Bai Zhiman told Bai Shibao to go back and harvest the wheat. How could Bai Shibao dare to refuse? While Bai Zhiman and Yan Xingmin were arguing, Bai Shibao wrapped the few things in the house in a cloth and brought them out as a bundle.
He stood at the doorway of the room, a brown burlap bundle slung over one shoulder, his head bowed.
Bai Zhiman glanced at Yan Xingmin one last time: "Let's go."
Bai Jiaojiao turned the wheelchair upside down without saying a word, which made them seem decisive to others.
"Scraps!"
As soon as the three of them stepped outside, Yan Xingmin grabbed a ceramic bowl from the windowsill and threw it at them. The bowl shattered upon impact, and a shard grazed Bai Shibao's heel.
In the summer, Bai Shibao was still wearing the straw sandals he had woven himself. His heels were not covered, and he was cut by a piece of broken porcelain.
He endured the pain without speaking, tightened his grip on the package, and walked behind his father and sister with his head down.
"Old Yan, you've made this a really ugly mess. They didn't give you any trouble when they came to pick up their things, so why are you throwing things at them like that?"
Kong Tiejun, the blacksmith, had long disliked Yan Xingmin, and now was the perfect opportunity to kick him while he was down and make sarcastic remarks. How could he possibly let it pass?
"Who made this mess? I have a clear conscience!"
Yan Xingmin, with a stern face, did not believe it was his fault.
Although Kong Tiejun would also delay his apprentices' graduation time, hoping they would work for him for a few more days, he never went as far as Yan Xingmin.
Bai Shibao, that honest boy, would have been eager to take Yan Xingmin under his wing if he hadn't already become Yan Xingmin's disciple.
Those who forge iron are simply those who work silently and diligently. Given the current economic situation, there's no need for so many sophisticated techniques. Yan Xingmin's supposed talent is merely icing on the cake.
Laymen might not understand, but the experienced blacksmiths knew perfectly well.
Everyone used to keep it a secret, but now that Bai Zhiman has brought it up, no one cares anymore.
Bai Shibao's return home even reached the leaders, and Yan Xingmin was interrogated for a long time and his rank was demoted.
When Bai Zhiman got home, he noticed that the bloodstains on Bai Shibao's heels had dried. He knew where they came from, but Bai Shibao didn't say anything, and he didn't care.
"You don't need to feel like you wasted your time. At least we spent three years there and didn't lose anything." Bai Zhiman hadn't spoken kindly to his children in a long time, and his tone was a little stiff for a moment.
"Um."
But Bai Shibao knew in his heart that he, a grown man, had made no contribution to his family and it was shameful to say that.
He's already this old, does he expect his older brother to subsidize his marriage?
"Go find the brigade leader in a bit and ask him to put you in your brother's team so you can earn some work points before it snows."
"Why."
Bai Shibao remained silent for a moment, while Bai Zhiman sighed and frowned, "Alright, I'll go to Jiaojiao's house to supervise the construction. You can tidy up the house today."
Bai Jiaojiao understood that Bai Zhiman wanted to give Bai Shibao some space, so she pushed Bai Zhiman away, saying, "Dad, let's cook corn later."
"Do you even know how to manage money? Shen Heng finally managed to save up a couple of coins, and you've squandered them all."
Shen Heng used high-quality bricks and tiles to build his house, and hired well-known craftsmen from the surrounding area. Bai Zhiman had calculated in private that the money was being spent like water, and Bai Jiaojiao didn't know how to save money. Bai Zhiman was afraid that the two of them would end up begging for food.
"Don't worry, Dad," Bai Jiaojiao didn't let Bai Zhiman go next door, but instead pushed him into her courtyard. "Dad, although I don't work, I make some snacks at home and have Heng-ge's friend sell them. The money is enough to live on. You see?"
Bai Jiaojiao had a lot of flour stored in her kitchen, which was clearly not enough for just the two of them to eat on a daily basis.
"The snow skin mooncakes I brought home yesterday cost me only eight cents each, and I sold them for twenty cents each. I made a total of two thousand, but the sellers didn't dare to place large orders because they thought I couldn't make that many myself. My hands are sore."
"How much money is that?" Bai Zhi did the math in her head. She earned 240 yuan in just one holiday. She earned in a few days what an ordinary family couldn't save in a year.
If Bai Jiaojiao wants Bai Shibao to go out and make his way in the world, she has to convince Bai Zhiman first.
Anyway, her father wouldn't betray her, so it's okay to talk about it.
"It is quite a lot, but the key is that this price is for selling to Heng's friend. His friend would definitely sell it for a higher price elsewhere."
“Those middlemen also need to make some money.” Bai Zhiman thought it made perfect sense.
“Now that my third brother is back, he can go out and try working for two or three years if he wants. At least the family won’t have to worry about him finding a wife. He can help the family out in the future and take care of you in your old age. My eldest brother will also have an easier time.”
Bai Shihai finally managed to become a team leader in the village, but Bai Jiaojiao couldn't let him get involved in that. Since Bai Shibo wasn't married yet and all the money he earned belonged to the family, there was no rush.
Waiting until Bai Shibao gets married is a matter for later. Once private finances are allowed, she can help Bai Shihai with whatever he wants to do.
Bai Jiaojiao had a good plan in mind and was just waiting for Bai Zhiman to nod in approval.
"With your third brother's dull and taciturn nature, can he really do this?"
Bai Zhiman hated that Bai Shiqing wasn't a son, otherwise, with her eloquence, she could easily do this job.
When Bai Jiaojiao heard that Bai Zhiman was worried about this, she said, "The important thing is to temper him. Nowadays, everyone is a very honest person. My brother might even be able to get along with other people's tempers. Compared to those who look very shrewd, my second brother is a more reliable honest person."
Bai Jiaojiao's words made sense. Bai Zhiman said, "I'll go back and ask your brother what he thinks. He's been in town for so many years and has seen more than I have. He shouldn't be afraid to do it."
Bai Zhiman had never left his house before, and only heard Bai Shiqing say a few words to him when she came back. However, he could tell that the current policies were becoming more and more relaxed. For example, the black market had almost become a product that everyone tacitly understood.
If you can't do it openly, you can do it secretly. Whoever is bolder will be able to make that money!
Bai Zhiman had considered having Bai Shihai do it before, but it was easier said than done.
"If you hand over what you've made to your third brother, won't Shen Heng's friends turn against you?"
“You’ve seen that person before? He’s Wang Fushun from Xiangyang Village, who came to our house last time.”
As soon as Bai Jiaojiao mentioned it, Bai Zhiman remembered it. Now that Bai Jiaojiao is building a house, Wang Fushun often comes over to help. Every time he sees him, he will call him "Uncle".
Bai Jiaojiao continued, "We've agreed that I'll make him 20 jin of meat floss cakes a day. It's simpler than the glutinous rice strips we made before, but the cost is higher, though the profit is also greater. He's already established a presence in the black market, so my third brother can continue selling glutinous rice strips, which will save him some trouble."
Bai Jiaojiao had brought some glutinous rice strips to Bai Zhiman to try. Although they were just children's treats and didn't suit his taste, he knew they were something that would sell well.
"Can you finish all this by yourself? Forty pounds!"
Bai Zhiman held up four fingers.
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