As soon as he heard his wife wanted to deal in wild vegetables, Fan Zehao's complexion turned as green as wild vegetables.
He immediately interrupted his wife's ceaseless chatter and said, "Alright, wife, we're living well now, we don't eat wild vegetables. Back then, just the mention of wild vegetables made my stomach burn. Besides, if people eat wild vegetables, they can go to the mountains and dig them themselves. Why would they pay to buy yours? Just because you're pretty?"
Selling wild vegetables, he couldn't believe his wife could even think of such a thing!
Fan Zehao shook his head and refused, not because he looked down on the business, but because no one would look up to this business!
Whether selling or buying wild vegetables, once it was said out loud, people would surely take them for fools!
Her passionate heart was doused by her husband's cold water, leaving nothing left.
Zhao Jiaqi was not discouraged. She explained to him, "Husband, the wild vegetables I'm talking about are not just the ones you often pick. There are also some less common ones, such as fern, shepherd's purse, cucumber fragrance, dandelion, and so on. These wild vegetables have considerable nutritional value. Although they are all collectively called wild vegetables, they are genuine vegetables, never adulterated!"
Seeing her husband frowned, but did not discourage her, Zhao Jiaqi immediately perked up and said, "Look, shepherd's purse blanched and mixed with minced meat can be made into buns, dumplings, pies, and potstickers. The taste is particularly fresh!"
"Dandelion, this stuff is bitter. If you accidentally cut yourself on the mountain, pick a handful of dandelion, chew it in your mouth, and apply it to the wound, it has an anti-inflammatory effect. Eating it also has an anti-inflammatory effect. Just drinking dandelion root steeped in water is also good for the body!"
Fan Zehao was persuaded by his wife and felt that he had not eaten these things she mentioned, but he still felt uncomfortable thinking about the wild vegetables he had eaten before!
However, seeing his wife's enthusiasm, he couldn't bear to discourage her. Then he thought, if his wife insisted on doing this with wild vegetables, he would go along with her!
If they lost money, he could be a scapegoat for her. If it was said out loud, he would take all the blame, and it would have nothing to do with his wife. Anyway, his skin was thick, and he wasn't afraid of being talked about!
"Okay, how about we do it together, with a fifty-fifty split of the profits!"
Having not done much business, he followed suit and laid everything out clearly!
"Okay, you manage the workshop, and I'll be responsible for promoting it. If we make money, you can keep it yourself, no need to hand it over! How about that, am I generous!"
Fan Zehao smiled and nodded without speaking. He didn't know if she was generous or not, but he was already prepared to lose money!
The couple sat on the mountain, one thinking about how much they would lose, the other fantasizing about how much they would earn!
Their thoughts were completely on different paths!
As they were happily thinking, a chaotic sound of footsteps came from behind them. They both turned around and saw several burly men holding large sabers, approaching them!
The Dragon Guards in the dark wanted to reveal themselves, but were stopped by Fan Zehao. He wanted to see who these people were!
Local ruffians?
Or wandering bandits?
Or a mysterious horse gang!
Fan Zehao helped his wife up and shielded her behind him. Looking at the approaching people, he said, "My good sirs, my wife and I are just on the mountain looking for some wild fruits to eat. We sat here to rest when we got tired. If we have accidentally trespassed on your territory, please forgive us!"
He emulated Ling Weifeng and cupped his fists towards them, like a half-member of the martial world!
The leader saw that this man was sensible, not surprised or flustered, but calm. His wife also did not cry, as if she had seen much of the world. So, he did not hold them accountable!
This time they came down the mountain, they just wanted to rob the owner of this medicinal estate, but unexpectedly, they ran into a pair of suckers!
Oh well, it was still something!
The leader, known as Ma Lao Qi, pointed his saber at Fan Zehao, leaned forward, and shouted at him in a provocative manner, "I am Ma Lao Qi. I'm short of some money in my pocket today. If you're sensible, quickly take out your valuables. I won't make things difficult for you. If you don't know what's good for you, don't blame my saber for not recognizing you!"
The blade of the saber glinted in the sunlight. When Fan Zehao heard this person claim to be surnamed Ma, he immediately thought of the horse gang!
The horse gang, the horse gang. Could it be an organization of local ruffians surnamed Ma! That's why it's called the horse gang!
Fan Zehao took out his money while pretending to be cautious. He asked in a low voice, "You guys aren't the renowned horse gang around here, are you!"
Seeing that they were momentarily stunned, he lowered his voice again, "I've heard that you only rob and don't harm people's lives. If I give you my money and valuables, you won't harm us, right?"
Ma Lao Qi had never expected in his life that someone would mistake him for that person. It was true, the horse gang was quite famous in this area, so it was fine for him to impersonate them occasionally!
He didn't bother to explain, smiled sinisterly, raised his eyebrows, and tilted his chin, "Since you're so sensible, I won't waste time. I only want money, nothing else. Hurry up and hand over the money, so my brothers don't have to go through the trouble of searching you!"
Fan Zehao saw that they did not deny being the horse gang, and felt more confident. He readily threw all the money on him and his wife to them, even the few 100-tael silver notes, giving them everything!
"This is all we have. We don't have any more!"
Ma Lao Qi took the five hundred tael silver notes, as well as some jewelry and ornaments. Although their style was simple, they were made of good materials and were quite exquisite, clearly crafted by a master.
These two people, unassuming and low-key, could possess such things. Either their family was truly wealthy and they were just this discreet, or they were not ostentatious people and were trying to prevent being robbed. Unfortunately, they had run into him today, so it was their bad luck!
Ma Lao Qi sensed that they were not simple people, so he did not linger. He shouted to the people behind him with the money and a pile of ornaments, "Retreat!"
With a command, the five or six people behind him retreated. Ma Lao Qi covered the rear. After a few normal steps, they started running and quickly disappeared into the woods!
Not long after they left, the Dragon Guards followed them under Fan Zehao's orders!
Zhao Jiaqi sighed. Seeing these bandits today, well... it was a relatively civilized robbery, which opened her eyes. However, these people would probably not have a good end!
"Wife, I'll take you back to the inn in the city, and I'll go to the prefect to mobilize troops to exterminate these beasts, so they don't wreak havoc here!"
Zhao Jiaqi did not refuse, and nodded. When her husband took out those ornaments, she had already guessed what he was going to do!
At present, this medicinal estate was indeed not a safe place. It was better for her and her son to return to the inn. After all, there were many people in the inn, and it was close to the county office. Those bandits would not dare to be so blatant!