Chapter 41 Managing Wealth

Back home, the family closed the doors and gathered to count their money just like usual.

Wen Ye said, "We've been setting up our stall for ten days now. Except for the first day when we sold 100 catties and made a little over five hundred cash, the rest of the days we sold 300 catties, making about one tael and five hundred cash each day. After deducting all costs, we've now saved fourteen taels and 350 cash."

Third Uncle Wen, his wife, and Wen Lan's siblings felt their hearts race as they listened.

That was fourteen taels!

In just ten days, they had actually made fourteen taels!

This was something they wouldn't have even dared to dream of before.

Suddenly, Wen Ye stacked the copper coins on the table in piles of five hundred, and finally placed them in front of Third Uncle Wen's couple and Wen Lan's siblings respectively:

"These are your wages. Let's calculate it as thirty cash per day. Since we've worked for ten days now, that's 300 cash for each person."

Third Uncle Wen and the others were startled: "What wages?"

Wen Ye smiled and said, "Everyone has been working, so naturally, you must be paid wages."

Madam Lin was shocked: "We're a family, what are you talking about wages for?"

Wen Ye said, "Just take them. That way, everyone can save a little private money and buy whatever they want."

Both Madam Lin and Third Uncle Wen had reddened eyes.

"Second Sister, this is 300 cash, is it really for me?" Wen Yuan asked, his eyes wide with shock. "If it's thirty cash every day, that would be 900 cash in a month."

Wen Ye smiled warmly: "That's right! Yuanbao, you're going to have your own little treasury."

Wen Yuan was so excited he could hardly contain himself.

Madam Lin opened her mouth: "This... is too much. Ye-ya, giving 100 cash a month would be enough. 900 is way too much, we wouldn't even be able to spend it all."

"It's not too much! If Mother thinks it's too much, you can save it up."

Madam Lin's eyes turned slightly red; she would finally be able to save some money of her own.

Wen Lan, however, pushed the money in front of her back, and said with envy, "Ye-ya counted wrong. I only helped out at the stall for one day, so I should only get one day's wage. The rest of the time I stayed home doing embroidery."

Wen Ye said, "Everyone gets it. When we went to set up the stall, Eldest Sister did plenty of chores at home—that's all real work. If I'm tired one day and don't go to the stall, you can go in my place, and I'll do the housework while you handle things outside. It's the same thing."

Wen Lan bit her lip and smiled: "Then... I'll accept it."

Madam Lin gave her a playful glare: "Take it, just take it!"

Wen Ye continued, "As for the remaining thirteen taels and 250 cash, eighty percent of it is mine personally, and the remaining twenty percent—two taels and 650 cash—goes into the public fund for household expenses. In the future, whether Eldest Sister sells her embroidery or we take up any other small ventures, we'll divide it this way. Any objections?"

Madam Lin, holding the several hundred cash in her hands, was already overwhelmed by the favor and had no objections whatsoever.

Third Uncle Wen asked thoughtfully, "What about farming the land?"

Wen Ye replied, "Eldest Sister has to do embroidery, so she can't go down to the fields anymore. Little Brother is starting school after the new year. As for me... anyway, anyway, I just don't have time to farm!"

She was simply lazy! She couldn't endure even the slightest bit of hardship!

"Father and Mother can farm this land if you want to, and all the grain produced will be your income. You only need to contribute twenty percent to the public fund, and the rest can either be sold or converted into silver. Those of us who don't farm will pay to buy our share."

The group was left stunned and startled by this.

Third Uncle Wen anxiously said, "This, this, this... isn't this treating each other like strangers? We're a family, how can we calculate things like this? How is this any different from dividing the household?"

Wen Ye said, "When a large family lives together, the main reason there are endless conflicts is unfair distribution. Some people work themselves to the bone like oxen and horses, yet they go hungry and poorly clothed. Others slack off and act cunning, yet they grow fat and prosperous. Over time, plenty of resentment is bound to brew."

"Not to mention we are making money now, which makes it all the more important to make things clear and explicit."

Wen Yuan, who had deep personal experience of this, pursed his lips and said, "Before the household division, we were the ones working like oxen and horses, while Eldest Uncle's family slacked off and played tricks. I felt so wronged I could burst."

Madam Lin felt tears welling up in her eyes as she recalled the lingering fear, and she nodded repeatedly: "Yes, yes, yes. Money and labor ought to be distributed properly!"

After thinking for a moment, she added, "Raising you children is supposed to be a parent's responsibility. Your father and I are incapable people who only know how to farm a few mu of land. Ye-ya doing business brings in more in a few days than we make farming in several years."

"Your twenty percent amounts to several taels of silver, while our twenty percent is only worth a few cash. So we will still farm the land, but all of it will go into the public fund, and we'll eat together. Besides, Ye-ya is giving us wages anyway, and we won't necessarily set up the stall every single day. Just as Ye-ya said a moment ago, if Lan-ya doesn't go to the stall, doing housework at home is still work."

"Farming is naturally family work, just like housework. You children just focus on your own matters."

Thinking about it, Wen Ye realized this made sense, so she nodded with a smile: "Alright, let's distribute it like this!"

Wen Yuan chuckled: "I can farm too! I'll support Eldest Sister and Second Sister!"

Wen Ye let out a chuckle and tapped him on the head: "Nonsense, clearly I'm the one supporting you."

Watching them frolic and bicker, Wen Lan giggled heartily.

Third Uncle Wen scratched his head: "I, I don't understand..."

Madam Lin glared at him with a smile: "You just mind your own work, go farm the fields, or set up the stall if you feel like it. Ye-ya gives you 900 cash for pocket money every month anyway. Besides, you never used to be the head of the house or manage the money. Now you have fewer chores than when we were at the old residence, and you're getting all this pocket money—you must be thrilled out of your mind."

With such a capable daughter, Madam Lin felt fully confident, and even her tone of voice had grown much stronger.

Third Uncle Wen gave an awkward smile, scratched his head, and hurriedly replied with an "Understood."

Wen Yuan held his money in both hands and grinned foolishly: "From now on, we're all wealthy folks!"

Both Madam Lin and Third Uncle Wen were amused by him.

Wen Ye looked toward Third Uncle Wen: "Father, is there anything the house is still lacking? If you need to buy anything in the future, just ask me for the money."

Third Uncle Wen said, "Actually, there is. The farm tools at home need to be replaced. We've been borrowing Shengli's family's tools all these days."

Wen Ye nodded: "How much will it cost?"

"I don't know yet. I need to go ask first, I'll head out in a moment."

Thinking it over, Wen Ye took out 100 cash and gave it to him: "Once you've asked, pay a deposit first."

"Alright, alright, got it."

...

The family put their money away and went about their respective tasks.

Madam Lin gathered up the plates, bowls, and clothes and headed to the small stream to wash them.

Wen Ye took Wen Yuan to check on the vegetables in the plots belonging to Aunt Zhang and three other fellow villagers who shared their cart.

Third Uncle Wen was preparing to find the blacksmith in the neighboring village. He had only walked halfway when a sharp-tongued, fiery woman strode over in a hustle: "Third Brother!"

Third Uncle Wen stared wide-eyed: "Fengjuan?"

This woman was none other than Third Uncle Wen's own younger sister, Wen Fengjuan. She was the youngest in the family, only one year younger than Third Uncle Wen, and was married into the He Family Village not far from the town.

Wen Fengjuan glanced at the nearby house: "Isn't this Shengli's old house? You live here? Did you really divide the household? What's going on?"

At the mention of this, Third Uncle Wen's face fell into a bitter expression: "Sigh... It's a long story, but that's how it turned out. Why have you come back?"

Wen Fengjuan frowned: "Eldest Brother sent someone this morning to say that Mother rolled down the mountain slope yesterday while gathering mushrooms on the mountain, and she's in too much pain to get out of bed. When I got back to our parents' home, I couldn't find you, and after asking around, I found out you all had split from the family."

Third Uncle Wen widened his eyes: "Mother got hurt?"

Wen Fengjuan looked utterly incredulous: "You live in the same village, and you didn't even know? Third Brother, how can you be so heartless!"

Third Uncle Wen's expression turned complicated, and he looked thoroughly ashamed: "I... I..."

"What are you stammering for? Aren't you coming with me to see Mother?"

Third Uncle Wen frowned: "We... we've already split the household..."

And they had a falling out so ugly that they practically drew a line never to cross paths again.