Lingling looked at Fu Wenwen in surprise and tugged at Xiao Hong.
Xiao Hong glanced at Fu Wenwen and nodded at Chen Lingling. "Since she said so, just give her fourteen! But be sure to keep quiet about it; don't let others know."
"I understand, I understand! I definitely won't say a word! I wouldn't tell even if I were beaten to death!" Chen Lingling happily hugged her clothes, looking at Fu Wenwen with utmost affection.
"Calculate mine too?" Wu Fang looked at Fu Wenwen. Fu Wenwen looked at the four pieces of clothing in her hand. "The same, five pieces, just like Sister Ling, fourteen it is."
"Fu Zhiqing, you are our sister from now on! Anyone who bullies you, I'll be the first to stand up for you!" Wu Fang said excitedly.
Originally one yuan cheaper than others, now another two yuan off, it would be unbelievable if she told people she got five good pieces of clothing for fourteen yuan.
"Will you pay with money or grain?" Fu Wenwen asked them.
"Money!"
"With money!"
They both said in unison.
"They are newly married wives and aren't in charge yet, so this is their own money," Xiao Hong explained. Fu Wenwen nodded in understanding.
"The story you tell outside must be consistent: four yuan. Don't slip up," Xiao Hong reminded them.
Both nodded heavily. "We understand."
Chen Lingling and Wu Fang left with their clothes, but Xiao Hong stayed at Fu Wenwen's house, wanting to keep an eye out for her.
Fu Wenwen didn't understand, but she understood those aunties all too well.
A moment later, Aunt Lin arrived with her son carrying a large bag of grain. "Fu Zhiqing, please take a look. Is this grain acceptable?"
Fu Wenwen looked at it. She could only tell it was all white rice. She looked at Xiao Hong, who nodded slightly. Fu Wenwen smiled. "Of course, it's acceptable. Aunt Lin, here are your clothes!"
"This… it's all gone?" Aunt Lin had planned to look further, but seeing the box empty of clothes, she was surprised.
"Aunt Lin, Aunt Wu and the others were just here! They each took three or four pieces! That's why it's gone," Xiao Hong explained.
"They were here…" Aunt Lin nodded in understanding. She knew those people very well. She cast a regretful glance at the empty box.
If she had known, she would have taken one more piece.
After Aunt Lin left with her son, Aunt Wu and others, whom Xiao Hong had mentioned, arrived with their sons carrying grain.
Fu Wenwen looked at the piles of white grain, her heart filled with joy. The grain storage warehouse was full.
However, when it was one person's turn, Xiao Hong suddenly tugged at Fu Wenwen. Fu Wenwen was taken aback. "Please be so kind as to pour the grain into my box."
"Fu Zhiqing, why are you pouring it into the box? This is all good grain," the old aunt paused and looked at Fu Wenwen with dissatisfaction.
Fu Wenwen raised an eyebrow. This reluctant attitude suggested that the grain was indeed problematic.