Chapter 1278 - 1150: Are You Really So Kind?

Chapter 1278: Chapter 1150: Are You Really So Kind?

"I didn’t just have Uncle Heizi’s print shop do the processing, I also had a batch printed in the neighboring city. If my prediction isn’t off, by the end of the year, once you add in firecrackers, New Year prints and all that, put together it should be close to fifty thousand yuan."

Zhou Jiao heard him say that and immediately knitted her brows. "Did you talk it through with those brother and sister about how you’re going to split the profit?"

May 1st straightened up, glanced at the front courtyard, then bent over to whisper in her ear, "They said the contacts and the capital are all mine, and it’s enough if I give them some hard‑work money. But I don’t plan to shortchange them. If we split it ninety–ten, the two of them can get five thousand yuan."

"You told them that?"

"Not yet. I still have to test them. If they keep being this enthusiastic and keep helping me, I don’t mind bringing them along on whatever I do in the future."

When he finished, May 1st winked at her and laughed. "Otherwise, it’s not like I don’t have people on hand. I could just pull in anyone to handle this little bit of business. But for Second Uncle’s sake, and Brother Shitou and the others being so filial, if we can help a bit, we help a bit."

Zhou Jiao chuckled and shook her head. "You only think of your Second Uncle. What about your First Uncle? He’s good to you too. And your First Aunt, she’s the one who thinks about you four father and sons the most."

"Oh my god, I haven’t shorted Brother Xi Zi and his three brothers, including Brother Ziwen and the others. This time Dato shipped everything to them.

As for how much they make, that depends on their own ability. See, your old son is plenty righteous toward his cousins, right? My dad never helped his own cousins this much."

Listening to May 1st sound so aggrieved, Zhou Jiao eyed her son suspiciously. If she hadn’t given birth to him herself, she’d suspect someone had swapped out his core and turned him into some saintly do‑gooder!

She gave her son a speechless side‑glance. "You’re really that kind‑hearted?"

May 1st rubbed his nose. "You want the truth or a lie?"

"Don’t talk nonsense!"

"Heh heh... Mom, you helping Uncle Yi and the others invest in foreign futures, I’m guessing you won’t be able to keep that from Zuo Lin. Instead of waiting for it to blow up and making it hard on Dad, better to strike first."

Zhou Jiao raised her eyebrows.

She really wasn’t afraid of the people back home finding out. What she wants to do, does she still have to get their approval? If the family’s already helped them this much and they’re still not satisfied, then it’s better to cut things off and have some peace.

How could May 1st not understand what his mom was thinking?

He smiled without mentioning that as long as his grandparents are still alive, that very real blood tie will keep making things hard on his dad.

May 1st went on, "Look, the amount investing abroad is too big, but you haven’t forgotten Dad’s brothers and sisters. Let them play a couple of small rounds, toss them a bit of sweetness, and you’ll have fewer problems."

Hearing this, Zhou Jiao secretly sighed and grumbled to herself: but can you guarantee they won’t become insatiable, like a snake trying to swallow an elephant?

Then she looked at her son’s slightly narrowed eyes. Seeing that he had it all mapped out in his heart, Zhou Jiao didn’t say anything more about it.

Even though the kids’ views are different from hers, and their way of handling things is different too, it’s still a chance to train them. This time Zhou Jiao planned not to get involved in these matters.

What’s in people’s hearts?

No one can predict that.

She’d rather leave some time for the kids to feel it and experience it for themselves. Maybe she’s the one who thinks too poorly of outsiders; maybe this "lubricant" approach of her son’s is the right way.

Since there was still a bit of time before work, Zhou Jiao pulled her son along and walked around to the first courtyard in the back.

Once there, she deliberately took him to the side room first to check out the mechanism to the underground darkroom. There wasn’t a speck of abnormal dust on the floor.

Seeing that, Zhou Jiao signaled with her eyes, lightly pointing at the spot. When she saw him nod in understanding, she smiled.

Sure, the place has been empty a long time, so what’s stored inside might not be that safe; but even a crafty rabbit knows to have three burrows. She has to keep a few more cards in hand.

After that, Zhou Jiao took her son and strolled through all the rooms to make sure the cleaners really hadn’t been slacking on hygiene.

In the depths of winter, no matter how strong the midday sun is, sitting on the back of a motorcycle, helmet on, Zhou Jiao hugging her son tightly, she was still shivering with cold.

Luckily the speed really was like wind and lightning. By the time they made it to the gate of her work unit, Zhou Jiao let out a long breath of relief and shook her head at her grinning son.

Stupid kid, full of fire!

"Mom, when summer comes I’ll take you for a ride."

"Forget it, your mom really is getting old."

May 1st just laughed it off. If his mom is "old", all those dolled‑up ladies of all ages passing by might as well cut their own throats.

And don’t think that just because his mom doesn’t talk about it, he doesn’t know how back in the day she used to ride a kuaizi—one of those side‑car three‑wheelers—doing laps everywhere.

Maybe he should dig up another one?

Zhou Jiao had no idea what her son was thinking. She told him he didn’t need to come pick her up after work in the afternoon, and to swing by the old house on his way home to bring back some vegetables. Then she hurried into the office.

When work was over that afternoon, Zhou Jiao walked out the gate and immediately spotted May 1st on the opposite side with his arm around Heizi’s shoulders. She shivered and glanced around.

—Good thing she didn’t see that freezing‑you‑to‑death motorcycle.

Seeing her reaction, May 1st burst out laughing.

Noticing his mom was about to blow her top, May 1st quickly stopped laughing, put his arm around Uncle Heizi, tapped the cardboard box at their feet with his toe, and muttered, "My mom’s scared I’ll pick her up on the motorcycle."

"In this cold weather you really shouldn’t be riding a motorcycle. Your mom’s health isn’t that strong. Your uncle probably put quite a bit of tonic in these packages. Make sure she takes them."

"Uncle, did you tattle to my uncle?"

Heizi waved at Zhou Jiao, and didn’t forget to defend himself. "I didn’t. I just told the truth about how you two weren’t home before. I didn’t say an extra word."

"Uncle, you’ve gotten sly. Does my aunt know?"

"Your aunt listens to me."

Zhou Jiao stepped forward to greet Heizi and nudged the big box with her foot. "What’s this, bribing your sister? You’ve got guts."

"Sister Jiao, I’m being wronged here, this one’s from Tianming for you." As for his own gift, that still had to be mixed into the New Year goodies—seeing as that brat at his side had secretly stuffed him quite a bit of money.

But can Heizi take it?

His life was saved by that couple, and even when his only grandma passed away, they and their buddies handled everything. If he took the money, wouldn’t that make him an ungrateful bastard?!

"Sister Jiao, Brother Hongwei—do you still remember him?"

Zhou Jiao nodded. Zhang Hongwei, whose nickname was Er Gouzi—the mutt—this kid even stormed into the Big Courtyard back in the day. But he had connections with Zhang Guoqing, that much she knew.

Heizi glanced around and lowered his voice. "Give Brother Xiao Wu a heads‑up. That guy seems to have gone down to the South and made quite a bit of money. He’s all anxious to find us and says he wants to thank Brother Xiao Wu.

We figure that while he’s loyal, he’s too shady. Back then a bunch of people went down, and now most of them have gone under, but nothing’s happened to him at all."

Zhou Jiao smiled and nodded. "Got it."

"I’ll head off then. I still have to work the night shift. If anything comes up, just say the word." With that, Heizi turned and walked off decisively, raising a hand to wave behind him as he went.

"Mom?"

"It’s fine. That guy owes your dad a lot of favors."

Hearing that, May 1st didn’t say anything more. He hefted the box up onto his shoulder and left with her.

All he could think was: his old man sure has a hell of a lot of friends from all walks of life.