My Fulang is a Delicate Flower Chapter 68 Part 3

Ji Yangzong’s frown deepened instead of easing.  

A bad premonition struck him.  

He wondered if his son-in-law was handing him such a large sum right after returning, could it mean he planned to take Ji Taoyu away?  

"There's only the two of you at home, and sooner or later, all this will be yours. What would I do with your money? I’ll accept the kindness, but take the money back. Business needs capital."  

Ji Taoyu also helped Huo Shu persuade him: "Father, just take it. Don’t ruin A-Shu’s good intentions. We’ve earned a lot this trip, it’s just filial piety."  

"Consider it as saving it for us, if nothing else."  

Seeing Ji Taoyu speak this way, Ji Yangzong misunderstood Huo Shu’s intention.  

Relieved, he coughed dryly. Seeing their firm resolve, he tentatively accepted the banknote, clutching it as if in a dream.  

He was a man of some experience, but this was the first time he’d ever held such a large sum in his hands.  

This was different from handling money on behalf of others, this was truly his to keep.  

Though just a thin slip of paper, far less weighty than silver, the thought of exchanging it for a thousand taels of silver was staggering.  

"Then I’ll save it for you first. If there’s any need in the future, I’ll take it out."  

"We understand."  

Ji Taoyu said, "You and Mother shouldn’t scrimp. Eat and drink well, no need to save for us."  

"Coming back from a trip, you’ve learned sweet words to coax your father."  

Ji Yangzong said this, but inwardly, he was delighted. He wouldn’t touch their money, he and his wife had their own savings. But seeing his little ger and son-in-law so thoughtful, his heart bloomed like fireworks.  

Giving such a large sum, whether he spoke of it or not, it filled him with pride.  

Losing at sunrise but gaining at sunset, losing that scoundrel from the You family only to find an even better son-in-law.  

[失之东隅收之桑榆 (shī zhī dōng yú shōu zhī sāng yú): lit. Lose at sunrise, gain at sunset; fig. Compensate for a loss elsewhere]

Ji Yangzong felt he could now hold his head high.  

Back in their room, Ji Taoyu sorted the signed contracts from the day and locked them in a box along with the account books.  

Now that most of the outstanding accounts had been settled, following Huo Shu’s suggestion, they would pay Uncle Fan and the others the same twelve taels per person that Ge Liang had calculated.  

Though they lived and ate at home, they were workers, not idle guests. They deserved their wages.  

Even servants in wealthy households received monthly allowances, it was only fair to pay for labor.  

After calculating the remaining funds, aside from the wages paid out and the thousand taels given to his father, their profit from the cloth trade still amounted to 2,718 taels.  

In addition, the horses they sold upon returning brought in another 1,800 taels.  

Meaning they now had 4,518 taels on hand.  

"Just this money alone makes me feel content, let alone the thirty-some horses left."  

Even Ji Taoyu, usually meticulous with accounts, felt a bit lightheaded.  

He locked away the bulk of the silver and banknotes in another chest, keeping only eighteen taels of loose change in a purse.  

He then hung the purse on Huo Shu’s waist and patted it. "You’ve worked hard~"  

"Boss Ji is quite the accountant, giving me a full eighteen taels, more than Uncle Fan and the others."  

Ji Taoyu tilted his head and raised a brow. "Naturally. How could they compare to you in my heart?"  

Huo Shu pinched the purse and sat beside Ji Taoyu. "Not many of the remaining horses can be sold. Don’t set your hopes too high."  

"Hm?"  

Ge Liang had taken three today, leaving thirty-seven from the northern trip. One would go to Zhao Pan.  

"Of course. Sister Wu helped us so much, this was promised long ago."  

Huo Shu said, "Uncle Fan, A-Shou, and the other six are all skilled with horses. I plan to give each of them one."  

Ji Taoyu nodded. "That’s seven gone."  

"Wenliang also likes horses. Since A-Shou has already taught him, let’s give him one too."  

Huo Shu said, "He’s your brother, close to the family, so he’s mine as well."  

Hearing this, Ji Taoyu’s eyes curved, and he leaned in to kiss Huo Shu’s cheek.  

Stirred by the gesture, Huo Shu’s breath hitched imperceptibly. He wrapped an arm around Ji Taoyu’s back and continued,  

"That leaves twenty-nine. For future business, we’ll need livestock. Since we have our own, we’ll replace the mules and donkeys, keeping four more in reserve. The remaining twenty-five can be sold."  

Ji Taoyu agreed, it was wise to prioritize their own needs first.  

"Whatever you say."  

Huo Shu said, "Tomorrow I’ll go to town to see about selling the horses."  

"Alright."  

Ji Taoyu glanced outside, the sun was still high. Since the horse sale would wait until tomorrow, with the accounts settled, they suddenly had nothing to do.  

The clothes and bedding that needed washing had already been taken by his mother early in the morning to the riverbank with Yuan Huiru. By now, they were probably sun-dried in the courtyard.  

With nothing left to do, he stretched lazily. "Then what about today? If there’s nothing else, I’ll take a nap."  

Huo Shu murmured, "Today’s business isn’t done yet."  

Ji Taoyu blinked in confusion. "Huh? What business?"  

Suddenly, he was lifted into Huo Shu’s arms.  

Glancing at the bright daylight outside, Ji Taoyu widened his eyes and clutched Huo Shu’s collar. "This time of day, you—"  

But then he reconsidered, why not?  

His mother had taken the newly bought oil, salt, sauces, and some leather goods to distribute among relatives. His father had gone to the mountains to check on Uncle Fan and the others clearing the land.  

No one was home. Wasn’t this even quieter than nighttime? Though he wasn’t sure when they’d return.  

His protest turned into: "Hurry up, then~"