He Yang once again felt the sixty-odd taels of silver left in his sleeve before replying:
“I was afraid that if my father found out I secretly left the residence, he would confiscate all the silver I’ve hidden. So I had no choice but to bring my entire fortune with me.”
But now he realized things weren’t any better!
“Also, my father said today that if I want silver in the future, I must get his approval, and each time it can’t exceed ten taels. I’ll probably become a pauper from now on.”
Usually, as long as he acted cute and coaxed his mother and grandmother into a good mood, he could easily get quite a bit of silver.
It seemed his father had truly made up his mind this time.
“He Yang, do you want to set up a stall and do business with me?”
“Boss, you’ve got to be joking.” He Yang widened his eyes at her, disbelief written all over his face.
He didn’t take it seriously.
“I’m serious. I’m not joking.”
Yu Zhizhi looked at him earnestly.
He Yang stared at her in shock. “Boss, don’t act on impulse! You just swore in front of me that you’d spend your silver wisely.”
She had never been involved in business before—he was worried she might lose all their remaining money on a whim.
“Your boss here actually has many skills. It’s just that before, as the legitimate daughter of a noble family, I felt there was no need to work so hard, so I chose to lie back and enjoy life.”
“But now things are different. I want to rely on my own ability to support myself and my family. I don’t want to be looked down on anymore.”
“I just said I’d treat you to the good life—believe me, that day will come soon. When we’ve earned enough silver, we can spend it however we want, and we’ll blind Zhang Lei and the others with our success!”
“And by then, you won’t need to ask your family for money anymore.”
After hearing this, He Yang didn’t hesitate to take out all the remaining sixty-odd taels.
“Boss, I believe you! Is this enough for us to start the stall? If not, I’ll find a way to gather more.”
Yu Zhizhi looked at him sincerely. “No need to give me more. Keep it for yourself—we should have enough to get started.”
He Yang scratched his head, looking troubled. “Boss, I don’t know how to do anything. I’m afraid I’ll drag you down. This silver is the only way I can help.”
He knew his abilities were limited and could only support her this way.
Yu Zhizhi smiled and reassured him. “Who says you can’t help? When we set up the stall, we’ll need you to attend to customers!”
“How about this—you contribute fifty taels, which we’ll deduct from the two hundred taels I borrowed from you. From now on, you’ll get thirty percent of the profits.”
He Yang’s face lit up with joy, and he quickly nodded. “Okay!”
He had thought he was just a burden, but now that his boss valued him so much, he felt grateful and full of anticipation.
Yu Zhizhi still didn’t know where the unreliable system would make her set up the stall. Although she had mentally prepared herself, He Yang had not.
So she decided to give him a heads-up.
Otherwise, she was afraid that if something unexpected happened, it might scare away her only “investor.”
“You and I are both unique—refined, bold, and full of taste. So I plan to do something different with our stall, something one of a kind. Do you dare to try it with me?”
“I dare!”
He Yang answered loudly.
Yu Zhizhi smiled in satisfaction, thinking to herself: Looks like the initial brainwashing was quite successful.
Meanwhile, He Yang was still basking in her praise—unique, refined, bold—and felt so happy he was practically floating.
The next day, early in the morning.
After breakfast, Yu Zhizhi sat at her dressing table with a brush in hand, painstakingly writing an apology letter stroke by stroke.
Just as she was about to finish, Uncle He came to inform her that her biological parents and younger brother had returned and asked her to go to the main hall.
Yu Zhizhi put down the brush and headed over.
The main hall was close to her room—just a few steps away.
In her opinion, a smaller residence wasn’t so bad—at least her feet didn’t get tired.
When she arrived, she saw a couple in their thirties smiling at her.
They were dressed in fine clothing and carried themselves with elegance. Beside them stood a young boy, who bore some resemblance to the original host.
Her biological parents looked younger than the Prime Minister and his wife, and less stern.
Yun Xiaocheng, holding a candied hawthorn stick, walked up to her with small steps, puffing out his chest and blinking his big eyes.
“Are you my real sister?”
Yu Zhizhi smiled. “Yes.”
“Big sister, do you want some candied hawthorn? It’s really tasty!”
Seeing him bring it toward her mouth, Yu Zhizhi lowered her head and took a small bite.
A sweet-and-sour flavor spread in her mouth. She blinked and said supportively, “It really is delicious!”
Compared to modern versions, it actually tasted much worse—but she didn’t want to dampen his enthusiasm. He was quite soft and adorable.
Hearing her praise, Yun Xiaocheng’s eyes lit up, and he beamed with joy.
He felt that this real sister was much easier to get along with than Sister Yuqing.
Sister Yuqing rarely smiled, let alone smiled at him. She always said only immature children liked candied hawthorn and often told him to eat less.
To please her, he hadn’t asked his parents to buy him any for a long time.
But today, passing by He Yi Street and seeing someone selling it, he somehow bought two sticks.
“Here! If you like it, this one is for you.”
Yu Zhizhi felt warmth in her heart as she accepted it generously. “Then won’t you have none left?”
Yun Xiaocheng quickly waved his hand. “Don’t worry, I still have one!”
This younger brother was well-mannered and knew how to share.
“Next time, I’ll make something delicious for you.”
“Okay!”
Watching the siblings interact, the Yun couple’s eyes turned red, especially Fang Lanzhu, who couldn’t hold back anymore. She walked over and tightly hugged Yu Zhizhi.
Then she began to cry.
Returning home and not seeing Yun Yuqing, and learning she had gone back to the Prime Minister’s residence to live as a noble lady again—it was impossible not to feel heartbroken.
After all, they had raised her for so many years.
To suddenly cut ties was hard to accept.
But what made her happier was that their real daughter had returned to them and even agreed to sever ties with the Prime Minister’s residence.
If not for what happened sixteen years ago—when the Prime Minister offended enemies and the two newborn babies were swapped—they wouldn’t have been separated from their daughter for so long.
She hated them!
From now on, it was best for the two families to have no dealings at all.
Yu Zhizhi gently patted her back to comfort her.
At that moment, Yun Haodong joined in, wrapping his arms around them both and bursting into tears.
“Waaah… my daughter, it’s all father’s fault, making you…”
The two of them cried like children.