They've all separated, so what does it matter to me if they get poorer and poorer?

Chapter 183 I Like It All

County school.

That day, the Qin family sent Qin Ning'an some gifts again, including a basket of large, plump, and festive red tomatoes. They were so round and chubby that they were pleasing to the eye.

Dou Zhongli and his group happened to run into them. Before his underlings could think much of it, Dou Zhongli was already embarrassed.

The Dou family had some distant kinship with the provincial magistrate. Dou Zhongli was the most studious among all his relatives and friends. Under the praise of everyone, he inevitably became arrogant and always felt that everyone in the world was inferior to him. As a result, he couldn't even get a few tomatoes and was outdone by Qin Ning'an, a fool who spent money to get into school. How could he be happy?

Having been provoked once again, Dou Zhongli couldn't help but mock Liang Mingxuan, "Mingxuan is really lucky. He has everything by following Ning An."

Qin Ning'an gave him a strange look, as if wondering how this person couldn't even understand this: "Mingxuan didn't follow me, I was clearly following him. Luckily, he didn't ignore me because I'm clumsy, hehe!" Besides, Mingxuan has everything. Sister Xu makes incredibly delicious chili sauce and braised meat, and that ice jelly, you all love it, right?"

The news spread, and everyone in the county school naturally knew about it. They were quite surprised at the time, as Liang Mingxuan had lost his parents and brothers, and they never expected him to have such a capable sister-in-law.

A henchman next to Dou Zhongli curled his lip, "They have everything? Did his sister-in-law grow these tomatoes too?"

“Yes,” Qin Ning’an said, puzzled, “Don’t you know?”

Dou Zhongli and his group: "."

Liang Mingxuan said, "My sister-in-law doesn't grow many tomatoes, and they're all supplied to the Lotus Restaurant. But if the senior and junior brothers want some, we can spare a few."

His sister-in-law had also given him tomatoes, but he was always low-key and didn't make a big fuss about it so that the whole county would know that the tomatoes came from his sister-in-law.

Only Qin Ning'an and Lu Xiaoyue knew.

The gentlemen also know that his sister-in-law asked him to deliver it twice.

Now that Qin Ning'an has brought it up, he has no choice but to make a statement.

Dou Zhongli was most afraid of him and was determined to surpass him academically, but he never won once.

How could he possibly accept Liang Mingxuan's things? Wouldn't that mean losing even more?
"No need!" Dou Zhongli refused coldly and left with his two henchmen.

Qin Ning'an looked at Liang Mingxuan, then at Lu Xiaoyue, scratched his head and chuckled sheepishly, "Um, did I say something wrong?"

Lu Xiaoyue glanced at him: "No."

After all, that's how you've always talked, so it's really not wrong for you.

Liang Mingxuan understood Lu Xiaoyue's unspoken meaning and couldn't help but smile. "It's alright, let's go too."

"Okay, okay! I'll take some tomatoes to the cafeteria and ask the cafeteria lady to cook us a tomato and egg dish and a tomato, tofu, and pork stir-fry tonight, how about that?"

Qin Ning was relieved and beaming with joy.

In the county town, people eventually learned that the tomatoes came from Madam Xu's hands.

So, while shopping, someone tentatively suggested buying some tomato seeds from Xu Zhichun.

“I won’t take Madam Xu’s for free; I’ll definitely buy it with money.”

"Whatever price Madam Xu says, that's the price."

Xu Zhichun was both amused and exasperated.

However, tomatoes will eventually become as common as radishes and cabbages, and since they've already been introduced to the market, even she can't stop it.

Besides, she never intended to stop it.

Such a wonderful product should be promoted to benefit the people. Xu Zhichun then declared that she would sell the seeds next spring, providing at least ten kilograms, with limited quantities available to ensure more people could buy them.

They won't overcharge; the price of tomato seeds is the same as the price of radish and cabbage seeds.

It's almost like giving it away for free. But you can't give things away for free; otherwise, it seems cheap.

Everyone was both surprised and delighted.

"Really? Are you sure?"

"Madam Xu will definitely keep her word!"

"Oh dear, look at what you're saying! When has Madam Xu ever gone back on her word?"

"Isn't this practically giving it away for free? That would be too much of a burden."

“I don’t mind paying more money, as long as I can buy it.”

"Me too!"

"And me and me."

"."

Xu Zhichun had no choice but to reiterate: there will definitely be a lot of seeds available at that time, and she will announce it in advance. The price will not increase; it will be the price she mentioned.

When Granny Ji learned of this, she casually mentioned it to Madam Lu during a chat. Madam Lu then casually mentioned it to her husband during a casual conversation.

Magistrate Lu exclaimed, "Madam Xu has a truly magnanimous heart. It's rare for a man to do that, let alone a woman like her."

Madam Lu rolled her eyes at him: "Are you looking down on women, sir?"

"No, that's not true. It's just that few women are literate, and even fewer are knowledgeable. Someone like Madam Xu is extremely rare. We can't let her be disheartened. Have Granny Ji keep a close eye on her. If there's anything she's hesitant to ask, Madam, have Granny Ji ask her first."

Madam Lu smiled and agreed, then said, "I also had some tomato seeds brought back. I'll keep some to plant in the yard next year, and send some with me when I deliver New Year's gifts to the capital. I'll also send some to my family and to the homes of my close friends and cousins."

Mrs. Lu became more and more excited as she talked, as if there were many people she wanted to send seeds to, and the seeds she had prepared were not enough, so she would have to prepare some more.

Magistrate Lu chuckled and shook his head, saying, "Then send them away. Such fine things should be sent out in abundance."

It would be a good thing if everyone could enjoy such delicious tomatoes in the future.

Magistrate Lu then thought of the sweet potatoes and potatoes; they should be ready for harvest soon, right? After the autumn harvest, he would send Granny Ji to inquire with Madam Xu.
In Liangjia Village, when Qiao'er was happily munching on a bright red tomato, people saw her and asked her about it. Soon, everyone knew how good tomatoes were.

It looks beautiful, can be eaten raw, and I've heard it can also be used in cooking. I've never seen anything like it before, and it's said to be incredibly delicious. Tell me, in the whole village, who could resist such temptation?
Which farmer could resist the urge to grow one of these crops themselves?
In the countryside, it's perfectly normal for neighbors to ask for a bunch of green beans, peppers, and cucumbers when they see someone else's plants are growing well, and they don't have any of their own. They might even exchange a bunch of their own vegetables for some.

So some people went to Xu Zhichun and Aunt Zhu'er's house, wanting to ask for or exchange for a few of those tomatoes to try.

Aunt Zhu'er only gave two or three to the two families she was closest to, and refused all the others.

"These tomatoes are meant to be kept for sale. We really don't have any more. Next year, we'll give you seeds to grow your own and try them."

"Manager Tang of the Lotus Restaurant buys them for five copper coins a pound!"

I really didn't dare say 25 coins, for fear that the tomatoes in my vegetable garden would be stolen.

(End of this chapter)