Chapter 45
"Did you really agree to let Wenliang go together?"
After Ji Wanglan and Ji Wenliang left, Ji Taoyu couldn't help but ask Huo Shu.
Ji Wenliang was even younger than him - just sixteen this year, and he was the youngest son of his seventh uncle's family.
Back when his grandparents were still alive and his father was still a child at home, his father had been closest to this seventh uncle among all his siblings. Even after the family divided, they remained the most connected.
His seventh uncle had an older son and a ger, and then Ji Wenliang was born. It was said that since their branch of the family had no sons for a long time, the seventh uncle had originally planned to give Ji Wenliang to Ji Taoyu’s parents to raise.
But Ji Taoyu’s father and mother refused. Every child was born of their parents' flesh and blood. Though the seventh uncle’s family wasn’t wealthy, they weren’t so poor that they couldn’t raise their own child. How could they feel good about giving him away?
The adoption never happened, but both families treated each other’s children as their own.
Huo Shu said, "Didn’t you say you like Ji Wenliang quite a bit? That he’s upright and hardworking? If he has the courage to go out and make his way in the world, that’s a good thing. Why wouldn’t I agree?"
"Age isn’t an obstacle. I enlisted at fifteen and was already fighting on the battlefield at sixteen. At his age, going out to see the world isn’t too late."
Ji Yangzong nodded. "Huo-lang is right. Since your seventh uncle and aunt have agreed, let him go out and broaden his horizons."
"You know your seventh uncle has had health problems since he was young and can’t do heavy labor anymore. The family hasn’t divided, and as the eldest brother, Wenshan has taken on the responsibilities of the household. He’s married now, and the whole family depends on him."
"But last year, your cousin Wenshan injured his leg and was bedridden for half a year before recovering. Now they’ve added another child, and Ji Wenliang is old enough to be betrothed. Everywhere they turn, money is needed. Life is tight for them."
Ji Yangzong sighed. "Your sister-in-law has endured hardships for years, but now she’s starting to talk about dividing the family. Ji Wenliang feels like a burden, so he wants to learn some skills and stand on his own."
Ji Taoyu fell silent. Every family had its own struggles, all revolving around the trivialities of daily life.
They say more children mean more blessings, and while a large family signifies flourishing prosperity, it also brings more complications.
"For now, let’s settle it this way."
Ji Yangzong then asked, "By the way, how did your trip to the city go today? Did you find what you needed?"
"We’ve already chosen and settled on the goods. The prices were fair."
Ji Taoyu smiled as he spoke.
"That’s good."
Ji Yangzong nodded in relief, then took out a small bundle and handed it to them. "Starting a business always requires money. Your mother and I can’t offer much help, but take this. If it’s not enough, just say so. Your uncles can also pitch in ideas."
"Father, we have money."
"Take it."
Ji Yangzong stuffed the silver into Ji Taoyu’s arms. "You used to pester me for money all the time. Now that Huo-lang’s money is yours, you’re suddenly being polite with us?"
"Your mother and I only have you as our child. Everything we have will be yours sooner or later. What difference does it make if you take it now or later?"
Ji Taoyu hugged the silver, warmth flooding his heart.
"Then I won’t stand on ceremony."
After washing up and returning to their room, Ji Taoyu was already exhausted.
He took off his clothes and flopped onto the bed, opening the money pouch Ji Yangzong had given him. When he saw fifty gleaming silver taels inside, his spirits lifted slightly.
"Father and mother are really going all out for our business, they gave us so much!"
Though it was nothing compared to the money Huo Shu had, for an ordinary family, saving thirty to fifty taels was already quite difficult.
His father was the village head, and while the prefectural office gave him a small monthly stipend, it was only a minor official’s salary—just a few hundred copper coins a month. During festivals, they received rice, flour, salt, and oil, which helped cut expenses.
But in recent years, both the stipend and festival gifts had dwindled. Ji Taoyu didn’t know if it was because the prefectural officials were embezzling or if the court was truly cutting back.
Either way, the family’s savings mostly came from their fields and forests.
Fifty taels was already the most they could spare—after all, they still had to live and couldn’t drain everything for the business.
When it came to money, their family had more avenues than most: the prefectural salary, gifts from villagers, and income from their land. And with only one child to raise, their savings were already among the best in the surrounding villages—yet even they only had about a hundred taels set aside.
How had Huo Shu managed to save so much?
Ji Taoyu tilted his head to look at the man who had been sitting by the candlelight trimming his nails without saying a word. After all this time, he still wasn’t done.
"Are you smoothing your nails so perfectly because you’re entering a beauty contest?"
"Almost finished."
Ji Taoyu put the silver away and had just returned to bed when Huo Shu finally seemed done. He wanted to inspect his hands, but a more pressing question came to mind.
He eyed the man suspiciously as he prepared to climb into bed.
"How did you earn all that money? I’ve asked several times, and you never told me. If you don’t explain today, I won’t let you up here."
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