Chapter Thirty-One: A Change of Heart

"Slap!" Li Ye smacked Li Dayong on the forehead.

"Did you finish the problems I gave you today?"
"Did you write the three essays I assigned you last night?"
"Have you memorized the English vocabulary I told you to?"
"You want to go off to the provincial capital with them, so are you asking me to take the university entrance exam for you next year?"

The barrage of questions left Li Dayong feeling as though he might have a mental breakdown. In the past, Li Dayong’s grades were better than Li Ye’s, but he had never flaunted his academic success in front of Li Ye, always careful not to wound his brother’s pride.

But now, the tables had turned. For some reason, Li Ye had suddenly made massive strides in his studies and would pounce on Li Dayong, "force-feeding" him problems like one would stuff a duck. If Li Dayong couldn't grasp a problem after it was explained twice, the look of disdain Li Ye gave him was enough to make him die of shame. Yet, after the shame subsided, Li Dayong would find himself grateful; with his own grades being so poor, his brother was truly trying to help him.

However, now that everyone was banding together to earn money and even using his bicycle to haul goods, yet keeping him out of the loop, Li Dayong felt uncomfortable, no matter how generous or easygoing he tried to be.

After spraying Li Dayong with a mouthful of spit, Li Ye retorted bitterly, "I borrowed your bike, didn't I? Why would I not bring you along? Your bike counts as a share in the business, so you won't be shorted on your cut of the profits."

Li Dayong was stunned and quickly said, "Brother, I'm not after the money, I'm not asking you for money, I..."

It was true that Li Ye had taken his bike to transport goods, but he had traded his own 26-inch Phoenix bicycle for it. If he claimed a share of the profits based on that, wouldn't that be a slap in his own face?

"Of course I know you're not a greedy person, Li Dayong," Li Ye said, pressing down on Li Dayong as he tried to stand up. He continued seriously, "We are all brothers. For a venture like this, those with strength contribute effort, and those with resources contribute what they have. We share the blessings and spend the earnings together... saying anything more would be treating me like a stranger."

"Brother, I really didn't..." Li Dayong was on the verge of tears; he truly hadn't been thinking about the money.

Li Ye waved his hand and addressed the group, "Actually, there are a few things I want to say to everyone today... Maybe you guys think money is very important right now... but looking back years from now, you'll realize that money is nothing but a fart."

"..."

Hao Jian, who had been all smiles, froze. The clever and shrewd Jin Peng froze. Even Wang Jianqiang, whose mind was entirely occupied by the thought of how delicious the mutton soup was, froze.

Money is just a fart?

Well, if that's the case, please pass a little more; I'll be right here to catch it. I don't want much, just share a little with me.

But the atmosphere at the table was completely controlled by Li Ye. The four of them found their own mindsets gradually influenced by his gestures, his words, and his aura, their hearts filled with the singular concept of "loyalty."

Li Ye ordered a bottle of white liquor and poured it for the four of them and himself, about two taels each.

"I only hope that one day in the future, when you are about to do something, you might recall this bowl of mutton soup and the days we spent being sincere and helping one another, and then decide how you should act."

"Come, bottoms up!"

"..."

"Bottoms up!"

"Bottoms up!"

Hao Jian and the others didn't quite understand what Li Ye meant, but they downed their drinks in one gulp. It wasn't until many years later, whenever they recalled this very moment and these words, that they would sigh at how fortunate they were in this life; if it hadn't been for Li Ye...

Two taels of liquor won't make you drunk, but it adds to the mood. After the meal, Hao Jian rushed to pay the bill and exchanged a look with Li Ye. Li Ye and Hao Jian left first, while Jin Peng took Li Dayong and Wang Jianqiang to see a movie.

"We sold a total of 186 catties and 6 taels of malt sugar today. I rounded off the change and collected 111 yuan and 60 cents. This morning in the provincial capital, we ate a catty and a half of fried dough sticks... leaving 109 yuan and 40 cents... after deducting the cost, we have a balance of 61 yuan and 36 cents. What do you think we should do with the money?"

Hao Jian took out a small notebook that recorded the accounts. Although it wasn't very formal, it was perfectly clear. This was a good sign; if Hao Jian, the person responsible for opening up the market, started playing games or fudging the books, this startup team would be close to falling apart.

Li Ye asked, "What do you want to do?"

Hao Jian licked his lips and said, "Logically, since you provided the capital, we should give you 50 yuan first now that we've made a profit. But the provincial capital is urgently demanding more sugar, and bringing only one or two hundred catties at a time is too little. I think... we should hold off on paying you back for now..."

Li Ye nodded in agreement. "Fine. Tomorrow, I'll tell my classmate to let you use that 26-inch Phoenix bike as well. You can carry two loads at once. From now on, I'm in no hurry to get my money back. You don't need to worry about withdrawing the principal; just focus on increasing production and expanding the market."

If the three of them were to haul four hundred catties of sugar, they would need two bicycles, which meant the third person would need a separate bike.

"Alright then," Hao Jian said, putting away his notebook. "If the next few trips go smoothly, I propose we buy a flatbed cart to be pulled by two bicycles. Transporting eight hundred to a thousand catties won't be a problem."

Hao Jian hesitated for a moment, then asked, "What you said earlier about giving that classmate a stake... were you serious?"

Li Ye glanced at him sideways and said coldly, "Why, do you object?"

Hao Jian felt a jolt in his heart and quickly replied, "No, no, how could I object... I was just worried that with too many people... we wouldn't make enough... and end up costing you money..."

Hao Jian actually wanted to say, [Are you setting up a business with me, or are you running a charity for your brothers? Is there no end to this?]

But Li Ye's gaze made him afraid to speak his mind. If he had felt resentful just days ago when "ordered" by Li Ye to go to the provincial capital, now he was already caught up in the anxiety of potential gain and loss.

When Hao Jian had counted the money from the sugar sales three times this morning, his heart had warmed up. Sixty yuan in one trip to the provincial capital, one hundred and twenty in two. Even if they only made ten trips a month, that would be six hundred yuan.

Six hundred yuan! Even if he only got a share of one hundred, he could build a whole row of tiled-roof houses in a few months.

But... with such huge profits, wasn't Li Ye tempted? Looking at how shrewd Jin Peng was, Hao Jian was terrified of being cast out of this little group by Li Ye. After all, he didn't feel he was indispensable. Therefore, he felt he should show more value, act as a good manager who opens sources and reduces expenses, and then...

"If we don't make enough, it's my money we're losing. Why are you so anxious?" Li Ye shot Hao Jian a look and said with a hint of sarcasm, "Are you actually trying to ask me how we should split the profits from this business in the future?"

Hao Jian, caught off guard, sheepishly replied, "I... well, you could just pay me a wage if you want. You're the boss, after all."

Li Ye glanced at him and said nonchalantly, "Then let's make it sixty-forty. You get forty, I get sixty."

Hao Jian froze for several seconds before murmuring, "Sixty-forty? I get forty, you get sixty?"

Li Ye rolled his eyes and asked coldly, "What? Did you want me to get forty and you to get sixty?"

Hao Jian waved his hands frantically and said in a panic, "No, no, no! Forty-sixty is... forty-sixty is perfect."

"Hmph," Li Ye chuckled. "I know you're worried it's too much, but let me tell you one thing: never be jealous of how much your subordinates earn, because if they earn more, you earn even more."

These weren't Li Ye's original words; they were something a self-made billionaire had told him in his past life. Based on Li Ye's experience, this advice was at least applicable during the startup phase of a team.

[Subordinates?]
[Does he see me as a subordinate?]
[Well... that's fine too.]

Hao Jian didn't know what it meant to be "truly sweet," but at this moment, his anxious heart finally settled down.

Good days were coming!