Aunt Lai had a look of grievance, appearing frail and delicate in front of Hongji’s father, a look that elicited the protective instinct in men.
Naturally, Mrs. Lai was scolded by her husband again!
After dinner, Hongji gave his wife and daughters a look, and Mrs. Li, carrying her son and accompanied by her daughters, all understood the signal and quietly headed to their bedroom.
Mrs. Lai seemed oblivious. Her attention was on Aunt Lai and her husband.
Yesterday, both during daytime and at night, her husband stayed in Aunt Lai’s room, leaving her, the legitimate wife, to endure a long lonely night alone, already the subject of ridicule.
Today, she dared not sit by the courtyard entrance—she always felt that people passing by would glance at her and laugh.
Ever since her husband took a concubine yesterday, she knew that the entire village was gossiping; the biggest joke was her. Her confidence had crumbled since yesterday.
"Husband, young Master Hongji and the others...!"
Aunt Lai felt that ever since she married into this family, the way she referred to others had become a mess. Originally, she could have called him elder cousin, but the Old Master insisted she call him young Master.
"That’s our children’s matter. Let’s go back to sleep!"
After the excitement of yesterday’s wedding, how could Hongji’s father so easily let go of his new concubine?
"Old Master, you stay on this side tonight!" Mrs. Lai rushed, sensing yet another night of solitude.
Aunt Lai wanted to say something but was cut off by Mrs. Lai’s words and, in a rush to cling to her man, she put on a coy look: "Old Master, we haven’t even bathed yet!"
"What does that matter?" Hongji’s father grinned like an old salted fish and then told the workers in the house: "Bring water to the next room!"
"Yes, sir!" the worker obediently went to do as told.
Hongji’s father took Aunt Lai’s hand and headed to the room next door.
Mrs. Lai stamped her foot in frustration, knowing that once a man’s heart is lured away, not even ten bulls could pull it back. Her heart was full of resentment.
Ye Shiqi and her elder sisters entered their parents’ room, where they saw their mother placing their little brother in a baby walker.
The baby was very fond of the walker today, thrilled with its novelty. He toddled around the room in it, giggling continuously.
Ye Shiqi found a stool to sit on while her sisters sat on their parents’ bed.
Hongji found a chair to sit down, saying to the wife sitting next to him, "How happy our son is playing, haha!"
Mrs. Li, with her husband and children around her, had a face full of gentle smiles, filled with happiness, and said, "Husband, how did you come up with the idea for the baby walker?"
Hongji glanced at his little daughter and seeing his other daughters curious, they had tacitly avoided discussing toys in the presence of many people that morning due to trade secrets involved.
"Haha, I dare not take the credit for that, my dear. Husband won’t say, but you know whose credit this is. Today I took the blueprint to the factory to test a batch; not many were made as I wanted to test the market first, planning to mass-produce after today."
Mrs. Li understood and glanced at her little daughter. Seeing that her husband’s wood factory could make more money, she felt that the money spent could be quickly earned back, rejoicing in her heart.
"Father, congratulations on your prosperity!"
Ye Shiqi and her sisters exclaimed in unison.
"Hahaha, prosperous, prosperous!"
Hongji happily dug into his clothes pocket and took out several red envelopes, distributing them to his daughters.
Ye Shiqi and her sisters were thrilled to see the red envelopes in their hands, knowing that their father always handed out lucky money. How could they not be happy?
"Haha, don’t thank your father yet; these red envelopes are actually from Young Master Tang, on behalf of his boss."
After saying this, Hongji handed a few red envelopes to Mrs. Li, stating that these were for their youngest son from the boss and included the factory workers’ red envelopes as well.
Mrs. Li, holding these red envelopes, did not, as usual, take out a large amount of money to keep for their little daughter. The usual expenses were still managed by her.
With her daughters watching, she took out a key from her pocket and locked the red envelopes in a box.
Hongji then took out a large silver note from his pocket, not giving it to his wife but to his little daughter.
"This is a unique creation reward for the baby walker, which I secured."
Ye Shiqi nodded, knowing that every time she created something new, her father ensured the factory produced a batch and applied for a creation reward at the factory.
This was different from the workers’ wages; this was like a fixed payment for the designer’s copyright.
In this era where there might be no trademarks, some well-established manufacturers’ goods would all be branded.