Sun Daqing exclaimed in surprise, "Little cousin, you want us to help you dig herbs?"
"Shh~" Zhao Zhitong covered Sun Daqing's mouth with her small hand and whispered, "Second cousin, keep your voice down. It's a secret."
"Yes, yes, a secret, a secret." Sun Daqing laughed foolishly, covering his own mouth and lowering his voice, "Little cousin, what do you want to dig herbs for?"
Zhao Zhitong: "Daddy's leg hurts, I want to treat Daddy's leg."
At this moment, the eldest cousin Sun Daji spoke up, "So that's what it's for. Then, little cousin, you don't have to worry. My grandpa has already prepared medicine for your dad."
Zhao Zhitong was stunned, "Really?"
No wonder Zhao Zhitong didn't know. Zhao Dong was afraid the smell of the medicine would bother Zhao Zhitong, so he always brewed it after meals.
And after meals, she would either run off somewhere or go to sleep, so she had no idea her dad drank medicine every day.
Sun Daji nodded affirmatively, "Of course, after all, Grandpa is a doctor."
Sun Daqing also chimed in, "Yes, yes, and if you want herbs, there's no need to go to the mountains to dig. We have plenty at home."
Upon hearing there were plenty of herbs at home, Zhao Zhitong's eyes lit up with excitement, "Really?"
Sun Daqing nodded hurriedly, "Of course it's true. My uncle goes around collecting herbs all the time. Do you want to see?"
Zhao Zhitong nodded eagerly, "I do, can I?"
"Of course you can. Come on, second cousin will take you to see them now." Sun Daqing guaranteed by patting his chest.
Sun Daji looked at the flaunting Sun Daqing speechlessly and pushed him, "…Second brother, those are my dad's herbs. Why are you as excited as if it were your dad's? If anyone's taking the little cousin to see, it should be me."
Sun Daxiang and Sun Duru also squeezed in front of Zhao Zhitong, whispering, "And me, and me. My dad just collected some yesterday and they're laid out in the backyard. I'll take you to see."
While the little kids were conspiring to go see the herbs, a voice suddenly came from above, "What are you little guys whispering about?"
"Yikes!"
"Ah!"
The sudden voice startled the little kids, making them scatter in all directions.
"Uncle, you scared us to death!" Zhao Zhitong leaned against the wall at the back of the house, patting her small chest, and then bared her little teeth fiercely at Sun Youcai.
"Exactly, Uncle, you scared us!"
The little kids also followed Zhao Zhitong, patting their chests and shouting at Sun Youcai.
Sun Youcai had a look of knowing, "You must have been up to some mischief, that's why you got scared."
"No, no, we weren't."
The little kids shouted loudly, and then ran off in a flash.
——
Meanwhile, Zhao Dong had already mentioned the idea of co-operating in making tofu to his father-in-law.
Seeing his son-in-law earning money yet still wanting to include their family, Sun Kang was even more satisfied with his son-in-law.
He quickly called over his sons and daughters-in-law, and while smoking a pipe, he said, "Your brother-in-law suggested that our family join in to make tofu and earn money together. What do you all think?"
Zhao Dong nodded repeatedly, smiling as he reiterated his plan, "Here's the thing…"
After listening to Zhao Dong's explanation, both daughters-in-law were clearly tempted. Sharing thirty percent of the income, that's about three hundred wen a day, which is quite profitable.
Shun Kang, however, thought Zhao Dong was giving them too much when he heard about the thirty percent share, "Son-in-law, isn't giving us thirty percent too much? You should take some back."
Zhao Dong waved his hand repeatedly, "It's not too much at all. I even feel it's too little. Making tofu is simple. Soon others will figure out how to do it. For now, since no one else knows, we should hurry and make as much money as we can. Once the method is out, it won't be profitable anymore.
But it's just me and Sun Mei at home, we're too busy. I don't trust others, only you brothers-in-law. Plus, it's labor-intensive work, having you join is a great help to me, thirty percent is not much at all."
Zhao Dong's trust made Sun Youwei and Sun Youli very happy.
Sun Youli even patted his chest immediately, promising to keep the method secure for Zhao Dong.
In the end, they joyfully reached an agreement to cooperate, planning to start helping out that afternoon.
Upon hearing that Zhao Dong also needed to gather lotus leaves, Sun Youli immediately volunteered, "I know the way to the lotus pond the best, I'll take you there!"
Having been in the past for so long without venturing out, Sun Mei was keen to see an ancient lotus pond and decided to go with them for a look.
As she was about to ask if Zhao Zhitong wanted to join, she realized the girl had disappeared somewhere, along with all the little kids in the house.
"Third brother, where's Tongtong?"
Having just been accused by the little kids, Sun Youcai spoke up, "Sis, don't worry about her. She's playing with Sun Daji and the others in the backyard right now. You all go ahead, I'll keep an eye on her."
"Alright then, I'm leaving the little ones to you."
With that, the group going to gather lotus leaves set off.
As soon as they were gone and the little kids were nowhere to be seen, the courtyard fell silent.
Sun Kang was sitting in the courtyard enjoying his pipe for a while when he felt it had become too quiet, so he got up and headed to the backyard.
By that time, in the backyard, the kids were gathered around the herb drying racks, enthusiastically discussing.
Sun Daqing was rummaging through a basket of herbs, asking Zhao Zhitong, "Little cousin, little cousin, what herb are you looking for again?"
Sun Daxiang replied disdainfully, "Duxu, Sun Daqing, you're really dumb."
Sun Daqing was displeased, "I'm not dumb, I just forgot. Little cousin, show me again what it looks like, and second cousin will surely find it for you."
So Zhao Zhitong took out the drawing she had prepared and handed it to Sun Daqing.
After a glance, Sun Daqing was full of confidence, "Okay, I know."
With that, he began searching the racks one by one. The other kids imitated him, acting like experts, sniffing and licking the herbs.
"I found it, I found it."
Just then, Sun Daji excitedly ran to Zhao Zhitong with a herb, showing it off like a treasure.
"Wow, really?"
Zhao Zhitong happily put down the herb in her hand and hurried over. But after examining it closely, she was disappointed, "Eldest cousin, this is not it. This is sheep's sorrel, also known as a little red, found a lot by the roadside. It's used to clear heat and detoxify."
As Sun Daji left, Sun Daxiang ran over with a bunch of leaves, "Little cousin, is this it?"
Zhao Zhitong shook her head, "No, these are four-season green leaves, also for clearing heat and detoxifying, but they also reduce swelling and dispel bruises."
Sun Daqing hurried over too, "What about this, this one?"
Zhao Zhitong said helplessly, "Second cousin, this is goose grass. You can see it by the wall, also for clearing heat and detoxifying."
Now all the older brothers and sisters looked at her with eyes full of amazement and admiration.
"Little cousin, you're amazing, how do you know all this."
"Little cousin is so smart, just like Uncle!"
"No, you're wrong, little cousin must be the smartest child in the family, even smarter than Uncle!"
...