He Yang touched the remaining sixty-some taels hidden in his sleeve before replying,
“I was afraid that if my father found out I secretly left the house, he’d immediately confiscate all the silver I’d hidden away. So I had no choice but to bring my entire fortune with me.”
But now he realized things weren’t much better.
“Also, Father said today that if I want silver in the future, I have to get his approval first, and I can’t receive more than ten taels at a time. I think I’m going to become a pauper.”
In the past, all he had to do was act cute in front of his mother and grandmother to receive plenty of spending money.
It seemed his father had finally become serious this time.
“He Yang, do you want to set up a stall and do business with me?”
“Boss, stop joking around.”
He Yang stared at her with wide eyes, disbelief written all over his face.
He clearly didn’t take her seriously.
“I’m serious. I’m not joking.”
Yu Zhizhi looked at him earnestly.
He Yang was stunned.
“Boss, don’t be impulsive! You just swore a moment ago that you’d spend your money wisely.”
She had never done business before.
He was genuinely worried that she’d lose every last coin on a whim.
“You know, your boss here actually has quite a few skills. It’s just that back when I was the legitimate daughter of a noble family, I didn’t feel the need to work hard and preferred enjoying life instead.”
“But things are different now. I want to rely on my own abilities to support myself and my family. I don’t want anyone looking down on me anymore.”
“I told you earlier that I’d treat you to the good life one day. Believe me, that day will come soon.”
“When we’ve earned enough money, we’ll spend it however we like and blind Zhang Lei and the others with our success!”
“And when that happens, you won’t have to ask your family for money anymore.”
After hearing those words, He Yang immediately pulled out all sixty-plus taels he had left.
“Boss, I believe in you! Will this be enough for us to start? If not, I’ll find a way to gather more.”
Yu Zhizhi looked at him sincerely.
“There’s no need to give me more. Keep it for emergencies. We should have enough to get started.”
Scratching his head awkwardly, He Yang said,
“But Boss, I don’t know how to do anything. I’m afraid I’ll only drag you down. Right now, this silver is the only way I can help.”
He knew his own limitations.
This was the only way he could support her.
Yu Zhizhi smiled reassuringly.
“Who says you can’t help? When we set up our stall in the future, I’ll need you to help serve customers.”
“How about this? You invest fifty taels, and I’ll deduct it from the two hundred taels I owe you. When we start making money from the stall, you’ll get thirty percent of the profits.”
He Yang’s face immediately lit up.
“Really? Great!”
He had thought he was nothing but dead weight.
He never expected Boss to value him so highly.
His heart filled with gratitude and anticipation.
What Yu Zhizhi didn’t know was where the lousy system would send her to set up stalls in the future.
She had mentally prepared herself.
He Yang, however, had not.
So she decided to give him a warning in advance.
Otherwise, she was afraid some unexpected situation might scare away her only investor.
“You and I are alike. We’re both unique, tasteful, and courageous.”
“So in the future, I want our stall to be different. I want us to become one-of-a-kind vendors.”
“Do you dare join me?”
“I dare!”
He Yang answered loudly.
Yu Zhizhi smiled in satisfaction.
Looks like the brainwashing had gone pretty well.
Meanwhile, He Yang was still basking in the compliments she’d just given him.
Unique.
Tasteful.
Courageous.
He was so happy he felt like he was floating.
The next day, shortly after nine in the morning.
After breakfast, Yu Zhizhi sat before the dressing table in her room, gripping a writing brush as she painstakingly wrote an apology letter stroke by stroke.
Just as she was about to finish, Uncle He arrived with news.
Her biological parents and younger brother had returned and wanted to see her in the main hall.
Yu Zhizhi set down the brush and headed over.
The main hall was close to her room.
In her opinion, a smaller residence wasn’t bad at all.
At least her legs didn’t have to suffer from endless walking.
As soon as she entered the hall, she saw a couple in their thirties smiling warmly at her.
They were dressed in elegant clothing and carried themselves with refined grace.
Standing beside them was a young boy who bore a slight resemblance to the original owner.
Compared to the Prime Minister and his wife, her biological parents looked noticeably younger and much less stern.
Holding a candied hawthorn skewer, Yun Xiaochen trotted over to her with short little steps.
Tilting his head up proudly, he blinked his large eyes.
“Are you really my biological sister?”
Yu Zhizhi smiled.
“Yes, I am.”
“Big Sister, do you want some candied hawthorn? It’s really delicious!”
As he held it toward her mouth, Yu Zhizhi lowered her head and took a bite.
The sweet and sour flavor spread through her mouth.
She blinked and nodded.
“It really is delicious.”
Compared to modern candied hawthorn, the taste was actually far inferior.
But she didn’t want to dampen her little brother’s enthusiasm.
Besides, he was quite adorable.
Upon hearing her praise, Yun Xiaochen’s eyes sparkled.
He grinned brightly.
He felt this biological sister was much easier to get along with than Sister Yuqing.
Yuqing rarely smiled.
She certainly never smiled at him.
She always said that only children who refused to grow up liked eating candied hawthorn.
She constantly told him to eat less of it.
In order to please her, he had gone a long time without asking his parents to buy any.
But earlier that day, while passing through Heyi Street and seeing a candied hawthorn vendor, he had suddenly bought two skewers.
“If you like it, Big Sister, this one is yours.”
Looking at the skewer he offered, warmth filled Yu Zhizhi’s heart.
She accepted it generously and smiled.
“Then won’t you be left without one?”
Yun Xiaochen quickly waved his hands.
“Don’t worry! I still have another one!”
This little brother was quite well-mannered.
He even knew how to share.
“Next time, Big Sister will make something delicious for you.”
“Okay!”
Watching the interaction between the siblings, the Yun couple’s eyes grew moist.
Especially Fang Lanzhu.
Unable to hold back any longer, she walked over and tightly embraced Yu Zhizhi.
Then she began to cry.
When they returned and learned that Yun Yuqing had already gone back to the Prime Minister’s Residence to live as a noble young lady, they had been heartbroken.
After all, they had raised her for so many years.
How could they simply sever those feelings overnight?
Yet they were even happier that their biological daughter had finally returned to them.
And she had even agreed to cut ties with the Prime Minister’s Residence.
Had it not been for the Prime Minister offending an enemy sixteen years ago, causing the newborn girls to be switched, they would never have been separated from their daughter for so long.
She hated them.
In the future, it would be best if the two families never interacted again.
Yu Zhizhi could only gently pat her back in comfort.
At that moment, Yun Haodong joined in, wrapping his arms around both of them and bursting into tears as well.
“Waaah… Daughter… it’s all Father’s fault… I let you…”
The couple cried like children.