DAILY LIFE
Following dinner, the families convened to divide the funds. The money had not been shared from the start, and the family had put their faith in Xu An to keep it safe. Furthermore, the wheelbarrow's price was set, and each family's sales record was kept.
Shao Yu and Gao Quan were given Xu Ran's family portion after he left. Xu Ran had devised the concept and design, and Xu An, with the help of Xu Zhen and Xu Fa, built the majority of the wheelbarrows. Xu Ran, on the other hand, believes that the funds should be distributed equally.
They'd been dividing money in this manner for a long time, and they couldn't change it just because they'd made the most money this time. Most significantly, despite the fact that their responsibilities were varied, everyone had put in a lot of effort. If Xu Fa and Xu Zhen had less money, they would not whine, but they would grow apart. If they received the same amount of money, they would recognize that they were overpaying and would work harder.
Xu Ran was confident that Xu An and Wu Mei would have no objections. After all, Wu Mei had always given these two families his undivided attention. He was generous, and Xu An paid attention to what he had to say. Xu Fa and Xu Zhen felt awkward when they received the same amount of money, proposing that they should take less.
Xu Ran said, "It's been decided long ago. There is no reason for us to give you less just because we sell more. No matter if you will continue to work with us, you should take your share from this business."
Wu Mei echoed, "Yeah, it's been decided. Don't argue. Just take it!"
The two families took the money awkwardly.
Xu Ran didn't say anything else, taking Xu An aside and asking him to help make the Chinese chess.
He handed Xu An the drawing. "Here's the design I drew this afternoon, Xu An. I'd like you to make it to my specifications. It's for Mr. Hu, who spends his days idling and bored. I'll have to find him something to do to pass the time. The game is best played by the elderly."
Xu Ran took the paper and studied it for a long time. There were some squares and a round object. Xu An couldn't figure out what it was. He asked Xu Ran, "Ran, how would you like it? Is it made of wood?"
Xu Ran nodded. "Yes, it's made of wood. Let's make a chessboard according to the square on the paper. It's this big." He made a gesture of the size.
And he continued, "Make 32 round chess pieces, just like the design on the paper. Characters should be carved on the pieces, and I'll tell you what characters to carve when you finish."
As Xu Ran explained, Xu An knew how to make it. He shook the paper in his hand and said, "Can Mr. Hu play this game when it's made? You say there will be characters. Does Mr. Hu know how to read? "
Xu Ran rubbed his head. He had forgotten about this. After all, the elderly in modern times were literate.
Xu Ran said, "Don't worry, I will teach Mr. Hu to read as well as how to play. You can help me make these things first!"
"Okay, I'll go and work on it. It's not that busy lately, and I have people to make the wheelbarrows."
"By the way," Xu Ran asked Xu An, "Where are the apprentices and carpenters staying and eating? How do you arrange it?"
Xu An replied, "They dine at my home. At night, the apprentices return to their homes. In my house, the carpenters sleep on the floor. I don't charge the apprentices anything to acquire the skills; they only have to pay for their meal. The carpenters are not responsible for the board or meals."
Xu Ran smiled and nodded. "This isn't bad, but you'll have to keep your house guarded at all times, which is inconvenient for your family. What do you think about this? You should relocate them to my bamboo hut. The rooms, with the exception of the cellar, are now deserted. They are welcome to live there, and I will allow them to keep the house."
Xu An agreed, thinking that his house was definitely very small, and that it would be inconvenient for outsiders to live with them. "Alright. I'll ask them to relocate the next day. You should inspect the house to see if you've forgotten anything. If there are any, remove them. You should secure your cellar."
"Okay, I know. I'll go check again tomorrow."
The other individuals on the other side were conversing happily until the youngsters begged to go home and sleep while the two of them spoke about business. He could relax at this time because the results of the provincial exams would be revealed at the end of September.
Xu Ran recalled something. Xu Houcai had visited the house, according to Liu Tong. He had no idea why he had come, so he decided to pay him a visit the next day. He also intended to see Zhuo Yun. After all, Qin Shuwen's child had just been born, and he owed them some presents.
And the Qin Family, when he left, he didn't tell them. Now that he was back, he should go visit them as well.
Mr. Chen will very certainly need to restock his supplies. Xu Ran believed he needed to think about other options, and he needed to budget carefully when purchasing for the Spring Festival. He realized he was overthinking things and simply quit thinking. He went to sleep with Liu Tong in his arms after taking care of the elderly and children.
Xu Ran fell asleep when he got in the bed. After all, he had been traveling without taking a good rest. Liu Tong wanted to talk to him, but he dropped the idea when he saw Xu Ran was so tired.
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Xu Ran went to the bamboo house the next day to inspect it. The cellar was accessible by a door. Unless he broke the door down, no one could get in. Inside the house, there was nothing else.
After inspecting the residence, Xu Ran proceeded to alert Xu An, telling him that he may move his people in. He requested Xu An to remind those folks to look after their belongings on the inside. When he was poor, he used to live in the bamboo house. It was once his residence. He couldn't bear seeing it harmed, even though he didn't live there.
Xu An said, "Don't worry. They are good people. Otherwise, I won't take them as my apprentices.
Xu Ran nodded. "Okay. I'll leave it to you. I have to go to the town now. See you later."
"Alright, go ahead and do your work. I will arrange the bamboo house."
Xu Ran planned to go to Zhuo Yun's house first. As for Xu Houcai, he could visit him on the way back. Besides, he didn't want to see Xu Cheng and Elder Daddy Xu.
When Xu Ran announced that he was heading to town, Liu Tong expressed his desire to accompany him. Xu Ran stared at his stomach and firmly declined, but he agreed to accompany Tangtang and Guoguo to town, since they had been itching to go.
They got more excited thinking of visiting the new born baby.
Xu Ran took out the presents he had purchased especially for Zhuo Yun's child. He also retrieved the gifts for Zhuo Yun, Qin Shuwen, and the Qin Family. He planned to see them all in one trip.
Liu Tong's stomach grew larger with each passing day. Xu Ran had been busy or away from home, and he wanted to spend more time at home with Liu Tong.
Xu Ran first took the children to Mr. Chen's restaurant and asked the staff to ran an errand for him and get some people from the Zhuo Mansion to move things.
After that, he asked Mr. Chen about his recent business, especially the dishes made by potatoes.
Mr. Chen turned gloomy at the mention of potatoes. "Xu Ran, don't you have any more potatoes? You have no idea how many people ask for it every day, but you give it to me for such a modest amount every month. Every day, I don't dare to sell more. Many individuals have been offended by me."
Xu Ran chuckled, "Mr. Chen, I'm not hoarding the potatoes. In fact, I don't have any left. I didn't grow a lot this year. I sell all of them to you except those saved for my own family. The amount is not sufficient, and I can do nothing about it. You have to pull through this year, and it will get better next year."
Mr. Chen got gloomier. "I wonder if anyone will come to my restaurant next year."
"You don't have to be concerned, Mr. Chen. Other restaurants don't have the recipes, so I exclusively sell potatoes to you. They can't cook wonderful dishes even if they get potatoes from someone else. 'Good wine needs no bush,' as the adage goes. You don't have to be concerned about this because your establishment has been open for many years."
Mr. Chen thought about it and agreed with Xu Ran. He said, "Please think of a way for me. I really don't want to offend anyone."
"Mr. Chen, you can sequence the old customers who can afford the potatoes," Xu Ran stated after a moment's contemplation. You sell potatoes to a single household on a single day. Every household will be able to purchase potatoes in this manner. Despite their limited purchasing power, they would not cause you any inconvenience.
Mr. Chen felt that this method was feasible, so he thanked Xu Ran. After that Mr. Chen pressed Xu Ran to send him more potatoes and chilli sauce.
Xu Ran agreed and said that he would produce new things in winter. Only then did Mr. Chen let him go.
People sent by the Zhuo Mansion were waiting outside when they exited the restaurant. Xu Ran drove them to the carriage to transport their belongings to the Zhuo Mansion, where they would meet up with the Qin family.
05.17.21