Chapter 425 - Chapter 425: Making Money, Turning Water into Gold
Chapter 425: Making Money, Turning Water into Gold
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Yangyang bowed and retreated. He took the safety buckle back to the backyard and gave it to Zhou Jia. “Father, look at what Grandpa gave me.”
Zhou Jia held it in his hand and saw that it was a jade safety buckle. Looking at the safety buckle, Zhou Jia recalled that he had never received a gift from Father Zhou since he was young. He wondered if there was really such a thing as an intergenerational relationship.
Zhou Jia hung the safety buckle around Yangyang’s neck. “Uncle gave it to you. Keep it!”
Yangyang touched the safety buckle and asked Zhou Jia curiously, “Father, is
Uncle’s house far? Does he have many people?”
Zhou Jia thought for a moment and held Yangyang’s hand as they walked towards the bathroom. “His house isn’t far. There are still three people at home. Daddy will bring you to take a shower and rest. Tomorrow, you and Daddy will send Mother to the countryside to avoid the heat.”
“Sigh! Studying is too boring. I want to live in the countryside with my mother, just like when I was in Yunzhou. Father, why should I study in Granduncle’s clan school? Why didn’t our family’s school move to the capital?”
“Rascal, why are there so many whys?” Zhou Jia smiled and stroked his head. “Father doesn’t want to go to the government office yet. I still want to stay at home with you and your mother! But everyone has their own things to do.
They can’t do as they please.”
Yangyang raised his head and looked at Zhou Jia with a smile. “I know that. Mother said that I’m a child. My mission is to study hard. Father’s mission is to go to the government office to work and earn money to support the family. Mother’s mission is to take care of the housework at home. Mother said that everyone has something they should do. They should do their best.”
When Zhou Jia heard this, he patted Yangyang’s head happily. “Yes! Your mother is right. Study hard. When you’re on a break, Daddy will bring you to the manor to accompany your mother.”
“Okay!” The father and son took a shower together. Zhou Jia sent Yangyang back to his room to sleep. He put down an ice basin in his room and returned to the front yard to look for Zhao Cai. He asked, “Old Master gave Yang’er a safety buckle today. I think that jade is worth at least 20 to 30 taels of silver. Where did he get the money?”
When Zhao Cai heard this, he said, “Master, half a month ago, Madam asked me to go to the old residence to deliver fruits to Master. After I went, I saw Old Master sitting in the garden with a frown. I asked him why he didn’t go out to watch a show and listen to stories. He said that he wanted to buy a greeting gift for Young Master. ”
“He didn’t even like those who were too weak. He couldn’t bring himself to give them to Young Master. He wanted to buy something slightly more decent!”
“What can I do? I saw that the pots of orchids he planted were not bad, so I said that these pots of flowers would be worth 20 to 30 taels if you sold them. The old master was extremely happy when he heard that. He proudly told me that he had never had money to go out and play. He was so bored that he raised many flowers at home. He even brought me to see the flowers and plants in the backyard. He raised them well.”
The Old Master picked a few pots and asked me to bring them to the flower and bird market. In less than an hour, they were sold for a total of twenty-five taels of silver. He took out this month’s monthly money and added it in. He bought a safety buckle and said that it was a greeting gift for Young Master. He even said that he wanted to sell more flowers and plants.”
Zhou Jia did not expect Old Master Zhou to be able to rely on his own ability to earn money one day. He was stunned for a while before saying to Zhao Cai, “If he’s willing to plant flowers and sell them, bring him along to teach him. Don’t let him be urged to do those inappropriate things.”
“Yes, Master.” Zhao Cai retreated.
Zhou Jia sat in a daze for a while before going to Mr. Wen’s place. He saw that he had already packed his luggage.
Zhou Jia smiled and said, “Sir, please take care of Xiaoyu.”
Mr. Wen smiled and rolled his eyes at him. “You don’t have to be so polite with me. With me around, you can rest assured and work in the capital.”
Zhou Jia helped Mr. Wen put his luggage aside. “Got it. Rest early. It seems to be especially hot this year. It’s much hotter than when we were in Yunzhou.”
Mr. Wen waved the fan in his hand. “The weather in the capital is like this. It’s wet, cold, stuffy, and hot. It’s cooler in the border city.”
Li Yu had just taken a shower and went to Yangyang’s room to take a look. Seeing that he was already asleep and that there was an ice basin in the middle of the room, she checked that there were no mosquitoes under the mosquito net before walking out and sitting on the veranda with a fan to cool herself.
Li Yu listened to the occasional chirping of insects in the garden and thought to herself that she still didn’t feel much cooler after putting a basin of ice in the house. It was probably because the air conditioner in her previous life was awesome. Then, she thought of how Zhao Cai had returned to the capital late and missed the time to store the ice. The ice sold by the ice merchants in the capital was very expensive. A basin the size of a washbasin cost 70 to 80 copper coins. The ice at home was sent by the Lin family and the bank. If she were in Yunzhou, would she still have to worry about not having ice?
As Li Yu thought of this, she suddenly remembered that she still had some saltpeter in her space. Saltpeter could be used to make ice. How could she have forgotten about this money-making business? “Hahaha!” Li Yu laughed loudly. Then she became self-aware and hurriedly covered her mouth to hide her joy.
Granny Yang brought a cup of watermelon juice to Li Yu. When she heard Li Yu’s cheerful laughter, she looked around a few times but didn’t see anyone. She was shocked. Could it be that Madam had bumped into a guest?
Granny Yang walked up to Li Yu and saw that her expression was calm. She smiled and said, “Madam, drink it. Sister Liu squeezed juice for you and put it in the ice before bringing it over.” She hesitated for a moment and said, “Madam, were you alright just now?”
Li Yu looked at Granny Yang’s probing gaze and smiled. “It’s fine. I just thought of something funny and couldn’t help but laugh. For some reason, being pregnant is different from before. When I think of sad things, my tears come out. When I think of happy things, I laugh out loud.”
Granny Yang had taken a vow of celibacy and had never come into contact with a pregnant woman. When she heard this, she was relieved. “Oh! Her temperament might have changed when she’s pregnant.”
Zhou Jia walked over and asked with a smile, “Madam, what’s funny?”
“I recalled that you brought someone to help me pick tea fruits.” Li Yu looked at him as she joked. Granny Yang took the cup and retreated.
Zhou Jia squatted in front of Li Yu and said with a smile, “Alright, what do you want me to help you pick? I’ll help you pick it immediately.”
Li Yu raised her head and said arrogantly, “Xiao Xi, go get a basin of water for your wife and a pair of wooden chopsticks.”
“Yes, my wife. Xiao Xi will be here soon.” Zhou Jia smiled and brought half a basin of water over.
“Bring it to the room and let me show you something good,” Li Yu said with a
smile.
Seeing her mysterious appearance, Zhou Jia smiled and walked into the room with the basin.
Li Yu carried a bowl of saltpeter powder from her space and followed Zhou Jia back to his room. She stirred the water in the basin and slowly poured the saltpeter powder into the water. After pouring a quarter of the saltpeter powder, the water froze and even let out a cold mist.
“Yu’er, this thing can turn into ice.” Zhou Jia looked at the ice in the basin with shining eyes and then at Li Yu.. “Yu’er, you’re turning water into gold!”