Chapter 8 - What Are You Trying To Do Again? Salt is Expensive!
Thanks to my editor Gold Fairy~
“Eat well. Daddy, if we have fish to eat everyday then it would be good.”
Holding his bloated plump little stomach, Little Bun smacked his lips contently. Ling Jingxuan rubbed his head with deep affection. “If you want to eat it, isn’t it pretty simple? Tomorrow Daddy can just go catch again.”
“Eh.. better not. I'm afraid Daddy will…”
Halfway through a nod, the smiling expression on the Little Bun suddenly disappeared. He pouted so hard he could hang an oil pot on his lips. He was obviously thinking about unpleasant situations. The face of the Big Bun across from him also collapsed. He solemnly said, “We won’t eat fish. Daddy don’t go catch fish anymore.”
They were not afraid of many things but were simply afraid of one. Although Daddy really didn't understand how to pass the days, they both really liked the current him and didn’t want to lose him.
“Hehe, don’t catch, won’t catch. Then how about using a net to catch? Today I saw it. Yuehua Ravine has a lot of big fish. Tomorrow when Grandpa and Grandma come, ask them to help me buy a small fishing net. Maybe we can net some fish to sell for money.”
After going through the process of cooking tonight, Ling Jingxuan finally figured out the Big Bun’s character. He could only resort to a method of earning money, then he definitely won't keep fighting against him.
“Really!?”
Just as expected, as soon as he heard they could earn money, Big Bun’s eyes straightened and he excitedly tried to hold back his red face. Ling Jingxuan helplessly let out a sigh, met his excited gaze and nodded his head. The natural human desire for good food unexpectedly couldn't beat the lure of money. Ai… his family’s bun seemed a bit too…. something.
“Great! Like this we can earn lots of money. Maybe for winter we can invite someone to help us fix the roof, then in the future it won’t leak anymore.”
Big Bun’s entire face was shining red, excitedly planning, both eyes were almost turning into the shape of copper coins. Ling Jingxuan found it funny but was bewildered at the same time. What about this brick roof? How did it randomly turn into fixing the roof?
“But Daddy, you’re really sure there's no danger?”
With a nervous expression on his face, Big Bun anxiously questioned him. Although money was important, Daddy’s life was even more important.
“En, no danger. Daddy can swim very well.”
His heart was beginning to warm. Ling Jingxuan smiled and nodded. A grass hut was a grass hut. Who let his stingy son place his safety over money? Wait till they earn a fortune in the future, he will just directly build him a manor.
“Then that's good. Tomorrow when Grandma comes, I'll ask her to help me make a big bamboo basket. The fishing net will have to wait for me to earn money to buy it.”
Having heard what was said, the little guy was finally relieved. Ling Jingxuan helplessly shook his head. “Ok ok ok, you manage the household, you have the final say. The sky is almost dark. We should tidy up and sleep early.”
It didn’t matter if they had an oil lamp or not. The Big Bun had a very stingy character, even if they had one, he would not let him light it. He didn't even bother asking. Today was definitely a bit tiring. Sleeping early would be good.
“En.”
The two buns helped put away the bowls and chopsticks. Ling Jingxuan felt pain as he watched the Big Bun repeatedly wash the tattered wooden pot. He went again to the room to find a cotton cloth that could be considered clean, scooped out a bowl of water, put it on the wooden bench, and brought over the jar of salt on top of the kitchen stove. Using his finger to touch a bit of salt, he indicated for the little bun to rinse and open his mouth. When he was about to put his finger in his mouth, an incident happened again.
“Dad ah, what are you trying to do again? Salt is expensive!”
Bewildered, he watched as the Big Bun dashed over to grab the salt jar, his eyes wide as he glared at him. Really.. as soon as he did not pay attention to his Daddy, he’ll go waste things.
“Er….”
Ling Jingxuan had black lines running across his forehead. The corners of his mouth couldn’t help but twitch. The Little Bun returned from his trip and watched them. He covered his mouth to laugh into his sleeve. Daddy is amazing. This was his first time seeing his brother one after another get angry so quickly.
If Ling Jingxuan found out what the Little Bun was thinking, he probably would get so angry he’d knock himself dead. This was called amazing? This was simply called being stingy, ok?
“Sigh.... I'm using the salt to help you guys brush your teeth. If you eat stuff and don't rinse your mouth, your mouth will have germs. Your teeth will also grow bugs. You guys don't want your teeth to hurt right?”
After the son and father faced each other for a while, Ling Jingxuan’s sighs were very distinct as he explained in a very pitiful way. He could meet any demands, only this he couldn't do. He did not want to have the two buns with rotten teeth.
“But you also shouldn’t use salt ah. Salt is so expensive. Our family only has this much salt left.”
Big Bun’s face was flushed with anger, still unwilling to compromise. Ling Jingxuan pulled him over and seriously said, “Say, is inviting a doctor expensive or salt expensive? In case in the future your mouth is rotten, teeth broken, wouldn't it be more expensive to invite a doctor over? Furthermore, isn't Daddy preparing to catch fish to sell? Once we make money can't we just buy more salt? Furthermore, Daddy read a lot of books before and still hasn’t passed the county exam. Besides catching fish, I can also go into the mountain to find some herbs to dry and sell. Isn't that also money? With effort one can achieve anything. There are many methods to earn money. We also need to have a healthy body. Every illness enters through the mouth. You think you can ignore your oral hygiene just by refusing to use a tiny bit of salt?”
If he couldn't even take care of a five year old child, then Ling Jingxuan would have lived two lives for nothing. As a matter of fact, Big Bun’s firmness wavered. Even though his entire face hurt, the hand holding onto the salt jar nevertheless loosened.
Upon seeing this, Ling Jingxuan probingly took the salt jar. Looked as if someone cut into him. Ling Jingxuan felt all kinds of helplessness, and could only pretend not to see it. Forget about the past, in the future it was not limited to just oral hygiene. There were other hygiene rules that he wanted to implement. A better quality life was not as important as keeping their bodies healthy. On this, he would not budge.
Finally, after suffering many small defeats, Ling Jingxuan managed a small victory. Although this small victory was not easy to achieve.
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