Qiao Xuan smiled. "Small tree buds are fine, or even some twigs are alright."
First Madame smiled. "Xuan, you do have good judgment. You like nothing except these expensive ones!"
Auntie Hua laughed. "Very true!"
First Madame said, "Your uncle has been interested in those trees for a long time. He has bred many of these just to make wonderful furniture. He was worried that they would not be enough, so 30 years ago, he planted many tree buds in the Southern Garden, as well as in other gardens of ours!"
"Some of the tree buds grew up, some failed to live, but those in Southern Garden grew best!"
"I will fetch some suitable ones from the other two abbeys, and give them to you. Or I can just get Xiao to buy some back. Twigs are useless, not that I am too stingy to share some with you!"
First Madame would not turn down what Qiao Xuan asked for, though what she had asked for seemed quite unexpected.
