Ever since Yang Ruxin’s house had been completed, Yang Baixiang had been out looking for odd jobs, although Xinxin was hiring, he didn’t want to trouble her. Fortunately, there was a family in town building a house, so he took a job as a laborer, which would probably last for half a month. Each day he could earn twenty copper coins, but this meant leaving home before dawn and coming back after dark, often finding no food left when he returned. He had grown accustomed to this, so usually after coming home, he would just scoop some water in the yard to wash up and then head to his room to sleep.
But today was a bit strange.
As he entered, Yang Peili called him into the main room, where the food on the table was freshly cooked, seemingly waiting for him.
"Father, mother," Yang Baixiang handed over eighteen copper coins, withholding two each day. It was his little change; after all, the repeated actions of his family had made it impossible for him to give wholeheartedly anymore.
Yang Anshi took the copper coins without any guilt, then turned and locked them in the chest at the head of the kang.
"Hurry up and eat," Yang Peili gestured, "we’ve all been waiting for you."
Yang Baixiang felt both flattered and anxious, intuiting that something was expected of him, certainly something related to Ruxin—otherwise... He didn’t want to admit his family’s indifference, but he couldn’t deceive himself either. He took a bite of a pancake before standing up, "I’m going to my room." He actually wasn’t hungry, although he hadn’t told Ruxin about the odd jobs, she somehow knew, sending a young man to deliver food to him unpredictably. Even though he had refused, the young man named Liang Zi insisted it was Ruxin’s order and that upsetting her could be frightening. He had no choice but to accept, and these days he hadn’t had the chance to discuss the matter with Ruxin since the work was rushed.
Thus, although his family never left him any food, he was not hungry.
"Laowu," Yang Peili suddenly spoke, "sit down."
Yang Baixiang had no choice but to sit down again.
Yang Peili sighed heavily, "Laowu, we are all family... Your eldest brother was unlucky to go so soon, leaving behind a widow and orphan. We thought the family could support each other and get by, but—"
Yang Baixiang remained silent, not quite understanding what his father meant.
"Ruxin is doing well for herself now, but she’s cut us off completely," Yang Peili said with some difficulty. "But even if she has, we’re still family, and blood is thicker than water—this cannot be changed..."
Yang Baixiang looked down, hiding the mockery in his eyes.
"Right, fifth brother," Yang Baichuan quickly showed a flattering smile, "You can talk to Ruxin. Tell her I’m good with numbers, let me work in her shop as an accountant..." He had watched the shop several times; business was booming. They only operated in the morning and noon, closing afterward, how easy would that be?
"Yes, and your second brother sitting idle isn’t good for anything," Yang Anshi joined in, "Go tell that ungrateful girl, hiring family is more trustworthy than hiring outsiders. Have your second brother start work tomorrow... and as for Ruban, he’d do well as a shop assistant. If she has money, surely she won’t refuse to help her family in favor of outsiders, right?" She was forgetful, having long forgotten how she had treated the members of the main house; her tone carried so much entitlement.