Chapter 037
Author: Feast of Masks
Raws: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=3185016
Translated by Pill Bug
Edited by Gumihou
That evening, Zhao’er prepared a whole table full of delicious dishes to entertain Jiang Wu and Xue Qinghuai.
Since it was a formal discussion, Sun’shi and Maodan did not eat with them and had their dinner in the main room instead.
At the dinner table, Old Zhao glanced at Sun’shi and said, “What is Old Fourth doing at the second branch’s house all afternoon and tonight? To not even eat his meal?”
Sun’shi smiled as she concealed the truth, “It’s just Zhao’er wanting to thank Jiang Wu by inviting him for a meal. However, since the second branch doesn’t have anyone who could accompany him for a drink, they asked their Fourth Uncle to accompany him.”
“Isn’t this asking an elder to accompany a junior for a drink?” Yang’shi cut in. Sun’shi may be able to trick others, but not her. It was clear that there was something fishy about this.
“Aiyo, what is Elder Sister-in-law saying? It’s not like we are some noble family with strict rules, right? Isn’t it just a meal to thank someone for their help? How did it turn into a situation where an elder has to accompany a junior for a drink? As you know, Jiang Wu has helped out the second branch a lot. Moreover, with Gou’er expecting to move to and fro from here to the town more often, surely a meal is the least they should give?”
Yang’shi was unwilling to give up the matter. “Even so, surely they should have this meal in the main room? Are you saying that it is appropriate to ignore Father, Mother and the rest of the family?!”
Sun’shi was getting rather annoyed with Yang’shi’s endless questions. Before, she may have been a little afraid of all the questions, but now? Now that the family was divided, she was no longer quite as fearful. Instead, she curled her lips into a sneer and said, “It’s not like our family never invited Jiang Wu to stay for a meal before. Yet, how many times has he accepted? Are Elder Brother and Sister-in-law not aware of this? Not to mention, is Elder Sister-in-law willing to spend money on meat and wine to treat a guest? If you are willing, I shall go and call Jiang Wu and Brother Huai to this table now!”
The words were like barbs to her heart. Ever since Jiang Hai and Xue Qingshan had a falling out, the families had grown distant. The Jiangs had maintained contact with the Xue family due to Second Brother Xue Qingsong. After that incident, the Jiangs rarely visit the Xue. Only Jiang Wu would drop by now and then.
Even so, every time Old Man Xue invited him to stay for a meal, he had never accepted.
Everyone at the table knew why, but no one talked about it. Sun’shi’s second dart had jabbed at Yang’shi’s purse, wanting her to pay for meat and wine to entertain guests? Over her dead body!
At lunch earlier, Xue Juncai mentioned that his academy teacher would be celebrating their birthday soon. According to tradition, all students should offer birthday congratulations. When he asked his fellow classmates how they should congratulate the teacher, they told him that the teacher did not accept gifts. The teacher only accepted congratulatory money. For students who wish to show their goodwill, at the very least, they should offer up 1 silver tael. However, there was no limit to the goodwill they wished to offer.
In short, the congratulatory offer must start at 1 tael of silver.
The main branch couple had never heard of such a tradition before. Back when Xue Qingshan was studying at the same academy, they were only expected to give gifts during the major holidays at most. To think that the teachers in this school had learned how to make money through birthday celebrations.
Even so, they dared not refuse. What if they offended the teacher and made things difficult for Xue Juncai? They had already spent so much money on the tuition fees, so they could not be stingy over these small sums. Not to mention, birthday celebrations only happen once a year. What teacher would celebrate his birthday a few times a year?
Since the main branch couple had no money at hand, they could only turn to the elderly couple for help. When Old Zhao heard about this ‘birthday celebration’, she had loudly cursed the teacher for being a money-grubber. The main couple had wanted to keep the matter under wraps, but due to the shouting, everyone in the entire residential compound knew about this.
Setting aside the fact that Yang’shi did not have any money on hand, even if she did, she would never dare to spend it on meat and wine. Aside from pinching her own skin, the elderly couple would curse her for spending others’ money while safeguarding her own nest.
Yang’shi’s face flushed red from frustration. She could not speak. She wanted to escape the situation but dared not back down, wanted to defend her position but was out of reasonable options. It was truly awkward. Fortunately, Old Zhao stepped in.
“What are you all fussing about? Are we eating or not?”
At once, silence fell as everyone lowered their head to eat.
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At the same time, food and wine were flowing in the second branch room.
It had gotten fairly cold at Yuqing Village. Therefore, people inevitably relied on alcohol to keep warm, so everyone, male and female, young and old, could drink a bit—it was just a matter of how much. [1]
Zhao’er had also poured herself a little wine after Jiang Wu’s persuasion, about half a wine bowl’s worth.
The three chatted over food and drink, with Xue Qinghuai and Jiang Wu doing most of the drinking while Zhao’er took the occasional sip. Once Xue Tingxiang was done eating, he excused himself from the table to study at the kang table. He made a show of looking at his books, but his attention was really on them.
By the time the meal was over, they had already worked out most of the business details.
First, the agreement was that all three sides would contribute some money and form a partnership to do business. The plan was to pool their money to purchase another mule cart.
In fact, it was Xue Tingxiang who put forth the idea to get another mule cart. In the first place, they would need another mule cart anyway; mule carts were essential for their type of business. If they could get another mule cart, Jiang Wu would have one less excuse to hang around Zhao’er.
The most expensive part of a mule cart was the livestock. A full-grown mule costs almost twenty taels of silver. Building the carriage required more money, so the initial estimate for the partnership was set at 30 taels of silver.
Zhao’er would contribute 15 taels, Jiang Wu 10 taels, with Xue Qinghuai covering the final 5 taels. Since Zhao’er was leading the venture, it was only fair that she contributed more silver.
As for the profit distribution, it had also been discussed and settled. Since the ready-made clothes business was Zhao’er’s idea, she would take 50% of the profits, Jiang Wu 30%, and Xue Qinghuai would get the remaining 20%.
In fact, Xue Qinghuai had not planned to take 20% of the profits, especially on someone else’s business plan. Moreover, he had only entered into the business after it had already been proven to be profitable. He had stepped in partway and contributed the least amount of capital and had therefore felt less deserving of the 20% profits. It was Zhao’er who pointed out that he had been doing business longer and had travelled all over the villages and the county town. Not to mention, he knew many people and was familiar with the individual villages.
Later, should trouble happen with Jiang Wu’s family or if she had to take care of Xue Tingxiang, the business would depend on Xue Qinghuai to continue. In short, Xue Qinghuai would be the one who would be expected to put in a lot more work in the future; therefore, it was fine for him to take a share. He finally agreed after a little more persuasion.
After the discussion was over, Xue Qinghuai returned to his room, and Zhao’er saw Jiang Wu out the door.
Because he had drunk quite a lot of wine, Jiang Wu’s face was flushed and his eyes were almost glowing. It was unclear whether the light in his eyes was from the drink or the brilliant full moon.
“Zhao’er…”
“Brother Jiang Wu, take it easy on your way back. If you cannot go back on your own, I can have Heizi escort you home.”
Jiang Wu could hold his liquor well. Hunters could all hold their liquor because when they went into the mountains in the dead of winter, they had to rely on alcohol to keep themselves from freezing while waiting for prey in some hollow.
Jiang Wu had not drunk that much, and Zhao’er was also clear about how much he could drink. Therefore, she had no plans to send him home.
“No need, I can go back myself.” He paused, then turned to look at her. “Zhao’er, I see you have a new hairpin. When did you buy it? Why haven’t I seen it before?”
Zhao’er had not expected Jiang Wu to ask her this. For a moment, she was silent before a smile took over her face, and she said, “Ting’er bought it for me. He recently started earning money from copying books, but that silly thing wasted all his money on this hairpin.”
Jiang Wu had thought that Zhao’er bought the hairpin for herself. Though she was dressed casually most of the time, she was still a young woman after all. Who would have thought that it was really that little lad, Xue Tingxiang, who bought such a thing for her?
Just how old was he? To already know how to spend money on hairpins for women?
The smile on Jiang Wu’s face froze on the spot. He couldn’t help but reach into his chest pocket, touching the hairpin he had hidden there for a long time, but never dared to give.
The hairpin was made of silver and had cost Jiang Wu quite a few taels of silver. He was intimately familiar with every line carved into it, having stroked the thing in his palm countless times. However, he had always hesitated about giving her this present. He feared that once she realised his feelings, she would reject him.
Yet, he never imagined that someone would beat him to it.
“That Tingxiang even knows to buy hairpins for you.”
“Yes, ah. He is much more sensible now.”
Jiang Wu looked at the smile on her face, and a feeling of unease crept into his heart. “Just how much money could he make, ah? That child really doesn’t know anything at all. He should have saved that money for his books.”
Zhao’er’s lips tightened slightly, and her smile faded as she retorted, “The family doesn’t expect him to earn money. It’s fine so long as he studies well. This is just a token of his feelings.”
Weren’t you the one who said he was a ‘silly thing who wasted all his money?’
In fact, there was nothing complicated about Zhao’er’s contrary attitude. She could say whatever she liked about her own family, but would never allow others to criticise them.
Jiang Wu knew how protective Zhao’er was of Xue Tingxiang, so he didn’t dare say anything more and shut up.
“Then I will head back now. I will come again early tomorrow.”
“En, thank you, Brother Jiang Wu.”
Since he had so obviously excused himself, Zhao’er did not say anything about seeing him off. She remained at the gate for a little while before returning to the courtyard. As for Xue Tingxiang, he remained in the shadows of the yard as the two spoke. He had long since slipped away, even before she had started back towards their room.
The night passed without incident.
Early the next morning, Jiang Wu arrived on his donkey cart.
After breakfast, he, Zhao’er and Xue Qinghuai sent Xue Tingxiang to the academy together.
After that, they turned their attention to purchasing the mule cart.
Pill Bug TL Notes:
[1] Ey, the healthcare education in me is begging me to say this:Alcohol only makes you FEEL warmer because it dilates your surface blood vessels, making more warm blood rush towards the skin. What that actually does is make you LOSE HEAT faster!
Alcohol is also a depressant, making people fall asleep easier. Falling asleep out in the winter chill is baaaaaad. If you find someone suffering from the cold, give them something warm to drink and cover them in warm dry clothing.
Also, if it’s the only choice between starving to death or drinking a bit of alcohol, then go ahead and drink, but there are definitely groups of people who really should not drink alcohol. Pregnant women, for example. You will get a baby with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome – bad at controlling their emotions and lower IQ.
Alcohol also stunts the growth of children’s brains – definitely not something to be taken if possible!
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