Chapter 54: Wild Cotton

In Yao Zhongbao’s eyes, all of this was nothing more than Tong Chuxue’s reluctant resistance, posing no real threat.

He had already bought up all the cottonseed hulls nearby; unless Tong Chuxue waited until the next cotton harvest to buy more, which would delay her business for quite a while, she simply had no choice but to purchase from him.

The thought of a hefty sum of money seemed to materialize before his eyes, causing the corners of Yao Zhongbao’s mouth to curl into a smile.

His son’s marriage had cost the family a considerable amount, and the wife they brought home didn’t seem to be favored by his son either. After the wedding, the son returned to the town academy to study, leaving Tong Yuer alone at home. With this money, he would have funds ready for next year’s exam fees.

But no matter how well he planned, Tong Chuxue had already decided not to buy from him.

“Since we can’t reach an agreement, I won’t force it,” Tong Chuxue said as she stood up, addressing the others, “Let’s go.”

“Snow girl, you’re leaving just like that? What about that stuff...” Lin Chunyan hesitated.

“Mother, it’s okay. Miss Tong surely has her reasons,” Luo Hui’an reassured her.

Perhaps because Tong Chuxue had always left the impression of being trustworthy, despite some lingering doubts, the group still followed her steps as they left the Yao family.

Yao Zhongbao sat in his seat, watching them walk away.

“Father, they’ve left,” Tong Yuer, who had been eavesdropping behind, came out and asked, “What should we do about our goods?”

“Don’t worry, they will come back,” Yao Zhongbao said confidently.

Though he said so, Tong Yuer inexplicably felt that Tong Chuxue wouldn’t return. Ever since the family split, that girl had been troublesome; whenever she appeared, trouble was sure to follow.

Along the way, Xu Jinniang was filled with worry. “Chuxue, do you have a plan?”

There were many things she couldn’t let Xu Jinniang know, so she laughed lightly and said, “We know Boss Cheng in town, right? Businessmen like him have many contacts; maybe he can help.”

Xu Jinniang thought it made sense and didn’t press further.

Only Luo Hui’an’s eyes flickered. He knew better than anyone that Boss Cheng was a clinic owner—how could he help find agricultural goods? Yet he didn’t expose Tong Chuxue.

Tong Chuxue did have her own plan in mind. In truth, she wanted to buy the cottonseed hulls to work with the Liu and Luo families; otherwise, with her abilities, she could have resolved the matter immediately. Now that the Yao family believed purchasing all the cottonseed hulls would force her to yield, she deliberately defied their expectations.

Everyone harbored their own thoughts as they returned home.

Early the next morning, Tong Chuxue gathered the people of the third branch and Liu Fen together, announcing her plan to take them to the back mountain; wild cotton might be found there.

“Snow girl, there’s never been wild cotton growing in the back mountain; how could we find any?” Luo Changhua was the first to express disbelief. Everyone in Qingshan Village had grown up running around those mountains, and none had ever seen cotton there.

“Even if there is, it couldn’t be much,” Liu Fen agreed with Luo Changhua’s opinion.

Tong Chuxue knew it was hard for them to accept this idea. Though it sounded unlikely, going to the mountains to search for cotton was better than pretending that a whole field appeared overnight.

“Whether or not there’s cotton up there, we don’t know for sure. But if there’s a chance, we should try,” Luo Hui’an suddenly appeared, carrying a basket on his back, ready to head into the mountains.

“Hui’an, when we enter the mountain, your father and I will go. You don’t need to come,” Lin Chunyan said firmly, unwilling to let her frail son do such hard work.

Tong Chuxue sighed silently. Lin Chunyan was partly responsible for Luo Hui’an’s weak health since she kept him confined at home without letting him go out and exercise. How could his body be strong?

“Mother, I’m fine. Walking up the mountain isn’t strenuous,” Luo Hui’an said in persuasion.

“Alright, since there’s no other way, we might as well treat this as a last resort and check the mountain,” Luo Changhua conceded, convinced by his son.

Without further delay, the group equipped themselves and set out to the back mountain.

Leading the way was naturally Tong Chuxue. She guided them along winding, seldom-used paths.

After passing several groves, an expanse of gently sloping land appeared before them.

Xu Jinniang exclaimed, “So much cotton!”

The flat ground was covered with cotton plants reaching half a person’s height, their white cotton bolls swaying gently in the breeze, pure and lovely.

“These cotton plants seem even better than the ones we grow at home,” Lin Chunyan said joyfully, picking up several cotton bolls. “I never expected there to actually be cotton in the mountains.”

Luo Changhua examined the plants carefully and remarked, “Wild cotton is indeed better than what we grow.”

“If we turn this into quilts, it’ll definitely be warm,” Xu Jinniang said with a beaming face.

The group was so captivated by the thriving cotton that they began picking it at once. Luckily, Luo Hui’an had the foresight to pack food and water in his basket, allowing them to work all day in the mountains.

As the sun set, Tong Chuxue and the others descended from the mountain, their baskets full to the brim.

When a few villagers asked where the cotton came from, Xu Jinniang candidly told them it was wild cotton gathered from the mountain. The villagers clicked their tongues in astonishment; having lived in Qingshan Village for decades, none had ever seen cotton growing in the back mountain. Some sharp-minded ones even asked for directions, planning to go up early the next morning to search.

Also on the main road was Tong Yuer. She had been out washing clothes and was preparing to return after finishing when she spotted Tong Chuxue’s group from afar. Seeing the cotton in their baskets, she was shocked and hurried home.

As soon as she entered, she rushed into Yao Zhongbao’s room. “Father, I’m afraid you won’t be able to sell those cottonseed hulls.”

“What?” Yao Zhongbao was startled and immediately jumped up from his chair.

Tong Yuer then recounted what she had seen on the road.

What Yao Zhongbao felt next—whether anger or hatred—no longer concerned Tong Chuxue, who was busy leading everyone to process the harvested cotton.

Although everyone was exhausted after a full day of work in the mountains, their spirits were high, and they worked with great vigor, almost as if they intended to work through the night.

Tong Chuxue yawned while picking cotton, her eyes half-closed, clearly fatigued. Xu Jinniang couldn’t help but say, “Chuxue, if you’re tired, you should go rest first.”

Since Xu Jinniang had spoken up, Tong Chuxue didn’t refuse, for she truly was exhausted. She hadn’t slept all night trying to cultivate the cotton in the mountains. At this moment, she was utterly drained, feeling as if her wood-element abilities were nearly depleted. She desperately needed rest to recover her powers.

Outside the house, Luo Hui’an looked toward Tong Chuxue’s room, worry plainly etched on his face.