622 A Basket of Cherries
After eating the second cherry, although he still didn’t quite understand the meaning of the name, it didn’t prevent him from being tempted by the basket of cherries.
However, this rare thing was obviously very precious. He could not break his own principles and accept this basket of cherries.
The rich man was also a person who observed people’s expressions. Seeing that the official was obviously tempted but still hesitant, he immediately gave him a shot of stimulant and said, ” Sir, I heard that the old lady’s appetite hasn’t been very good recently, so I’ve been worried about it. I tried every possible way to find something that could adjust her appetite. As a result, I finally knew that there was such a thing in a remote village, so I bought some for the old lady to try. I’ve heard that after eating this, people will gain their appetite!”
This adult was a filial son. If it were just about giving him a gift or something, no matter how expensive or cheap the gift was, he would refuse. But when it came to his mother’s health, he rarely refused.
Therefore, this County Magistrate would occasionally be greedy.
In the end, the Magistrate accepted the basket of cherries. Although the rich man felt a little pained, after all, this basket should have cost him three hundred taels of silver, but compared to the Magistrate’s promise to support him to be the chairman of the trade union, this little money was worth it.
The county Magistrate returned to the back hall with a basket of cherries. When he saw his mother looking at the table full of food with no appetite, he frowned. If she ate such a small amount of food, her body would definitely collapse in the long run.
However, when he thought of the cherry he had just tasted, his brows relaxed again.
He brought the basket in front of his mother and said with a smile, “Mother, look at what good stuff your son brought you.”
However, the old lady did not even look at it. She leaned back in the armchair, closed her eyes, and said, ” alright, take it away. I don’t even have the appetite to eat anything good these days!”
The official smiled and said, ” mother, that might not be the case. Mother, why don’t I make a bet with you? if you still don’t have an appetite after eating this, then I’ll stop accepting those precious herbs. How about it?”
As soon as he finished speaking, the old lady’s eyes darted to him, and she said with a slightly agitated expression, ” Ming ‘Er, is what you said true? ” The mother wanted her son for a good official. However, for the sake of her health, her filial son would not refuse those who had ulterior motives and then sent precious medicinal herbs to his door.
As a result, she felt depressed, and her health became worse. She didn’t want her son to become a corrupt official.
Since ancient times, all corrupt officials had started by collecting small donations. Later on, they became more and more greedy and couldn’t control their own greed. As a result, they became extremely greedy.
The son nodded and said, ” mother, of course, it’s true.”
The old lady’s eyes then fell on the fruits in the basket. She was shocked when she saw them.
“This bright red and small thing, is it really a fruit? Is this thing really not poisonous? I hear that the brighter the color of the food, the more poisonous it is.”
Old Madam asked suspiciously, ” Ming ‘Er, can this thing really be eaten? It’s not poisonous, right?”
The man shook his head and said, ” mother, this thing is edible, and it’s very delicious. I’ve already eaten two. Look, I’m standing here perfectly fine, right? ”
The old lady reached out for a cherry and ate it doubtfully. Then, her eyes lit up and she said, ” this thing is really delicious, really delicious!”
As she spoke, she reached out for the second, then the third.
After eating, the old lady suddenly said, ” Ming ‘Er, I suddenly have an appetite. I want to eat.”
The Magistrate was overjoyed and quickly ordered the servants, ” Quick, quickly serve the food!
At night, in the study, the magistrate sat in front of the desk and looked at the half-filled basket of cherries, deep in thought.
His mother’s words rang in his ears.
His mother said, “Son, I’ve lived for so long, but this is the first time I’ve seen this kind of cherry fruit in my life. I also believe that it is rare in our Long Yan Kingdom. Son, you’ve been in Lin ‘An County for a few years. It’s time for you to leave this place!”
He understood his mother’s meaning.
She hoped that he would be promoted and do more things.
So, now, this half basket of cherries would determine his future.
