Chapter 40: Wild Berries Picking

The kids who were confined at home started to gambol in the village as soon as it got warm, they loved to do their little adventures in the mountain too, they dared not go into the deep mountains, but they enjoyed exploring the outer circle of the mountains.

Mushrooms, bamboo shoots, wild vegetables, the kids loved to collect them.

Most villagers didn't have enough food in winter, including the kids. So the kids were more than happy to collect anything they cold eat from the muntains.

Chen Xiao Cai and Chen Xiao Mai were exceptions, the two boys grew taller and prettier thanks to Lu Lin's amazing cooking in this winter.

Lu Lin this day made some fried beans for them and handed them several bamboo baskets, "Cai, Mai, would you guys like to invite your little friends to pick some wild berries from the mountain? I will pay 3 cents for each basket."

Chen Xiao Cai frowned, "3 cents is a lot."

Lu Lin smiled, "It's okay."

Chen Xiao Cai scratched his head and said, "But they don't like to play with me, I don't think I can find anyone."

Lu Lin pulled a long face on purpose, "Cai, you are a big boy now, you can do it. You can ask Shen Chi to invite some friends with you."

Chen Xiao Cai turned red, he nodded, "I think I can do it."

Lu Lin handed about a dozen small baskets to Chen Xiao Cai.

"Why do we have so many small baskets at home?" Chen Xiao Cai asked.

The small baskets looked rather exquisite, but they were suitable for decorative purpose but unsuitable for utility.

"I asked some elders in the village to weave these baskets for us, 5 cents each." Lu Lin replied.

Lu Lin found that such a good deal, cheap workmanship, Lu Lin was glad that the villagers were simple and honest in that sense.

Chen Xiao Cai judged Lu Lin a little at heart, but he didn't say anything, he was used to Lu Lin's 'extravagant' lifestyle already.

"Okay, I'm going now."

"Good luck, kiddo." Lu Lin waved his goodbye.

Chen Xiao Cai went to talk to Shen Chi, Granny Shen liked the idea, so she gave Shen Chi her permission.

Shen Chi held a small basket in hand and asked Chen Xiao Cai, "But why does Lin Gege want wild berries?"

Chen Xiao Cai shook his head, "No idea, to brew wine maybe?"

"To brew wine?" a touch of admiration flashed across Shen Chi's eyes, brewing wine was a wonderful skill in that time and space.

It was getting warmer and warmer, there were a lot of berries in the mountains, kids loved to pick the sour and sweet berries.

Zhang Da Hu now was sitting on a tree, enjoying the berries he had just picked, his ten fingers had all turned red due to the juice.

Zhang Da Hu jumped off from the tree when he saw Chen Xiao Cai, Chen Xiao Mai and Shen Chi walking towards the mountain with a dozen of small baskets, he blocked their way and asked, "What are you doing with these tiny baskets?"

Zhang Da Hu saw the new outfits Chen Xiao Cai and Chen Xiao Mai were wearing, he was a bit jealous.

Chen Xiao Cai raised the baskets in hand and said, "My brother-in-law asks me to pick berries, he pays me 3 cents for each basket."

Zhang Da Hu saw the baskets in Shen Chi's hand and asked, "Are you helping him?"

Shen Chi nodded, "Yes, there are too many baskets here, Lin Gege will pay me 3 cents for each basket too."

"Will I get 3 cents too if I help?" Zhang Da Hu's eyes lit up.

Chen Xiao Cai was so glad to hear that for he had no idea how to ask Zhang Da Hu for help, but he covered the happiness and put on a serious face, "Yes, but we only accept good berries, we only want big ripe ones."

Zhang Da Hu nodded, "No problem!"

Zhang Da Hu was the leader of the kids, other kids soon had surrounded Chen Xiao Cai and asked whether they could help as well.

Chen Xiao Cai nodded, he soon distributed the baskets.

There were three types of wild berries in the mountain, one grew on the tree and the other two grew in bush. They had similar size, but the one grew on the tree was dark purple like mulberry, the bushed ones were like cherries.

Chen Xiao Cai said he wanted all three types of berries, but he wanted them to be in different baskets.

Zhang Da Hu had great hand-eye coordination, he managed to fill up two baskets while most kids were still struggling with the first basket.

"Chen Xiao Cai, have a look at my baskets, are you happy with the amount?" Zhang Da Hu asked.

Some other kids also got Chen Xiao Cai's approval.

Chen Xiao Cai checked and nodded, "Now we can go back to my house and talk to my brother or my brother-in-law."

The kids were afraid of Chen Xiao Mi, but no one could resist the 'Almighty Cents', they looked at each other to cheer themselves up and together they marched down to Chen Xiao Mi's house.

Lu Lin was impressed by how quick Chen Xiao Cai managed to get the job done.

Chen Xiao Cai blushed on seeing Lu Lin's appreciative smile, he felt proud.

Lu Lin checked the berries, he was happy about the quality, so he paid them with alacrity.

The kids were thrilled, usually they didn't have any allowance. But now they had 3 cents, that's enough to buy 2 big steamed stuffed buns!

Lu Lin put the berries in big baskets, he told the kids to pick up the small baskets if they were interested in continuing working for him.

That was exactly what the kids wished for, they soon surrounded Lu Lin and picked up the small baskets. They kept going back and forth from the mountain to Chen Xiao Mi's house that day, most of them picked 6 baskets that day, some kids managed to pick 9 baskets.

At the end of the day, all good and ripe berries were picked in the mountain.

Lu Lin didn't want the kids to go into deep mountains to pick berries, so he told the kids that was enough and he had to call it a day.

The kids were somewhat disappointed, they enjoyed making some allowance for themselves.

"Cai, please let me know when you need help next time." Zhang Da Hu patted on Chen Xiao Cai's shoulder.

Other kids also chimed in, "Yes, please, Cai, please let us know."

This was the first time that the kids talked to Chen Xiao Cai in such warm tone, Chen Xiao Cai was a bit-tongue-tied.

Zhang Da Hu went back home with 24 cents.

His little sister Zhang Mei Zi asked with surprise, "Gege, where did you get all this money?"

"Haha, because I have great hand-eye coordination and I run fast."

It was true, Zhang Da Hu was great at climbing trees too, he picked the most berries from trees among all the kids.

"What have you done? I'm so curious." Zhang Mei Zi was intrigued.

"Chen Xiao Cai's brother-in-law pays everyone 3 cents for a small basket of berries, but unfortunately, he doesn't want any more. I guess that's fine, I don't want to go into deep mountains to pick berries, it's too dangerous."

"Why does Lu Lin want so many berries?"

Zhang Da Hu shrugged, "I didn't ask, but he and Chen Xiao Mi are so rich now, they sold gloves and wine, maybe he is doing it for fun?"

Zhang Lin Sheng, their father, now walked in while the kids were talking.

"Great job! 24 cents!" Zhang Lin Sheng patted Zhang Da Hu's head.

"I got paid the most out of all the kids." Zhang Da Hu grinned.

Zhang Lin Sheng nodded and put all the money into his own pocket, "Good for you."

Zhang Da Hu frowned, "Father, that's my money."

Zhang Lin Sheng glared at Zhang Da Hu, "I know, I'm just putting it away for you, I will buy you steamed stuffed buns next time I go to the market."

Zhang Da Hu got riled up, "When exactly are you going to the market then?"

"In a couple of days." Zhang Lin Sheng brushed his son off impatiently.

He dared not make eye contact with son now, he couldn't handle the heated stare.

Zhang Mei Zi pouted, "Father has taken it all."

Zhang Da Hu whispered, "I've put 3 cents in my sleeve, don't worry, I can buy you an egg."

Zhang Mei Zi didn't see that coming, she beamed with smiles.

The villagers were surprised to hear the kids made around 15 cents for picking berries, that was what they got for being a casual worker for a day if they were lucky enough to get hired. They no longer mentioned things like 'stay away from the Chens'.

Lu Lin started at the small baskets, lost in thought.

"What's wrong?" Chen Xiao Mi asked.

"One missing."

"Really?"

"Yeah, it's just so strange, isn't it? I paid 5 cents for each of them, I don't care about the 5 cents, it's just so strange, isn't it?"

"Let's ask Cai."

Lu Lin shook his head, "Nah, it's no big deal, Cai has finally built up some self-confidence, let's not blow this out of proportion and ruin his good mood. Maybe some kid just liked it and took it back home. It's okay."