In the afternoon, when Ye Erquan went to Ye Caiping's house to return the oxcart, he learned that Ye Caiping and Du Shi had given the children pocket money.

Upon returning home, he immediately gave Yinhua 500 coins.

Seeing that Wei was about to start nagging again, Ye Erquan said, "500 coins is only half a day's income for us, can't we give that?"

Mrs. Wei said, "I didn't say that... It's just that she's only twelve years old, and she's carrying so much money. I'm afraid she might lose it or have it stolen."

Ye Erquan said, "Alright, even if it's lost, it's her own business. Let's use this money to buy her some writing materials; it's not right for her younger sister to keep buying them, is it?"

Yinhua whispered, "Father, I don't need to buy pen and ink. Master Shen had a box brought to our lecture hall for us to use."

Wei's eyes widened: "Not only do you not charge tuition, but you even offer free writing materials? Does he have money to burn?"

Yinhua whispered, "I don't know."

Wei had only heard that Master Shen's family was quite large and wealthy, but how expensive were his writing implements? Why would he give them away for free? Was he a fool?

"You have more than you can use. Take two sets back for your brother to use, so you can save some money on writing materials."

Yinhua choked: "Jin'er and Huan'er only brought one set back for their own use, and they only took more after they finished using them."

Ye Erquan glared at Wei Shi.

Mrs. Wei pursed her lips: "I was just joking. Husband, weren't you building the outhouse? How's it going now?"

"The materials have arrived, and we can start construction tomorrow."

The day before yesterday, they hired a deliveryman named Liu Dali. He was honest and hardworking, and his wages were 30 coins a day.

Du also suggested that they follow Ye Caiping's example and work for a full month. If they did well, they would receive an additional 100 cash as a reward, which would amount to 1 tael per month.

Ms. Wei didn't know what to say.

With the help of others, whether it was Daquan or Erquan, things became much easier, and she no longer needed to deliver goods with the two women, Du Shi and Daquan.

But Mr. Wei always felt he was losing money, and he didn't know how much he could earn in a month building the outhouse, or whether it would be enough to cover the cost of hiring people.

...

The next day, after Ye Erquan's materials arrived, he took Sanquan and Tieniu to Baiweilou to begin construction.

Everyone was extremely cautious with their first order, and the first building was completed rather slowly. It took a full five days to finish.

The second and third ones were already easy to do, and after three more days, they were all finished.

Manager Lin was very satisfied after trying it out and paid the wages.

Ye Erquan and his two companions carried the 24 taels of silver, feeling its weight, and returned to the village in a daze.

The three of them didn't go home; they went straight to Ye Caiping's house.

Ye Caiping was looking at accounts in her study when she saw the three men standing in front of her. She was taken aback and asked, "Second Brother, what are you doing here?"

"The outhouse at Baiweilou is finished, and... here's the payment." With that, Ye Erquan placed the money on the desk.

Ye Caiping laughed upon hearing this: "I'm not your boss. You can divide the money among yourselves. You don't need to give it to me."

"Ah...this,this is 24 taels!" Ye Erquan stammered.

“Hmm.” Ye Caiping nodded. “Second brother, you take 60 shares, and third brother and Tie Niu each take 20 shares. So second brother, you will have 14 taels and 4 mace, and third brother and Tie Niu will each have 4 taels and 8 mace.”

As he spoke, he kindly divided the money into three parts.

“Here, just take it back. You’ll know how to divide it next time, right?” Ye Caiping said, gesturing with her lips.

Ye Erquan was completely dumbfounded: "I got 14 taels and 4 mace? I've only been working here for a few days?"

Ye Sanquan said, "We only worked for 8 days, and we've already earned so much?"

“Hmm,” Ye Caiping said, “Eight taels for a latrine. As for the cost of materials, you can calculate it yourselves later, and then give the money for materials to Second Brother according to your share.”

Ye Erquan paid for the materials first.

Ye Erquan: "The materials only amount to one tael and one mace."

"Then you can reduce the costs and then divide it up."

Ye Sanquan's mouth was practically agape, and he even slapped himself: "In 8 days, I only earned 4 taels? My God, this can't be happening, am I dreaming?"

They only earned one or two taels of silver a month in the workshop, but in one go they earned the equivalent of four months' wages for others.

The three grown men were laughing like idiots, their laughter almost shaking the roof off Ye Caiping.

Ye Caiping laughed and said, "Alright, alright, go back now!"

Ye Erquan: "No, I'm going to treat you to dinner tonight, little sister."

Ye Sanquan: "I want one too!"

Zhao Tieniu: "Me too!"

Ye Caiping sighed and smiled, "Going from house to house like this won't work. If you don't mind, you can all come here for dinner tonight. We won't do it ourselves, we'll leave it to you."

"I want good food and good wine."

"Of course, I'll go back and call your second sister-in-law right away."

"Let's go back and call for help."

The three grown men went out happily, walking along the village road, skipping and waving their arms, looking like energetic young men.

The surrounding villagers all turned to look at them, wondering what had happened to Erquan and the other two. Should they go see Doctor Zhao?

...

Ye Erquan returned home and placed 14 taels and 4 mace on the table: "Hahaha, wife of my child, look how much this is?"

Mrs. Wei picked up the pile of money in disbelief: "More than 14 taels? 8 days? This is more profitable than delivering soup!"

"I knew it! There's always a reason why my little sister asks me to do something. You said earlier that building outhouses wouldn't make money!"

"Yes, yes, you're absolutely right." Mrs. Wei beamed, "Yinhua!"

"Hey!" Yinhua ran in from outside.

"What happened to the 500 coins I gave you last time? Have you spent them?"

"without."

"Bring it here."

Yinhua, puzzled, returned to her room and gave the 500 coins from last time to Madam Wei: "They're all here."

Madam Wei accepted the money and then slipped two more taels into her hand: "Jin'er and Huan'er each received two taels, and you will receive two taels from now on."

Yinhua's eyes lit up: "Oh, really? Mother is so generous?"

Wei spat and said, "When have I ever mistreated you?"

Yinhua pouted. There was no abuse, of course, but it always made her feel suffocated.

"Tonight, we'll all be having dinner at my younger sister's house. My second uncle's family and Tie Niu's family will also be there. You and Tie Niu's wife will have to take care of the kitchen work. San Quan and I will go to town to buy groceries."

With that, he rushed out the door like a whirlwind.