Eat My Childless Life: The Little Fisher Girl is Poor and Fierce

Chapter 173 Sending the Abducted Girl Home

Gu Ersao's tofu pudding stall was the first to close. The tofu pudding was generously topped with soy sauce, pickled vegetables, and sesame oil, and only cost 3 coins a bowl. If you preferred it sweet, you could also add sugar.

Buy two bowls and you can get a discount of 1 coin.

The men from the coastal defense team came over to support the event after finishing their morning training. They would have been reluctant to spend 3 coins before.

But now, everyone has a stable income, and they are gradually saving money in their pockets.

Moreover, this tofu pudding would cost at least two more coins in the city. Besides, they were all porters working for the Gu family and had eaten Gu family food before, so the taste was guaranteed.

The portions are generous; if you buy a bowl to take home, the kids and the wife in your family can all enjoy it.

Some people were willing to spend the money and brought two bowls with them to take home.

Most people buy one bowl, but some who are really short on money will share a bowl with their brothers.

When Gu Ersao encountered two people who wanted one bowl, she gestured to Gu Xiaoman. The little girl diligently relayed her mother's meaning, "My mother said, bring two bowls, and I'll give each of you half a bowl. Together, it's still one bowl."

That's great! Now we can eat tofu pudding, and the side dishes inside can be saved to go with rice.

The two brothers who bought the item together were naturally overjoyed and asked him, "Is it really possible?"

Gu Xiaoman tilted her little head back, her chubby cheeks puffed out, "My mother said that Auntie runs the market to make things convenient for the villagers, not to make money."

Then someone teased him, "If she's not going to make money, why is your aunt putting in so much effort?"

Gu Xiaoman sighed. He was still young and didn't quite understand many of what she was saying, but he knew that what his aunt was doing was definitely right.

But since he couldn't understand, he couldn't explain it to others. However, the little boy refused to admit it, only sighing and saying, "Anyway, it's for the good of the village. You wouldn't understand even if I told you." After all, he himself didn't understand!

The men weren't annoyed that a little child was looking down on them; instead, they became even more enthusiastic.

"Now that you say so, I have to have a bowl even though I didn't want to drink it. Here, take the coins, and don't count them wrong."

Gu Xiaoman grinned as she counted the coins, looking every bit the little money-grubber. "Don't worry, my aunt taught me arithmetic, and she even praised me!"

This caused a burst of laughter in front of the stall.

Seeing her son acting like a little adult and keeping the scene in order, Gu Ersao was overjoyed, and her smile softened even more.

Douhua (tofu pudding) is not an inexpensive item among food items, so Lin Chang'er didn't ask Gu's mother to prepare too much.

The men worked hard, and a large bucket of tofu pudding was sold out in no time.

Some people only rushed over after hearing that it was delicious, but it was already too late.

All that remained was an empty bucket, Gu Ersao's apologetic smile, and the clear voice of a child counting copper coins, "We'll be setting up our stall again tomorrow, so come early! You're sure to get a drink."

After packing up their stall, the mother and son went to help out at the snack stall next door.

Just then, Gu Silang and Xiao Jinyu also came over after their morning practice. Gu Dalang and Gu Erlang were the dumbest and didn't know how to call out, so Xiao Jinyu went back to her old ways.

"Crispy fried dough twists and snowflake-shaped fried dough sticks, spicy and delicious small fish, and soft and sweet mung bean cakes are all on sale at a low price..."

Xu Gun'er chimed in, "Come and take a look, everyone! Free samples, or your money back if you don't like it..."

Gu Silang and Zhou Li also joined in the hawking, "Come and see, come and take a look! We now have the snacks that you can only buy in the city..."

The uncle and his nephews, while shouting their wares, borrowed a cleaver from the stall next door. They took some of each kind of snack, cut them into small pieces, and placed them on oil paper, saying, "Free snacks to try!"

Children had already gathered around the stall to watch, but their two bags were empty, unable to satisfy their hunger.

Hearing the announcement, they immediately squeezed towards the stall, asking, "Are you sure it's free?"

The little goldfish, though small, was very brave. It said seriously, "The samples are free, but you can't grab them or push. Take turns, and after you finish eating, you have to help us spread the word and tell everyone that they're delicious."

When the children saw this good thing, they immediately lined up obediently as the little goldfish asked.

At first, some parents thought it was a scam and quietly pulled their children away. Others couldn't persuade them and could only watch from the sidelines, ready to confront them at any moment.

Unexpectedly, the Gu family did not make things difficult for the children after they received the snacks.

The children who received the snacks all had their eyes narrowed into slits with joy, their mouths agape as they grinned, their faces filled with satisfaction and delight. Some of the more sensible ones even remembered to leave a few crumbs for their parents to taste.

At this moment, the parents who had taken their children away earlier felt very regretful. Seeing that the food samples on the stall had been restocked, they hurriedly sent their children to line up.

Some parents, hearing their children say it was delicious, went with their kids to the stall to try it. They asked about the price and found it was indeed cheaper than in the city, and that they could also barter. So they immediately took their children home to weigh out their own items to exchange for it.

Lin Chang'er went to the county town to deliver goods today and happened to hear that Wu Qingfeng had brought back several girls who had been abducted. Three of them were from Linshui Village, and a few others were from nearby villages.

He offered to give people a ride, and coincidentally, the weapons he had previously requested from the county government had also been approved.

After getting the weapons from the blacksmith's shop, Wu Qingfeng also hired four constables, and together they headed to Linshui Village.

Linshui Village was their first stop. When they arrived, people from neighboring villages came running after hearing the news, and the village entrance was bustling with activity.

Wu Qingfeng rode his white horse, listening to the shouts and bargaining under the big tree, but he didn't find it noisy at all. It was as if this was how it should be here, with peace and prosperity for the people.

The people of Linshui Village all recognize him now.

Seeing the white horse and donkey cart approaching from afar, he recognized them. "Magistrate Wu, it's Magistrate Wu..."

The villagers who came to stroll around all came up to him, and even the stall owners who couldn't leave watched him from a distance.

When he explained his purpose, the villagers immediately erupted in excitement again, "We've found three girls from our village! That's wonderful! Lord Wu is truly a just and upright official!"

"I wonder which lucky girl is. Sanwa, quick, go and call your aunt over. Maybe she's from their family!"

"No need to call out, I recognize my sister. If it is, I'll just take her home."

People were talking about it, eagerly anticipating what was to come.

Lin Chang'er lifted the carriage curtain, "Erni, Juhua, Xiaomei, we're home."

As she finished speaking, three girls of similar age timidly poked their heads out of the donkey cart.

"Ernizi..." Immediately, an old woman rushed onto the donkey cart and embraced the girl named Erni, bursting into tears.

"Chrysanthemum, Mother's chrysanthemum!" Then another woman squeezed through the crowd, crying and shouting.

The joy of the sudden reunion touched everyone present, and the onlookers silently teared up.

But even after Erni and Juhua were taken away by their families, Xiaomei's family did not come to claim her.

The girl, who looked to be about fourteen or fifteen years old, stood in front of the car looking aggrieved. She would turn her head to look at Lin Chang'er one moment and then turn her head to look at Wu Qingfeng the next, looking completely at a loss.

Lin Chang'er was also very puzzled. According to Wu Qingfeng, Xiao Mei was 8 years old when she was abducted and already had memories. She clearly remembered that she was from Linshui Village. As for her parents' names, they were quite ordinary, the kind of names that at least three or five people in a village would have the same.

Lin Chang'er didn't think much of it at the time, but they had been waiting at the village entrance for so long that the news of the girl being sent back should have spread throughout the village by now, and her parents should have received the news long ago. Why is no one coming to claim her?