Little Miss Fortune: I Will Bring Prosperity to My Tang Family!-Chapter 102: The Chubby Kid Causes Trouble at the Wharf

Chapter 96

The Chubby Kid Causes Trouble at the Wharf

That evening, Xiaolin called the children over to give each of them a small jar of pickled vegetables. Although the jars were small, they would last for several days. After bathing and having dinner, she spent some time playing with her younger brother before going back to sleep in her own room.

The next morning, Xiaolin and the three boys from the Huan family were all sitting in a carriage driven by Huan Tan, who sat outside handling the reins.

When they reached the gates of Jiangnan City, Huan Tan stopped to negotiate with the guards, requesting permission to bring the carriage into the city to go to the wharf. After paying the entrance fees and tolls, the carriage proceeded into Jiangnan City.

Xiaolin leaned out the window, her round face peeking out to take in the sights. Beside her, Ching Lang was also leaning against the window, curiously observing the shops and establishments outside. On the opposite side, Ching Long and Huan Luwen were doing the same.

It took quite a while to travel through the city. Besides navigating the throngs of people shopping, the distance itself was considerable, as Jiangnan City was twice the size of Jingnan City.

As an important port city, many people interested in trade had moved there, purchasing land and setting up shops. The northern side of the city, close to the large dock, was especially crowded with businesses, including inns, teahouses, taverns, and brothels.

Apart from traders seeking opportunities, many wealthy families also came here for entertainment. It was said that Jiangnan City was not only a port but also a city of pleasure. However, Xiaolin was not interested in such things; her main concern was anything that could fill her stomach.

The four children waited as Huan Tan took the carriage to a livery stable, paid for the care of the horse, and then led the children to the market by the wharf.

He held Xiaolin’s chubby hand tightly, afraid she might run off and get lost, which would make it impossible for him to return her to Tian Rong. The three boys followed behind, looking around with interest. Huan Tan was confident that his son and nephews were more sensible than the chubby kid beside him.

Xiaolin looked off to the side and saw several beautifully dressed women in brightly colored outfits standing together. She had once entertained the whimsical thought that if she were a man, she would spend many days having fun with these beauties inside. COUGH!

She quickly shook her head to dismiss the inappropriate thought and turned her attention back to the bustling market. This side was just as lively as the western side, with villagers looking for work, merchants shouting to sell their goods, and foreigners easily recognizable by their distinct clothing and hairstyles.

"Shall we go there now?" Xiaolin asked, looking up at her tall companion. Her round eyes observed the bustling market, which was lively due to the approaching winter. Merchants from other towns were rushing to buy goods to stock up for the winter season.

"We can look around a bit first," Huan Tan said, dragging the chubby child who was constantly turning her head left and right, towards a large fabric shop. He wanted to buy some beautiful fabrics for his wife.

They spent about 30 minutes at the fabric shop, and Huan Tan came out with a large bundle containing dozens of folded fabrics. Xiaolin grinned widely, pleased to have spent a significant amount of money, even though it wasn’t hers. With the fabrics purchased, the chubby child then dragged her tall companion to splurge at a jewelry shop next.

Huan Tan kept spending money until the money pouch his wife had sewn was nearly empty, barely holding any coins. He had exchanged it all for beautiful fabrics and various pieces of jewelry now bundled together in a large cloth package.

"Hehe," the chubby child giggled, covering her mouth, delighted to help someone else spend money.

Huan Tan squinted at the round figure but said nothing. The items the chubby child had chosen were all appropriate for his wife, so he willingly spent several taels of gold. Additionally, he had some promissory notes with him for further purchases if needed, though he hoped the chubby child would stop spending his money.

Xiaolin darted in and out of more than ten shops, including fabric shops, jewelry stores, and porcelain shops. Eventually, Huan Tan had to pick her up, carrying her along. Xiaolin protested loudly, wriggling beside her tall companion’s waist.

Despite her prolonged complaints, he refused to let her down. The chubby child pouted, her cheeks puffing up in frustration. Many onlookers assumed she was a stubborn daughter being carried by her father, or perhaps he was afraid she might run off and get lost in the crowd.

The pair of small and big companions, now perceived as father and daughter by the entire market, didn’t mind the misconception. They leisurely strolled along, browsing the various shops because they had only one ultimate destination in mind and were in no rush.

The three boys from the Huan family each got a sugar figurine, while Xiaolin received a large tanghulu, munching on it while hanging by the side of her tall companion who still carried her. Huan Tan, annoyed by her continuously puffed-up cheeks resembling a toad, bought her the treat in hopes of improving her mood.

"I want to go into that shop," she said, pointing with her chubby finger to a store that displayed unusual items unlike those in other shops. Something inside had caught her interest.

Huan Tan glanced down at the round child under his arm, her small mouth chewing the snack, making her cheeks bulge. Without a word, he called his son and nephews, then walked into the shop Xiaolin had pointed out. When they arrived, he set her down, feeling as though he had been carrying a twenty-sack load of coal despite holding her for only a short time.

Xiaolin, still holding her tanghulu, started inspecting the goods in the shop. Most of the items were weapons like short knives, animal furs both raw and crafted into clothes, rugs, blankets, or scarves. There were also dried animal hides. However, what caught her attention were the clear glass jars and bottles, rare in this land.

"Look at this!" Xiaolin exclaimed excitedly, turning to her tall companion and pointing at the various glassware displayed on the shelves.

"These must be from the West," Huan Tan commented, equally intrigued.

"What is it, Father?" Ching Lang asked, approaching curiously. He stared at the transparent and exotic vessels, finding them beautiful in an inexplicable way.

"They are containers for holding things. Some are for drinking water, some for pickling, and other uses. Look and see if any shapes resemble items we have at home," Huan Tan explained, placing a hand on his eldest son’s head. Ching Lang followed his gaze, looking at the array of clear containers.

"That one looks like a large bowl, Father," Ching Lang pointed out.

"Exactly."

"And that one looks like a jar, Uncle," Huan Luwen added, pointing to a glass jar that resembled their pickling jars at home.

While they were conversing, a middle-aged man with a long mustache, dressed in modest attire, approached them respectfully.

"Welcome, sir. Are you interested in these glass items? I am the caretaker of this shop. Please feel free to ask me any questions,"

Xiaolin observed the man and guessed that he was likely from the Qing Dynasty, but most of the goods on display seemed to be foreign. The glassware, weapons, and furs she had seen earlier suggested that he either imported the items himself or was merely the shopkeeper.

"Are these items in your shop imported from abroad?"

Huan Tan asked. Xiaolin clung to her tall companion’s shirt, looking up at the shopkeeper with wide eyes. The middle-aged man glanced at the cute, chubby-cheeked child for a moment before responding.

"Yes, they are. These items are imported by merchants from overseas. They sail from the west, taking years to reach our kingdom. However, these goods don’t garner much interest here. The only items that sell well are weapons and furs. There’s also food called, uh..shshee...sheese," the shopkeeper stammered over the unfamiliar word. Xiaolin, recognizing it, thought it must be cheese, a difficult word for locals to pronounce.

"Does it sell?" the shopkeeper bent over and met the little girl’s bright eyes with a smile.

"Not at all. People here don’t know what it is or how to eat it. Most of what they bring ends up being taken back to their own homes. However, I heard that a restaurant on the south side of town recently started buying it. I haven’t had the chance to check it out myself."

Xiaolin raised her eyebrows. The only restaurant likely buying cheese would be hers, indicating this shop belonged to her foreign friend who enjoyed eating barbecue. While she pondered this, she noticed a familiar figure emerging from the back of the shop. The chubby child beamed and greeted him immediately.

"Master Carlson!" She exclaimed, jumping up and down while waving energetically at her tall friend.

Huan Tan also recognized the tall foreigner. Unfortunately, his limited education meant he couldn’t communicate with them effectively. Fortunately, the foreigners had learned some Qing Dynasty language, making basic conversation possible. He had spoken with this man before.

"Xiaolin! How did you get here?" Carlson walked over to the chubby little girl, smiling as he greeted Huan Tan as well.

"Are you the owner of this shop?" Xiaolin asked in a bright voice.

"Yes, I am. So, what are you here to buy today? Let me know, and I’ll recommend something for you," Carlson replied, grinning broadly. Since meeting the chubby girl, he had found himself smiling much more often.

"I came to look at these," Xiaolin said, pointing her chubby finger at the glassware on the shelves. Carlson followed her gaze and nodded.

"These glass items were shipped from my homeland. It took over a year to sail across the seas, and some were damaged by the unpredictable sea winds. This is all that’s left. Take a look and see which ones you like."

The shopkeeper watched his boss speak at length, something he had never seen before. Fortunately, they were conversing in the language of the Qing Dynasty.

If they had spoken in Carlson’s native tongue, the shopkeeper would have been shocked to see such a small child speak a foreign language so fluently, even their interpreters who worked with them for years could not compare.

Xiaolin examined the glassware with Carlson’s guidance, while Huan Tan and the boys moved to the front of the shop to look at the short knives, with the shopkeeper explaining the items to them.

In addition, Xiaolin discussed the goods Carlson needed to deliver to her restaurant and inquired about his friend, who wasn’t at the shop today. Carlson explained that Noel was busy preparing goods for her order, which is why he was managing the shop alone.

"He’s very focused on making products for you because he suggested bringing cheese and butter here, but they didn’t sell. When you bought them, he got excited and has been working in the barn and kitchen almost day and night," Carlson explained, making Xiaolin laugh.

"The cheese is selling well at my restaurant, but I have to limit sales because you can’t supply me enough,"

"Next year, I plan to send a letter back home to have them send twenty more cows. Noel will then be able to supply you adequately," Carlson assured her.

"That’s great! Will ships from your homeland come every year?" Xiaolin asked, craning her neck to look up at him. She was so short she didn’t even reach his waist, and it seemed like she was growing more sideways than upwards. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

"The ship arrives every two years because it takes that long for a round trip, including stops at various ports to buy and sell goods along the way. The next ship will dock here before the winter of next year."

Xiaolin nodded in understanding. Transportation in ancient times was indeed arduous. It took years to sail around the world for trade. In contrast, in the future, people would complain if international online orders took more than a month to arrive.

Xiaolin waved goodbye to her large friend. She had acquired several glass jars and bowls, all of which were quite pricey. Fortunately, she got a good discount, or else her purse would be as empty as the one of the people standing next to her.

Carlson would send all the goods to her father’s shop and told her to enjoy her time wandering around. Each of the four young men from the Huan family got a suitable pocket knife.

With a spring in her step, Xiaolin walked in the direction she had visited once before. She hoped the group she intended to find would still be there. The chubby girl smiled so broadly that passersby couldn’t help but turn and look at her with affection. Her round cheeks, fair skin, and twin bun hairstyle, along with her protruding belly, made her irresistibly endearing. People couldn’t help but wonder why their own children weren’t as adorable.

"Xiaolin seems really excited and happy, doesn’t she, Big Brother? She’s been smiling all the way," Ching Long remarked to his older brother as they followed the chubby girl, with Huan Tan bringing up the rear to look after the four kids.

"It’s good that she smiles a lot, isn’t it? She’s adorable," replied the older brother, causing Ching Long to whip his head around so fast he nearly sprained his neck. He stared at the rare sight of his brother’s smiling face, with his eyes curved in a way he’d never seen before. The young boy blinked in surprise and quickly nudged his younger brother walking on the other side.

"What is it, Brother Long?" Huan Luwen asked, tearing his eyes away from the delicious-looking, fragrant steamed buns to look at his older brother who was nudging him insistently.

"Look at Big Brother. Do you think he’s possessed?" Ching Long asked, eyes fixed on their older twin brother who was still smiling.

"Indeed..." Huan Luwen nodded in agreement, finding the unusual sight quite perplexing. It seemed like it must be a very powerful spirit indeed.

"La la la, to the left there’s steamed buns, to the right there’s a noodle shop, and I want fermented fish~"

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