Chapter 1672: Pocket Money

Too cold—Pei Zuo rolled it around in his mouth for a while before swallowing.

"Cousin, you didn't buy an ice pop because you don't like eating them?"

Ye Ye Chengyang raised his hand, ready to slap him, but held back in the end.

Ye Ye Xiaoxi laughed and chimed in, "Does Second Brother not like eating ice pops?"

Pei Yu said, "Didn't you eat one yesterday too?"

"I'm furious, I'm furious—who doesn't like eating ice pops? I just don't have money! I'm broke! You all ate it all up!"

Ye Ye Chengyang, furious and desperate, turned both pockets inside out for them to see—completely empty.

Ye Ye Xiaoxi said, "Why didn't you bring more?"

"Do you think I didn't want to bring more? I have nothing left! Not a single cent! All the money I brought from home was eaten up by you!"

All four looked at him guiltily, then quickly lowered their heads, pretending not to see.

"Bring your own money tomorrow."

Pei Zuo turned his head, "We don't have money."

"You don't have money, yet you dare speak so boldly?"

Pei You: "We really don't have money."

"Go, go, go—find your grandfather. Don't follow me anymore."

Ye Ye Xiaoxi grinned, "Brother, just hold on a little longer—you'll get paid soon and then you'll have money."

"Even if I had money, I wouldn't give it to you! You've eaten me into poverty and bankruptcy!"

Others received their wages every month, but these siblings only got paid after completing two full months of work, right before returning home.

They feared they'd spend it recklessly if given it too often.

Poor him—his pocket money kept shrinking, and he still had to wait long for his wages.

"Let's go ask Uncle Ye for some!"

Ye Ye Xiaoxi licked up the last bit of her ice pop, tossed the stick aside, and immediately sprinted toward the office.

The other three, younger than her, hurried after her.

Seeing this, Ye Ye Chengyang also rushed after them—anyone who sees gets a share!

He was already so old—he felt embarrassed asking an elder for money, especially since he was working and earning his own.

That's why he kept spending until now he had not a single cent left.

But now, with Ye Ye Xiaoxi leading the charge to beg for pocket money, and the other three helping out, he could tag along and get some too!

He was still a child too!

Ye Ye Xiaoxi ran around asking people until she finally found him in the warehouse.

"Uncle Ye! Uncle Ye!"

The other three followed, calling out "Uncle Ye!" in chorus.

Ye's father, seeing the workers' amused smiles, looked embarrassed.

The workers calling him that felt nice, but hearing his own grandchildren and granddaughters call him that made him feel shy.

"Why are you all running here again?"

Ye Ye Xiaoxi, drenched in sweat, cheeks flushed, gasping for breath, said, "We came to find you! How can you run so fast? We had to search everywhere!"

"Why are you looking for me? It's so hot—you don't even go back to the dorm after work, you just run around outside."

"Uncle Ye, our brother's been eaten bankrupt by us—he has no money! Can you give us pocket money to buy ice pops? I'm so hot, I'm about to smoke—I need an ice pop!"

She completely ignored that they'd just eaten.

Ye's father's toes curled in embarrassment, "Call me Grandpa."

Ye Ye Xiaoxi nodded, "Oh right, after work, no need to call you Uncle Ye anymore. Grandpa, I want pocket money—I want to buy an ice pop!"

As she spoke, she held out her palm, facing upward.

The twins followed suit instantly, also holding out their palms, shouting in unison, "Grandfather!"

Pei Yu saw this and extended his left hand, palm up, whispering, "Grandfather!"

Ye Ye Chengyang dared not—he was too old. He only stood aside, hoping his grandfather's conscience would awaken and include him too.

He didn't dare show even a longing glance—only pretended indifference, while stealing glances from the corner of his eye.

Ye's father looked at the cluster of upturned palms, hearing "Grandpa!" and "Grandfather!"—how could he refuse? He quickly reached into his pocket.

"Dinner's coming soon—wait until after dinner to eat ice pops."

Ye Ye Xiaoxi had already seen the bills being pulled out and shouted happily, "Got it! We'll wait until after dinner to buy!"

Ye's father gave each of the upturned palms fifty cents, then stopped—no more. He only warned them, "Don't run around outside—the sun's still too strong, go back to the dorm right away…"

"Grandpa, what about Second Brother? You didn't give him anything! He's broke too—his money was all eaten up by us!"

Ye Ye Chengyang was deeply moved—he hadn't been forgotten!

Ye's father opened his palm again, took out a one-yuan note, and gave it to Ye Ye Chengyang.

"Grandpa, give us more! When we run out again, we'll go to Second Brother—we won't come to you anymore!"

"You're the noisiest, the greediest—go, go, go—back to the dorm. Don't stay out in the sun."

"Oh, alright."

If he wouldn't give, fine—Ye Ye Xiaoxi tucked her pocket money away and happily led her followers back to the dorm.

Ye Ye Chengyang followed behind them like a shepherd—he was satisfied with just one yuan. Better than nothing.

Just as they were all happily heading toward the dormitory, they bumped into Ye Yaodong, who had just returned drunk.

Ye Ye Xiaoxi's eyes lit up, "Dad, you're back?"

Ye Yaodong staggered as he walked, nodded at the children calling him, and gave them a few reminders.

"The sun is so bright, don't run around recklessly, and you can't run to the workshop to play..."

"Dad, we're off work! Dad, have you had too much to drink? Let me help you!"

Ye Ye Xiaoxi supported one of his arms, and Pei Yu, being equally perceptive, went to support the other.

Seeing this, the twins wanted to show off too, so they ran ahead and grabbed the hem of his clothes.

Ye Yaodong was already drunk, his steps a bit unsteady; the workers had brought him back, and now with two people blocking in front, he nearly kicked them both over and fell.

He quickly shook off the bodyguards on his left and right, "Go, go, go, you don't need to help, you're in the way. If one doesn't fall, the whole bunch will."

Ye Ye Xiaoxi let go, her eyes rolling, "Dad, it's so hot, I'm so thirsty, I really want to eat something cold, but I have no money. Can you give me some pocket money so I can buy a popsicle?"

Pei Yu's eyes widened; could this be repeated?

The twins also looked up, gazing at her blankly, then at Ye Yaodong, and then shouted too: "Jiu Jiu~"

Ye Ye Chengyang wanted to laugh but held it back, then hurried forward a couple of steps to get closer.

He worried his father, being drunk, couldn't see far and could only see what was right in front.

Ye Yaodong's drunken eyes swept over the few flushed faces in front of him, and he obediently patted his pockets.

A pile of banknotes; he examined them carefully but couldn't identify them, so he felt for the coins again, then gave one to each person.

This time, Ye Ye Chengyang reached out his hand voluntarily; after all, his father was drunk.

Ye Ye Xiaoxi nearly jumped three feet high!

Excitedly holding the one yuan in her palm, her father was generous, giving so much!

"Dad, give Ye Ye Erge a bit more, Ye Ye Erge has no money left; we've spent it all!"

Hearing her words, Ye Yaodong stuffed the remaining coins in his hand into Ye Ye Chengyang's hand as well!

Ye Ye Chengyang's mouth hung open in joy, silently happy.

"Don't run around recklessly..."

Ye Yaodong gave one instruction, then climbed the steps, preparing to return to the dormitory to sleep.

The children on the spot jumped up excitedly, laughing heartily!

Ye Ye Chengyang, also happy, quickly tucked the coins back into his pocket, "Good heavens, I didn't spoil you for nothing! Haha, you even know to help your brother ask for pocket money."

Ye Ye Xiaoxi jumped up and down in place happily, "That's right, I ate yours and gave it back to you!"

Pei Yu said admiringly, "Sister, you are too amazing; it turns out you can keep asking."

The twins, holding the coins, happily shouted, "Buy a popsicle~"

"We can buy popsicles again~"

"You can't eat anymore; you just finished one, you need to rest, otherwise your stomach will hurt." Ye Ye Chengyang instructed the two younger ones like an old mother.

"Then we'll buy after dinner!" Ye Ye Xiaoxi made the final decision, "Let's, let's go back to the dormitory to play first, and go to the canteen to eat when it's time!"

"Okay, okay~"

The younger ones all listened to her.

"Brother, what time is it?"

"Eh, it's 5:20, dinner is about to start," Ye Ye Chengyang checked his watch, and they stopped walking, "No need to go back to the dormitory, let's go straight to the canteen, otherwise we'll have to come down again."

"Okay, then let's go straight to the canteen; after eating, we can buy popsicles~"

Whoosh, the whole group ran towards the canteen again.

While they waited for dinner to start, Ah Guang arrived.

Ye Ye Xiaoxi looked at the doorway like a fat sheep, then pulled Pei Yu, "Sister, your dad is here, it's your turn!"

"Ah? What?"

"Pocket money! Grandpa has passed, my dad has passed, now it's your dad's turn! He's here! He's looking at you!"

Pei Yu was somewhat at a loss.

Ye Ye Xiaoxi turned to look at the twins, and the twins looked at her too.

Pei Zuo asked, "Ask dad for pocket money?"

"That's right!"

Pei You continued, "Ask for pocket money to buy popsicles!"

"Correct!"

The twins happily got down from their seats, then ran excitedly towards the door, shouting "Dad" as they ran.

The rest of them followed closely behind.

Ye Ye Chengyang felt a bit embarrassed, hesitating and not moving, but staying still felt impolite, so he had to slowly follow behind.

The twins were also learning and selling on the spot.

"Dad, it's so hot, we want to eat popsicles..."

"Dad, I want to eat popsicles too~"

Pei Yu only smiled on the side, daring not to speak...

Ah Guang waved his big hand, "Let's go, I'll take you to buy popsicles."

The twins happily ran ahead immediately.

Ye Ye Xiaoxi stamped her foot; two fools.

"Uncle, dinner is about to start; let's eat after dinner, otherwise our stomachs will hurt."

"That's true, dinner is starting soon, let's eat first."

Pei Yu spoke up then, "Dad, I want pocket money; it's so hot every day, I have no money to buy food, every day cousin buys for us to eat, and cousin has no money either."

Ah Guang immediately reached into his pocket, "Didn't your mother give you pocket money? Here, one yuan each for you two, and fifty cents for the two little ones."

Pei Yu added, "Can you give cousin a bit more? Cousin has been eaten poor by us, he has no money."

"That's two whole yuan."

Ye Ye Chengyang's face was full of embarrassment; he felt a bit ashamed and hesitated whether to take it.

Ye Ye Xiaoxi poked him with her elbow, so he reached out to take it, "Thank you, uncle."

"Let's go, I'll take you to eat, and after eating, we'll buy popsicles."

Everyone cheered, quickly ran to the meal window, then exchanged glances and winks, extremely happy.

Ye Ye Xiaoxi even leaned close to Pei Yu's ear to whisper, "When we get back, hide your pocket money well; tell your younger brother to put it away."

Pei Yu nodded.

The three siblings were already so happy they could fly; besides New Year's money, they had never had so much pocket money in their pockets before, so happy~

After finishing the meal, the three siblings were taken home, but before that, each of them bought a popsicle!

Ye Ye Xiaoxi happily licked her popsicle while walking with Ye Ye Chengyang, proudly saying, "Ye Ye Erge, am I smart?"

"Smart, smart!"

"Now we can eat well for several more days! Haha~ When our pocket money runs out, spend yours; you can't keep making a sour face!"

"You figured that out?"

"Of course, earlier when we bought popsicles and you didn't have any, your face was sour, and you glared at us, hmph."

"You little rascal, you're so sharp, and now you want a turn too."

Ye Ye Xiaoxi said with a tsundere tone, "Who knew dad happened to be drunk, and uncle happened to come over at the same time."

"You can't do this next time; if my lord finds out, you'll get beaten."

"I know, but it's because you had no money; who told you to bring so little?"

"How do you have the face to say that to me? You didn't bring a single cent yourself."

"I didn't know I had to bring money; before, whenever I wanted to eat or buy something, dad just bought it for me; how would I know I still needed to bring money?"

"You can't do this in the future."

"I know, clearly you took the most..." she muttered quietly.

Ye Ye Chengyang touched the money in his pocket; there were over ten yuan, so cool; just now, his dad's handful of coins alone was ten yuan.

He broke even instantly and even made a profit, feeling quite delighted.

He was the biggest beneficiary, so he wouldn't say anything about it.

"I didn't raise you in vain; you still know to think of me."

"Of course."

"Hurry up and finish eating, then go back to take a bath; your mouth is so dirty."

She nodded and asked again, "Brother, when do we get our wages? It feels like we've been working for a long time; I'm so tired!"

"Wait until the end of the month, maybe around the 20th; by then, we can collect our wages and go home."

She pouted, "Last year, dad even took me to Magu City to walk around everywhere, and I could buy, buy, buy freely; this year, I haven't been anywhere, just working."

"Wasn't this your request to work? Dad went to Magu City a while ago too."

"Ah! When did dad go? He didn't even tell me!"

"Why tell you? You need to work! What you earn working might not even be as much as what you spent going to Magu City last year!"

Ye Ye Xiaoxi widened her eyes, "Ah, really?"

"I don't know!"

"Then didn't I lose out big time?"

"Hmph, I'm the one who lost out big time; working and still having to take care of kids, and getting the same wages as kids!"

"I'll go find dad; I'll go ask him!"

She quickly went upstairs to her dad's room.

Because Ye Yaodong was busy, sometimes he wasn't there, so Ye Ye Xiaoxi slept in the same room as her brothers; anyway, she was still young, so everything was entrusted to Ye Ye Chengyang to look after; they went to work together and got off work together.

By now, he was already fast asleep, and his snoring could be heard outside the door.

Ye Ye Xiaoxi called out twice and shook him a few times, but couldn't wake him up, so she had to give up.

Ye Yaodong slept until the next morning before waking up from thirst; actually, he was very thirsty in the middle of the night too; he woke up but couldn't find tea to drink, only boiled water; he poured it out to wait for it to cool, waited, and then fell asleep again.

Early in the morning, after gulping down a big bowl of cool boiled water, he finally felt his mouth was comfortable, but he felt his body smelled even worse.

The smell of sweat in the hot summer, mixed with the smell of tobacco and alcohol, after not bathing all night and lasting until the next day, even he couldn't stand it; he quickly went to take a bath.

Ye Father saw Ye Yaodong early in the morning and felt like the sun was rising from the west.

Recently, unless it was around eleven or twelve noon, he basically couldn't be seen; he didn't expect to see him get up early this morning.

"Dongzi? Why so early today?"

"I came back and slept at four or five yesterday; isn't it early today?"

"Did you get the honorary certificate? Where is it? Let me take a look."

"Yesterday, I was afraid of losing it, so I put it in Fatty's shop for him to keep safe; I'll go get it later."

"Then when you get it later, let me take a look; are there any other photos? Did they say it will be in the newspaper? When will it be published?"

"The photos are also kept with Fatty; yesterday, the reporters on site made me repeat the general outline of the cause and course of the incident again; I guess there should be a newspaper out in a while; just wait; waiting for layout approval should take half a month, right?"

"Good, good, good; when the newspaper comes out, buy several copies and send a few more back to the family."

Ye Yaodong walked towards the canteen; he hadn't eaten dinner yesterday and just slept, so he felt his stomach was empty.

"Dad~"

Ye Ye Xiaoxi saw her dad from far away, immediately shouted loudly, and then ran over quickly.

"Why so excited?"

"Dad, when will you take me to Magu City?"

"Why are you going to Magic City? Don't you go to work every day? What's the point of going to Magic City?"

"I'm going! I need a new schoolbag, new clothes, new shoes; my shoes are too short."

"Fine, wait until you get your wages, then use your wages to buy them!" Ye Yaodong said as he walked.

She let out a wail, "Why! Why do I have to use my wages to buy them?"

"You earned the money; if you don't use your own money to buy them, do you want to spend mine?"

"Before, you always bought them for me; the money I earn myself is mine..."

"Before, you couldn't earn money, so I spent money on you. Now that you can earn wages yourself, of course you should use what you earn to buy things for yourself!"

Ye Ye Xiaoxi felt the sky was about to collapse; then why bother earning money herself?

If she didn't earn, her father would spend on her; if she did earn, she'd have to pay for it herself!!!

Ye Ye Chengyang looked at her sympathetically; this job was a waste!

No freedom, and the money earned was worse than not earning, less than what her father would voluntarily give!

Ye Ye Xiaoxi made a mournful face and wailed, "Dad~ No~ Don't~ Dad~"

"What are you wailing about so early in the morning? Shut up!"

Ye Ye Xiaoxi walked two quick steps sadly, linking her arm with his, her expression on the verge of tears, "Dad~ No, what I earn is mine~"

"What you earn is also my money."

Ye Yaodong smiled at her, then looked straight ahead, dragging her forward without stopping his steps.

"That's what I earned from work! It's my hard-earned money!"

"That's perfect; earn your own money and spend it, how cool! How much of a sense of achievement!"

Ye Ye Xiaoxi shook her head like a rattle drum, "No! It's not cool! What I earn can't be spent!"

"Fine then, don't spend it; it's better to take it home and save it."

"But I want to buy things~"

"Pay for it yourself! Your two older brothers are the same; earn your own money and spend it yourself!"

"Then I worked for nothing!"

"How did you work for nothing? Didn't they pay you wages? You strongly requested to work and get wages; I satisfied you."

"But you won't buy things for me, and you want me to use my wages to buy them!"

"Everyone is the same; once you can earn money, you can't rely on me anymore!"

"I'm only nine sui..."

"But you also work and earn money."

Ye Ye Xiaoxi regretted it so much her intestines were clear; she should have known not to take this lousy job, staying there every day with no freedom, having to work, and daring not to be late or leave early for just a tiny bit of wages.

If she didn't work, she could stick to her father and run around everywhere, buying whatever she wanted!

What a huge loss.

"Don't make a mournful face; you can reuse the schoolbag, don't buy a new one; ask your mother to wash it and it will be clean. Otherwise, you have to give away the old schoolbag every year, which is wasteful; save money and conserve resources."

"Same for clothes; your two older brothers' clothes are for you to wear, you can't even finish wearing them, plus there are clothes from other older brothers and sisters."

She felt even sadder; she even had to wear her brothers' clothes.

"Dad~"

"Don't act spoiled; if you don't want to wear your brothers' clothes, buy them with your own money."

"But earning money is so hard; I don't want to spend mine."

"You know earning money is hard; I earn money even harder, so we can't waste it, and we can't buy whatever we want. We need to save a bit, not be extravagant or wasteful; even with money, we must be thrifty."

So sad...

This job was a waste...

Ye Ye Xiaoxi was extremely depressed, "Then I won't work anymore."

"Fine, then the wages count only until today; no full attendance bonus; whatever you want to buy, you can only use your own wages, and once it's spent, it's gone."

"Dad~ Full attendance..."

"Shouting for Grandpa won't help!"

Ye Ye Xiaoxi looked at Ye's father, "Grand..."

"Your father said, shouting for me won't help; I have no money!"

"I want the full attendance bonus! I've persisted for so long! My full attendance bonus!"

"Heh, then just keep working until arrangements are made to send you back; only when I say 'rest' then will there be a full attendance bonus."

Arranging a job for her was so convenient; she wouldn't cling to him, wouldn't need watching, wouldn't think about needing to be taken wherever she went, and she wouldn't be bored.

"Dad~ You don't love me anymore~"

"If I don't love you, who do I love?"

"Love your big-headed ghost!"

"Dead girl! You curse me even after I give you wages; originally, your wages were only half of your brother's!"

Ye Ye Chengyang: Don't mention it; heartbroken.

He was sad too.

"Dad, then should I get a raise? I do the same work as them every day, plus I have to take care of her, plus my female cousin, sometimes two male cousins come over too; I have to take care of four kids alone; I've gone bankrupt feeding them!"

"Hmm, fine, then raise it to 100 yuan a month."

"Ah! I want that too!"

"You don't get it; you already have enough!"

"But I ate my brothers' food, and I've already paid them back!"

"How did you pay it back?"

"Hmph, when I asked you and Grandpa for pocket money yesterday, I begged extra for Second Brother! I earned it all for him! I earned him over ten bucks!"

The little boat of friendship capsized in an instant!

Ye Yaodong suddenly remembered, "That's right, I gave all my coins to Ye Chengyang yesterday. But wasn't that me giving it to him? How is that you paying it back?"

"I earned it for my brother with my own effort—he'd have gotten nothing without me!"

Ye's father said dryly, "Yesterday he came asking me for pocket money, begged extra for Ye Chengyang too—I thought the two of them had such a good relationship."

Ye Ye Chengyang said, "Father, you promised—you heard me. My monthly salary is a hundred bucks!"

He glanced at Ye Ye Xiaoxi, as if to say: don't eat my ice pop again.