“Mother, I met the little fool today,” said Xiao Yuefeng suddenly at the table.
“Where did you see him?” Zheng Pei’er asked in surprise.
“At the gamble house on stones. Mother, the little fool’s gone to gamble on stones,” said Xiao Yuefeng.
Zheng Pei’er was distracted for a moment. Xiao Jingting had always gone to gamble if he had nothing to do before. But he did not gamble after he came back this time. Unexpectedly the little fool came to gamble too. Xiao Xiaofan, who was just a kid, began to gamble. How did Xiao Jingting teach the child?
“Did he go there alone?” asked Zheng Pei’er.
“No, Second Uncle went with him,” said Xiao Yuefeng.
Hearing that, Xiao Qingyan raised his head and said to Xiao Yuefeng, “It’s said the mountains of silver will not fill up the gamble house on stones. You dare not go in that kind of place without thousands of or tens of thousands of taels of silver. Does the little fool have so much money?”
“The little fool chose a lot of stones, which cost more than eight thousand taels of silver in total. The little fool had three thousand taels of silver, Xiao Xiaodong gave him three thousand taels of silver, and Second Uncle gave him two thousand taels of silver,” said Xiao Yuefeng.
“Eight thousand taels of silver? Son, are you mistaken? Is it really eight hundred taels of silver?” asked Zheng Pei’er who couldn’t help staring at Xiao Yufeng.
Eight thousand taels of silver. How much was that? Xiao Qingyan gave her only a few hundred taels of silver every month. Fortunately, her parents would give her some, otherwise, she could not even buy clothes and jewelry.
How old was Xiao Xiaofan! A little kid. Where did he get three thousand taels of silver to control?
Xiao Yuefeng shook his head and said, “I’m not! Quan San also witnessed it. Mother, you can ask him if you don’t believe me! It was three thousand taels of silver, and the little fool bought a lot of stones.”
Zheng Pei’er, “……” What did Xiao Jingting want to do exactly? How dare he give a kid so much silver?
Xiao Qingyan squinted. He visited Xiao Jinfeng’s shop today, and he found that the business there was very good. He also heard that in fact the business was not as good as usual because of the bad weather today. Xiao Qingyan had thought that what Zheng Pei’er said in the letter was exaggerated, who said the business was extraordinarily good. He could not know how good the business was until he went to have a look.
His father and mother had asked him to help his second brother and third brother, but he did not care about it at that time. It must be too late if he went to do them a favor. Xiao Qingyan felt regretful to miss a good chance because of his carelessness.
“Mother, didn’t you say that a little child could not need a lot of petty cash? But the little fool has three thousand taels of silver,” said Xiao Yuerong in a discontented way.
Zheng Pei’er frowned and said, “Don’t make it worse.”
Xiao Yuerong was depressed and said, “Mother, you are too stingy. Look at Third Uncle who is so generous to the little fool. But you do not even buy me a toy when I want to buy it.”
Xiao Yuerong did not mean what he said, but Xiao Qingyan meant it as he heard that. Xiao Qingyan said to himself that he did not live a good life now. He had been the first among three brothers. But his third brother was much richer than him after he got a beverage store now.
…………………
Xiao Jingting was too excited to have a dinner when he got the stones Xiao Xiaofan bought them at the gamble house.
Xiao Xiaodong stopped him before Xiao Xiaofan went to inform Xiao Jingting and Xu Muan to have a meal.
Xiao Xiaodong had thought that his parents might have a private time, and have no time to come out. So he stopped Xiao Xiaofan, and they went to sleep after they ate some steamed stuffed buns and steamed buns. Xiao Xiaofan was reluctant but he followed his brother finally.
The next morning the family were gathered for breakfast as usual.
“Son, the stones you bought yesterday are not bad,” said Xiao Jingting admirably as he rubbed Xiao Xiaofan’s head.
Xiao Xiaofan was excited and said, “They’re good, aren’t they? I felt very comfortable when I touched those stones! I knew you’d like them. My brother said I was a waste of money, and my uncle said I couldn’t do it again.”
“You felt very comfortable when touching the stone? What kind of feeling did you have?” asked Xiao Jingting who was confused.
Xiao Xiaofan thought it for a while with his head tilted to one side, and said, “I don’t know. I just felt comfortable.”
Xiao Xiaodong was surprised. He glanced at Xiao Xiaofan, without saying a word.
Xiao Xiaodong had thought that his younger brother was a waste of money to buy those stones. But, he had to make a concession when his younger brother made a lot of noise. Xiao Xiaodong was afraid that his brother would have pissed around in the gamble house if he was not allowed to buy the stones.
But Xiao Xiaodong immediately realized that there might be something good among the stones, as he saw the reaction of his parents. His brother might be lucky as a blind cat met a dead mouse.
Xiao Jingting turned to Xiao Xiaodong and said, “Xiaodong, the soft pillows you gave to us are also good.”
Xiao Xiaodong smiled and said, “Thank you, father.”
Xiao Jingting received a message from Xiao Linfeng who asked him to hurry back home when the family were having their breakfast.
“What”s the matter?” asked Xu Muan.
Xiao Jingting frowned and said, “I don’t know, but father asked me to go home quickly.”
Xu Muan was confused and asked, “Why did father suddenly call you back?”
Xiao Jingting shook his head and said, “I don’t know. It seems something urgent has happened.”
“I know what happened.” Xiao Xiaofan raised one of his hands.
“What do you know happened?” Xu Muan looked at Xiao Xiaofan and asked.
“There must be something wrong with my uncle. So, grandpa is in a hurry to call you back. My uncle doesn’t behave well. He is an adult and takes drugs. Even I know it is not allowed.” Xiao Xiaofan sighed as he shook his head.
Xiao Jingting, “……” Why did his son never forget that Xiao Qingyan was taking drugs?
“Help yourself with the food.” Xiao Xiaodong put two pieces of meat into Xiao Xiaofan’s bowl. Xiao Xiaofan was flattered.