Dishonesty

Zhou Siliang threatened Zhou Wulang, "If mother doesn't mention it, you are not allowed to bring it up." Otherwise, be careful, I'll beat you.

Zhou Wulang snorted and went straight to find Manbao after returning home. He didn't tell his mother, but he confided in Manbao.

Manbao was teaching everyone how to recognize characters in the yard. Now, Datou and the others have recognized many characters and can also perform simple arithmetic.

Manbao felt that Datou and the others seemed a bit smarter than before, and even more intelligent than the children in the village. Keke's words were indeed correct; reading and recognizing characters can make people wiser.

Manbao was very happy to see Wuge still greeting him. "Wuge, come and recognize characters quickly." Datou now knows more characters than you.

Zhou Wulang was very distressed, hesitating about whether to turn around and run. He hated studying and despised recognizing characters!

Zhou Siliang had already entered with the money, reported to Qian Shi, and handed over the public funds. Zhou Wulang glanced at it and whispered a few words in Manbao's ear.

Manbao instructed Zhou Liulang and the others, "Write the characters I taught you ten times." I will come back to check on your progress later.

After speaking, he ran into the room with Zhou Wulang.

Qian Shi was counting money and waved to Manbao, "Come, help mother count the money, and also check your fourth brother's accounts."

Zhou Siliang noticed that Manbao seemed a little guilty, especially when he saw Zhou Wulang following behind him; this made him feel even more guilty.

Qian Shi glanced at him and asked Manbao to count the money.

Manbao quickly counted the money, grouping a hundred wen together, and swiftly counted it again.

There were a total of eighteen bunches, with thirty-eight wens left over.

Qian Shi was mentally prepared when she poured out the money from her pocket, but she was still surprised at that moment. She pondered for a moment and said, "Is Jiang making so much money?"

Zhou Siliang whispered, "Mother, next time, we definitely won't be able to sell as much." "So, next time, I think bringing twenty catties should be enough."

This time, he and Laowu each carried a shoulder pole, with each pole carrying about twenty catties.

The prices today were also very high, ranging from forty-five wen to forty-eight wen.

Because the unit price was not fixed, even Zhou Siliang, the person in charge, couldn't determine exactly how much money was earned. That's why he had the courage to withhold the money.

Manbao raised her head and asked, "Fourth brother, at what price did you sell the ginger?" "You tell me, and I'll calculate if it's correct."

Zhou Siliang whispered, "I don't remember." For one family, it is more expensive if they do not bargain hard. For another family, it may be more affordable if they negotiate effectively. "I can't remember."

Manbao glanced at him, hummed to herself, and then turned to Qian Shi, saying, "Mother, this money doesn't just belong to the fourth brother, but also to me, Wuge, Liuge, and the others." It needs to be divided among us.

Qian Shi nodded and said, "Alright, let's follow the rules." First, hand over sixty percent of the public funds, and then divide the remaining money among yourselves. The fourth brother's share will be used to repay the debt.

Zhou Siliang didn't expect that it would be calculated like this in the end, which was different from the method used before.

He felt it was unfair. They helped with the work. Manbao provided the seeds, while Laowu, Liuliu, and Datou assisted with the land. Together, they worked collaboratively to plant and maintain the crops. So, he had no objection to sharing the harvest, but hesitated to hand over the public funds...

Zhou Siliang was not happy.

Qian Shi glanced at him and said, "If you don't hand over the public funds, that's fine." The land you have cultivated will belong to you, but in two months, your share of the harvest will be handed over. No matter what is grown in the field, the harvest belongs to the public. This must be done according to the rules.

Zhou Siliang had no objections.

Qian Shi asked Zhou Siliang, "How do you want to divide this money?"

Manbao raised her hand and said, "We already discussed it before planting the crops. Since I provided the seeds, the fourth brother and I will each take two and a half shares." Wuge and Liuge will each take one share, while Datou and Ertao will split two shares equally. "There will also be a share for the person who sells the crops."

Qian Shi looked at Zhou Siliang, frowned, and thought that the fourth brother's share was too little.

Zhou Siliang didn't think the distribution was unfair. This was the division they had decided on before cultivating the land, and it was because of this that Laowu and the others worked so hard during the cultivation.

Qian Shi pushed the money towards Manbao and said, "Then you do the division and see how much the fourth brother can get."

Manbao calculated and said, "Five hundred and fifty-one wen."

Qian Shi said, "Count it out."

Manbao obediently counted it out. Qian Shi then took all of Zhou Siliang's money and said, "This is to repay the family's debts."

Manbao happily collected the remaining money and planned to go out and distribute it to everyone. However, Qian Shi looked at them and said, "Sixty percent of the money earned by family members must be handed over as public funds." Your fourth brother doesn't need to hand it over because of the agreement between your father and me, and he still has debts to repay. "So, there is a special exception for him, but not for you."

Manbao and Zhou Wulang were stunned, feeling inexplicably sad. Zhou Siliang couldn't help but burst into laughter, feeling very happy.

Zhou Wulang and Manbao glared at him, while Zhou Siliang covered his mouth, unable to suppress a loud laugh.

Qian Shi looked helplessly at her foolish son. She relied on Manbao for accounting and on Laowu and Liuliu for sales. What was the benefit of offending people in this way?

But she didn't say anything.

Reluctantly, Manbao calculated and handed over sixty percent of the remaining money to Qian Shi, and then left with the significantly reduced amount.

Zhou Wulang followed behind.

The children in the yard had long been distracted. When their youngest aunt entered the room, they knew she was counting money, indicating that they could receive their share.

Manbao walked into the yard, waved her hand, and said to everyone, "Let's go, distribute the money."

The children cheered and followed her to the grass shed next to the woodshed, which was now where Zhou Wulang and the others lived. They usually divided the money in their room.

With Manbao's help, everyone quickly divided the money according to the previous shares.

After dividing the money, Manbao collected the money owed to her and then glanced at Zhou Siliang, who was observing the commotion.

Zhou Wulang also looked at his fourth brother.

Zhou Siliang couldn't help but take a step back and ask, "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Manbao snorted and pointed at him, "You are not honest." In business, honesty comes first. "With your bad behavior, who will do business with you in the future?" "Who will partner with you?"

Zhou Siliang knew that Zhou Wulang had informed Manbao about the situation. He rolled his eyes and said, "I didn't intend to deceive you all."

He lowered his voice and said, "The money was meant to be shared with all of you." I guessed that mother would definitely make us hand over the public funds, so I had to withhold it. Otherwise, could I let Laowu see it?