Chapter 165: Cousin-Uncle Prepares to Do Business

Yun Jiao covered her mouth and nodded. She tiptoed to stand between them and looked up at them with her big eyes.

Her expression said it all: ’Well, go on, I’m listening!’

Wang Hongfei: ...

He couldn’t resist crouching down and pinching the little one’s cheek.

"When your uncle here makes some money, I’ll buy you the prettiest clothes."

She was such a beautiful little doll of a girl; anyone would want to see her dressed in pretty things.

So, a soft, pale little moppet—along with two chubby puppies—joined Yun Chenbei and Wang Hongfei as they continued their conversation.

Wang Hongfei’s reason for seeking out Yun Chenbei was simple: he was interested in the beautiful trinkets Yun Chenbei made from the seashells and conches he found at the beach.

Wind chimes, small animal-shaped figurines, various hair clips, bracelets made of stones polished into beads, and so on.

"But I don’t have time to make those now."

He was studying carving with his master now, and he’d get an earful if he wasted time on those trinkets.

"Do you have any inventory left? I heard Chen Nan takes some to school to sell, but you can’t make any real money with such a small-scale operation. Besides, Chen Nan needs to focus on his studies. His grades are too good to let him get sidetracked. For now, just let me see what you have."

Yun Chenbei nodded. "A little."

But not a lot.

Yun Chenbei designed and made everything himself.

Though he didn’t do well in school, he had a real talent for crafts. The things he made were of his own unique designs, styles you couldn’t find anywhere else.

So even if Wang Hongfei didn’t take his things up north, they could still be sold right here.

But Yun Chenbei had a bit of social anxiety and was unwilling to go out and sell his wares, while Yun Chen Nan needed to study.

The other kids in the family had to go to school and didn’t have time to help him, and the adults were out of the question.

So, even though he had a marketable skill, he couldn’t make any money because there was no one to sell his products.

And he was trying to save up for a camera, too.

Yun Chenbei led them to his room.

In their new house, everyone had their own room.

He then expertly pulled a box out from under his bed.

The box was filled with things he had made himself.

"This is all I have."

The wooden box had compartments of various sizes inside, each holding a different category of item. It was all very neatly organized.

One compartment was filled with beautiful, colorful stones. They were shaped into circles like pearls, as well as stars and hearts.

Yun Jiao crouched down and sifted through them, then spotted a necklace made of pearls.

These were the very same pearls taken from the oysters—the misshapen ones that wouldn’t fetch a good price.

He had also used some of the extra-small pearls, combining them with other materials to create bracelets, necklaces, or to serve as the eyes on the little animal hair clips.

All in all, his designs were quite ingenious; he had a knack for turning waste into treasure.

At least in Yun Jiao’s eyes, they were all beautiful. She was sure lots of girls would love them.

Wang Hongfei had a good eye, too. "Your things will definitely be a hit with the girls."

"And as for these wood carvings, the boys will love them."

He was looking at the moving wood carvings, like a wind-up frog that hopped on its own, a little dog, a dragonfly whose wings flapped up and down, and a jellyfish on a stand with writhing tentacles.

The jellyfish, in particular, was stunning.

"This one is for Jiaojiao."

Yun Chenbei picked up the jellyfish—it was elegant and beautiful, its writhing tentacles making it look almost alive.

Wang Hongfei was exasperated. "This would sell for at least ten yuan!"

Yun Chenbei was unmoved.

Wang Hongfei sighed. "...Fine."

Yun Jiao poked the jellyfish with her little finger. "Brother, it’s so pretty! You’re amazing."

Yun Chenbei’s eyes brightened. "It’s a new technique my master taught me!"

Wang Hongfei said, "Alright, I’m taking the rest of these. I’m heading to Hong Kong City, and I’ll probably pass through here again on my way up north. Try to make as many more as you can. I’ll sell them up north, and I’ll just take a thirty percent cut for my trouble. The other seventy percent will be all yours."

Yun Chenbei thought about the money he had saved. He was so close to having enough for that camera.

So he nodded.

"Alright."

"You have to get me a voucher for a camera."

Wang Hongfei nodded. "No problem."

Once they had an agreement, Wang Hongfei added another warning. "Whatever you do, don’t let my mom find out."

Yun Jiao asked, puzzled, "Why not?"

The way she tilted her head was exceptionally cute. Wang Hongfei, who wasn’t married and had no children of his own, was completely charmed all over again. ’If I could have a daughter this beautiful,’ he mused, ’maybe finding a wife and having kids wouldn’t be so bad after all.’

"Because to my mom, this is just profiteering. She forbids it."

"Sigh. No matter how many times I tell her that the national policies have relaxed and that it’s legal to sell things on the street now—that you won’t get arrested—she still won’t have it."

"To be honest, I know why. Mom and Dad... they’re just scared."

"You know you used to have a second uncle, right?"

He asked Yun Chenbei.

Yun Chenbei shook his head. He had no idea.

Wang Hongfei skillfully pulled out a cigarette. He brought it to his lips, then suddenly remembered Yun Jiao was there and put it away again.

"Right. The family doesn’t talk about it."

"Our family was large and poor, and we never had enough to eat. My third brother and fourth sister—your mother—almost starved. So my second brother decided to try his luck with the black market."

"He succeeded a few times at first and brought food home for the family. But it wasn’t long before the black market was discovered. In the chaos, my second brother was pushed into the river. It was the dead of winter. He just... he froze to death."

That’s why his parents were so against profiteering. To be more precise, they’re terrified of it.

Yun Chenbei had never imagined there was a story like that behind it all.

Wang Hongfei clapped him on the shoulder. "But I can’t accept being stuck in that remote village my whole life. I have to get out and make something of myself, no matter what. If I don’t, I know I’ll regret it for the rest of my days when I’m old."

Yun Chenbei nodded. "I understand. You be careful, then, Uncle."

"Uncle, do you need money? Jiaojiao can lend you some, you know."

Yun Jiao said suddenly, still playing with the jellyfish.

Wang Hongfei roared with laughter. "You’re just a little tyke. Do you even have a single yuan?"

Yun Jiao pouted. ’Who’s he looking down on!’

She immediately pulled two yuan from her little purse and slapped them down in front of him, her small chin held high.

"I have money! Jiaojiao is a little rich girl now."

Wang Hongfei took the two yuan, surprised. "Whoa, you really do."

Two yuan wasn’t a lot of money, but for a three-year-old, it was a small fortune.

Yun Chenbei added, "My sister has money. She’s the richest one in the family."

Yun Jiao crossed her little arms. "That’s right. I’m a little rich girl with over a thousand yuan."

Wang Hongfei looked from his nephew to Yun Jiao.

What?

’Did I hear that right?’

Yun Jiao said, "Just you wait, Uncle."

Yun Jiao ran off to find Granny Yun; all her money was with her.

With the money from the latest pearl sale, Yun Jiao’s assets had now grown to 1,605 yuan.