Chapter 585 - 357: Payday
Wei Ziang didn’t want anyone else to know about this, so Jiang Yu didn’t mention it.
He just later found a chance to ask Xiaomi about the situation when she found Wei Ziang, but didn’t come to any conclusion.
He only noticed that since then, Wei Ziang rarely went out and mostly stayed at home reading, occasionally staying in his room.
However, since he was pretty much like that before, it didn’t arouse much suspicion.
It was Xiaomi who approached him instead.
"Did you have a fight with big brother?"
"No, why?"
Wei Ziang put down his book. He was indeed putting on an act these past few days, finding it hard to concentrate.
"Big brother came to ask me what it was like when we found you, and seeing how strange you two were these days, I was worried you might have had a fight."
Although, big brother had been teaching the parrot to talk these days, and it was starting to pay off.
Wei Ziang was also reading and writing, just as before.
But Xiaomi knew them well and understood their moods and intentions, always able to intuitively sense them.
Even though others hadn’t noticed anything, she was the first to sense it.
Perhaps because he had something on his mind, Wei Ziang’s reaction was uncharacteristically slow, and he even flipped a page without realizing.
"Oh, that, maybe big brother was just curious."
Xiaomi looked at him suspiciously, "Really? It doesn’t seem like it to me. If you ask me, big brother seems really concerned about your memory."
Wei Ziang gave a helpless smile, "How could that be? Big brother just suddenly wanted to know about my background, it’s just a question. Unfortunately, I don’t know either."
He spread his hands helplessly, indicating he was truly at a loss.
Xiaomi was half-convinced, "He hasn’t shown concern for so many years, why suddenly now?"
No matter how you look at it, it just doesn’t seem right.
But she asked both of them and couldn’t find any flaws.
Wei Ziang didn’t want to talk about this matter. It was easier dealing with big brother, but in front of Xiaomi, he found it hard not to slip up.
"Alright, let’s not think about this. Speaking of which, the New Year is coming, it’s so lively outside. Don’t you want to go and have a look? I thought you loved excitement."
Since she couldn’t get anything out of them, Xiaomi didn’t press further and simply dropped the matter.
She shrugged, "I don’t want to go out, I’ve been out too much before, I’m tired of it. Besides, there are too many people on the street, it’s so crowded."
It wasn’t exaggeratedly crowded, but close enough.
She sighed, "Before, I thought spending New Year outside would be fresh and exciting, but now I feel it’s still better at home."
At least at home, the house is big, you can play in the fields, go fishing when bored, or collect wild chestnuts.
Or start a fire in the wild and make your own barbecue.
Plus, every morning at home begins with feeding pigs, chickens, and ducks, there’s plenty to do. By the time you’re done, it’s usually time to cook lunch.
Unlike here, where you wake up, eat breakfast, then stroll, eat again, and repeat, the initial excitement has long faded.
Wei Ziang chuckled, "Back then, when you heard you could experience the New Year atmosphere outside, I don’t know who was so excited."
Xiaomi pouted, it was her indeed, but she regretted it now.
But regrets were useless now; going back meant spending New Year on the road, which would have been more frustrating, maybe even lacking a chance to wash up.
Just then, there was a knock on the door, sparking Xiaomi’s curiosity.
"Didn’t dad and mom just go out?"
"Maybe it’s someone else."
They both went to open the door. With the door bar removed, Xiaomi opened it to see someone slightly familiar outside.
"Who are you?"
A bit familiar, but she couldn’t recall where they’d met, wearing a black robe, seemed to be a steward of some family.
"Miss Xiaomi, it’s me, little Yang who worked with Steward Wang at the hotpot shop last year."
Xiaomi immediately remembered and opened the door fully.
"It’s you, come in. Are you looking for my dad?" She asked, knowing her dad managed the family affairs.
But little Yang shook his head and took out an envelope from his sleeve.
"Miss Xiaomi, Steward Wang and Master went to the Capital City, and I’m managing the stores in Nanyang Prefecture. These are all the dividends belonging to Miss Xiaomi from the hotpot shop up until last month."
After handing it to Xiaomi, little Yang cupped his hands, "Miss Xiaomi, Young Master Wei, I’ll take my leave now, business is good and I’m busy."
Xiaomi quickly nodded, "Alright, I’ll treat you to tea next time."
Little Yang nodded and left in a hurry, he was indeed busy.
Though not as grand as the upscale restaurants, for the New Year, regular folks were willing to spend a little to try what they usually couldn’t afford.
Back in the yard, Jiang Yu asked from the window who it was after Xiaomi told him, he lost interest and withdrew.
He was happy about his two sisters’ knack for earning money but wasn’t envious or jealous.
Xiaomi was indeed right about one thing, their big brother was best suited to be an honest official.
Xiaomi, however, was really interested, quickly pulling Wei Ziang back to the yard, eager to see how much she had earned.
If little Yang hadn’t delivered it, she would have almost forgotten.
Opening the envelope, inside were exchanged silver notes, quite a stack, of small denominations. After counting, Xiaomi was shocked.
"More than a thousand taels in silver notes?"
This, this, this...
This was quite a lot, considering she only had a twenty percent share.
And it was pure profit after all expenses!
Wei Ziang also smiled, "Seems like the hotpot business is doing well. I heard they opened quite a few around the neighboring towns and cities, though profit margins are low, they added up quite well."
Xiaomi nodded, "Indeed, it’s a small business and not easily targeted."
Seeing Xiaomi counting the silver notes again, Wei Ziang laughed, "Still counting? Can they increase the more you count?"
Xiaomi giggled, "Of course not."
Saying that, she put the remaining notes back in the envelope, then took out one note and handed it directly to Wei Ziang.
"Little brother, this is for you."
Wei Ziang was taken aback, instinctively taking it, but before he could ask, Xiaomi had turned around playfully.
"Big brother, we got money!"
"Here, fifty taels, one note for each person in the family, go shopping tomorrow and buy whatever you want!"
Without giving Jiang Yu time to react, she slapped the note into his hand and bounced away again.
The others weren’t home, so Xiaomi went straight into their rooms and tucked the notes under their pillows.
Truly, everyone gets a share.
From the doorway, Jiang Yu looked at Wei Ziang in the yard, silently questioning, what’s up with Xiaomi?
Wei Ziang shrugged, indicating he didn’t know either.
But he calmly put the silver note away.
Carefully flattening it between the book pages.