Chapter 15
"Brother Danniu, why are you like this? I'm only concerned about our family. Go ask around. People who send their children to school usually only have children who are seven or eight years old at most. Ten-year-olds are considered old. Xiangrong is already twelve years old this year. In our country, he should be able to get married in two years."
"Besides, don't you know how much money studying costs? Not to mention the tuition, but also the daily expenses of writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstone..." Gu Chen said, counting on her fingers. Gu Xiangrong was a little nervous: "I heard that you can copy books in school..."
Then you can save money to buy books.
Gu Xinxin was about to say something, but stopped when the words came to her lips. It was okay to copy books. After all, a good memory is not as good as a bad pen. It is also beneficial to be able to recite it silently after copying it once.
Gu Chen ignored Gu Xiangrong and only looked at Gu Daniu: "Brother Daniu, our family is not rich..."
Gu Daniu looked at Gu Xinxin. Gu Xinxin pursed her lips and said after a moment, "I've discussed a way to make money with Second Aunt before, but she thought the cost was too high, so she didn't want to use it. Dad, can you consider it? I need flour, eggs, lard, and honey..."
She counted on her fingers, "Just these raw materials will cost several taels of silver, and I can't guarantee that the finished product will sell for money."
Gu Daniu frowned, and Gu Chenshi shouted first: "What do you mean? The method given to your Second Auntie will definitely make money, but the method given to your father may not make money?"
"The high cost means the price won't be low when it's sold. Second Auntie's wolf-tooth potatoes cost about ten copper coins, and the market only happens three times a month. Even ordinary families would buy a bowl for their children. But if something costs fifty or sixty copper coins a pound, would anyone be willing to buy it?"
Gu Xinxin asked, and Gu Daniu was silent for a moment: "We have to go to the town to sell it. I'm afraid the big market won't be able to sell it."
Most people who go to the market are not wealthy. Only those in the town who often buy things don't think the prices are expensive. If you have money, you can buy whatever you want regardless of time or place.
Gu Xinxin continued, "Dad, do you want to do this business by yourself, or do it with me?"
Gu Chen was about to jump up: "What do you mean? Aren't you also a member of our family? What, an unmarried girl, do you want to separate from us?"
"What's the difference between me doing it alone and doing it with you?" asked Gu Daniu.
"If you do it yourself, I won't interfere. I'll teach you how to do it. I won't interfere with your money-making, but if you earn one or two ounces of silver, you have to give me one hundred copper coins as payment for my secret recipe. If you do it with me, I'll do it and Dad will sell it. We'll split the profits equally."
Gu Xinxin said, and Gu Chen slammed the table: "Okay, you must settle accounts with us so clearly, right? That's fine, for every bite of food you eat at home, you need to give me a hundred copper coins. You live in the house of our family, so you need to give me one tael of silver a month!"
Gu Daniu didn't stop her, but just looked at Gu Xinxin quietly. It was obvious that he agreed with Gu Chen's statement.
Gu Xinxin smiled and said, "I didn't want to settle things so clearly with Dad, but we agreed yesterday that I still need to save money for Xiangrong's education. If I don't have money, what will Xiangrong do? We are both Dad's sons, and I don't want Xiangrong to have to depend on his stepmother for everything he does in the future."
She laughed again and said, "Besides, I spent this money on Xiang Rong. I'm basically raising his son for his father. Isn't it only right that he gives me some of the money?"
Gu Daniu said, "I'll take care of Xiangrong's schooling. I won't let you spend any money."
Can you really say that you want your daughter to raise your son for you?
Gu Xinxin nodded: "I trust my father, but as I said, I don't trust my stepmother, so I feel at ease holding this money myself."
Gu Chen cursed: "You still don't trust me? Did I provoke you? Since I came to your house ten years ago, I have been washing your clothes and cooking for you. You were young at that time, and I even wiped your butt. But you are so good, you pick up the bowl and call me mother, put down the bowl and curse me..."
Gu Xinxin interrupted her: "It was Second Aunt who wiped my butt. You almost twisted my ear off because I asked you to wipe my butt. Later, I learned to take care of myself. I also took care of Xiang Rong by the way. My sister and I have never asked you to help with anything, such as wiping my butt, bathing me, combing my hair, or washing clothes..."
She counted on her fingers, "I started washing my own clothes when I was five. Everyone in the village knows it. If you insist on talking about it, we can go to the village and find someone to testify right now. I was learning to cook on a stool, and you were lying in bed eating eggs. When you saw me come in, you stuffed an egg under the covers, and the yolk rubbed against the quilt. You even falsely accused Xiangrong of pooping on the quilt, and had Dad beat him up."
Because Gu Xinxin is already older, it is not easy to wrongly accuse her, so the only option is to frame Gu Xiangrong.
Gu Chen's face turned pale. Gu Daniu slammed the table and said, "I didn't ask you to dig up old scores. A hundred copper coins is impossible, and splitting it in half is not an option either. I'll sell it for one ounce of silver and give you fifty copper coins."
Gu Xinxin stretched out her hand: "Ninety."
Gu Daniu's face turned pale: "Fifty-five."
Gu Xinxin shook her head: "The minimum is ninety, otherwise I will go to other places to ask."
"I'll beat you to death!" Gu Daniu raised his arm with anger in his eyes, and a slap as big as a palm fan came towards Gu Xinxin's cheek. Gu Xiangrong rushed over and hugged Gu Xinxin's head. The slap hit Gu Xiangrong's back with a bang.
Gu Xiangrong grimaced, but still tried to comfort Gu Xinxin: "It's okay, it doesn't hurt. I have thick skin, it really doesn't hurt."
Gu Xinxin frowned and pushed Gu Xiangrong away: "Since we can't reach an agreement, forget it."
She pulled Gu Xiangrong out and said, "Xiangrong and I are going to visit the second aunt's house."
Gu Daniu suddenly reached out and grabbed Gu Xinxin's hair, slamming her head against the door frame. "You keep calling me daddy, do you really think of me as your daddy? Am I negotiating with you now? I gave you your life, and any way you make money, isn't it all mine too? I can beat you to death, and no one in the village will dare to stop you, believe it or not?"
A sharp pain came from her head, and the momentary dizziness made Gu Xinxin almost think that she was going to ascend to heaven.
Gu Xiangrong hurriedly pulled Gu Daniu's hand away: "Dad, please let go first. My eldest sister is a girl and can't stand you hitting her like this."
He saw that Daniu was still gritting his teeth, and knowing that Daniu would not let go for a while, he rushed to the yard and shouted: "Second Aunt, Second Aunt, my father is going to beat my sister to death!"
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