Chapter 271: Chapter 271
The villagers had grown numb to Zhao Gang driving a cart full of wood home, mainly because none of them expected that Gong Tao could actually do woodworking.
Although the current craftsmanship level of the furniture he made isn’t great, it’s gradually improving, which is good news for the villagers.
With a local carpenter like Gong Tao, they no longer need to go outside the village for small furniture pieces. Most importantly, they can just prepare the materials themselves and wait for him to craft the pieces.
Even if it takes a while and the craftsmanship isn’t the best, the lack of labor fees makes it tolerable for everyone.
Erya, seeing so many people, kept shrinking back, wanting to lower her presence.
"Ni Zi, take the things home first, I’ll help move them tonight." With so many people around, Erya was too embarrassed to mention taking all the books home.
As soon as she got the books back home, the village was abuzz with gossip, suggesting she was squandering money.
Gong Ruini acknowledged with an "oh," said goodbye to Erya, and then Zhao Gang chatted with the villagers for a bit before heading home with the ox cart.
Zhao Gang was visibly excited along the way. Although the things belonged to Gong Ruini, he was happy for the girl for finding such good stuff.
Gong Tao, hearing the commotion at the gate, got all excited.
When he rushed out and saw the wood on the ox cart, he was so excited he didn’t know what to do, "This is all huanghuali wood."
Gong Tao caressed the fine wood and truth be told, since those bountiful harvests, he hadn’t gotten such good wood in a long time.
This got Gong Tao all worked up, "With all this wood, I can make several beds."
Though sleeping on a kang in the Northeast is more comfortable, being from the South, he’d always think how nice it would be to have a bed.
"Right, when things get better, we’ll build a house." Although the villagers say Gong Tao’s craftsmanship is average and slow, they’re actually just pulling his leg.
Otherwise, why would he have collected so much wood without crafting it into furniture or wasting any of it? Isn’t it odd?
To process this wood, Gong Tao had put in a lot of effort, letting the villagers know he was buying scrap wood to practice his craft.
Gong Tao hurriedly moved the wood into the house, busying himself with processing what he had collected.
"Zhang Ming has already handled some of it." This was Zhao Gang’s favorite part, having someone knowledgeable to slightly process the wood.
At least it meant not just piling the wood anywhere; Zhang Ming would slightly care for good wood, though mainly to sell it for a good price. But do Zhao Gang and the others care about money?
So, it was Zhang Ming. Although Gong Tao didn’t meet Zhang Ming often, they had a good rapport, despite his previous wood resources being scarce. Why had they suddenly increased?
Gong Tao really couldn’t comprehend, but it was good to have these valuables kept for himself.
If it were before, Zhao Gang would help Gong Tao with moving the wood. Today, Zhao Gang was preoccupied with curiosity, eager to know what was in the box that Gong Ruini specifically requested at the end.
"What’s up with you?" Zhao Gang’s distracted look caught Gong Tao’s eye, making him all the more puzzled.
Zhao Gang pulled Gong Tao aside and quietly explained the situation.
Gong Tao’s eyes widened, "No way." Could his own daughter have struck it rich again?
This made Gong Tao elated; it was truly extraordinary luck, "Quickly move the wood, and we can soon go see Ni Zi."
Although Gong Tao was eager to see the results himself, the wood had to be handled first.
He grabbed Zhao Gang, who was anxious to see the box, "Quick, help move these things."
"You also have to return the ox cart." Thɪs chapter is updatᴇd by NoveI[F]ire.net
At that moment, Zhao Gang truly had no mind for these matters; the curiosity was itching at him, having restrained himself the whole way, even he admired his own persistence.
No matter how anxious Zhao Gang was, he could only follow Gong Tao moving the wood, while Gong Ruini hopped cheerily back home with a box, immediately spotted by Cai Meina.
Cai Meina watched the box in Gong Ruini’s hands for a long time. Honestly, what’s so special about such an ordinary box that her daughter would fancy it? Cai Meina was genuinely baffled.
Gong Ruini waved the box, "It’s free."
Things that are free are always good, especially such an unremarkable box that’s just right for storing things.
Meanwhile, Gong Ruini also wanted to frequently see this box, reminding her that not every box with a compartment holds secrets.
Free? Cai Meina finally understood why her daughter brought the thing back, "Looks nice, it can store some small things later on. Is Ni Zi planning to store money?"
Store money here? Gong Ruini really hadn’t thought about using this for money. Compared to such a plain box, Gong Ruini believed more in keeping money in space, which is the safest.
Zhao Guangran was in all sorts of a bad mood today, thinking where he had to stay home reading and studying, under constant pressure from his elder brother, while Gong Ruini could go out for fun.
"And all you got was a broken box today." Zhao Guangran glanced at the item in Gong Ruini’s hands with a look of disdain.
Such an ugly, meaningless box would only appeal to Gong Ruini. If it were him, he wouldn’t want it; it wasn’t attractive and was all grimy and dull, clearly uncared for over many years.
A broken box? Hmph, what a lack of insight, thought Gong Ruini, glaring at Zhao Guangran disdainfully, "Don’t go snatching it then if you have the ability."
Gong Ruini put the box in front of Zhao Guangran, thinking, you don’t like it now, but don’t regret it later.
"So dirty." Zhao Guangran restrained his urge to toss it, "I don’t even know where you found it."
"Just this broken thing, and you think I’d fight for it?" Zhao Guangran dismissed the thought entirely; it was out of the question.
Hmph, broken thing? Gong Ruini opened the box in front of Zhao Guangran’s face.
Cheh, it’s just a broken box, what’s there to show off, Zhao Guangran sneered, uninterested in looking.
Zhao Xuran put down his pen out of curiosity, not believing that such a grimy box would have no peculiar traits.
No matter how he observed, aside from being a box, and still just a box, he saw nothing special about it.
Gong Ruini gently touched a certain spot, and the box unveiled a hidden layer.
"Ah, it has a compartment." This utterly stunned Zhao Guangran. My God, Gong Ruini really found such a good thing; he was envious.
Why is it that Gong Ruini had gone out so few times yet always found good stuff? Zhao Guangran was utterly baffled.
"Is there anything good in it?" Zhao Guangran’s main concern was this.
Isn’t it usually said that compartments contain treasure?
With that, not only Zhao Guangran but Zhao Xuran and Gong Ruwen all craned their heads to look. They just wanted to see if there was any treasure.
They were indeed eager, thought Gong Ruini, smirking. The same ones who couldn’t have been more disdainful before were now keenly hoping to find something valuable; what a stark contrast.