He Bin opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but in the end he said nothing — as if he were admitting Ye Jiawu was right. That made Ye Jiawu even angrier. He couldn’t hold back anymore. He stepped forward, grabbed He Bin by the collar with one hand, and raised his other fist high.
“Xiao Xiang, you bastard, what the hell is going on?”
At first he thought it was because something had happened with Uncle He, but Uncle He was perfectly fine. Other than that, he really couldn’t figure out why Xiao Xiang would do this.
“Xiao Wu!”
Ye Zhiqiu stepped forward and pulled Ye Jiawu away, pushing him toward the door. “Go outside and cool off. I’ll talk to Xiao Xiang alone.”
Ye Jiawu left in a huff. Once he was far enough away, Ye Zhiqiu sat back down in front of He Bin. “Xiao Xiang, if you don’t want to say why, then don’t. I know that if you don’t want to say, there must be a reason.”
“But no matter what you decide to do in the future, don’t act on impulse. You have to think it through.”
Ye Zhiqiu patted He Bin’s shoulder. “I know you have good judgment. But sometimes when people get caught up in an obsession, they can lose their sense of reason. You need to know that your family and friends are all worried about you.”
“Sis, I…”
He Bin hesitated, wanting to speak but stopping. “Can you tell me how to make a lot of money?”
“Make a lot of money?”
Ye Zhiqiu’s first reaction was: “Xiao Xiang, do you need money? How much? I can give it to you first.”
“Sis, no! I want to earn it myself! It’s not that I need it right now — I just want to make money. A lot of it.”
Ye Zhiqiu guessed, “You’re dropping out of the martial arts school because you want to go make money?”
He Bin nodded and admitted, “Yes.”
“Xiao Xiang, do you have any ideas of your own?”
He Bin looked quite lost. “I… I don’t know what to do.”
“I actually wanted to call you these past few days to ask, but I didn’t know who else to turn to.”
“I didn’t expect Xiao Wu to tell you first, and to have you come over during the New Year too.”
“Sis, I’m sorry for making you worry.”
He Bin stood up, walked over to Ye Zhiqiu, and lowered his head like a child who had done something wrong.
“I am worried about you, but I’ll understand and respect your choice. I know you’re not the type to give up halfway. Giving up martial arts must be hard on you too. If you want to go make money, there must be a reason — and that reason must be more important to you than learning martial arts.”
“Sis, it is very important.”
He Bin’s eyes were especially determined. This wasn’t a whim, and it wasn’t about proving something to Lu Shuangshuang.
After the day he and Lu Shuangshuang parted ways, he had been thinking about this constantly. He had also been seriously thinking about his feelings for her.
He had thought that maybe if they were apart long enough and didn’t see each other, he would gradually forget her and stop liking her.
But months had passed, and her image in his mind was still so clear. Every time he thought of her, he still felt that flutter in his heart.
He wasn’t sure whether Lu Shuangshuang would be with him once he made money in the future, but he wanted to work hard for the possibility of being together.
If he wasn’t even willing to try, what right did he have to say he liked her?
Liking someone means being willing to give for that person. Besides, making money is something you have to do in life anyway.
He was a man. He would have to support a family in the future, so he had to make money.
Only by making enough money could he give his wife and children a good life.
He actually didn’t plan to give up the martial arts school either. He wanted to keep going there at night when he had time. It was just that Xiao Wu hadn’t even let him finish before getting angry.
“Xiao Xiang, I actually don’t know how to make money either. I’m someone who earns a fixed salary.”
“But I do know that if a person has a skill, they’ll definitely have a way forward. You need to learn something. Also, when you get a chance, go visit your brother-in-law’s older brother. He does pretty well selling at the night market. Why don’t you go learn from him?”
Ye Zhiqiu asked for He Bin’s opinion. “I’ll help you put in a good word with Brother Mingde.”
“But let’s be clear: traditionally, the skills for making money aren’t something people want to pass on to outsiders. After all, teaching an apprentice can starve the master. If you also start selling at the night market, you’d be competing with Brother Mingde.”
“If Brother Mingde is willing to take you on, great. If not, we’ll think of something else. Don’t hold a grudge against him over it.”
“Also, when you work, be diligent and sweet-tongued. In business, you’ll have to keep the accounts clear and think fast.”
Ye Zhiqiu told He Bin everything she could think of. He Bin grabbed Ye Zhiqiu’s hand. “Sis, then please go put in a good word for me with Brother Yue. I want to learn.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll definitely learn well!”
“Let’s not wait for another day — let’s go today. Come on, I’ll take you to his place. You wait outside first. I’ll ask him first, and if he agrees, then you can come in.”
Ye Zhiqiu warned him as she and He Bin walked out.
Ye Jiawu was nearby. Seeing the two of them come out, he looked at Ye Zhiqiu questioningly. Ye Zhiqiu walked over and patted Ye Jiawu on the shoulder. “Xiao Wu, wait here for us. I’ll tell you when we get back.”
On the way, He Bin bought some things.
It was the New Year, so there weren’t many stalls on the street. He had a hard time finding one, and just bought whatever was available.
Ye Zhiqiu told He Bin to wait at the entrance of the courtyard. She went in to find Yue Mingde.
“Brother.”
Yue Mingde was adding fuel to the stove outside to boil water. Hearing the voice, he turned and was quite surprised to see Ye Zhiqiu. “Zhiqiu, what are you doing here?”
Yue Youxin and Yue Youhui had stayed at the courtyard. Qin Feng was coming over today, and the three of them were going to hang out together, so only Yue Mingde had come back.
Yue Mingde invited Ye Zhiqiu inside. To avoid any gossip, he deliberately left the door open.
“Zhiqiu, sit by the heater. It’s warm.”
Ye Zhiqiu sat down as told and got straight to the point. “Brother, I came in a hurry because I want to ask you a favor.”
“What is it? Tell me.”
“Xiao Xiang wants to make money. I don’t know what kind of work can make money, so I was hoping he could learn from you and be your helper.”
“Give him whatever work you have. He’s got plenty of strength. You don’t need to pay him — just teach him a few things when you can.”
After Ye Zhiqiu finished, Yue Mingde smiled. “What a coincidence. I happen to be too busy myself and was planning to hire someone.”
“School starts in March. It’ll still be cold, but the kids aren’t afraid of the cold. I’ll start setting up my stall then. You can have him come with me, and I’ll pay him.”
Ye Zhiqiu quickly said, “Brother, no need to pay him.”
“How can I not pay him? If I hired someone else, I’d have to pay them too.”
“Xiao Xiang is a sharp kid. It just so happens the two of us can see if we can figure out something else together.”
Ye Zhiqiu caught the implication in Yue Mingde’s words. “Brother, is business not good?”
“There are still plenty of educated youths who haven’t been assigned jobs, so they’ve all become profiteers.”
