Zhou Qiao was wiping her daughter's face, and the little girl was squirming and giggling.

When Da Niu returned, Zhou Qiao pushed Xiao Zaozao in front of him in an annoyed tone, "Look at your good daughter, she insisted on going to the river in this cold weather. When she was told not to go, she ran away and fell down, getting herself all dirty, just like a naughty little boy."

Da Niu laughed and picked up Xiao Zaozao, saying, "She didn't cry even when she fell down. She's truly my daughter."

Zhou Qiao, “…” Not only did she not cry, she was even laughing.

"I don't care anymore, you can take her with you."

After Zhou Qiao finished speaking, she took the water out to pour it out, and then went back inside, leaving the father and daughter to play there.

A short while later, the door was opened.

Zhou Qiao looked up and saw that only Da Niu was there, so she asked curiously, "Where is everyone?"

"Play with Xiaoya in her room."

As he spoke, he turned around and bolted the door shut.

Zhou Qiao was startled by the noise. "What are you doing in broad daylight?"

Da Niu chuckled, making Zhou Qiao inexplicably get goosebumps.

She couldn't help but take two steps back when she saw him put his hand inside his clothes.

A moment later, Da Niu pulled out a stack of silver notes from his pocket and said, "Here you go."

Zhou Qiao was stunned for a moment, looked at his exceptionally bright smiling face, slowly moved the money into his hand, and then widened her eyes, "...Tch, so much money? Where did it come from?"

“Isn’t it the end of the year? Ayu is doing the accounts. You know, when we opened the workshop, Ayu gave me a share. We got a share the year before last, which was a little over three hundred taels. She didn’t come back from Chenggu County last year, so we’ll settle it all this year. This is my share. Five thousand taels, that’s enough for Xiaozaozao’s dowry.”

"How much? How much?" Zhou Qiao wondered if she had misheard.

Five thousand taels.

Zhou Qiao gasped sharply, "So much?!" She quickly counted it, and it was indeed true, a full five thousand taels.

Although they were just a few thin sheets of paper, Zhou Qiao felt an unusual weight on them, so much so that her hands trembled slightly.

Good heavens! Their family now has five thousand taels of silver! They are a wealthy family with a very substantial fortune.

"I thought about it on my way back. The money's just sitting there anyway, so why don't we buy a shop in the prefectural city? What do you think?"

"A shop?" Zhou Qiao asked in surprise. "You... you're not planning to work in the workshop anymore, and you want to open your own shop?"

"Of course not. I'm very skilled at working in the workshop, and I get profit sharing. I also get a monthly salary. Why wouldn't I do this job?"

Zhou Qiao breathed a sigh of relief; she also felt she had done a good job here. If Da Niu left now, wouldn't that be like crossing the river and burning the bridge? Besides, this was only two years' worth of dividends; even if they opened their own shops, they might not be able to earn this much.

This is only the first two years of Lu Ji Workshop's operation; there will definitely be more to come.

"Since you're not going to drive, are you expecting me to do it? I can't do it, I don't know how, and I have to take care of my daughter."

Da Niu chuckled, “No, neither my family nor yours has anyone suitable to open a shop. So I was thinking of buying this shop and renting it out. We can collect some rent every year when things are quiet, and when Zaozao grows up, it can be used as part of her dowry.”

Zhou Qiao thought about it and agreed, "I think it's a good idea. So when shall we go and take a look at the shop?"

"Let's go to the prefectural city tomorrow. The three of us will go to find someone to help us keep an eye on things and buy some things while we're there."

"good."