Chapter 142: Chapter 144: New Year is Here
So, keeping money at home is really not safe. After all is said and done, the bank is still a lot safer.
“This is the family’s money. In total, we earned fifty-six thousand three hundred fifty-two yuan before the New Year. The tricycle was bought for one thousand six hundred yuan, which I paid for from my share. I’ve already divided the money into separate cheques.”
“Here’s your twenty-eight thousand. The rest of the money is for buying fertilisers and seeds next year,” and the other half is his, minus one thousand six hundred yuan for the car purchase.
“Big Brother, we can’t accept this,” Tang Zhijun shook his head firmly. They couldn’t take the money as they were not yet financially independent from the family.
“Take it,” Tang Zhinian stuffed the cheque into his brother’s hands. There’s something said about perfect clarity between brothers. You have your own family now, and you have to consider them as well. Moreover, I’m the only person taking care of the fields here, Tang Zhijun glared at his brother, who opened his hand to release the cheque. You have two people there. So, I have already gotten the better end of the bargain.
“Alright,” Tang Zhijun was going to refuse but was cut short by Tang Zhinian.
“It’s almost sixty thousand yuan. That much money, all of it staying with me, makes me uncomfortable. Everyone takes what’s theirs, and after the New Year, we’ll divide the profits from selling the vegetables.”
Once he finished speaking, he stood up. He finally let out a sigh of relief after splitting the money.
He knew that he and his brother were different from other brothers. They didn’t have parents and had to cultivate their land together. Thus, it couldn’t be divided. But the money earned in the future would be split equally to avoid any disputes between the two families.
They were both honest men but now with their own families, they had to plan for their respective households. So, the matter was settled.
Tang Zhijun knew his older brother’s temperament. He was definitely stubborn. Zhijun handed the cheque to Zhang Xiangcao, “This is our money. Keep it safe. I’ll earn more in the future to give you and Sisi a better life.”
“Okay,” Zhang Xiangcao tightly held the cheque in her hand, giving Tang Zhinian even greater respect. She was grateful for marrying such a good man.
Almost thirty thousand yuan! She had never seen that much money in her life before. She thought, her mother could finally rest in peace since their life would only get better.
Tang Yuxin knew her father had divided the money and wanted to give him a big thumbs up in approval.
It turned out that her father was neither naïve nor dumb.
Perhaps he knew everything, but he still spent his last life serving the Wei family. She wondered if it was precisely because of this that he hadn’t laid all his cards on the table.
Just wishing that they might treat their own daughter a little better.
“We’re leaving,” Tang Yuxin adjusted the cap on Sisi’s head. Sisi had a small bag on her back made by Zhang Xiangcao which was one of her favourites. It was filled with seeds, nuts and other little snacks, all of which were now Sisi’s treasures.
Of course, Sisi was not stingy; she would give anyone who wanted some snacks from her bag. And she shared with a hearty smile. Indeed, she was a very well-behaved girl.
Tang Yuxin held tiny Tang Sisi’s hand, taking her from house to house to collect candies. Sisi was a bit timid, reluctant to go to other people’s houses, but she wasn’t scared when she was with her sister.
By the time they came back from their rounds, her little bag was packed full of assorted peanuts, seeds, candies and other snacks.
Before long, children from other families visited the Tangs. Zhang Xiangcao filled the children’s pockets with seeds and nuts and gave them each a one-cent red envelope.
In the village, many people gave out seeds and nuts, but few gave red envelopes. And those who did usually gave one or two cents. There were few who would give a ten-cent red envelope. Zhang Xiangcao wrapped all one-cent notes in red paper, each looking exactly the same.
The village had a tradition where newlywed brides would distribute red envelopes to children during the New Year. There was no set amount, usually just one or two cents for good luck.
Tang Zhijun handed Zhang Xiangcao a large stack of one-cent notes, all sealed in red envelopes. Even though she was a second-time bride and came with a child, Zhijun didn’t discard her. Otherwise, how could he have saved up so many one-cent notes for her? Simply not to let others mock her, or let the villagers gossip about her.
The first day of the lunar year passed like this, with the children wandering around the streets, returning with lots of seeds, nuts, all sorts of fruits, and candies. Of course, Tang Sisi also received three large red envelopes, one from her dad, one from her uncle, and one from Chen Zhong.
Each one contained ten yuan.
This was the first time Sisi had received a red envelope. She shyly handed the red envelopes to her mother, then clung to her mother’s legs the whole time, but noticeably more energetic.
The sound of firecrackers could be heard outside the window one after another. The northwest didn’t yet have smoggy weather, so there were no restrictions on lighting fireworks or firecrackers. The air filled with the scent of the New Year was everywhere, and you could smell the faint sulfur scent left by the firecrackers.
The Tangs didn’t have much extended family, and the same was true for Zhang Xiangcao, so they didn’t have to visit many relatives during the holiday.
In the past, when Sang Zhilan was around, Tang Zhinian would take Tang Yuxin to the Sang’s to celebrate the New Year. But ever since Sang Zhilan left the Tang family, the two families had lost all contact.
Not having such relatives around was not bad after all. Why visit them, do they want to clear out their house? Tang Zhijun was sure that if the Sangs came over, their new tricycle would probably disappear.
Everyone at home lit the stove, and Tang Yuxin picked up a silver needle and held it in front of her eyes. The needlepoint seemed to shimmer with a slight bluish light.
“Uncle,” Tang Yuxin tilted her head.
“Coming,” Tang Zhijun rushed over, turned around, and presented his back to Tang Yuxin, then took off his cotton jacket.
Tang Yuxin stood up, a young child with a still youthful face, but held a stoic demeanor that could earn anyone’s trust.
She grabbed a silver needle, flicked her fingers, and then the needle swiftly penetrated Tang Zhijun’s shoulder, going at least an inch deep into his skin.
“Uncle, did you expose your shoulder to the cold?” Tang Yuxin had recently started practicing on live subjects, and her uncle was incredibly kind to her, allowing her to practice acupuncture on him.
Although she was small, she had this knack for acupuncture from quite a young age. And knowing that she was a doctor in her past life, she understood the human body quite well. Of course, she wouldn’t hurt her uncle. He wasn’t a piece of wood after all. He was her uncle.