Chapter 97: 97 cannot do things that harm children
“Carpentry work? Your Brother Gaolin is skilled at it, later Father will accompany you to ask him to help you make a few.” Ye Jiu’s soap-making venture was no secret to old man Ye, and he had seen the few pieces drying in a bowl. Though the quality was inconsistent, the substance was quite good, effective at degreasing and cleaning; once made, he truly had no worries about selling it.
After the family split, old man Ye and his only elder brother had been at odds, and both families hadn’t spoken to each other for years.
And, Ye Gaolin was the son of old man Ye’s cousin. Ye Jiu was younger, but had the higher familial seniority, thus despite being in his thirties, he was considered one of Ye Jiu’s many brothers.
Having obtained the information he needed, Ye Jiu had already started planning, “Father, I can just go to Brother Gaolin’s house myself.”
With that said, Ye Jiu turned his head and walked out.
Since recovering his health, Ye Jiu had taken a particular liking to going out more, to look around and deeply breathe the fresh air outside.
No one understood the feelings of a person with a normal mind who, due to physical reasons, had been cooped up at home for a full ten years.
That was also a longing for the experience of being able to stroll and look around.
Ye Gaolin’s home was towards the back of the village. Although the family had already divided the household, due to housing issues, the brothers still crammed together in the same courtyard.
When Ye Jiu arrived, Ye Gaolin happened to be at home, repairing a stool in the yard.
Ye Jiu walked in, “Brother Gaolin is at home?”
“I am,” Ye Gaolin put down his work and turned around. Seeing Ye Jiu, he was slightly surprised, “It’s Xiaojiu, what brings you here…”
Although Ye Jiu did not go out often, he was quite famous in Wangshan Village, as few did not know him.
After all, Ye Jiu’s previous condition often led people to label him as a fool, and there weren’t many people with such a mental state; it was enough for people to talk eagerly about having such an individual in a family, and some even intentionally came to his own home to look at him.
It was Ye Jiu’s first time visiting their home, but he showed no timidity, instead walking in with confidence, “I heard from my father that Brother Gaolin can do carpentry. I would like to make a few wooden boxes, so I came to ask for your help. I hope I’m not disturbing you?”
Ye Gaolin thought it was a child wanting to make a box to hold his own belongings, “It’s fine, there’s not much work to do in winter anyway. I’ll make it for you once I’ve freed up my hands.”
But Ye Jiu did not leave, “Brother Gaolin, I need quite a few wooden boxes, and there are some specific requirements for the style and size. However, I won’t ask you to do it for nothing; could you spare some time to listen to my specific requirements?”
It was then that Ye Gaolin put down his work and looked at Ye Jiu seriously, “Xiaojiu, what do you need so many wooden boxes for? Also, do your parents know about what you’re saying?”
Ye Gaolin’s craftsmanship wasn’t particularly exquisite; at most, he made little trinkets. Wood was abundant in the mountains, and when the villagers asked for his help, they typically offered a few eggs at most—no one had ever talked about paying money.
If Ye Jiu had wanted just one wooden box, Ye Gaolin would oblige; it would only take a little while to make. However, with Ye Jiu asking for many, Ye Gaolin couldn’t possibly spend his free time working for someone else without compensation.
The fact that Ye Jiu was willing to pay was undoubtedly the best outcome for Ye Gaolin, but he couldn’t very well cheat a child, so he had to be clear about the money.
“I need the wooden boxes for a purpose, although it’s not convenient to say for what exactly right now. My parents knew about this when I came here, so you can rest assured, Brother Gaolin.” As Ye Jiu spoke, he took out a string of Copper Coin from his bosom, fifty coins in total, and placed them on the unfinished stool in front of Ye Gaolin.