Retail

The idea of sharing money was destined to remain just an idea. Since she returned to school after her break, the money earned by Zhou Wulang and the others on Fridays was only counted in her share. After deducting the necessary public expenses, the remaining amount was divided equally among San Sao, Zhou Wulang, and Zhou Liulang.

After Zhou Silang joined, the division became four ways.

Of course, with an additional person, the profits also increased.

Not to mention, the sales of pastries and steamed buns never decreased, and the amount of wheat and rice they collected every day gradually increased from half a bag to a large sack.

Of course, they only divided the money, and the food was not divided, but was converted into copper coins together.

Manbao could receive a substantial sum of money from Wuge and Liuge daily, which she held onto for them, causing her to not notice anything amiss.

Until one day, when she was craving something and went to Zhou Hu's house with Er Ya to buy a chicken, Keke suddenly said, "Host, you only have sixty wen left in your savings." After buying this chicken, you will have enough money left to buy a few pieces of candy.

Manbao was shocked. It was only then that she realized Wuge and Liuge had accumulated a lot of money, while hers had become the least.

Manbao couldn't believe it. "How could this be?"

"If you don't work, how could you possibly earn money?" Keke asked her. "Are you still going to buy the chicken?"

Manbao looked through the fence of Zhou Hu's house at the chickens pecking at their food and said longingly, "Yes."

Even on her days off, she had to go and earn money!

In the end, Manbao still bought a chicken from Zhou Hu's house. That night, the Zhou family enjoyed chicken for dinner, and Manbao's bowl still contained two large chicken legs. She said to Zhou Wulang, "Wuge, you earned money and didn't share it with me."

Zhou Wulang said matter-of-factly, "You're going to school and not selling soup and steamed buns with us, so why should we share with you?"

Manbao sighed sadly, turned to her father, and said, "Dad, I have no money left."

Old Zhou casually replied while eating, "It's good that you have no money." Finally, we have finished counting all of our daughter's money.

Old Zhou felt that his appetite had improved significantly and decided to eat more rice that night.

Manbao felt like she couldn't eat, but miraculously, she had a good appetite. She said to her father, "Dad, we need to go to the county town during our rest days."

"Why go to the county town?"

"To earn money," Manbao said. "Without money, we can't eat meat." "I want to eat goose meat."

Old Zhou finally looked up and said to his daughter, "The goose meat is delicious because it's cooked by a great chef. It won't be as good if it's cooked by an ordinary person."

"Then we'll also hire a great chef," Manbao was willing to spend on a good meal.

Qian Shi handed her a chopstick of cabbage and said, "Eat quickly." If you want to hire a great chef, wait until you earn money.

Manbao reiterated, "I want to go to the county town during our days off."

But all the adults at home were very busy, and no one had time to take her.

Zhou Dalang and his wife, along with Zhou Erlang and his wife, collaborated to set up a stall together. They were able to earn over three hundred wen of copper coins and a bag of grain daily. Siwu, Wuge, and Liuge also set up a stall together and earned more money than Zhou Erlang's group.

When the earnings from both stalls were combined, they could earn six hundred wen for the family every day, so no one was willing to waste time taking Manbao to the county town.

Manbao sighed and could only go find Bai Shanbao. He now had a loyal follower, Daji.

Daji was twenty years old and already a father of two children. He was steady and capable, and he was highly regarded by Bai Lao Furen. The family even provided Bai Shanbao with a cart. Although it was a donkey cart, it could still travel around the village.

Manbao invited Bai Shanbao to go to the county town together.

Bai Shanbao had already made plans to dig the lotus pond with other classmates that day, so he didn't want to go. "What's so fun in the county town?"

Manbao thought about it and concluded that the county town was not more fun than the village, but he mentioned, "There are many things in the county town." It's so cold, and it's almost New Year's. "Don't you want to buy something for your grandmother and mother?"

"My grandmother and mother lack nothing."

"But you should still buy something." "It's your filial piety," Manbao admired his grandmother and mother, and said, "I also want to buy something for my mother."

Bai Shanbao thought about it and agreed, "Alright, let's go to the county town together."

"Great, I want to bring my nephew and niece as well, so we have more people and won't be outnumbered."

Bai Shanbao agreed.

But when Manbao turned around, she said to Dadao and Daya, "Wuge and Liuge don't take us when they earn money, so we'll earn money ourselves and not take them."

Dadao asked, "Little sister, what can we sell to earn money?"

"Sugar, we can't cook, so we can only sell sugar," Manbao said. "I've collected a lot of sugar, so this time we'll sell more."

Dadao and Daya agreed.

On the day of rest, everyone dressed neatly. Dadao and Daya each carried a small basket containing sugar wrapped in oil paper. Each bag held fifty pieces, no more and no less.

Daji drove the donkey cart and waited at the village entrance. Everyone climbed onto the cart, and to prevent the children from getting cold, the Bai family brought a blanket for Bai Shanbao.

At this moment, the six children were sitting in the middle of the cart, leaning on each other, feeling warm under the blanket.

Daji drove the cart and took the six people to the county town. After a nap, the six children rubbed their eyes and got off the cart. Manbao waved excitedly and said, "Let's go to the county yamen first!"

Daji couldn't help but look at Manbao.

Bai Shanbao yawned and followed her, asking, "What are you going to do after selling the sugar?"

"I'm going to buy something for my mother," Manbao said.

The Fu family's gatekeeper hadn't seen the Zhou family's children for a long time. The young maidservant in the backyard had come a few times to inquire, and upon seeing them, she promptly summoned someone to relay the message to the backyard.

The eldest maid by Erxiang's side quickly emerged and, upon seeing Manbao, expressed some displeasure, "Your family is quite something." We had agreed to meet every other day, but you sent a message saying you couldn't come due to something at home. "What could be so important that you haven't come for so long?"

Manbao said, "The county magistrate is conscripting, and my brother has gone to serve. There's a lot of work at home, and my Wuge can't leave." "We're too young to go out, so please forgive us, sister."

She said, "I understand." It's not easy for us to go out in the future, so this time I brought a lot of sugar. "Do you want to buy more?"

Manbao recommended, "It's almost New Year's." "Does your young lady want to buy more to entertain guests?"

The little maid hesitated for a moment and asked, "How much have you brought?"

Dadao and Daya immediately put down their baskets and showed her the well-packaged sugar inside. Manbao also said, "If you buy more, I'm willing to give you a discount of five wen for a bag." "This bag contains fifty pieces."

The little maid was tempted. The young lady didn't care about the five wen, but she did.

She said, "Wait here." "I'll go in and ask the young lady."