88 Going Up the Mountain

Zhou Xiaoli did not split the money directly. Instead, she counted out 100 copper coins and handed them to Liu Liangcai. “The cost of buying beetroots this time was paid by Uncle Liu, so I would deduct it from our profits.”

“Uncle Liu, here’s your 100 copper coins. Take it first.”

Then, she said to everyone, “According to the ratio we discussed previously, Uncle Liu and Uncle Village Chief’s families will each take 30%. In other words, each family will get 3 taels and 3 copper coins.”

As she spoke, she took out three taels and three copper coins and handed them to Liu Liangcai and Zheng Yongfu respectively.

“Please count if it is correct?”

Their hands trembled as they took the money.

They had only worked for three to four days and had earned more than three taels of silver. This was way much more than what they would earn from working for Landlord Wan!

More importantly, they could make a living from selling sugar for a long time.

“This, this is too much.”

“That’s right. Why do I feel that it’s so easy to earn money? Haha.”

Lin Xiujuan and Liu Yan smiled foolishly.

Especially Lin Xiujuan, who was holding the three silver ingots like a treasure. Her eyes were about to disappear from laughter.

Zheng Yongfu had often heard his father talk about how righteous the Zhou family was. He had always felt that his family had taken advantage of Zhou Xiaoli’s family in this business, so he smiled and said, “Little Li, look at you. Three copper coins is just a small change, and you still want to give it to us. Three taels is already a lot.”

Liu Yan nodded in agreement.

However, Zhou Xiaoli rejected him with a smile. “Brother Zheng, my father and I are looking to do a long-term business with the two families.”

“As the saying goes, even biological brothers have to settle accounts clearly. If we want to cooperate for a long time, we have to settle every account clearly.”

Seeing that the few of them were stunned, it was obvious that they had never thought of expanding the business or to continue doing this for a long time.

Zhou Xiaoli continued, “Don’t you want to expand this business? In the future, we can build our own sugar factory and make a name for ourselves. We can sell sugar to the entire Yongchang country.”

Listening to Zhou Xiaoli’s imagination, everyone was stunned. They felt that Zhou Xiaoli was too daring.

Deep in their hearts, they only wanted to make more sugar and earn a little money. How could they dare to think about opening a sugar factory?

However, Zhou Xiaoli’s imagination was still something that they yearned for. If they could really make a lot of money from it, who wouldn’t want it?

Zheng Yongfu touched the silver in his hand and said with a smile, “Haha, no wonder Father often praises Sister Li for being smart. Then I’ll listen to you and we shall settle the account properly.”

After Zhou Xiaoli had settled the accounts with everyone, everyone began to chat and laugh.

Zhou Xiaoli brought the green bean tea to the courtyard and saw Wei Chiyu and Zheng Yongyan standing under a tree with four little fellows, talking about something.

She walked over and heard Zhou Xiaoyu and Liu Fengfeng arguing.

Zhou Xiaoyu: “My sister is the best. My sister knows many things. My sister knows how to make bamboo dragonflies for us to play with. Does your sister know how to make them?”

Zhou Xiaoyu spoke proudly.

Zhou Junjun nodded furiously in agreement.

Liu Fengfeng was not to be outdone. “My sister is also amazing. My sister knows embroidery and the handkerchief she embroiders can be sold for a lot of money.”

Zhou Xiaoyu pouted. “What’s so great about it? My sister can count. She even taught me and my brother. I can count to ten. My brother can count to a hundred. Can you?”

Liu Fengfeng shouted, “My sister knows how to sing. She sings very well. Does your sister know how to sing?”

…

They were arguing back and forth.

Zhou Xiaoli recalled the short video she had seen in her previous life when she went to the human world to play.

The two children then were debating whose brother is the best. She covered her face in embarrassment. It turned out that children really do argue about these things. She had thought that it was just a show.

Zhou Xiaoli was speechless when she thought of the final outcome of the argument in the video. She quickly interrupted them.

“What are you doing?”

After saying that, he looked at Zheng Yongyan and Wei Chiyu, who were watching the commotion from the side. “How old are the two of you? Why were you standing around and watching them quarrel?”

Zheng Yongyan disagreed. “You can’t say that. They’re just debating, not arguing. Have you heard of two children debating? Children debating should be encouraged.”

Zhou Xiaoli could not be bothered with him.

However, Zhou Xiaoyu was already hugging Zhou Xiaoli’s leg. “Sister, I already know how to count. Can you teach me something else?”

Zhou Xiaoli couldn’t help but rub the little guy’s head affectionately. “Okay.”

Then, she asked Liu Fengfeng and Zheng Lingling, “Do you want to learn together with Little Fishy and Brother Jun?”

Liu Fengfeng immediately looked at Zhou Xiaoli with starry eyes and nodded.

Zheng Lingling was only three years old and could not even speak properly. However, when she saw that the other older children were playing, she clapped her hands and shouted happily, “Yes, I want. I want to.”

“Alright, then go find a small wooden stick. We’ll learn on the ground.”

Hence, Zhou Xiaoli brought a few children and squatted in the open space under the tree. The children started babbling and learning. It was a cozy and warm scene to watch.

Looking at the scene in front of him, Wei Chiyu’s eyes sparkled. No one knew what he was thinking.

On the other hand, Zheng Yongyan was extremely shocked. He had always thought that Zhou Xiaoli was the same as those young ladies in the village who had never studied.

However, he did not expect her to know so much.

He could not help but think that since she knew how to read fortunes, she must have been taught by her master.

The adults who were sitting in the room and talking, looked at the scene in the courtyard.

Lin Xiujuan was still shocked. “I haven’t asked how Little Li knew how to read.”

She was extremely curious about it when she saw Zhou Xiaoli do the bookkeeping.

At this moment, she finally asked the question in her heart.

Liu Yan and the others were also puzzled. They looked at Zhang Lan and Zhou Yu for answers.

Zhou Xiaoli had already spoken to Zhang Lan and Zhou Yu a long time ago. The two of them naturally knew what to tell the outsiders.

Hearing Lin Xiujuan’s question, Zhang Lan smiled and said, “Didn’t this girl get lost in the mountains when she was five years old? She met an old man who lived in seclusion.”

“Later on, Li’er often went to the mountain to look for that old man. This was all taught to her by that old man.”

“This girl has been hiding it from everyone. We just found out about it too.”

Hearing this, everyone cried out in surprise that this was Zhou Xiaoli’s good fortune.

“Look at the girls in the village. Which one of them is able to read and study? Even if it’s a boy, he might not have this chance. Little Li is indeed a lucky person.”

“Yes, if you ask me, the most important thing is that Little Li is smart. She learned it immediately. Many children have been sent to school, but they haven’t learned anything.”

Everyone jokes for a while more before going home to eat.

After lunch, Liu Liangcai took the pushcart to collect more beetroots again. This time, Zhou Yu followed along. The two of them took two pushcarts to buy more.

The 150 kilograms purchased this morning would only last them for a few days.

After Zhou Xiaoli informed Zhang Lan, she brought the wolf pup with her up the mountain.

She had made an appointment with her master to have class in the afternoon.

“You’re finally here.”

She had just reached the door when Yuan Zhengchun’s voice came from the courtyard. “The first lesson after becoming a disciple has been delayed till the afternoon. That’s fine, but you dare to be late as well? You really should be punished.”