In the courtyard, Fang Jingshan felt tense as Jiang Sinian approached.
“Brother.”
“Mm.”
Jiang Sinian acknowledged him and pulled out a stack of money. Without any small talk, he went straight to the point.
“After deducting the cost of goods, from Nanzi’s side it’s 105, and what we sold ourselves made 300. That’s a total of 405. I provided the capital, you worked hard on the deals. This 105 is yours.”
He took out several notes from the stack and handed them to Fang Jingshan.
“Brother… this is too much…”
Fang Jingshan’s hand recoiled at the number, too scared to take it.
He knew that for the work he’d done elsewhere, he wouldn’t even get fifty, but now his brother was giving him so much at once—he was overwhelmed.
Jiang Sinian said calmly: “It’s not too much; it’s what you deserve.”
His voice turned serious as he looked at Fang Jingshan: “The things we’ll do in the future will only get more dangerous. This money is just the beginning, Fang Jingshan. Remember that.”
“Remember,” Jiang Sinian emphasized.
Years later, when Fang Jingshan had several successful businesses and became a boss, he would sometimes recall this moment. At the time, it truly was just the beginning—but not the kind of growth he had envisioned.
Fang Jingshan pressed his lips together, meeting Jiang Sinian’s emotionless eyes. Stubbornly, he finally wiped away his unworthy tears.
“Brother, no matter what comes, I’ll follow you.”
Even if it meant risking his life, he wanted to protect his brother.
Fang Jingshan was four years younger than Jiang Sinian. At his age, he should have been in school, but he had already been working for many years.
Before following Jiang Sinian, he had worked for others doing the same jobs, always receiving the least pay. They bullied him because of his age, suppressing him relentlessly.
After joining Jiang Sinian, he finally had some dignity. Jiang Sinian never bullied him, paid fairly for his work, and if someone stole his wages, Jiang Sinian wouldn’t silently leave.
The next day, he’d return the stolen money to him and assign the day’s work as usual.
The luckiest thing in Fang Jingshan’s life was meeting Jiang Sinian—someone he could call “brother.”
“You’d still follow me to your death?”
Jiang Sinian asked with a hint of a smile.
Fang Jingshan shouted without hesitation, his eyes filled with unprecedented determination: “Yes! I’ll follow! Anywhere! Through fire and water!”
“You won’t need to risk your life. Take the money and keep it safe.”
“Got it, got it.”
Now, Fang Jingshan finally accepted the money, carefully folding the stack and putting it away.
“Brother… this,” he said hesitantly, taking something from his chest and placing it in front of Jiang Sinian.
“It’s for the child. I don’t have much to give… please don’t mind.”
It was a red cord with a safety amulet attached, silver and delicate, small and intricate.
“Thank you,” Jiang Sinian said sincerely.
After Fang Jingshan disappeared into the darkness, Jiang Sinian finally looked away, rubbing the amulet in his hand, his expression unreadable.
“Why are you still staring?”
Ye Shizhi didn’t want to pay so much attention either, but a big man standing still in the courtyard naturally drew notice.
“Hand out.”
“Huh?”
On hearing this sudden command, Ye Shizhi froze, recalling what had happened on the ox cart. Her emotions grew complicated.
Seeing her not move, Jiang Sinian bent and took her hand, pausing slightly at the touch.
It was small, soft, and different from grabbing his own hand.
This act slightly altered the dynamic between them. Or rather, since Ye Shizhi had been deliberately close to him to complete her task, their relationship could never return to how it was before.
Feeling something cool in her palm, Ye Shizhi realized Jiang Sinian was holding her hand.
Resting quietly in her hand was the safety amulet, with three small bells dangling from it, the red cord threaded through its holes.
Ye Shizhi liked red cords—before she had entered the book, she had worn a red cord bracelet with silver beads made by her grandmother.
Jiang Sinian said, “Fang Jingshan sent it.”
“Mm, got it.”
No doubt who had sent it, but the gift was unexpectedly thoughtful.
The young man had chosen a child’s safety amulet, surely after much deliberation.
Ye Shizhi turned the amulet over in her hands, imagining putting it on Suian’s neck once he was born. A little soft face with this hanging would look adorable.
“Anything else?”
Having admired her first received gift, Ye Shizhi finally realized Jiang Sinian still hadn’t left.
They had said all that needed to be said—why was he still lingering?
After a moment of silence, Jiang Sinian spoke: “It’s for the child.”
Ye Shizhi almost laughed out loud—she understood immediately.
Even with a blank expression, his handsome face was magnetic, but at this moment she wasn’t buying it.
“Fine, Jiang Sinian. I’ll sell it tomorrow.”
Ye Shizhi had her own plans for town tomorrow. Her business was just getting started, and she knew instant success was impossible. Delays made time tight; earning money was urgent.
But now she had another plan—become the commodity.
She was furious that he didn’t trust her.
Xiao Liu commented unexpectedly: “Given your current relationship with Jiang Sinian, it’d be abnormal if he didn’t doubt you.”
“She doubts, just doesn’t care,” Ye Shizhi murmured.
Because he didn’t care, he wasn’t curious, and he wouldn’t notice her changes.
Right now, the only thing Jiang Sinian cared about was the little one in her belly—the only family he had in this world.
Ye Shizhi didn’t show outward anger. Compared to Jiang Sinian, she was somewhat similar—her emotions didn’t fluctuate much, whereas he didn’t hide them. She kept things inside, making it hard for others to notice.
“So what now?”
“What can you do? Life’s boring anyway. Just act up in front of him occasionally! At least it’s the one fun thing about being in this book.”
Ye Shizhi stretched; her earlier annoyance vanished. Out of Jiang Sinian’s view, she skipped over to unpack the items he had brought back.
She didn’t know what he had bought—it felt like opening a blind box, and her excitement was palpable.