"The rest of us won't be participating. Little Six, how about you take your younger siblings and run this business?" Su Xiao Si suddenly said.
They still had many more important things to do than running a卤味 (luwei - braised food) business.
While the luwei business was decent, it paled in comparison to what they were currently engaged in.
Trying to manage both was simply too much.
The reason they were willing to spend this morning was purely to make their sister happy.
Su Xiao Tian was also surprised. If Fourth Brother wasn't participating, then the older brothers definitely wouldn't.
Lately, she had a feeling her brothers had secrets, but she didn't know what they were.
She suspected this matter had something to do with Chi Yi Yuan!
It seemed there was a secret between her older brothers and Brother Yi Yuan.
However, they weren't telling her, and she wouldn't ask proactively.
"Fourth Brother, it might not be enough with just us!" Su Xiao Liu said timidly at first.
Fourth Brother was the most business-savvy among them. Without him, what would they do?
Su Xiao Si glared at him and said crossly, "With you like this, you're truly spineless. You even said you wanted to earn money to take care of your little sister and give her a good life?"
Hearing the words "take care of your little sister" and "give her a good life," Little Six instantly gained some courage.
That's right, Chi Yi Yuan had already given their little sister a hairpin. They couldn't do nothing.
He had secretly asked; hairpins like that were very expensive, costing several yuan.
He wanted to earn money, not only to buy his sister hairpins but also to buy her pretty dresses.
"I'll lead the younger siblings to do it!" Su Xiao Liu instantly made up his mind.
Su Xiao Tian couldn't help but laugh. Was it true that goading someone was more effective than direct persuasion?
The siblings were discussing things quite well, but they were met with opposition from Grandpa Su and Grandma Su.
"This won't do. You are all students now. You should focus on your studies. How can you be thinking about doing business?"
Grandpa Su still held deep-rooted traditional beliefs: scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants, with merchants being looked down upon.
However, he was also a man who understood the times. He felt that it was okay for him to do business.
As long as his grandchildren could achieve success in the future and get into university, their Su family would still be a scholarly family.
"When we were in the county before, didn't we occasionally help out? Grandpa, let us try first. If we can't manage and it affects our studies, we'll give it up ourselves!" Su Xiao Liu said resolutely.
Grandpa Su saw that Su Xiao Liu had made up his mind and knew he couldn't dissuade him.
At this moment, the old man felt a hint of regret.
Grandpa Su wondered if it was because of their own business that the children had developed the idea of doing business.
This was not good. Why had he left his hometown and come to the capital to make a living? It was all for his grandchildren to achieve success and become people of standing.
If they all became small vendors, what good would that be?
Why were these younger ones so unpromising?
The older ones weren't participating, were these little rascals obsessed with money?
Just as Grandpa Su was about to discipline the little rascals, Su Xiao Tian spoke.
"Grandpa, just let my brothers try!"
Su Xiao Tian put in a good word, and Grandpa Su thought about it and agreed.
"You must promise not to let it affect your studies. Otherwise, don't do this business anymore," Grandpa Su said with a stern face.
"Grandpa, don't worry. I guarantee I'll be second in my class!" Su Xiao Jiu immediately stated.
Grandpa Su glared and scolded, "Are you promising to be capable or not? Why aren't you aiming to be first?"
Su Xiao Jiu looked speechlessly at Su Xiao Tian.
First place was something he dared not even dream of in this lifetime, unless Xiao Tian was no longer in their class.
Grandpa Su didn't seem to grasp Su Xiao Jiu's meaning. He glared at Su Xiao Ba, implying he was waiting for Su Xiao Ba to speak.
"Grandpa, I guarantee I'll be in the top three of the class!" Su Xiao Ba was a bit smarter. He didn't say he guaranteed third place, but rather, he guaranteed the top three.
But Grandpa Su was still not satisfied: "Truly unpromising. For two big boys like you, not daring to say you'll be first place, to make this old man proud!"
The two brothers were speechless together, looking resentfully at Su Xiao Tian.
When they looked at Grandpa Su again, Grandpa Su seemed to understand.
He chuckled and changed the subject, not wanting to talk to these two brats who couldn't outperform their sister.
"Little Six, Little Seven, what about you two?" Grandpa Su shifted his gaze to Su Xiao Liu and Su Xiao Qi.
Surely these two could guarantee first place?
However, the final result still disappointed Grandpa Su.
It couldn't be helped. These two were in the same class as Chi Yi Yuan. First place was monopolized by Chi Yi Yuan.
At first, they could still keep up with Chi Yi Yuan's pace.
But now, they couldn't keep up at all.
Grandpa Su's mood was not as smooth this time.
It was one thing for Xiao Ba and Xiao Jiu not to surpass Xiao Tian, but why couldn't Xiao Liu and Xiao Qi surpass that brat Chi Yi Yuan?
But he couldn't say this out loud, as the two families had a good relationship.
In the end, Grandpa Su found an excuse and disciplined his grandsons, venting his dissatisfaction.
Just as he finished dealing with his grandsons, several people walked in through the main entrance.
It was Shi Yu Liang, Lü Ru Ya, and Huo Si Nian, the three of them.
Su Xiao Tian was quite surprised by the arrival of these three together.
Then she remembered that all three were connected to the Qili Silk Factory, so their arrival together wasn't strange.
"Xiao Tian, we've come today to thank you specifically and to deliver your wages!"
Shi Yu Liang's attitude was genuinely good, amiable and kind, with approval and gratitude in his gaze towards Su Xiao Tian.
Su Xiao Tian was stunned. Was it necessary for so many people to come to deliver wages?
Although it was a bit too many, couldn't one person deliver it?
After Huo Si Nian scanned the entire restaurant, unconcealed disappointment was evident on his face.
Su Xiao Tian happened to see Huo Si Nian's disappointment and immediately understood.
Professor Huo's intention was not just for the wine.
It was a pity that Sister Xiao Mei hadn't come today, and Professor Huo was destined to be disappointed.
Huo Si Nian was truly disappointed, but he couldn't voice this disappointment.
He was also vexed. At which step had he gone wrong to make Xiao Mei so resistant to him?
Why was finding a wife so difficult?
The other two rough fellows didn't know Huo Si Nian's intentions for this visit; they were focused on their own matters.
"Xiao Tian, besides delivering your wages, we've also specifically brought some silk produced by our factory."
Su Xiao Tian...
Could silk from a state-owned factory be given away so casually?
Her bright eyes looked intently at Lü Ru Ya. Lü Ru Ya realized something and quickly explained.
"There was a slight issue during the printing and dyeing of this silk. It's fine for making clothes, don't dislike it!"
Su Xiao Tian understood. This was the legendary defective product.
Defective products from this era, although they still cost money, did not require coupons and were cheap. Many people wanted them but couldn't find them.
She never expected to receive such a high-class item as silk for no reason.
However, could defective products be given away casually? Would there be any problems if she accepted them?
"Director Lü, even if it's a defective product, you shouldn't just give it to me, right? How about I buy it?"