Chapter Seven First Customer

  Xu Yuansuo returned home and sat quietly in his room, recalling the people he had seen and the words they had spoken, and then trying to infer their inner thoughts from the details of his memories.

  Xu Liangzuo sat at the table, writing silently until the sky was completely dark and it was time to light the lamps. Only then did he put down his pen and said, "Brother, I'm going to the Wu's with Mother and Sister."

  The women of Jiangnan are skilled with their hands, spinning and weaving, doing needlework, which is a common practice for managing household expenses. Since the Jiajing era, commerce in Jiangnan has become increasingly prosperous, to the point where women's needlework at home can often support the living expenses of a strong laborer, so the rights of women in Jiangnan are also more developed than in the north.

  Since the income is not insignificant, women are naturally unwilling to rest just because it's dark. However, lighting lamps is a considerable expense, so it's common for neighboring women who get along well to take turns gathering at one household in the evening, saving on lamp oil money while chatting about domestic topics and passing the time.

  This women's salon was not a place where men could intervene, but Xu Liangzuo was only twelve years old and didn't need to avoid it, so he could follow his mother and sister there. While the aunts did needlework and chatted, he would read on the side or play with his little friends.

  Xu Yuansuo just came out of his "cultivation" and said: "Oh, today is at the Wu family's place."

  Xu Liangzuo knew his brother was perfunctory to him, so he took a book and went downstairs to wait for his mother and sister. He wasn't particularly enthusiastic about reading either, nor did he have a deep understanding of the importance of official rank and bringing honor to his family. Although his mother said that doing business was a lowly occupation, in Jiangnan where commercialism was prevalent, their neighbors didn't share this prejudice.

  It's true that nothing is more noble than reading books, as for other things, Xu Liangzuo can't be bothered to think about them.

  He prefers to chat and laugh with his little friends at this time every day.

  Xu Yuansuo and his mother had gone out, only then did he go downstairs to fetch the lamp oil, and went straight upstairs to light the lamps, without any intention of being frugal.

  The reason why the light was turned on only after his brother left was that he had to do some math exercises and also review accounting knowledge. If there was still time, he would have to systematically sort out financial knowledge. Although Xu Liangzuo couldn't understand these things, if he accidentally blabbed about them, it would affect his own reputation.

  "The word 'weird' doesn't scare scholars, because there are too many weird scholars. But for businessmen, this is a very damaging remark that directly affects reputation and credibility!"

  Let's not mention other things, if you have a strange reputation in your hometown, even if you open a bank later, no one will dare to deposit money here. Who would entrust their money to a strange businessman?

  Time flies quickly, Xu Yuansu concentrates on his work and doesn't notice that his mother has returned.

  Seeing her son reading by lamplight at night, Mrs. Xú surprisingly didn't scold him for being extravagant, but instead said coldly: "Didn't you say you weren't going to study anymore?"

  Xu Yuansuo smiled foolishly and said, "Doing business also requires knowledge."

  "Hmph, I'm counting on you to make some money from business... it's good if you can even earn back the cost of lamp oil!" Xu Mu said as she turned around and went back into the house.

  Xu Liangzuo packed up the things he would take to the village school the next day, and said in a low voice, "Brother, don't blow out the lamp yet, wait until I've taken off my clothes. It's really comfortable to undress by the light of the lamp." As he spoke, he untied his belt, so at least he wouldn't have to grope around in the dark to get into bed.

  Xu Yuansuo knew his brother was afraid of the dark, but he didn't care and blew out the lamp anyway.

  The room was suddenly plunged into darkness, with only the moonlight outside casting a faint glow on the window paper.

  Xu Liangzuo let out a strange cry, jumped onto the bed, and didn't even dare to breathe. After a long time, he finally said with hatred: "In the future when I become an official, I will definitely sleep with the lights on!"

  "When brother earns money, he will turn on the lights for you during the day." Xu Yuansu got into bed, stretched his body, and his feet were already sticking out of the bed: "Still need to change to a bigger bed."

  "Brother," Xu Liangzuo stuck close to his brother, "can you really make money? If not, then come back and study, I think these past two days you seem less foolish than before, maybe you've finally opened up!"

  "Shut up and go to sleep." Xu Yuanshu kicked his younger brother's head: "Tomorrow we might have to go to the private school again."

  Xu Liangzuo disdainfully pushed away his brother's foot, wanting to ask why he had gone to the private school, but a day's worth of fatigue all surged up, ultimately becoming a mumbled murmur, and then he fell fast asleep.

  Xu Yuansuo thought for a while and worried. Especially when he thought of his parents on the other side, whether they would be heartbroken, his heart was not relieved. He forced himself to close his eyes and sleep, but he had consecutive dreams about his past life scenes and familiar relatives and friends. After tossing and turning all night, the sound of chickens chirping came from outside, and soon his mother and sister got up to do chores.

  After daybreak, Xu Yuansuo got up with his brother, went downstairs to drink a cup of hot water, and then sat down to eat breakfast. He carefully analyzed Lu Fuzi's reaction and mentality, but still needed to mix in some rumors from the streets to firm up his confidence in the results of his inference.

  Lu Fu Zi must have wanted to see me today.

  Xu Yuansuo put down his bowl and chopsticks and said to his mother: "Mother, I have to go to the school early in the morning. The teacher has summoned me."

  When going out, report; when returning, meet in person. This thousand-year-old tradition has never changed.

  Xu's mother nodded slightly but didn't say much, obviously still not resigned to Xu Yuanshuo's life choices.

  Xu Liangzuo scooped up two mouthfuls of rice from the bowl, put down his chopsticks, and couldn't help but let out a belch that brought him a stern look from his mother.

  "You must study hard in school, did you hear me?!" Xu Mu scolded and warned her younger son.

  Xu Liang's son hastily said: "Yes, mother. I'll go to school first."

  The two brothers walked slowly outwards, and the bowls and chopsticks were naturally cleaned up by their sister.

  As soon as they went out the door, Xu Yuansuo's chest suddenly puffed out and Xu Liangsu's pace quickened. The two brothers exchanged a smile, understanding each other's intentions, and hastened their steps. Before long, Xu Liangsu burst into giggles and started racing with his older brother.

  Strictly speaking, Zhuri is not even a town. The streets of Jiangnan's water towns are only wide enough for two people to walk side by side, which is roughly the width of a cart. With the addition of two chasing and running boys, the street suddenly became lively, and the tense faces of the merchants and customers in the shops along the street also had a hint of a smile.

  Xu Liangzuo was still young after all, and he cared about his image, afraid of being scolded by Lu Fuzi for running out of breath, so he finally stopped in his tracks and caught his breath.

  Xu Yuansuo caught up with his younger brother, one hand on his shoulder and the other against the wall, apparently also panting heavily.

  The condition of this body is really troublesome.

  "Brother, can you still run a couple of steps?" Xu Liangzuo panted as he walked.

  "Afraid of wasting shoes." Xu Yuansuo finally straightened his waist, tidied up his clothes and headscarf.

  Xu Liangzuo sneered: "Not afraid now?"

  "Brother is going to make a lot of money now." Xu Yuansuo said confidently.

  Xu Liangzuo still didn't know the word "shameless", but was infected by his brother's strong confidence, as if the sky had cleared up a lot. In many years past, Xu Liangzuo had always lived in the shadow of his brother - indeed, his brother's physique was too large, wherever he went there would be shadows.

  And what's more, many little rascals would call him "Xu Sha Zi He Di".

  Xu Liangzuo couldn't bear to open his eyes and blindly say "my brother is not stupid", nor could he fight against so many people, so he could only hold it in his heart.

  Only now did he realize that having a strong brother was actually so great!

  Although the opened brother still has a somewhat unreliable feeling.

  "Hmm!" Lu Fu-zi stood at the entrance of the village school, looking at the pair of brothers who were both slightly chubby, and let out a proud cry from his nose and mouth.

  "The student asked about Master Fu's well-being." The two brothers bowed and paid their respects.

  "Never mind, Xuliang Suo, hurry up and recite the book." Mr. Lu furrowed his brow, with his hands clasped behind his back.

  Xu Yuansuo first raised his head, smiled before speaking, and said: "Master, is there something you want to say to your student?"