Xu Mingxuan picked up his basket and said, "Alright! Lan'er, Xiangxi, quickly put your baskets on the ox cart. We need to get going. We also need to go to Dalingsha Village later."
Xiangxi asked curiously, "Mingxuan-ge, why are we going to Dalingsha Village?"
Before Xu Mingxuan could answer, Chen Lan chimed in, "Dalingsha Village, like Honghualing Village, is running out of food. We're taking some grain there today to help them out."
Hearing Chen Lan's explanation, Xiangxi didn't ask any more questions and sat down next to Chen Lan on the ox cart.
Er Zhuang, seeing that all three were seated, called out, "Everyone's ready! Let's go!"
Xiangxi then quietly tugged on Chen Lan's sleeve. Puzzled, Chen Lan turned to him. Xiangxi winked and pouted, and Chen Lan immediately understood. She knew that Little Watermelon had something to tell her and leaned closer. Xiangxi glanced at Xu Mingxuan, who was sitting opposite them, then whispered mysteriously in Chen Lan's ear, "Little Lanyou, isn't your little stash of money running low? I have a great idea."
Chen Lan's interest was piqued. She whispered back, "Oh? Little Watermelon, what's your great idea? Tell me quickly!"
Xiangxi winked again, and his gaze involuntarily flickered towards Xu Mingxuan. Xu Mingxuan gave Xiangxi a cold glance and asked sternly, "Little Watermelon, why are you staring at me? Are you planning to do something bad with Lan'er behind my back? Something you don't want me to know?"
Xiangxi immediately replied loudly, "Mingxuan-ge, what are you talking about? Am I that kind of person? I, Chen Xiangxi, am a promising young man. If I do anything, it will be good deeds. How could I do bad things? Little Lanyou, you tell him, am I right?"
Chen Lan knew Xiangxi had a secret to share with her, and his mysterious behavior must have a reason. She chimed in, "That's right, Mingxuan-ge, you're wrong this time. How could Little Watermelon and I do bad things? We're both kind-hearted good people. If we do anything, it will be good deeds."
Xiangxi nodded enthusiastically, "Yes, yes, exactly."
Xu Mingxuan ignored their protests and pressed on, "Xiangxi, then tell me the truth. What is it that you can't say out loud? Why do you and Lan'er want to hide it from me and be so secretive about it?"
Xiangxi quickly explained, "Mingxuan-ge, it's not what you think. I just don't want to go to Dalingsha Village with you to deliver grain. I want to go to the woods with Little Lanyou to learn hunting from her. I can't help it if you don't believe me."
Chen Lan quickly seconded him, "That's right, Mingxuan-ge, that's what Little Watermelon is talking about. I've already agreed to go hunting with him. We'll have a big meal together when you get back tonight. Mingxuan-ge, besides, do we really need all of us to go to Dalingsha Village to deliver grain? You and Er Zhuang can handle it. As for the reason for delivering grain, just make something up!"
Since they both insisted, Xu Mingxuan stopped pressing. He turned to Er Zhuang and said, "Er Zhuang, stop at the fork in the road later and let them two down. We'll go to Dalingsha Village together to deliver the grain."
Er Zhuang happily replied, "Okay! Mingxuan-ge, I got it!"
The ox cart rumbled along the bumpy mountain path. The group traveled in silence until they reached the fork in the road. Er Zhuang stopped the ox cart and said, "Sister-in-law, Brother Xiangxi, we've reached the fork. You can get off now."
Chen Lan and Xiangxi immediately dismounted. Xu Mingxuan also got off the cart. Chen Lan took out several bags of ordinary rice from the system's warehouse and several bags of high-priced sweet potatoes and potatoes she had just ordered from the system, placing them on the ox cart. The cart was instantly loaded to the brim!
Looking at the grain on the ox cart, Chen Lan felt a pang of regret. The potatoes in the system now cost seventy cents a jin, and sweet potatoes cost over a yuan per jin. The price of corn was even higher, almost the same as wheat. Ordinary rice was only a little over two yuan per jin.
Chen Lan's heart ached as if it were bleeding. She thought it would have been better to just buy ordinary rice. But she couldn't do that! Even if she only bought rice, Xu Mingxuan might be willing to send it, but the people in Dalingsha Village might not dare to accept it. Alas! It was a difficult dilemma!
Chen Lan sighed and turned to Xu Mingxuan, "Mingxuan-ge, you can deliver these to Dalingsha Village for today. We'll deliver the rest after we return from the Soviet Union. Next time, we'll send more corn."
Xu Mingxuan glanced at the grain on the ox cart, nodded, and asked softly, "Lan'er, is there any rice in this delivery?"
Chen Lan nodded and replied, "Yes! Father-in-law said the corn price has gone up this year, and it's too expensive to buy corn there, so I asked father-in-law to help us buy ordinary rice."
Watching the ox cart drive away, Chen Lan and Xiangxi each picked up a basket and prepared to head up the mountain. As they walked, Chen Lan asked, "Little Watermelon, you can tell me your plan now!"
Xiangxi rubbed his nose and whispered, "Little Lanyou, aren't we running out of money? Let's go back to where we found the gold nugget and see if we can find another one today!"
Chen Lan was tempted by Xiangxi's suggestion but still hesitated. She whispered, "Little Watermelon, if Mingxuan-ge finds out we did this, will he be angry?"
Xiangxi now had a reason to retort. He immediately said, "Little Lanyou, can't you be a bit more courageous? Look at you, you're usually so capable, and now you're scared? We can go there first, and then go hunting in the mountains later. That way, Mingxuan-ge won't know. Don't you think I'm right?"
Chen Lan thought about it and realized he was right. As long as she didn't say anything, and Little Watermelon didn't say anything, no one would know she revisited that place. If they were lucky this time, they might even find another one. Yes, that's decided.
She waved her hand and lowered her voice, shouting, "Little Watermelon, lead the way! Let's go immediately!"
Xiangxi also nodded and bowed playfully, "Yes! Miss, your humble servant will lead the way for you. Please watch your step and go slowly!"