**Chapter 4: The Sale of Green Jade Pears**
"Stay calm! Push harder!"
"Sister, use more strength!"
"Push!"
"Ah—"
Heart-wrenching screams came from inside the house.
Xu Chuan heard them clearly from the kitchen, his own heart pounding with anxiety.
"Is the water ready?"
Xu Yan poked her head out the door and shouted toward the kitchen.
"Coming, right here."
Xu Chuan immediately ran over with two pots and handed them to Xu Yan. "How is she?"
"Almost there. Hurry."
Then came the sound of the door slamming shut again.
Time passed minute by minute.
"The baby's head is out—push harder!"
"Sister, it's almost over!"
"Ah—"
Suddenly, a loud baby's cry rang out from inside the room.
"He's born!"
"He's born!"
Xu Chuan's face broke into a smile, his heart finally settling.
"Chuan, see? I told you your sister-in-law would be fine. Listen to that cry—must be another boy." Chen Erzheng beamed with congratulations.
Xu Chuan chuckled. "You're better than a fortune-teller. Say something auspicious."
Just then, the door opened. The midwife came out carrying a basin of bloody water, looking somewhat tired. "Mother and son are safe. It's a boy. Go on in."
Xu Chuan didn't say much. He nodded and immediately entered the room.
By the bedside, he saw Bai Jing, her consciousness already hazy with exhaustion. He walked over, held her hand, and whispered, "Wife, you've worked hard."
"It's not hard. It's what a wife should do for her husband."
Hearing this, Xu Chuan's heart ached even more. "Rest well."
Bai Jing smiled faintly and slowly closed her eyes.
"Cousin, hold him."
Xu Chuan took the child, his face full of smiles, cooing softly to tease the baby.
After a while, his in-laws also arrived.
A group of people gathered around the child, chatting warmly.
"Have you thought of a name for the child?" his father-in-law asked kindly.
"Yes." Xu Chuan nodded and looked at the baby.
"Xu Minghu. He Yan. And honor."
"His childhood name is Tan Tan."
After Xu Chuan rewarded the midwife, she left. Then the Chen family left, followed by the others.
Xu Mingwei and Xu Mingyuan were brought in after Tan Tan was born.
"Dad, my little brother's skin is all wrinkled—he looks like a little old man." Shitou wrinkled his nose, a bit disgusted.
"You looked the same when you were born."
Bai Jing smiled. Xu Chuan had given her the Qi-Blood Pill to eat, and now her complexion was no longer pale—much rosier. She even had the strength to get out of bed.
But Xu Chuan didn't allow it and made her lie back down.
Shitou felt as if he'd been hit. He touched his face suspiciously.
"Aiyuan, your dad kept his promise today. He said he'd deal with that big rooster that bullied you."
As soon as Xu Mingyuan heard there would be chicken to eat and chicken soup to drink, his mouth immediately began to water.
He grabbed Xu Chuan's hand and pulled him toward the door. "Dad, I'll show you which one!"
"Take care of your mother."
"Don't worry, Dad." Shitou patted his chest.
---
After the rice fields were taken care of, it was time for the Green Jade Pear harvest.
Basket after basket of Green Jade Pears was moved back home.
The Green Jade Pear was comparable to the lowest grade of spiritual fruit—only lacking sufficient spiritual energy to be considered a true spirit fruit. Though he only had ten acres, they still fetched a very high price.
The best place to sell them was Qingjiang County, since they weren't cheap even there.
However, Dongxi Village was more than one hundred eighty miles from Qingjiang County Town.
Bandits occasionally roamed the roads.
Not very safe.
More importantly, his former employer, the Xu family, had also set their sights on the Green Jade Pear. So last year, Xu Chuan had taken the initiative to sell the pears to them rather than give them any reason to cause trouble.
After all, you're not afraid of thieves—you're afraid of them thinking about you every day.
---
**The Xu family estate.**
"Third Master Xu, these are this year's Green Jade Pears. Six thousand four hundred pounds total." Xu Chuan spoke respectfully.
Before him stood a short, stocky middle-aged man around forty years old.
"Four hundred pounds more than last year?"
"The yield is about maxed out unless I expand the acreage. But as you know, cultivating Green Jade Pears isn't easy."
Third Master Xu nodded. "At last year's price."
"No problem."
"Let's start weighing. If it's correct, I'll settle the silver for you on the spot."
The Xu family workers began weighing the pears. It was finished quickly.
Behind Third Master Xu followed a young man in brocade clothes. He looked at the Green Jade Pears with hungry eyes, then glanced at Xu Chuan with a face full of disdain.
"Sir, the count is correct."
Third Master Xu nodded slightly. Immediately, two silver notes changed hands.
"Xu Chuan, you're truly skilled at this. Would you be interested in selling the secret recipe for growing Green Jade Pears to our Xu family? My family is willing to buy it at a high price."
"Third Master, I have some experience, but there's no real secret to speak of."
"If Third Master needs it—the truth is, I don't really know anything. I've just been lucky. I can't guarantee I could make Green Jade Pear trees survive again."
"It would take six or seven years, maybe longer, and in the end, I might have nothing to show for it. That would not only disappoint Third Master Xu but also shame my late father."
Third Master Xu lowered his head in thought for a moment, then smiled. "I was just asking."
"Well, since business is done, I have other matters to attend to. I'll be going now."
"Take care, Third Master."
Xu Chuan saw the group out the gate. Only when they had gone far did he relax and return to the house.
---
After leaving the Xu estate, the young man in brocade clothes finally couldn't hold back. "Father, why are you so polite to an ordinary peasant?"
"He used to be a long-term laborer—eating our family's food."
"Green Jade Pears are a good thing. Why not just take the secret recipe? Can he refuse to give it?"
"Do you really think our family is still the big shot of Cave Village?"
Third Master Xu stared hard at his son. Hearing these words, his eyes filled with disappointment.
"First of all, we don't even know if there really is a secret recipe. And Green Jade Pears truly are difficult to grow. I've only heard that a few families in the county have mastered the cultivation method. Do you think he could figure it out on his own in just a few years?"
"Xu Chuan made a good point. It would take seven or eight years, investing a great deal of manpower, material resources, and money—and if nothing came of it in the end, it wouldn't be worth it at all."
"Now we have a ready supply to buy from him. We can turn around and sell them in the county and make several hundred percent profit. Is there anything easier than that?"
"You're right, Father."
Seeing that his eldest son was still a little unconvinced, Third Master Xu continued, "Don't look down on Xu Chuan. He's shown his face in front of your master."
"The Xu family has what it has today because of trust and reputation."
"Don't ruin the Xu family's good name over some Green Jade Pears. Otherwise, I won't be lenient with you."
Since the departure of Master Xu, the family had produced no truly capable heirs. They were barely holding on.
Now, with some of the younger generation indulging in luxury, the family had already begun to decline.
---
**Back at home.**
"Husband, how did the Green Jade Pear sale go?"
"Better than last year. After all, they're not ordinary pears. In the county, people will fight over them."
Xu Chuan took out the silver notes and patted them gently on Bai Jing's chest. "Now you can rest easy. I was really afraid the Xu family might just rob us."
"That won't happen. But maybe later, it could."
"What do you mean, husband?"
"I think Third Master Xu's eldest son has started getting ideas."
"Then what?" Bai Jing's heart tightened again, worry showing on her face.
"Don't worry. Third Master Xu is wise." Xu Chuan held her hand. "He won't throw away the Xu family's hard-earned trust and reputation for a small profit."
"My husband is brilliant." Bai Jing looked at her man with admiration in her eyes. "With you leading us, our family could become gentry like the Xu family someday."
Both boys had gone outside to play in the fields.
They were still young, and Xu Chuan didn't want to bind their nature. He let them be.
No one else was around. Seeing Bai Jing's full figure, Xu Chuan's hands began to wander.
"My lord, this time of day isn't appropriate."
"What's wrong with it? Shitou and Aiyuan aren't here."
"What about Tan Tan?"
Xu Chuan turned to look. The child in Bai Jing's arms had woken up at some point. With his dark, round eyes, he stared straight at Xu Chuan.
Big eyes met big eyes.
Xu Chuan couldn't help but laugh. He reached out and touched the baby's little face.
"I'll go return this Qi-Blood Pill to the Chen family. That pill is worth a lot. We have to pay them back."
As soon as Xu Chuan left, Tan Tan slowly closed his eyes again. He didn't seem to like the excitement.
---