Chapter 31: True Fragrance

“Slap~”

Li Ye slapped Li Dayong right on the forehead.

“Did you do today’s problems?”

“Did you write the three essays I assigned you last night?”

“Have you memorized the English words I told you to learn?”

“You’re planning to head to the provincial capital with them—should I take your college entrance exam for you next year?”

A barrage of questions left Li Dayong nearly catatonic.

In the past, Li Dayong’s grades were better than Li Ye’s, but he never flaunted his academic superiority in front of Li Ye, always careful not to hurt Li Ye’s pride.

But now the tide had turned—Li Ye, for some reason, had suddenly improved dramatically, and now he’d pounce on Li Dayong like stuffing a duck, cramming problems into him.

If Li Dayong still didn’t understand after two explanations, Li Ye’s look of contempt would make him want to die of shame.

After the shame, Li Dayong would gladly accept it—he was so bad at studying, and his brother was genuinely helping him.

But now that everyone was pooling together to make money, using their bikes to haul goods, and excluding him entirely, even Li Dayong’s generous nature couldn’t help but feel uneasy.

After spitting in Li Dayong’s face, Li Ye growled: “Didn’t I borrow your bike? Why are you being left out? Your bike counts as equity—you’ll get your share of the profits.”

Li Dayong was stunned. “Bro, I’m not after money, I’m not asking you for cash, I...”

Li Ye had indeed taken his bike to haul goods, but he’d swapped it for a 26 Phoenix—now if he used that as grounds to split profits, wouldn’t that be slapping himself in the face?

“I know you, Li Dayong, aren’t a money-grubber,”

Li Ye pressed down on Li Dayong, who was trying to stand up, and said seriously: “We’re brothers. When something comes up, those who can contribute, contribute—those with strength, lend strength; good fortune is shared, profits are spent together... otherwise, you’re being too formal.”

“Bro, I really didn’t mean...” Li Dayong was on the verge of tears—he hadn’t even thought about money.

Li Ye waved his hand and addressed the others: “Actually, today I have a few things I want to say to all of you...”

“Maybe right now you all think... money is important... but years from now, when you look back, you’ll realize money is just a fart.”

“.........”

Hao Jian, smiling broadly, froze. Jin Peng, sharp and clever, froze. Even Wang Qiang, whose mind had been entirely occupied by “This mutton soup is so delicious,” froze.

Money is just a fart?

Then please fart more—I’ll catch it here. I don’t want much—just give me a little.

But the atmosphere in the room was now entirely under Li Ye’s control,

and the four men’s gazes, guided by his gestures, his words, his aura, gradually filled their hearts with the two characters: “Brotherhood.”

Li Ye bought a bottle of baijiu and poured two taels for each of the four and himself.

“I only hope that one day in the future, when you all face decisions, you’ll remember this bowl of mutton soup, remember the days when we were honest with each other and helped one another, and then decide what to do.”

“Come on, drink up!”

“...........”

“Drink up!”

“Drink up!”

Hao Jian and the others didn’t understand Li Ye’s words, but they all downed their liquor in one gulp.

Only many years later, when recalling this moment and Li Ye’s speech, would they marvel at how lucky they’d been—if not for Li Ye........

Two taels of liquor won’t get you drunk, but it lifts the spirits.

After the meal, Hao Jian insisted on paying the bill, then exchanged a glance with Li Ye.

Li Ye and Hao Jian left first; Jin Peng pulled Li Dayong and Wang Qiang off to see a movie.

“Today we sold 186 jin and 6 liang of sesame candy—I rounded down the change, collected 111.6 yuan total,

we ate one and a half jin of fried dough sticks in the provincial capital... we have 109.4 yuan left... after deducting costs, we have a surplus of 61.36 yuan—what should we do with this money?”

Hao Jian pulled out a small notebook, recording the accounts from this trip—imperfectly formal, but crystal clear.

This was a good sign—if Hao Jian, the market pioneer, tried to cheat or fudge the books, this fledgling team would be on the verge of collapse.

Li Ye said: “What do you want to do?”

Hao Jian licked his lips: “Technically, since you put up the capital, you should get fifty yuan first,

but the provincial capital is desperate for candy—we’re only bringing one or two hundred jin at a time, too little. I think... let’s defer your share...”

Li Ye nodded: “Fine. Tomorrow I’ll tell my classmate to let you use the 26 Phoenix too—we’ll haul two loads at once.

I won’t rush you for your money back—consider this capital invested, no need to withdraw it. Just focus on expanding production and market.”

If Hao Jian and the other two carried four hundred jin of candy, they’d need two bikes—meaning the third person would need his own.

“Then it’s settled,” Hao Jian tucked away his notebook. “If the next few trips go smoothly, I suggest we buy a two-wheeled cart—pull it with two bikes, easily hauling a thousand jin or more.”

Hao Jian hesitated, then asked: “Just now, you said you were giving that classmate equity... were you serious?”

Li Ye glanced sideways, coolly: “What? You object?”

Hao Jian’s heart jolted. “No, how could I object... I’m just worried if we bring in too many people, we won’t make enough... and end up owing you...”

What Hao Jian really wanted to say was: [Are you running a business with me—or playing charity for your buddies? Are we ever going to finish with this?]

But Li Ye’s gaze stopped him from speaking plainly. If he’d still harbored resentment over being ordered to the provincial capital a few days ago, now he was consumed by anxiety.

That morning, when Hao Jian counted the candy money three times, his heart warmed.

One trip to the provincial capital earned sixty yuan; two trips, one hundred twenty. Ten trips a month? Six hundred yuan.

Six hundred yuan!

Even if he got only a hundred, he could build a proper brick house in a few months.

But... such huge profits—and Li Ye wasn’t tempted?

Watching Jin Peng’s shrewd expression, Hao Jian feared being kicked out of this small group—he felt he wasn’t indispensable.

So he decided he needed to prove his value—be the best manager of resources, and then...

“If we don’t make money, I’ll cover the loss—why are you so anxious?”

Li Ye shot Hao Jian a scornful look: “You’re really wondering how we’ll split the profits from this venture, aren’t you?”

Hao Jian, caught off guard, stammered: “I... well, if you want, you can pay me a salary—you’re the boss.”

Li Ye glanced at him, dismissive: “Four-six. You get four, I get six.”

Hao Jian stared for several seconds, mumbling: “Four-six? You six, me four?”

Li Ye rolled his eyes, coldly: “What? You want me to take four and you take six?”

Hao Jian waved his hands frantically: “No no no—I take four, you take six... it’s perfect.”

“Pfft~”

Li Ye chuckled softly: “I know you think it’s too much—but let me tell you this: don’t envy your subordinates for earning more, because the more they earn, the more you earn.”

This wasn’t Li Ye’s own words—it was something a self-made tycoon from his past life had told him. In Li Ye’s experience, it still held true during a team’s early stage.

【Subordinate?】

【He’s treating me like a subordinate?】

【But... fine.】

Hao Jian didn’t know what “true fragrance” meant—but in this moment, his anxious heart finally settled.

Good times are coming!