CH 17.2

A bag of bottles looks like a lot to two children, but the staff at the recycle station weighed it and the actual weight is less than a catty.

Now the recycling price of mineral water bottles is 2.5 yuan per catty. It is obvious that these bottles are not even worth two yuan.

Ji Zhile watched the weighing without blinking, then raised his head and asked expectantly, “Uncle, how much can these bottles sell for?”

The staff at the recycling station looked into the shining eyes of the two children and felt embarrassed to tell them the actual value of these bottles, so they could only comfort them and say, “It can sell a lot.”

Then he turned around and gave them two dollars: “Take it.”

“Thank you, Uncle.” The two little ones spoke very excitedly and Ji Zhile took it with both hands, not to mention how pious they were.

After leaving the recycling station, Ji Zhile held the money in his hand and counted it carefully, feeling more and more satisfied.

He is not very good at recognizing money. After all, more digital payments are used in his daily life, but he can count and think that two pieces of money are already a lot.

Xiao Yuan said, “I’m so thirsty.”

Ji Zhile immediately said angrily: “I’m going to buy water, we have money now!”

The two children entered the convenience store, carefully selected water, and tried to buy the best drink to reward themselves. Xiao Yuan took a bottle of Coke, but Ji Zhile did not take water. He had it in his school bag. Although he still wants to drink now, Ji Zhile has more important things to do with the money.

When going to check out, Ji Zhile asked, “Auntie, how much is this bottle of water?”

“Three yuan.”

Ji Zhile thought for a while, took out a one-yuan bottle, and asked, “How many bottles can I buy with my money?”

The cashier smiled when he saw it: “Little friend, you have only one yuan and you can’t even buy a bottle of water.”

“Ah?” The two children could not believe it. Is this actually one yuan? Then the bottle that the two of them worked so hard to pick up for a long time was sold for only two yuan!

Immediately, Xiao Yuan did not want to drink water anymore and returned the Coke with a low voice: “Auntie, we won’t buy it.”

The two children left the convenience store dejectedly. Ji Zhile held the two yuan in his hand, his face almost wrinkled into a bun, and he sighed: “It’s so hard to earn money.”

At a young age, it was the first time he experienced the hardships of life. A bottle of water is so expensive. No wonder his family was very poor after eating KFC that day.

Ji Zhile was very sad, took down his small school bag, took out the thermos bottle from it, and handed it to Xiao Yuan: “Xiao Yuan, drink my water.”

Xiao Yuan said, “Don’t be sad, Zhile. As long as we keep picking up bottles, we can keep making money.”

“Yes.” Ji Zhile was easily encouraged. He calculated in his mind that they could earn two yuan in the morning and four yuan a day. As long as they picked up bottles for 100 days, they would get four hundred yuan!

It’s a lot of money. Ji Zhile nodded: “Xiao Yuan, you are right. I will come to you in the afternoon.”

Due to picking up bottles for a long time in the morning, Ji Zhile was physically exhausted and he ate a small bowl full of them at lunch.

Si Tian was surprised when she saw it. Ji Zhile usually takes a lot of time to eat and Ji Zhile is very picky about eating.

She observed Ji Zhile carefully and found that Ji Zhile also ate faster today.

Si Tian stroked her chin and thought, what exactly did Ji Zhile do at Xiao Yuan’s house today? It’s best to learn from it and try it next time.

“Mom, I’ve finished eating. I have to go to Xiao Yuan’s house to play in the afternoon.” Ji Zhile said.

Si Tian nodded: “Go.”

“Thank you, Mom. I’m going to take a nap.”

Si Tian’s eyes became more and more strange, staring at Ji Zhile’s small figure, she murmured: “It’s weird…”

As soon as Ji Ningyi heard it, he asked, “What did Mom say that was so strange?”

Si Tian: “Don’t you think your brother has become obedient today? It’s so strange.”

“But it’s a good thing. In the future, our family will have two obedient children.”

Ji Ningyi smiled, but somewhat reluctantly.

The little devil in his heart is jumping around again. He is an older brother, he is more obedient, and adults prefer obedient children, but now Zhile is also obedient.

Originally, Mom paid more attention to Zhile. Will she like Zhile more in the future?

Ji Ningyi lowered his head, ate the vegetables in the bowl, and pressed his other hand into a small fist against the table, squeezing tightly.

Ji Zhile went back to his room and locked the door, but did not take a nap right away. Although he was very sleepy now, he still pulled out his energy and took out his little revenge notebook.

When picking up the bottle today, Ji Zhile thought about it. When he got home, he would wipe that his mother scolded him for monsters once.

Ji Zhile realized that it is not easy to make money. It is very difficult for the family to live without money. Xiao Yuan’s family can eat noodles for breakfast and Xiaoya’s mother has many beautiful dresses.

It’s just in their house, eggs for breakfast, and Mom only has one dress.

Ji Zhile felt that his mother was so pitiful, so he could forgive her for treating him badly.

After wiping it off, Ji Zhile used his phone watch to make a call to Dad.

The call was connected quickly and Ji Zhile took the initiative to ask, “Dad, are you busy?”

Ji Jiangzhou’s tone was slightly low: “I’m sorry, Zhile. I’ve been quite busy recently, so I didn’t spend much time with you. Dad will be back on Tuesday.”

Ji Zhile immediately said: “It’s okay, Dad. If you’re busy, it’s okay if you don’t come back on Tuesday.”

Although Xiao Yuan’s father can often accompany Xiao Yuan, it is because Xiao Yuan’s father makes people sell things. Dad is busy because he helps others to work. Ji Zhile realized that it is not easy to make money and it must be difficult for Dad to make money.

“Dad, don’t bring me potato chips back.” Ji Zhile said.

This is also the main purpose of his call. Potato chips must be very expensive. If they eat potato chips, maybe their family won’t even be able to eat eggs and milk. Ji Zhile doesn’t want to go hungry.

“Does Zhile need anything else?”

Ji Zhile thought for a while: “Can Dad bring me some mineral water bottles?”

Ji Jiangzhou froze for a moment: “Mineral water bottle?”

Ji Zhile hummed: “I want the one without water in it!”

The uncle at the recycling station said today that mineral water bottles with water in it cannot be sold for money.

Ji Jiangzhou pondered for a moment, thinking that Ji Zhile was going to do handwork with mineral water bottles, which is often done in kindergartens.

As for the child’s request, as long as it is not particularly excessive, Ji Jiangzhou will not ask the reason, and directly agrees: “Okay, Dad will bring it back for you.”

He thought he could ask the secretary to buy some beautiful mineral water bottles. Ji Zhile likes colorful things.

“Thank you, Dad!” Ji Zhile said, “Dad, I’m going to take a nap, I picked it up all morning…”

Opss… He almost slipped the tongue. Ji Zhile covered his mouth in time and changed his words: “I played at Xiao Yuan’s house all morning.”

Ji Jiangzhou smiled faintly as he listened to Ji Zhile’s speech.

Ji Zhile’s voice gradually lowered and he could hear that he was a little sleepy.

“Go to sleep, Zhile.” Ji Jiangzhou said.

“Dad.” Ji Zhile called him suddenly, with a low voice, a little tangled, “I want to ask you, how much money do you earn a day?”

He boldly presented a number in his heart, and at the same time, asked cautiously: “Can you earn twenty yuan a day?”

Ji Jiangzhou was stunned on the spot and he did not make a sound for a long time.

If someone asked this question, Ji Jiangzhou would not only not answer, but would also not take it to heart. In fact, money is just a simple sum to him now.

But when Ji Zhile asked this, Ji Jiangzhou could not help thinking: “Zhile…”

Ji Zhile already felt that he understood something and quickly said: “Don’t be sad, Dad, I still love you very much. Good afternoon, Dad!”

Beep— Beep—

Ji Jiangzhou was at a loss when he heard the busy tone. Why would his son ask such a question?

*****

Translator’s Comment:

Poor Ji Zhile… In his young life, he already understands the harshness of life.

But, why do I want to laugh so badly? So poor but at the same time so cute (*ΦωΦ*)

I think Ji Jiangzhou (who did not appear officially till now (˵¯͒¯͒˵) ) feels very confused.