As Ye Jiayao expected, after 3 rounds of drink, Chunyu started to ask for money.
“Second brother, umm, recently, I need some money recently. could you help me out?”
Xia Chunfeng sneered: “Big brother, why are you always poor?”
Chunli said awkwardly: “Your sister-in-law is pregnant, and no one is taking care of the business of embroidery. It is making a loss and my salary is not even enough to pay out the loss.”
Chunyu had been to the embroidery business today. It was very quiet, but it was overexaggerating to say that his salary couldn’t fill in the loss.
“Big brother, if you get rid of your ‘broken stones’ away, you can get as much money as you want.” Chunfeng said.
Chunli kept shaking his head: “Those are my treasures. I spend so much effort getting them. If I get rid of them, I’d rather sell my own flesh.”
Xia Chunyu asked habitually: “How much you want?”
After he said that, Song Qi who stood behind big brother, made an eye contact with him and then pointed to the direction of upstairs.
Chunfeng also saw and tried to concede his smile.
Xia Chunyu felt nervous suddenly. As he forgot that Yaoyao was in charge of money right now.
Chunli didn’t know anything and smiled: “I saw a Tianhuang stone which is the best for making insignia. The manager will sell 8000 silvers to others. But I am a regular customer, he can give me 6000 silvers. Just lend me 6000 please.”
Xia Chunyu was drinking wine, and he almost spat the wine out from his mouth. He said nervously: “Big brother, you need so much? I don’t have that much, and I still owe a lot of money to Zhao Qixuan.”
Chunli looked at him with a smiley face and acted as if he understood: “Second brother, you are crying about being poor! Everyone knows Heavenly Residence makes heaps every day. It mustn’t be that sister-in-law doesn’t allow you? You can’t make your mind in such little things? If you can’t make up your mind, I will talk with sister-in-law myself.”
Xia Chunyu said earnestly: “Big brother, I am not lying to you. Heavenly residence seems to have good business, but the profit is low. At the beginning of the year, we invested a lot of money in it. Zhao Qixuan is keeping it. We also invested money in trade commerce. We borrowed the capital from Zhao Qixuan. Nowadays profits must repay the debt. I really don’t have much cash in hand.”
Xia Chunyu didn’t tell him that money was used to invest in mines.
Xia Chunfeng also helped: “I know about this. I didn’t have balls and just invested a little bit in it.”
He only knew something about trade commerce as he and little Jing invested 100k silvers in it. Whether second brother joined in or not, he was not sure. However, as second brother and sister-in-law were smart, they wouldn’t miss such a great chance.
“Oh,right…” Xia Chunli felt disappointed and then said: “Didn’t you get a reward today? Some money you got? Or I can lend a bit less. Just 3000 silvers?”
Song Qi started to make faces again.
Xia Chunyu wanted to kick him out as he knew already, why kept making faces?!
“Big brother, I have to repay more than 10 thousand debt every month!”
If it was before, 3 thousand was very easy for him. But now Yaoyao was in charge of money. Also, they really needed to pay debt. He couldn’t easily lend money out. Moreover, big brother was not really in need for the money. Buying one less stone, wasting less money.
Xia Chunli wasn’t happy: “I see, you are the same as third brother—scared of wife! Alright, I will talk to sister-in-law.”
Song Qi twitched his mouth at the back.
Xia Chunfeng said casually: “Big brother, didn’t big sister have money when she married you? You guys opened an embroidery business, the shop was yours, products were from Qiao’s family and the capital were from second brother. You didn’t really spend any money. Second brother really helped a lot already. Don’t make it too hard for second brother please.”
Chunli looked angry: “The money belongs to your big sister. How do I have face to ask for her?”
“wife and husband are separated in money? Big brother said we were afraid of wives. I see that you are afraid of your wife.” Chunfeng ridiculed.
Xia Chunyu said: “From this aspect, Jingxuan is very generous. I invested all my money in trade commerce. These months, the spending of business and family were from Jingxuan’s saving. I really felt bad about it.”
Chunli was awkward: “alright, alright. I know you have difficulties. So… a bit less? 1000? You have 1000 right?”
Xia Chunfeng couldn’t help but show a distained look. Big brother was too shameless, as an elder son of the family, he acted like a beggar. He was the same as auntie Wei in manner, losing face.
Xia Chunyu sighed helplessly and took out the money from his pocket: “That all I have. If big brother doesn’t mind that it is too little, you can take it.”
It was the leftover money from Yaoyao’s shopping. It had 200 silver-note and a bit change.
Xia Chunli showed a smile and took the pocket of money and started to count.
“Why is it so little?”
Xia Chunyu looked pissed and acted like he wanted the money back. Xia Chunli stopped him and said: “A little is a little.”
Xia Chunfeng couldn’t bear seeing this awkward situation any more. He finished up the wine and put the cup away: “Big brother and second brother, I will leave now.”
Xia Chunli put the money in his pocket and said: “second bother, I will leave as well.”
Song Qi sent both of them out. Until they walked far, he spat on the ground and murmured: “So busy with borrowing and never pay it back.”
Xia Chunyu called: “Song Qi.”
“Aye, coming.”
“You made eye contact with me, was that a request from second lady or you meant it?”
Song Qi answer: “I dare not to bother heir-son lord’s matter, it was the request from second lady.”
Xia Chunyu laughed bitterly, as Yaoyao could know things before it happened.
“Just a bit of money, don’t tell the second lady.”
“What if second lady asked about it?”
Xia Chunyu stared at him, and said roughly: “are you dumb? Just say no.”
“Oh!” Song Qi answered unwillingly.
In the room, a few girls were answering.
“The present was sent, and madam didn’t say anything. But duke was happy and praised that second lady was thoughtful. Gifts from third son and third lady were received too. They asked me to thank you.” Qiao Xi said.
“First lady also said thank you and asked me to send the message. About embroidery business, does second lady have any idea now?” Xiang Tao said.
Ye Jiayao felt nervous as she didn’t spend much time thinking about it. Tonight, she would think about it.
Xiang Tao kept going: “Fourth son and Ming Rui young master really liked it. Fourth son said his writing improved and he would write some calligraphy for you some other day.”
Ye Jiayao sweated. Last time when he wrote “bear a son early” to her, she kept on the cabinet and dared not to take it out. Hopefully, he wouldn’t write any weird and random stuff to her this time.
“Second lady, this was the return gift from Auntie Tao and auntie Wei just said thank you.” Ying Tao answered.
Ye Jiayao saw the gift, it was a pair of pillow cover with patterns of butterfly and peony. It looked delicated: “Is it made by Auntie Tao?”
Qiao Xi said: “it should be. Auntie Tao is good at this kind of work. Girls from sewing workshop need to learn from her.”
Ye Jiayao smiled: “We will change the pillow case to this one tomorrow.”
Inside the mansion, they didn’t contact aunties that often. But from few encounters, it seemed that Auntie Tao was much more considerable than Auntie Wei. About personality, just looking at big brother and Chunguo, it was clear to see who was good and who was bad.
As they were speaking, Xia Chunyu came in. Ye Jiayao made Qiao Xi and such leave.
“hot water is ready, you go shower first.” Ye Jiayao went up to loosen his clothes.
Xia Chunyu opened his arms relaxedly so that she could take off his belt easily.
“Is Chunfeng ok?”
“He is fine, just a bit quarrelling. Just let it be.”
Ye Jiayao smiled coldly without a sound. Calling Liu Li depressed was decent, honestly she was just a freak and she had delusion of being tricked. She always thought other people would trick her. Only someone like her who always calculated others would think like that.
“Hopefully!” Ye Jiayao said casually: “The key is Liu Li, if she can’t change her mindset, there will be more fights.”
Chunyu held her waist and exclaimed: “My Yaoayao is the best. You see how good we are, happy all the time and don’t fight at all.”
Ye Jiayao poked his chest with her index finger and warned with a smile: “It’s good that you know. Don’t be like your big brother, otherwise, you will see what I will deal with you.”
“My big brother just bluffs and talks shit outside. When he is in front of his wife, he doesn’t dare to do anything.” Chunyu smiled.
“Bluffing outside is not allowed as well.”
“I don’t know how to bluff, as I am an honest man.” Chunyu praised himself shamelessly.
Ye Jiayao smiled: “OK, honest and stupid donkey, just go shower!”
“Don’t call me stupid donkey.” Xia Chunyu looked mad intentionally.
“It is stupid… donkey…” Ye Jiayao rolled her tongue and dragged the sound longer and felt hilarious about it.
Xia Chunyu bit his teeth and said: “Ok, dare you say it again. See what I will do to you. punish you to take a bath with me.”
As he said, he forced to carry her up.
“Let me go. You shower by yourself, I don’t want.”
“No, I have to fix your problem today!”
“I’m sorry is that ok?”
“Chunyu..”
“Hubby…”
“Umm, save some energy, call that later.” Chunyu didn’t care what she said. As he planned to have bath together ages ago. Since he found the chance, he couldn’t let it slip away.
A moment later, someone put someone else into the big bath basket with any hesitance.
“Too crowded. Don’t.” Someone tried to climb out but was dragged back by a pair of big arms.
“Wifey, since you are here, just settle down. as the basket is small, we can stay closer.”
Who wants to be close to you. I just want to get out…
“If you think it’s too small, I will ask Uncle Jiang to make a bigger one and we can take a bath together every day.”
“No way…” Ye Jiayao rejected firmly. People in the yard were smart. If anything like this happened, they would just think randomly. She didn’t want to be thought by others.
“Then just make a pool. Oh. Right. The blueprint of farmhouse yard designed a pool. I am thoughtful right? You just let it be for now, later we can have fun in the other yard…” Xia Chunyu hugged around her waist and with the slippery water, easily put it inside.
