Chapter 203: Versailles

"We didn’t catch that many, so we can only send you ten catties."

Yun Linhai’s family wasn’t as short on money anymore. Although they still had to save up for a boat, they could take their time.

Whenever they had treats at home, they always thought to save some for the kids.

After coming to an agreement with Manager Wang, they headed home with their baskets full of goods.

This time, when they reached the village entrance and saw no one was there, both Yun Linhai and Grandpa Yun breathed a sigh of relief.

There was no helping it; those gossipy women could be truly terrifying at times.

Thankfully, the weather had turned cold, so they no longer liked to gather at the village entrance to sit in the chilly wind. Instead, they would go to the homes of people they knew well to sit around the stove and chat.

When they made it home, Granny Yun and the others were stunned to see all the things they had bought.

And many of the items weren’t cheap, either.

"Why did you buy so many things? This snowflake cream is so expensive, and don’t we still have some at home?"

Yun Jiao pressed a jar into the hands of each of the three women of the family.

"Everyone gets one."

For someone so small, her tone was incredibly authoritative.

"Dad, you and the others can use some too."

The little one really knew how to twist the knife. "Otherwise, you’ll all get old while Mom and the others stay pretty. You won’t look like a good match anymore."

Yun Linhai and the other men were speechless.

’This little brat already understands what it means to be a good match?’

Shen Yunlian and the other women, however, were so amused they burst into laughter.

Thermos flasks, one for each family unit.

Bars of soap, shampoo, and clam-shell balm for their hands were all distributed as well.

Yun Jiao had been very fair with her purchases. She bought one of any item that could be shared and purchased individual ones where needed. In the end, everyone had something.

Though she was just a little girl, she was like an elder handing out New Year’s gifts, distributing everything with meticulous care.

Once the baskets were empty, she planted her hands on her chubby hips, feeling quite tired.

But seeing that everyone had received a gift, the expression on her little face was one of immense satisfaction.

Even the two family dogs got their own new beds and enamel bowls.

Having received their new beds and bowls, the two dogs wagged their tails into a blur, picking up one item and then the other.

As for Cat Boss, he also received his own cat bed and a small enamel bowl, but being more aloof, he didn’t show much excitement.

Yun Jiao clapped her hands. "Alright, that’s everything! These are for my brothers. We can give them to them when they get back from school."

Granny Yun, holding a pile of things, looked slightly dazed. "What happened? Didn’t you take Jiaojiao to her apprenticeship ceremony? How did you end up coming back with all this stuff?"

Mr. Yun lovingly stroked the new tobacco pipe in his hand. His old one had a large crack in it, and he had just been making do with it for a while now.

He never expected his granddaughter to have noticed and bought him a new one.

This granddaughter... all the effort of raising her had paid off. Now *that* was what you call a filial child!

He decided he had to take his new pipe out for a stroll today.

"Jiaojiao’s master and senior disciples gave her red envelopes with several hundred yuan in them. The moment the little rascal got to the department store, she went on a shopping spree. We couldn’t hold her back."

Granny Yun fretted, ’This girl. How can she be so unable to save money?’

Grandpa Yun was more philosophical about it. "What’s the big deal? It just goes to show how good my granddaughter is at making money."

Granny Yun was speechless.

There was no arguing with that!

Yun Linhai held the stack of books meant for Yun Jiao. "Jiaojiao, Dad will put these in your room for you."

Yun Jiao nodded. "Okay."

Her little face scrunched up at the thought of having to read such thick books.

Everyone who received a gift now had the same idea as Grandpa Yun: they wanted to go out and show them off.

Since these little gifts were bought by Jiaojiao, it wouldn’t seem too ostentatious.

And so, the idle men, women, young, and old all strolled out the door.

Grandpa Yun took his new pipe to go find his old cronies.

The two brothers, Yun Linhai and Yun Linhe, also left with a pack of cigarettes and a brand-new lighter to find their own friends.

Meanwhile, Shen Yunlian and Wang Mei wore their new silk scarves, and Granny Yun put on her nice new hat.

Yun Jiao chose to go with Granny Yun.

After Grandpa Yun found his group of old cronies, he held the new pipe in his hand, practically shoving it in people’s faces as if afraid they wouldn’t see it.

"Well now, Old Mu, you finally willing to toss that worn-out old pipe of yours for a new one? This pipe looks pretty unusual, though."

Mr. Yun let out a couple of chuckles. "Tossed the old one. My Jiaojiao’s heart ached for her old grandpa, so she bought me this."

"What?! That little girl Yun Jiao bought it?"

"You’ve gotta be kidding, right? How old is that little girl, Yun Jiao, that she’s buying you a pipe? The one you’re holding has to cost over a yuan."

Mr. Yun clasped his hands behind his back, his chin jutting out slightly.

"What can I say? My Jiaojiao is just that filial."

"Why would I lie to you? I could never bring myself to buy such a nice pipe. My Jiaojiao took on a master who gave her a red envelope. I guess you can just blame her for being too filial; the moment she got the money, she bought this pipe for me."

"Anyway, I can’t talk anymore. I’ve got to go find Da Niu and the others."

"Hey, wait! What master? At least finish the story!"

But they were truly envious of Mr. Yun. That little girl his family had taken in wasn’t just filial; she brought good fortune with her.

Look at them, in such a short time, they had built two new houses, bought a boat, and every trip out to sea brought a great harvest.

Sigh... You could only say it was truly a blessing.

On the other side, the brothers Yun Linhai and Yun Linhe, cigarettes tucked behind their ears and lighters in hand, were likewise telling everyone that their gifts were bought by Yun Jiao.

Yun Linhe said, "Our Jiaojiao just loves to spend money a little too much. The moment she sees something we need, she buys it right away. We don’t even have time to stop her."

Yun Linhai nodded along beside him. "I know, right? Such reckless spending."

Though that’s what they said, the smiles on their faces could not be suppressed.

Their childhood friends were speechless.

’Your smug faces are truly hideous!’

Yun Linhe was a true master of the humblebrag, his words nearly giving his childhood friends an aneurysm.

"You’ve got to be bragging. A three-year-old pipsqueak like Yun Jiao can buy you things with her own money?"

"And why not?"

"Our Jiaojiao is really lucky. Every time we go out to sea, she catches plenty just by fishing. So, our family gives her a share of the money we make from our trips. Her grandma keeps the money for her, but what can you do when Jiaojiao is just so filial?

With the New Year just around the corner, she asked her grandma for a little money, and we never expected her to spend it all on us. You tell me, how can such a little person be so bossy? If we try to stop her from buying things, she gets upset and throws a fit."

Everyone was speechless.

’Get lost, both of you, just get lost!’

But still... they were genuinely envious.

They looked at their own children, then at someone else’s.

The pain all came from the comparison.

Still, it was truly absurd. To think they actually gave Yun Jiao a share of the income from their sea trips.

Was there something wrong with that family’s heads?

Things were even more lively over with the women.

The moment Shen Yunlian and Wang Mei went out wearing the colorful silk scarves around their necks, they immediately drew a crowd of the neighborhood women.

"That color is so beautiful, and the flowers on it are lovely too! Where did you buy it? Look at you two, actually willing to spend money on silk scarves!"