A thousand taels was indeed tempting, but Zhou Laoda and Zhao Guihua were not greedy people. They already had a thousand taels hidden in the cellar under their bed, which was enough. There was no need to risk it for more money. It was more important for the family to live a peaceful life.
Seeing that her parents didn't speak, Xingxing pouted, "Father and Mother, don't look so sullen. We didn't say we had to go deep into the mountains. We can give this painting to Master Song and have his men find the medicinal ingredients according to the instructions in the painting."
"Oh no, if Master Song asks who painted this picture, what are we going to say? Am I supposed to say I painted it? I don't even know how to hold a brush." Old Zhou shook his head vigorously. He didn't want to take the painting to Master Song, and he didn't want to make up lies to fool people again.
Xingxing thought for a moment, "Let's give the painting to Master Song later. If we don't give it to him now, when the brothers come back, we can say that the painting was done by Third Brother. Third Brother is not only good at studying, but also very talented in painting. The teacher often praises Third Brother."
"Then we'll have Third Brother draw another one based on mine, and then it will really be drawn by Third Brother." This was the idea Xingxing had just come up with.
"What if people ask us how we knew where the medicinal ingredient was? How are we supposed to explain that?" Zhao Guihua felt it was inappropriate.
"Just say it was something Third Brother dreamed about, let them try their luck. If they don't believe us, then there's nothing we can do. It serves them right that they can't find the medicinal ingredient." Xingxing spread her hands, looking helpless.
If the people of the Song family heard this, wouldn't they be so angry they'd vomit blood?
After pondering for a long time, Zhao Guihua said, "Let's keep this painting for now and not worry about the Song family's affairs. Once our bayberry wine is ready and the shop is open, if the Song family still hasn't found the medicinal ingredient, we'll give this painting to them and have Sanfu repaint it, just like Xingxing suggested."
"If you say Sanfu dreamt about it, what will Master Song think when he hears that? He'll definitely think we're so desperate for that thousand taels that we'd even use a dream as an excuse." Old Zhou covered his face, feeling he couldn't bear to watch.
Zhao Guihua glared at him, "We can't control what the Song family thinks. We'll just say it then. If they don't believe it, that's their loss, they're just unlucky. Why are you covering your face like that? So concerned about saving face? Can face feed you?"
However, the painting never made it to Master Song's hands, because Zhao Guihua ruined it while washing clothes the next day. Xingxing discovered this on the spot, and the little girl had a sour face all day because of it, ignoring anyone who tried to talk to her.
This made Zhao Guihua extremely depressed.
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