90s, The Cannon Fodder Wife of the Paranoid Boss is Reborn

Chapter 56 One person and half

Bai Lu blankly took the big tangerine from the boss and asked curiously: "Did you take it with you when you go out?"

  Xiao Cheng said casually: "Offerings."

Bai Lu was so shocked that she pinched the peel of the orange.

The ancestors gave it to her before she even ate it. Wouldn't it be bad...?

 Should she be flattered?

 The little heart is pounding, thumping, thumping.

Bai Lu patted her heart as if unintentionally, and the smile on her face was completely normal: "Xiaowei is hungry too."

Xiao Wei was wearing transparent clothes and was called out again. He really wanted to find a crack in the ground and crawl in.

 He is not hungry! Not hungry! Not hungry!

Xiao Cheng took out a tangerine half the size of Bai Lu's hand from another pocket and gave it to Bai Lu.

Bai Lu was immediately handed into Xiao Wei's hand.

  Xiao Wei: “…”

 Well he's hungry.

Bai Lu peeled off the cracked tangerine peel and divided it into two halves, giving half to Xiao Cheng and half to herself.

Xiao Cheng lowered his eyes and glanced at the citrus pulp in his hand, frowned slightly, then let go, his thin lips slightly raised, and the slices of pulp entered the mouth, leaving a sweet taste on his lips and teeth.

The more Bai Lu ate, the more she felt that the tangerines in her mouth were sweeter than those sold by Aunt Wu, probably because they were offerings.

As soon as I ate the last piece, the big straw hat on my head suddenly made a "pop" sound, as if it had been hit by something.

Moreover, nothing fell to the ground.

Oops!

 Could it be a piece of shit? ? ?

This mountain is densely covered with trees and luxuriant foliage. It is a peaceful and natural place, perfect for birds to build their nests.

Just as the scary thought came to his mind, he faced a long, slender hand with distinct joints, reaching for the big straw hat on his head, and picked up something dark red to black.

 Just throw it away.

"Wait a moment!"

Bai Lu grabbed Xiao Cheng's hand, took off the dark red thing, put it close to the tip of her nose and smelled it.

 Sure enough, the fragrance is pungent, and I put it too close.

"Isn't this the star anise?" Bai Lu held the star anise and looked up. The tree was too tall and she could only see green leaves and occasionally a few small black things hanging on the branches.

 Star anise, also known as fennel, can be used to make spices, marinades, hot pot bases, etc., and has considerable medicinal value.

 “It’s octagonal.” Xiao Cheng confirmed her answer.

Bai Lu was surprised and confused: "Isn't the ripening season of star anise similar to that of chestnut? They only mature in July and August. Why are there still star anises falling now?"

“Because no one picked it when it was ripe, the star anise stayed hanging on the tree and only fell off when the wind blew.”

A grandmother with a thin body, gray hair, and a red face slowly walked out from behind the big tree.

After answering Bai Lu’s question, grandma turned to Xiao Cheng and showed a kind smile: “Young man, thank you for the tangerines, grandma’s teeth were almost knocked out by the sweetness.”

 “It was given by Xiao Dazhuang.” Xiao Cheng was very honest.

It’s not my own credit, I don’t even accept thank you.

Grandma took a fancy to the fruit offering and asked Xiao Dazhuang to take it. Xiao Dazhuang didn't dare to take it, but grandma insisted.

 Xiao Dazhuang went to ask Xiao Cheng, but Xiao Cheng didn't say anything. Xiao Dazhuang thought that Xiao Cheng acquiesced as before.

　　Secretly took an orange to grandma.

Turning around, I found that Xiao Cheng had also taken two. This scene happened to be seen by my grandmother, who concluded that Xiao Cheng had given the oranges to Xiao Dazhuang, and Xiao Dazhuang had given them to her. "oh…"

Hearing Xiao Cheng’s explanation, grandma nodded: “So your name is Xiao Dazhuang. Grandma remembered it.”

  Xiao Cheng: “…”

 Xiao Wei pressed his lips together to hold back laughter.

Bai Lu was already laughing so **** Xiao Cheng's shoulder.

Seeing that he wanted to retort, he quickly tugged on the clothes on his arms and shook his head with difficulty not to laugh.

　　After a while, she changed the subject and said, "Grandma, can't the star anise be sold for money? Why didn't you pick it? It was damaged by the rain after it was left on the tree for so long."

Grandma was in a good mood after eating the tangerines given by Da Zhuang. She smiled and replied: "The star anise is not valuable, so no one picks it. I just pick a little and save it for the Chinese New Year braised pork."

“How much is the purchase price?” Bai Lu asked.

 Grandma shook her head and sighed: "Eight cents."

"Such a low price!" Bai Lu couldn't believe it.

Grandma explained: "People from outside the mountain drive in to buy star anise. They always say that our star anise is not good, that is not good, the size and color are not uniform, and the smell is not as strong as the ones outside. They also say that our star anise is crooked and cracked. One cent is already the highest purchase price in the area.”

"Children have to climb up high trees to pick star anise. It's hard and dangerous. They only pay a few yuan a day. It's more difficult than farming, so they won't pick it. Let it stay on the tree and the birds will eat it if they like. If you don’t like it, just leave it.”

"Anyway, they were planted by the production team in the past. Star anise is planted on the hilltop here, fir trees are planted on the hilltop there, chestnut, lychee, grapefruit are planted on the hilltop on the other side... There are all kinds of trees. Later, during the land reform, the hilltop was divided into the hands of the villagers. If you don’t need to fertilize and take care of it, everyone will be too lazy to care.”

If it weren't for the favor given by Da Zhuang, grandma would not have said it in such detail. She usually rarely talks, and after speaking, she showed a kind smile to Xiao Cheng.

 Dazhuang is really a good and filial boy.

  Xiao Cheng: “…”

 He wanted to leave, but was pulled by Bai Lu.

Bai Lu remembers that although the price of star anise in later generations has fluctuated several times, the market demand is huge and the purchase price has never been so low.

Moreover, this province is the origin of star anise, and the domestic output of star anise accounts for up to 90%.

 There are star anise processing factories in many places in the province. However, the processing technology is immature and cannot thoroughly control the taste and quality of the products, so the price has not been rising.

 From the 1990s to the 21st century, the price of anise has experienced many ups and downs, and finally reached the highest level.

Even now, prices are not too low, and buyers are still picky, probably because they are being pressured by the city.

 Those giant snakes in Nanshi, covering the sky with one hand, work together to suppress certain industries and monopolize market prices.

 Foreign businessmen who want to come in and buy it have to pay a high price, and it is difficult for mountain residents to raise the price of anise.

Bai Lu looked up and saw star anise trees all over the mountains and plains. She slightly curled her lips. Star anise...

 Another way to make a fortune!

If you can open up overseas sales, it will be easy to make a fortune.

The ancestor of the Xiao family was really kind to Xiao Cheng. He didn't blame him when he didn't come, but gave him a big gift package to get rich when he came.

And on this rolling hilltop, there are not only chestnut and octagonal trees, but also so many fruit trees, all of which are private land allocated to the Xiao family villagers.

If the market can be opened and sold to other places in the same season, the boss will become a rich man, many years in advance.

Bai Lu was so excited that she couldn't help shaking Xiao Cheng's arm, which made Xiao Cheng look confused and puzzled.

“Children, go and worship your ancestors. Let your ancestors bless you with good health and a successful career.”

Grandma heard the calls of Xiao Guofu and Li Hongying, and quickly reminded Xiao Cheng and Bai Lu, as well as the little boy who was standing beside them and kept silent.

 After reminding him, he ran to the front.

 (End of this chapter)