Chapter 65

On the twenty-seventh day of the twelfth lunar month, Li Ye's private study room closed for the holiday, but it encountered "huge" resistance.

Hu Man and the others, who were used to eating special meals, listening to small classes, and enjoying the warm environment of the Second Grain Store, actually refused to leave.

"Please, Li Ye, Xia Yue and the others still have one more day of class tomorrow! Let us have one more day!"

"You don't need to give us test papers; we haven't practiced many of our previous problems yet, so we can just review them ourselves."

"No need to worry about meals; I've eaten too much meat these past few days, and I have two cabbages left, so I'll just mix a cabbage heart and make do."

Hu Man, Han Xia, Jiang Xiaoyan, and others looked at Li Ye with grievances, acting as carefully as if they were serving a debtor, just afraid that he would get angry and flip the table and not return the money.

Li Ye was very annoyed. Over the past two months, the friendship within the eight-person small group had risen in a straight line, while his own deterrent power had gradually declined. This was not something that could be driven away without getting angry.

"Don't dawdle, everyone; come back after the sixth day of the first lunar month! It's already the twenty-seventh; even the donkeys of the production team are on holiday, so can't I rest for two days?"

"We really won't delay you........"

Hu Man and the others still wanted to persist, but Li Ye said: "Alright, alright, you should go back to accompany your families, taste the food your mothers make, help your fathers beat their backs, and fulfill your filial piety."

Several girls looked at each other, and Han Xia said in a low voice: "The food my mother makes doesn't taste good."

Li Ye was silent for a long time and said solemnly: "After the Spring Festival, we will enter the sprint review, and time will pass very quickly.

Preliminary exams, college entrance exams, getting into university—time will pass in the blink of an eye; in a novel, it might not even take eight or ten chapters."

"But have you ever thought that after you get into university, if you want to eat a meal made by your mother again, you might have to cross a distance of thousands of miles?

Believe me, by then you will definitely regret why you didn't spend more time with your mother when you were young."

".........."

Several girls were moved and began to lower their heads and silently pack their things, preparing to go home.

However, before they left, they said to Li Ye: "The three of us have discussed it, and after we tell our families, we will come over to live with Watching Wen Leyu and keep her company."

"Hmm?"

Li Ye didn't expect that these girls would actually give him an unexpected surprise.

If there were a few classmates to keep her company, Watching Wen Leyu's New Year would definitely be more comfortable.

Li Ye cupped his hands and said: "Then I will thank you all! But don't worry, I, Li Ye, am not a stingy person, and there will definitely be rewards."

Jiang Xiaoyan hurriedly shook her head and said: "We should be the ones thanking you; besides, Watching Wen Leyu is our classmate, and we should help."

And Han Xia smiled mischievously and said: "Li Ye, I really admire you. In order to coax a girl, you actually came up with some Pavlov's Dog.......

And some world-famous experiment........"

"Hahahaha~"

Several girls laughed and left, leaving Li Ye crying and laughing.

Listening to the wall is one thing, but I'm telling the truth; why do you treat it as a joke?

After sending off Hu Man and the others, Watching Wen Leyu also left.

There were still people in the school dormitory today, and she had that small copper gong in her schoolbag, so she felt very safe.

However, Li Ye kept Li Dayong behind.

After dark, Hao Jian, Watching Watching Watching Jin Peng, and Wang Jianqiang came over pulling a flatbed cart.

There were many New Year goods on the flatbed cart, which Li Ye had entrusted Hao Jian and the others to bring from the provincial capital, and there was also an inconspicuous sack.

After the four entered the room and locked the door, Hao Jian opened the sack and poured it onto Li Ye's small fire kang.

Stacks of banknotes blinded the three people's dog eyes.

Li Dayong couldn't believe it, Wang Jianqiang was dumbfounded, and even Watching Watching Watching Jin Peng, who had the demeanor of a great general, licked his lips, his eyes shining.

"This is the account book; you check the numbers."

Hao Jian arranged a stack of account books and opened the top one to give to Li Ye.

Li Ye glanced at the final number, which was about the same as he had expected, so he didn't look much more.

A pile of running accounts, what's there to look at?

He pursed his lips and said: "Don't let the brothers watch; let's divide the money!"

Hao Jian threw away the cigarette in his mouth, took the account book, and divided it into three parts, stack by stack.

Among them, Watching Watching Watching Jin Peng's share was obviously more, topping the sum of Wang Jianqiang's and Li Dayong's shares.

Li Dayong lowered his head first, looked blankly at the stacks of banknotes belonging to him, then raised his head and asked Li Ye blankly: "Brother, is this for me?"

Li Ye nodded: "Yes, you joined the partnership with your bicycle at the beginning; now I'm giving you a share, don't be polite, take it!"

"I won't be polite!"

Li Dayong opened his big palm-leaf hands and stuffed the money into his bosom in two or three grabs; it was bulging and very conspicuous.

And Wang Jianqiang reacted obviously slower; only now did he panic and say: "No no no, brother, I don't want it, I don't want so much, this is too much....... too much."

Actually, it was only over a thousand yuan, but because there were many one-yuan and two-yuan notes, it looked like a lot.

Ever since Wang Jianqiang joined the partnership, he either followed Hao Jian and the others to run to the provincial capital or stayed in Chenzhuang Township to boil malt sugar. He worked and contributed, and he was given one cent per catty, which was not a bit too much.

But Wang Jianqiang had never seen so much money, hadn't even thought about it. Now that he suddenly possessed so much money, he was actually flustered and scared.

"Alright, Qiangzi, we have been helping you save your money! If you don't want the money, are you going to let you work for nothing?"

"But, but......."

Wang Jianqiang stopped talking, hesitated, and couldn't say a word. Finally, he actually burst into tears.

Li Ye and the others didn't laugh at him.

This silly Wang Jianqiang had been unloved by his maternal grandmother and uncles since he was a child. The factory didn't want him, his family didn't love him, and they even thought he wasted food when he ate.

Now that he had finally proven himself, his mood was in chaos and he completely broke down. The grievances he had suppressed for who knows how many years surged like a flood breaking a dam, unstoppable.

By the end, Old Uncle Gu, who was guarding the gate outside, came over to knock on the door and ask if anything was wrong, and Wang Jianqiang finally stopped crying.

Li Ye comforted Wang Jianqiang and said: "No more nonsense; this year's business is over. What are your plans for next year?"

Hao Jian immediately grabbed the chance and said: "I discussed it with Watching Watching Watching Jin Peng; on the third day of the first lunar month, we will go to Guangdong Province together."

Li Ye pondered for a moment and said: "You are both going; is the malt sugar wholesale arranged?"

"It's arranged," Hao Jian said: "There is a slack season of more than ten days after the New Year, and basically there are not many orders. Even if there are, Qiangzi and Xiao An can deliver them; they are familiar with the roads, so I guarantee it won't delay anything."

"Alright, now let's set the rules for going to Guangdong Province."

Li Ye looked at Li Dayong, Watching Watching Watching Jin Peng, and Wang Jianqiang and asked: "What are your plans next? Are you going to join the partnership and contribute, or are you going to earn commissions like now?"

Watching Watching Watching Jin Peng didn't hesitate and pushed all the banknotes belonging to him in front of Li Ye.

He joined late and was a white-handed partner; he had long been envious of Hao Jian making money, and now that he had the opportunity, only a fool wouldn't take it.

Li Dayong hesitated for a moment, then also took out the money and put it in front of Li Ye.

He hadn't even touched Wang Jianqiang's share of the money, and now he also sheepishly reached out, pushed it symbolically, and laughed, very embarrassed.

Li Ye asked Wang Jianqiang somewhat amusingly: "Qiangzi, do you understand the difference between joining the partnership and earning commissions?"

Wang Jianqiang shook his head like a rattle, but said firmly: "I don't understand, but I'll follow brother."

Li Dayong followed: "Me too; it doesn't matter if I don't understand, as long as you understand, brother."

Li Ye looked at Watching Watching Watching Jin Peng, who smiled and said: "Isn't it just taking risks? I'm not worried about losing money by earning commissions, but what's the point of being afraid of the wolf in front and the tiger behind?"

"Alright," Li Ye pointed at the money on the heated brick bed and began to distribute it: "Jin Peng contributes two thousand, Qiangzi contributes one thousand, Dayong contributes one thousand. Hao Jian, how many thousands are you contributing?"

Hao Jian gritted his teeth, his brain running rapidly.

He had nearly ten thousand yuan in his hands, but his little daughter was sick. Watching Watching Watching Jin Peng's words just now reminded him that in case he lost it........

"I'll contribute six thousand." Hao Jian made a decision.

"Then I'll contribute ten thousand."

After Li Ye's voice fell, Li Dayong's pair of bull eyes instantly widened.

So his own brother was already a ten-thousand-yuan household!

It turned out that Li Ye's three-thousand-yuan royalty was only on the surface, and the one in the dark was the big one.

Li Ye helped Hao Jian count the money and returned the remaining money to Watching Watching Watching Jin Peng and the others.

Wang Jianqiang didn't want it, just indicating that it was still deposited with Li Ye, and Li Ye didn't refuse; being trusted is also a kind of enjoyment.

Then Li Ye sat up straight and said in a sharp tone: "Our business is not big, but the rules must be established first.

The shares are calculated according to how much everyone contributes, but Hao Jian, Watching Watching Watching Jin Peng, and Qiangzi must take an extra share of wages; Dayong and I don't contribute effort, so we only take profit dividends."

Watching Watching Watching Jin Peng immediately said: "Xiao Ye, what you said—taking shares and then taking wages—there is no such reason."

Li Ye waved his hand and continued: "Money is a good thing; no one thinks it bites their hands, but money is also a bad thing; how many brotherly friendships have been destroyed by money."

Watching Watching Watching Jin Peng was somewhat stunned, Hao Jian was somewhat uncomfortable, while Li Dayong and Wang Jianqiang could only stare at each other, not understanding what Li Ye meant.

Li Ye said: "For example, in this business of ours, Hao Jian and Watching Watching Watching Jin Peng contribute the most effort, but I take the big share. As time goes by, it is inevitable that estrangement will arise."

"But I can tell you clearly that if you are unhappy one day, I will immediately withdraw my shares and leave, but as long as I am in this business, I will have the final say."

"What are you saying!"

Hao Jian hurriedly persuaded: "We don't have that intention; you are our Zhuge Liang!

If it weren't for you, where would we go to earn so much money? Just a few months ago, I was still wiping tears for my daughter's few yuan of medicine money!"

"If you don't say it, it won't be clear," Li Ye said with a smile: "There is no completely fair thing in the world; by speaking out, everyone's brotherly feelings can be more lasting, right?"

"Yeah, yeah, Brother Ye speaks with culture; I listen to brother." The silly Wang Jianqiang hurriedly echoed and expressed his loyalty.

Others also patted their chests and expressed their determination.

Only Watching Watching Watching Jin Peng looked at Li Ye with a smile that was not a smile, and it was only after a long time that he said: "Xiao Ye, you are beating me, right?"

"Hmm?"

Li Ye glanced at Watching Watching Watching Jin Peng and didn't speak.

He didn't usually participate in the specific operation of the business; if he didn't make things clear now, when would he?

But the next moment, Watching Watching Watching Jin Peng suddenly touched his waist, and a bright short knife appeared in his hand.

【Holy crap, forgot this is '81; controlled weapons haven't been harmonized yet!】