"Alright, let’s talk business," Xiaoxiao said as she finished changing the baby’s diaper. "Today my sister gave me her share of the earnings from selling the underwear."
"Mhm," Yang Ming merely acknowledged, not inquiring about the amount. He knew it must have been substantial.
"Husband, I was thinking of giving each family fifty taels this time. It’s been a while since we’ve handed out pocket money, and everyone has been working hard at home. We haven’t done anything. Look at the planting this time, everyone did the sowing, and the corn seedlings were already sprouting by the time we got back."
"Okay, whatever you say." Every time this came up, Yang Ming couldn’t help but feel grateful for having married such a good wife and having such a good family. Often, when people were poor, they’d stick together, but once rich, they’d squabble over silver, red-faced and hoarse. Thankfully, their family wasn’t like that.
"Then you can go to the county town tomorrow to exchange the silver notes," Xiaoxiao continued, handing the silver note to Yang Ming. Then she instructed, "And see what the family is lacking, buy something for everyone."
Yang Ming took the silver note and put it away carefully. "Mhm, got it. So, what do you want?"
"I don’t need anything," Xiaoxiao replied without a second thought.
"..." He knew it, his wife would say just that. So, he suggested, "How about we leave the child with your sister-in-law tomorrow and both of us go? I don’t quite know what to buy for everyone. You’d better choose for them."
Xiaoxiao glanced at the child, then at Yang Ming, feeling he might be right. As a man, he wouldn’t know what to buy. "Alright, we’ll go together tomorrow."
A smile curled at the corner of Yang Ming’s mouth. As long as his wife came along, it didn’t matter what they’d buy; he could treat her to something nice.
"Right, how about we take my eldest brother, second brother, and fourth brother with us to Lin County this time? The collaboration with the Han Family is already a done deal, so we might as well go straight there. Then have the three of them stay to learn the fish farming technology. Once they’ve learned enough, they can bring back the fry. Just in time for the Grand Theater’s opening, they could enjoy themselves too," Xiaoxiao proposed.
"Okay, I’ll talk to them at dinner," he replied.
Soon it was dinner time. Since Xiaoxiao had to look after the child, she ate in her own room. Yang Ming brought her food to her and then went to eat in the Main House because he had to discuss this matter with the family.
"Dad, Xiaoxiao and I have decided to go to Lin County the day after tomorrow," he said.
"Sure, you two go. Don’t worry about the child; they will take good care of him," said Old Master Yang.
"Third brother, you can rest assured, we will definitely take good care of your son, and he’ll be plump and healthy," the second brother’s wife also guaranteed.
"Thank you, second sister-in-law," Yang Ming then told them about taking them to Lin County.
"Sure, take them along," Old Master Yang advised his sons after that, "You three, don’t cause trouble for your third brother."
"We know, Dad," they chorused, all promising to comply.
"Third brother, they are going for a few days, right? What should I pack for them?" the second brother’s wife asked.
"Second sister-in-law, I’m not sure how long it will take to learn this fish farming technology, so just bring a few changes of clothes," he replied, not having asked Han Yongsheng how long it would actually take.
Afterward, the family discussed matters concerning the fish pond. Yang Ming instructed Old Master Yang to oversee the fencing and building of houses; they would discuss the rest upon his return. Yang Dong was tasked with finding relatives to look at the workshop. After dinner, everyone returned home to prepare for the trip to Lin County.