Chapter 41: Making Money

After seeing Qian Jingsheng and the others off, Wen Zhu felt the courtyard suddenly quiet down. She felt a little uncomfortable, but she still preferred quietness. She just felt like she had forgotten something, but she couldn't remember it for a while.

At this moment, Jiang Jianbei and Jiang Jianye also happened to be pulling a trailer to the door of their house.

Wen Hong quickly took the things from his son's hand and said, "I'll clean up. You must be tired after walking back. Go take a rest, drink some water, and eat something."

The two brothers nodded.

I went to the water tank and scooped a ladle of cold water. The chicken drank it with a gulp, and then it felt thirsty.

Seeing his brothers eating pancakes with chili sauce with gusto, Wen Zhu remembered that he hadn't eaten yet and his stomach started to growl. So he tore off a piece of pancake and started eating.

Jiang Qin waited until the children finished eating before calling a few of them back to the house.

Seeing that their mother was acting mysteriously and wanted to go inside to talk, Wen Zhu thought that their mother had something important to tell them, so the three siblings hurried in.

"Second brother, go call your dad in and wash it later."

Only after the family was gathered together did Jiang Qin close the gate to the courtyard, the door to the main room, and take out a handful of neatly folded bills from his pocket.

"Let's count and see how much we made on our first day of business!"

Wen Zhu finally understood why her mother was so secretive; it turned out she was counting money. However, Wen Zhu didn't think her mother was being too cautious. After all, no one was rich these days, and if you suddenly made money, it would be bad to be envied and hated by others.

She still knows the principle of not showing off one's wealth.

Jiang Qin counted it himself first, and there were actually forty-five yuan!

She couldn't believe it and handed the money to her daughter and asked Wen Zhu to count it again. Wen Zhu counted it carefully again, "It's still 45 yuan! Mom, you are amazing! You earned a month's salary of a city worker in one day!"

Jiang Qin was so happy that she couldn't stop smiling. She couldn't believe that such a humble potato snack could be sold for so much money!

"Mom, pinch it and see if it's real?" Wen Zhu saw his mother so happy and quickly cooperated and suggested.

Jiang Qin quickly raised her hand and pinched the man beside her. Wen Hong cried out in pain, "Wife, we are already an old couple. Don't touch each other in front of your children. The children are grown up and it will have a bad influence."

Jiang Qin rolled her eyes at him in reproach, "What nonsense are you talking about? The children are watching us."

Wen Hong quickly begged for mercy.

Wen Zhu had strategic conversations with his two brothers, and his parents showed their affection in front of him. After so many years, they had already developed a tacit understanding.

"Oh my goodness, if I set up a stall every day, wouldn't it be easy for me to become a millionaire in no time?" Jiang Qin's attention returned to the pile of loose change, his eyes shining as he spoke.

"Mom, the money you earned today is almost as much as my monthly allowance. Our family will definitely live better in the future!" Jiang Jianbei couldn't help but feel happy.

Their family had never been able to save money before. They had four children to raise and all of them had to go to school. At a time when tuition was still a concern, relying on farming to send all of them to school was a real struggle. Three years ago, Jiang Jiannan and Jiang Jianbei had both performed exceptionally well. Jiang Jiannan was admitted to university, but Jiang Jianbei unexpectedly failed the college entrance exam and insisted on joining the army, resulting in one of their children losing their education.

He was a conscripted soldier for the first two years, and his monthly allowance was only six or seven yuan, but he saved some to send home after a while. It was only after he became a platoon leader this year that his monthly allowance increased to 58 yuan, and he started sending more money home. Jiang Qin didn't say anything, though. She kept a record of the money and saved it for her son; she wouldn't actually spend the child's money.

Jiang Jianye was also happy for his family. He tugged at his trouser legs with both hands, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he said nothing.

Wen Zhu noticed that his third brother seemed to have something to say, but since he didn't say it, he must have his own concerns. He would talk to him in detail when he had the chance.

She took out the two hundred yuan she had locked in the drawer and gave it to Jiang Qin.

"Mom, this is the medical fee they gave me when I saved someone in Kaoshan Town last time."

Jiang Qin looked at the huge stack of solidarity notes and didn't dare to reach out. The family members looked at Wen Zhu in shock. "Who paid for the consultation? Why so much? My daughter, we can't be that black-hearted doctor!"

When Wen Zhu heard this, he knew that his family had misunderstood.

So he started to explain, and told the story that Qian Xusen's father was a millionaire in Nancheng. He also said that he had rejected the 1,000 yuan reward offered by others, and in the end, they gave him 200 yuan for various reasons.

After hearing this, Wen Hong nodded, and everyone finally understood. "You're right not to take it. We save people based on our conscience, but we can't take what we shouldn't."

Wen Zhu finished speaking, looking at the money in his hand, and suddenly remembered what he had forgotten! Qian Xusen, such a big kid, disappeared again?!

Before setting up the stall, Qian Xusen was at his home, and after returning, he hadn't been seen since. Given his wealth and his history of being kidnapped, Wen Zhu subconsciously became worried. He felt a little annoyed that he hadn't thought of it sooner.

So he quickly asked, "Dad, where is Qian Xusen? The one with the bodyguards?"

Wen Hong: "Well, that kid was called over by the injured battalion commander, probably his cousin, and talked for a while. I don't know what it was. After lunch, he said he had something else to do and left in a hurry."

Wen Hong thought about it and added, "Oh, by the way, he was smiling silly when he left. He looked very happy."

Wen Zhu was relieved when he heard that the person was not lost.

Jiang Qin and Wen Hong were determined not to take their daughter's money, but Wen Zhu forced it back to them.

"Mom and Dad, we're a family, and as a family we need to work together to make our lives better, right? Mom's running a small business now, and you never know when we might need money, so keep some for emergencies."

Wen Hong and Jiang Qin looked at each other. Although there was no verbal communication, as a couple of years together, they could understand each other's meaning.

Jiang Qin took the money and then handed some to Wen Zhu. "I'll keep this for you. Come and get it when you need it. You're older now and you'll need money someday. Keep this for emergencies." She stuffed the money into Wen Zhu's pocket without giving him any room to refuse. Wen Zhu didn't refuse either.

"And the same goes for the second child. Keep your allowance for yourself. Don't always send it home. Save it for marrying off later. Mom and Dad can earn their own money, so they don't need much."

"I don't need it. I'm usually either training or on missions. Food, drink, and other necessities are all distributed. There's no point leaving the money with me."

What Jiang Jianbei said was true. In the army, he didn't smoke or drink, and he didn't have anything to buy, so he spent almost nothing.

Jiang Qin smiled and said, "Then you can stay single for your whole life? Dating always requires money, otherwise, do you want the girl to suffer with you?"

Jiang Jianbei muttered quietly, "Where did this girl come from? Even mosquitoes in the army have never seen a female. I'm going to date the air."

Jiang Qin slapped him on the forehead and said, "You are already old enough to get married. Pay attention and I will look for someone for you. If you find the right one, just date her first and get married when the time is right."