Chapter 124

After dinner, the families gathered together to divide the money.

The money had not been divided from the beginning, and the families trusted Xu An to keep it.

Besides, the price of the wheelbarrow was fixed, and there was a sales record of each family.

After Xu Ran left, his family share was handed over to Shao Yu and Gao Quan. Xu Ran had come up with the idea and design, and Xu An made most of the wheelbarrows with the assistance of Xu Zhen and Xu Fa. However, Xu Ran said that the money should be evenly divided.

They had been dividing money like this, and they couldn’t change it just because they had made the highest profit this time. Most importantly, although their tasks were different, everyone had worked hard. Xu Fa and Xu Zhen would not complain if they got less money, but they would grow apart. If they got the same share of money, they knew that they were overpaid, and they would work harder.

As for Xu An and Wu Mei, Xu Ran felt that they would not have any objections. After all, Wu Mei had always taken good care of these two families. He was generous, and Xu An listened to him.

When they got the same amount of money, Xu Fa and Xu Zhen did feel awkward, suggesting that they should take less.

Xu Ran said, “It’s been decided long ago. There is no reason for us to give you less just because we sell more. No matter if you will continue to work with us, you should take your share from this business.”

Wu Mei echoed, “Yeah, it’s been decided. Don’t argue. Just take it!”

The two families took the money awkwardly.

Xu Ran didn’t say anything else, taking Xu An aside and asking him to help make the Chinese chess.

He gave the drawing to Xu An. “Xu An, here is the design which I drew this afternoon. I’d like you to make it according to my design. It’s for Mr. Hu, who sits idle and bored all day. I have to find him some entertainment to kill time. The game is best for the elderly to play.”

Xu Ran took the paper and studied it for a long time. There were some squares and a round object. Xu An couldn’t figure out what it was. He asked Xu Ran, “Ran, how would you like it? Is it made of wood?”

Xu Ran nodded. “Yes, it’s made of wood. Let’s make a chessboard according to the square on the paper. It’s this big.” He made a gesture of the size.

And he continued, “Make 32 round chess pieces, just like the design on the paper. Characters should be carved on the pieces, and I’ll tell you what characters to carve when you finish.”

As Xu Ran explained, Xu An knew how to make it. He shook the paper in his hand and said, “Can Mr. Hu play this game when it’s made? You say there will be characters. Does Mr. Hu know how to read? ”

Xu Ran rubbed his head. He had forgotten about this. After all, the elderly in modern times were literate.

Xu Ran said, “Don’t worry, I will teach Mr. Hu to read as well as how to play. You can help me make these things first!”

“Okay, I’ll go and work on it. It’s not that busy lately, and I have people to make the wheelbarrows.”

“By the way,” Xu Ran asked Xu An, “Where are the apprentices and carpenters staying and eating? How do you arrange it?”

Xu An answered, “They eat in my house. The apprentices go back to their home at night. The carpenters sleep on the floor in my house. I don’t charge the apprentices for learning the skills, and they just need to pay for their food. The carpenters don’t have to pay for the board and food.”

Xu Ran nodded. “This is not bad, but in this way, you’ve got to have your house guarded all the time, and it’s not convenient for your family. How about this? You move them to my bamboo house. Other than the cellar, the rooms are now empty. They can live there, and I can have them keep the house.”

Xu An thought that his house was too small indeed, and it was not convenient for the outsiders to live with them, so he nodded. “Alright. I’ll ask them to move over tomorrow. You’d better go and check if you’ve left anything behind in the house. Take them away if there are any. You’d better lock your cellar.”

“Okay, I know. I’ll go check again tomorrow.”

As the two of them talked about business, the other people on the other side were chatting happily until the children were clamoring to go home and sleep.

The results of the provincial examination would be released at the end of September, so he could live peacefully during this period.

Xu Ran recalled Liu Tong told him that Xu Houcai had been to the house. He didn’t know why he came, so he thought of visiting him the next day. He also planned to go to Zhuo Yun’s. After all, Qin Shuwen’s child was born, and he should give them some gifts.

And the Qin Family, when he left, he didn’t tell them. Now that he was back, he should go visit them as well.

Mr. Chen should need to replenish the supplies. Xu Ran thought he had to come up with other ways, and he had to spend the money carefully when doing the Spring Festival shopping.

He found that he was thinking too much, and he simply stopped thinking. After he took care of the elderly and the children, he went to sleep with Liu Tong in his arms.

Xu Ran fell asleep when he got in the bed. After all, he had been traveling without taking a good rest. Liu Tong wanted to talk to him, but he dropped the idea when he saw Xu Ran was so tired.

…

The next day Xu Ran went to the bamboo house and checked. There was a door to the cellar. No one could enter unless he broke the door. There was nothing else inside the house.

Xu Ran went to inform Xu An after checking the house, telling him that he could move his people in. He asked Xu An to remind those people to take care of the things inside. The bamboo house used to be his shelter when he had nothing. It used to be his home. Even though he didn’t live there, he couldn’t bear to see it damaged.

Xu An said, “Don’t worry. They are good people. Otherwise, I won’t take them as my apprentices.

Xu Ran nodded. “Okay. I’ll leave it to you. I have to go to the town now. See you later.”

“Alright, go ahead and do your work. I will arrange the bamboo house.”

Xu Ran planned to go to Zhuo Yun’s house first. As for Xu Houcai, he could visit him on the way back. Besides, he didn’t want to see Xu Cheng and Elder Daddy Xu.

When Xu Ran said that he was going to town, Liu Tong wanted to go with him. Xu Ran looked at his belly and resolutely refused, but he agreed to take Tangtang and Guoguo, who had been longing to go to town.

They got more excited thinking of visiting the new born baby.

Xu Ran took out the gifts that he specially bought for Zhuo Yun’s child. He also took out the gifts for Zhuo Yun, Qin Shuwen and the Qin Family. He intended to visit all of them in one trip.

Liu Tong’s belly grew bigger by the day. Xu Ran had been either busy or out of home, and he wanted to spend more time with Liu Tong at home.

Xu Ran first took the children to Mr. Chen’s restaurant and asked the staff to ran an errand for him and get some people from the Zhuo Mansion to move things.

After that, he asked Mr. Chen about his recent business, especially the dishes made by potatoes.

Mr. Chen turned gloomy at the mention of potatoes. “Xu Ran, don’t you have any more potatoes? You don’t know how many people come to me every day asking for it, but you provide me with such a small amount every month. I don’t dare to sell more every day. I’ve really offended many people.”

Xu Ran chuckled, “Mr. Chen, I’m not hoarding the potatoes. In fact, I don’t have any left. I didn’t grow a lot this year. I sell all of them to you except those saved for my own family. The amount is not sufficient, and I can do nothing about it. You have to pull through this year, and it will get better next year.”

Mr. Chen got gloomier. “I wonder if anyone will come to my restaurant next year.”

“Mr. Chen, you don’t have to worry about this. I only sell potatoes to you, and other restaurants don’t have the recipes. Even if they buy potatoes from someone else, they can’t make delicious dishes. As the saying goes, ‘Good wine needs no bush.’ Your restaurant has been open for so many years, and you don’t need to worry about this.”

Mr. Chen thought about it and agreed with Xu Ran. He said, “Please think of a way for me. I really don’t want to offend anyone.”

Xu Ran thought for a moment and said, “Mr. Chen, you can sequence the old customers who can afford the potatoes. You sell potatoes to one household one day without repetition. In this way, every household has a chance to buy the potatoes. Although they can’t buy a lot, they would not make trouble for you.

Mr. Chen felt that this method was feasible, so he thanked Xu Ran. After that Mr. Chen pressed Xu Ran to send him more potatoes and chilli sauce.

Xu Ran agreed and said that he would produce new things in winter. Only then did Mr. Chen let him go.

When they came out of the restaurant, people sent by the Zhuo Mansion had been waiting outside. Xu Ran took them to the carriage to move the things to the Zhuo Mansion, and then they would go to the Qin family together.