Wang Yongzhu quickly helped Jinhoo up, carefully observing him. Although he had beco thin and dark-skinned, his eyes were bright and lively, and he seed more mature and sensible.
It seed his experiences outside had taught him a lot.
Jinhoo’s heart surged with emotions, thinking about the near year spent outside, enduring harsh weather, crossing mountains, getting injured, losing out, and being scolded.
It was then he realized what it ant to be undervalued when away from ho! He realized how peaceful life was back in the countryside and at ho.
In the countryside, farming required only physical labor, but the whole family could stay together peacefully.
On the road, aside from the daily long walks where shoes wore out, feet blistered and bled, layers of skin were worn until calluses ford.
The trading caravan didn’t keep idle people; they all had to learn to be assistants, not only obeying the leader’s orders but keeping their eyes open for tasks, actively seeking work.
The reward was rely two dry buns, barely enough to fill the stomach.
More terrifying were the encounters with bandits on the road, where they had to raise weapons to protect the caravan’s goods.
He watched helplessly as a companion, rely two or three years his senior, was cut down with a single stroke and never got up again.
Yet, a human life was ordinary in the leader’s eyes. He later learned the deceased’s family had a contract with the caravan, and if anything happened, the caravan would give a settlent silver of a few dozen taels at most.
He narrowly escaped death himself, thinking he was dood, but soone pulled him out, saving his life.
Later, he learned it was because he was Wang Yongzhu’s nephew, and Boss Zhang had instructed to look after him; otherwise, his life might have been lost on the road.
He was anxious throughout, even sleeping with one eye open, finally making it to the Capital City.
Now seeing his family made him truly feel secure.
His eyes reddened, and apart from calling out initially, he couldn’t say anything.
Old Granny Zhang, seeing Jinhoo like this, softened for her grandson, "Haven’t had breakfast yet? Eat sothing first, look how thin you’ve beco? You’ve had a hard ti this past year, haven’t you?"
Speaking, she couldn’t help but scold: "You had a good life back then, but insisted on running out to suffer. Now do you know how hard life outside is? Ignoring the wisdom of the elders, facing imdiate hardships! You all saw your aunt making money from business, thinking gold waits outside for you!"
"Did you ever consider if you were cut out for it? Even your aunt struggled to make money initially. Now you know money is hard-earned, right? Back then, spending the money your aunt earned with no gratitude! All of you should have co out to suffer, to know the hardships and appreciate who made your good days possible!"
While complaining, she swiftly set the table for Jinhoo, gesturing for him to eat.
Jinhoo, having seen his family, was scolded yet felt refreshed.
Nearly a year without his grandma’s scolding, he surprisingly missed it.
He obediently took the bowl and chopsticks and began to eat breakfast.
The family sat watching Jinhoo finish breakfast, then asked Granny to co in and clean up.
Wang Yongzhu finally asked, "Since you returned, have you sent word ho for peace? What plans do you have for the future?"
Jinhoo scratched his head awkwardly, "Just arrived in the Capital City yesterday, was picked up by Uncle last night, haven’t had a chance yet. I’ll head back to the trading company later, see if there’s any caravan going to Qilidun, let them send a peace letter back."
From his tone, he had no plans to return to Qilidun.
Sure enough, Jinhoo continued, speaking with more caution: "Aunt, I’m thinking of staying in the Capital City. This ti traveling with the caravan gave a lot of insights. The leader thinks highly of , says I’m smart, and ntioned taking again next ti."
"I asked, soone like being an assistant this ti, next ti traveling with the caravan, I would be an official assistant and receive monthly wages. There’s even an unwritten rule in the caravan: as an assistant, if you have money, you can bring back goods yourself, sell them, and earn silver."
"This ti, Shopkeeper Zhang also said, although apprentices don’t get paid, since the caravan returned with goods despite difficulties, each apprentice gets one tael of silver as a reward."
"Furthermore, I traveled with the caravan this ti, having a good relationship with the leader. He guided a bit, and secretly, with the little silver coin I had when leaving ho, I managed to trade so goods along the way. My capital was small, didn’t dare buy anything expensive."
"I bought cheap, easy-to-sell goods, moved them from place to place, and earned nearly twenty taels of silver!"
Jinhoo spoke while taking out a cloth bag from his chest and produced various sizes of silver pieces.
He also took out a ticulously wrapped cloth bundle, carefully opening it to reveal several silver jewelry pieces.
These pieces had an exotic flair to them.
Gemstones were embedded in the jewelry, though the quality was poor and small, but still rare.
Jinhoo glanced embarrassedly at Old Granny Zhang and Wang Yongzhu: "I bought a few jewelry pieces for grandma and aunt. My funds are tight; I couldn’t buy anything expensive. Please don’t mind. Next ti I make money, I’ll buy gold jewelry for grandma and aunt!"
Old Granny Zhang was initially stunned, looking at the roughly made jewelry compared to what she wore, and it seed coarse.
After a while, she reached out for a wide, hollow silver bracelet embedded with a sapphire, which appeared dark and of poor quality.
She wore it on her hand, her mouth twitched upwards, yet her words were disdainful: "So this little rascal has a conscience! Knows how to honor grandma and aunt! Didn’t love you in vain!"
Though her words were so, her gaze was unusually gentle.
Wang Yongzhu knew Old Granny Zhang was tough on the outside but soft inside, actually delighted.
She looked at the jewelry on the table and favored an inconspicuous bracelet of unclear material, neither gold nor wood, reaching for it.
Jinhoo saw Wang Yongzhu pick up the bracelet and hurriedly said: "Aunt, this is worthless, the supplier gave it as a bonus, ntioned it was mixed with other jewelry they acquired, seems like so vine dried hard, useless for anything, not even worth firewood."
"Take this! This is the most valuable!" He said, picking out a silver hairpin and handing it to Wang Yongzhu.
Wang Yongzhu smiled, patting Jinhoo’s shoulder: "Thank you, Jinhoo! Aunt just wants this! Likes this one! The rest, you’ve worked hard to earn, keep it all, whether given to your future wife or to honor your mom, it’s fine!"
"Aunt doesn’t care about these, what matters is your thoughtfulness, and that’s enough!"
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