Chapter 64 A Nighttime Chat Between Husband and Wife: No More Strangers
Ye Li suppressed her doubts and continued eating.
Jiangmai and Jiangya were preoccupied with their little gifts, so they ate much faster.
After they finished eating, the two put down their chopsticks and rushed out of the kitchen to move Jiang Ji's luggage.
There was a lot of luggage, but it wasn't heavy; the two of them could easily move it.
The two of them quickly carried the sack containing the small gifts into the kitchen.
Then the two stood beside the sack, staring longingly at Jiang Ji: "Big brother, big brother."
"Big brother, big brother."
Jiang Ji chuckled at their antics and nodded with his chin at the burlap sack: "Open it."
The two little ones cheered immediately and busied themselves untying the opening of the burlap sack.
Open it up, and on top is a square wooden box, about a foot long and wide.
Jiang Ji said, "This is for wheat."
Jiang Mai's eyes lit up instantly, and she quickly took out the wooden box.
Lift the lid, and inside is a tree branch-shaped slingshot.
"Wow!" Jiang Mai exclaimed in surprise and quickly took out her slingshot.
Ye Li also looked over.
The slingshot handle is maroon in color, smooth and rounded, and painted, making it quite exquisite.
Looking at the elastic band part, it wasn't silk thread, but rather beef tendon.
In ancient times, since there was no rubber band, animal sinew was used to make elastic devices such as bows and arrows and slingshots.
Among them, beef tendon has the best elasticity and is sturdy and durable.
However, oxen were valuable and their tendons were scarce. Therefore, slingshots carried by peddlers were made of plant fibers instead of rubber bands, making them not very practical and mainly serving as toys.
Now Jiang Ji bought Jiang Mai a slingshot that could actually shoot birds. The little guy, who usually didn't have many toys, quickly became excited and his face turned red. He grabbed the slingshot and examined it repeatedly, even making Jiang Ya reluctant to let him see it.
Ye Li leaned closer and whispered to Jiang Ji, "How much does this slingshot cost?"
“A little over thirty coins,” Jiang Ji leaned closer and answered in a low voice.
Ye Li clicked his tongue. Anything related to Wagyu beef is indeed expensive!
Jiang Mai and Jiang Ya were so engrossed in the joy of their new toys that they didn't hear their older brother and brother-in-law's conversation.
However, Jiang Ya wasn't very interested in the slingshot. He held it in his little hands and gestured a couple of times, but Jiang Mai was afraid he would break the slingshot, so she not only watched him worriedly but also repeatedly told him not to pull too hard.
He immediately lost interest.
He returned the slingshot to his second brother, then reached his little hand into the sack, ready to find his little gift.
Soon, he also took a wooden box out of the sack.
Upon learning that the wooden box was for him, he excitedly opened it, only to find a large purse inside.
He quickly grabbed it.
The purse is about half a foot tall, lake green, and embroidered with several lotus leaves.
Moreover, it can be used as a backpack or shoulder bag.
Jiang Ji explained with a smile, "You can carry this with you when you go out. It can hold a few pastries, so you can eat them whenever you're hungry. If you take good care of it, it can last for several years."
Jiang Ya already adored the large purse, and was overjoyed upon hearing this.
Yes, he can put pastries in it!
He took it with him wherever he went!
"Thank you, brother!"
He likes this big purse!
Jiang Ji laughed: "Then let's move this big bag back to the main room."
Jiang Ya was feeling quite pleased with herself and immediately responded upon hearing this.
He slung the large sack over his shoulder, called Jiang Mai over, and the two of them tied the sack shut and carried it to the main room together.
Then the two of them ran to the gate of the courtyard and carried the rest of their luggage back to the main room.
The two would occasionally pass by the kitchen door and appear at any time, so Jiang Ji and Ye Li ate their meals properly and cleaned up the kitchen.
It's getting cold, so we need to heat water to take a bath.
Jiang Ji fetched water, poured it into a large iron pot, and put a large piece of wood into the stove to burn slowly. He and Ye Li went to the main room and took out the various small gifts from the sack.
Jiang Mai and Jiang Ya were so excited that they didn't want to wash up, so they stood aside and watched.
He bought a rabbit fur coat for Jiang Dahe and Ye Daji.
The padded jacket was brown and heavy, costing several hundred coins each.
Jiang Dahe and Ye Daji were his most respected elders, who had treated him like their own children over the years. Therefore, he gritted his teeth and used the money Ye Li had worked so hard to earn to buy each of them a padded jacket.
After taking out the coat, he carefully examined Ye Li's face in the dim light.
Hmm... the little gift he bought for Ye Li wasn't as valuable as this jacket.
Moreover, Ye Li initially only allowed him to buy small gifts for Jiang Mai, Jiang Ya, and Ye Li himself.
Of course, he didn't think Ye Li was unfilial; Ye Li would definitely agree to him buying gifts for Jiang Dahe and Ye Daji.
However, after spending most of the money Ye Li gave him, the gift he bought for Ye Li wasn't the most expensive one...
This whole thing just doesn't seem right no matter how you look at it...
Ye Li, unaware of his thoughts, picked up a rabbit fur coat and examined it. The outer layer was very smooth and the stitches were fine. He nodded and said, "This coat is good. Uncle's and Father's cotton-padded coats are all worn out and old. Now we can have a warm winter."
"Not bad, you thought of that, it saves me a lot of trouble."
Hearing this, Jiang Ji's unease did not disappear.
He said, "Then let's put it away for now and give it to Second Uncle tomorrow morning. When Dad comes over the day after tomorrow, we'll give it to him then."
He had just discussed it with Ye Liang and Ye Wen. He would take a day off tomorrow, and the Ye family would come over to celebrate the day after tomorrow.
Ye Li agreed, wrapped the two jackets again with a cloth, and carried them back to the west room.
In addition, Jiang Ji prepared gifts for Liang Erxiang, Ye Adie, Jiang Liu and Jiang Yu, Ye Liang and Liu Yi, and Ye Wentang and Yu:
Fabric.
He didn't know much about this, so he chose three patterns he had never seen before and bought three bolts of cotton cloth. The others could just divide them up as they saw fit.
In the past six months, his family has become much closer to Jiang Dachuan's family, and Ye Li often troubles Jiang Tong. Therefore, he bought a rabbit fur hat for Jiang Dachuan and Gao Jun respectively.
After displaying all of these, only a rather exquisite-looking wooden box remained at the bottom of the burlap sack.
Jiang Mai was about to bend down to take it when Jiang Ji said, "Xiaomai, you and Ya Ge'er go wash up, it's getting late."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Mai immediately asked, "Where's Brother Li's gift?"
"This box at the bottom contains bath beans," Jiang Ji explained.
Upon hearing this, Ye Li tilted her head, a hint of interest flashing in her eyes.
Not bad, you're good at making excuses.
"Soap beans?" Jiang Mai said, "Oh."
This stuff is quite expensive; ever since Li Ge married into the family, we've never run out of it.
Each one costs several coins, and in the summer when they shower every day, neither he nor Ya Ge'er can afford to use them.
Now that his brother has bought such a big box, it must have cost him a lot of money.
This gift is much more valuable than what he and Ya Ge'er received.
Very well, what he instructed at the time was for his older brother to buy an expensive one for Brother Li.
So, he happily pulled Jiang Ya along to wash up.
Jiang Ji instructed him, "Put a few more pieces of firewood into the stove."
"Okay!" Jiang Mai had already run out of the main room and responded from afar.
Jiang Ji bent down, picked up the bottom wooden box, and handed it to Ye Li: "Take a look."
Ye Li took the box and peeked outside like a thief.
Jiangmai and Jiangya were both in the kitchen.
But he was still worried and said, "Let's go back inside and bring the oil lamp over."
Jiang Ji assumed he wanted to sit at the table and examine it closely, so he brought out an oil lamp and followed him to the west room.
As soon as Ye Li entered the west room, she couldn't wait a moment longer and immediately opened the box.
What came into his view were one dumpling after another.
He was taken aback and looked at Jiang Ji beside him: "It really is Zao Dou?"
Jiang Ji was stunned: "I just said it was bath beans."
Ye Li: "..."
Jiang Ji: "..."
The two stared at each other, their eyes meeting.
Seeing the speechless look gradually appear on Ye Li's face, Jiang Ji hurriedly explained, "This box of bath beans is very expensive. There are thirty beans in total, and each one has a different flavor. A box costs two hundred and twenty coins."
Two hundred and twenty coins!
Does each one taste different?
Ye Li raised an eyebrow and looked down at the box in her hand.
He casually picked up a lotus seed and brought it to his nose; a faint lotus fragrance immediately filled the air.
He put it down, then picked up another one. This time it had a cool, ethereal fragrance, the scent of roses.
Picking up another one, I was surprised to find a faint orange scent.
He was surprised.
Previously, the bath beans he bought in the county town only had two scents: orchid and osmanthus.
Of course, there are other scents as well.
But either the price is too high, or he doesn't like it.
Moreover, there are only a dozen or so flavors, all of which are stored separately.
Unlike this box in front of me, which has both floral and fruity scents, and each grain is different.
It is indeed quite precious.
He then looked at Jiang Ji.
Jiang Ji finally realized what was going on and looked at him with a half-smile, asking, "What did you think I bought?"
Ye Li raised her chin and said matter-of-factly, "Just now in the kitchen, who told you to wink at me? I thought you bought some sex toys."
Jiang Ji: "..."
That's not called flirting!
As for sex toys, he knows a little about them.
These kinds of items are either for entertainment or for internal use.
He's young and strong; he doesn't need any entertainment.
For those that are inserted into the body, this is even less necessary.
Ye Li has enough with him, she doesn't need him!
He placed the oil lamp on the table, put his arm around Ye Li's shoulder, and said, "Between us, we don't need any supplies. We've already had our fun."
"Every time I had a great time."
One sentence instantly triggered a series of indescribable images in Ye Li's mind, and he couldn't help but laugh.
Jiang Ji smiled and asked, "Do you like these bath beans?"
Ye Li placed the bath beans on the table and reached out to hug his waist: "I like it."
"Does he really like you or is he just pretending?" Jiang Ji wasn't sure.
This was clearly not what he expected...
"I really like it." Ye Li said with a smile, "I was afraid you wouldn't accept the money when I gave it to you, so I made up an excuse to buy a gift."
"Now that you've really put in the effort for me, how could I not like it?"
At this time, there was no shower gel, and he didn't like using soap, so these scented bath beans were a necessity for him.
Jiang Ji was able to notice this, and he was very satisfied.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Ji felt a surge of sweetness in his heart; of course, he was willing to put his heart into Ye Lihua's plans.
But he breathed a sigh of relief: "Well... this box of bath beans is cheaper than the coat."
"It's already very expensive, a serious overpricing!"
Ye Li didn't grasp his "deeper meaning" and only said indignantly.
Shady businessman!
It's several tens of dollars more expensive than regular scented bath powder!
Upon seeing this, Jiang Ji first breathed a sigh of relief, but then felt guilty.
Ye Li was so magnanimous, yet he worried that Ye Li would get angry.
He harbors the mind of a petty person.
ashamed.
Afraid that Ye Li would realize what he meant and get angry, he wanted to change the subject, but after thinking about it, he still said, "I was worried before that you would be angry because this bath bean wasn't the most expensive."
Ye Li: "?"
He glared at him angrily: "Is that how you see me?!"
"Of course not! I was just afraid you'd misunderstand and think I didn't care about you, so I was just making excuses for you."
Jiang Ji hurriedly explained.
He didn't.
He cared most about Ye Li.
He thought about this gift for a long time and it took him several days to decide on it.
Seeing his tense expression, Ye Li thought for a moment and slowly realized what was going on.
This is exactly what happens when "family members don't understand why my husband used my money to go on a trip, and ended up buying extremely expensive gifts for his second uncle and father-in-law, and the second most expensive gift for me."
Just imagine the tone of this title, and Ye Li laughed.
Well, in the end, it's about caring about his feelings.
Moreover, Jiang Ji was unaware that the body had been replaced, and he was constantly scrambling to make money while only spending.
This person can never feel at ease spending the money he earns.
So he reached out and poked Jiang Ji's waist: "From now on, you'll have your own income."
"You can stand up straight now."
"So I'll let it go this time, but if it happens again, I'll really get angry."
Seeing this, Jiang Ji quickly assured him, "Okay, this is the last time."
As if to boast, he added, "I made a deal in the prefectural city. The boss will come to buy preserved eggs in a few days. He wants to buy 30,000 of them."
Upon hearing this, Ye Li's eyes widened: "You've made a deal?!"
"It's just a small business, only 30,000, it's nothing," Jiang Ji said modestly.
One thousand eggs can earn one thousand one hundred coins.
Thirty thousand, that's thirty-three taels.
By the time it reached Ye Li's hands, only a few ounces remained.
It is indeed a small business.
The main problem was that the noodle shop owner lacked decisiveness.
Thirty-three taels—that's the profit from Wild Jujube Slope, but the boss has to put up a hundred taels of capital.
The shop owner knew that preserved eggs would sell well, but he had never witnessed the popularity of Beiyang County, so he lacked confidence in spending so much money on this snack.
However, this is just the beginning.
Once the shop owner tastes the sweetness of preserved eggs, he'll definitely buy even more next time he comes.
Just as he was about to give a detailed account, Jiang Mai and Jiang Ya finished washing up, ran into the main room, and prepared to go to sleep.
He told the two of them to go to sleep, while he and Ye Li went to the kitchen to start a fire.
Without the two little ones bothering them, the two closed the door as soon as they entered the kitchen.
Jiang Ji sat down on a small stool in front of the stove, and Ye Li sat on his lap, listening to him recount what had happened.
After listening, Ye Li was both surprised and happy: "That's amazing! If this deal goes through, then we'll have a channel in the prefectural city."
In winter, hens lay eggs less frequently.
The number of eggs will decrease.
Even if the villagers continue to make preserved eggs like crazy, the total output will definitely decrease.
If the prefectural city can consume tens of thousands of these goods each month without the presence of out-of-town merchants, then there will be absolutely no pressure.
He gave Jiang Ji a thumbs up: "You negotiated this deal, so I'll give you half of the commission, how about it?"
"No need," Jiang Ji immediately shook his head.
His original intention was not to get money.
"Yes, that makes us seem distant."
Ye Li stroked his chin and quickly added, "You can earn money now, and you've even earned me the title of a scholar's husband. I've earned a lot more money, but our family's wealth will continue to grow, and we'll need your official title to protect it."
"Therefore, we all contribute equally to this family."
"Don't be distant with me anymore. All the money I earn is kept in the dresser. If you need it, just take it."
Equal contributions?
No, no, no, they're not the same.
Jiang Ji shook his head. In the past six months, if Ye Li hadn't been earning money, supporting the family, and taking care of him, he wouldn't have been able to pass the academy exam so easily.
He tapped Ye Li's heart with his long, slender fingers: "I am a scholar, and you are half of me. Therefore, you have contributed more."
Ye Li beamed with joy at these words.
He's really easy to please.
As long as Jiang Ji knows about his efforts, that's enough.
I was secretly pleased, but if I kept giving in like this, I wouldn't be able to sleep tonight.
He deliberately put on a stern face: "We're family, how can we be so clear-cut? Even an upright official has a hard time settling family disputes. Just tell me if you want to distance yourself from me from now on."
"...Then I'll put it in after I receive the money and grain from the government."
"The rent is coming soon. It's not much, but you're in charge of the money in our family, so you'll be in charge of it."
Jiang Ji hurriedly said.
His family's two mu of prime land was cultivated by Jiang Dahe, and the annual rent was two taels of silver.
He rented out five mu of medium-sized land to people in a neighboring village for a year's rent of three taels of silver. He didn't want grain, only money, so the family would send the money after the autumn harvest.
This adds up to a total rent of five taels.
However, he still has outstanding debts...
He hadn't told Ye Li before, but the atmosphere had gotten to this point, and although it was embarrassing, he had to tell her sooner or later.
So he took a deep breath and said, "Actually, I still owe..."
“I know!” Ye Li interrupted him, smiling as she said, “I heard it from my second uncle. It’s alright, we can pay it back together.”
"I'll be able to pay it all off by the end of the year."
Jiang Ji: "..."
It turns out Ye Li already knew.
Ye Li didn't care at all.
His heart felt warm, and seeing the smile on Ye Li's face, he couldn't hold back any longer. He cupped Ye Li's face and kissed her.
Lili, his lili!
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