A New Dawn for the Whitlocks Chapter 5

Liang had fallen asleep on the kang. Lily Summers was sewing under the lamp when there was a knock on the door. Lily Summers asked, "Who is it?" Zhang Da Hu's voice came from outside the door, saying, "Lily Summers, it's Dad, can you come in?" Lily Summers got off the kang, opened the door, and saw Zhang Da Hu holding a pot of hot dumplings. Lily Summers said, "Dad, why are you still making dumplings so late? Did my mother make them?" Zhang Da Hu said, "I made them myself, try them." Then he entered the house. Lily Summers looked at the steaming dumplings and said, "Dad, let's eat together."

Mr. Zhang lit up his water pipe and said, "I've eaten, you should eat quickly, I've sent it to your brother." Lily Summers ate the dumplings slowly. Mr. Zhang said, "Lily Summers, I have something to discuss with you. I want your mother to take you and Liang to see grandma tomorrow. Grandma heard that you and Liang got married and she's been looking forward to you two coming back to see her. You two can stay for ten days or half a month. Do you think it's okay?" Lily Summers said, "I'll listen to Dad. But I have to tell my brother."

Mr. Zhang said, "Oh, I forgot to tell you. Your brother just finished eating dumplings and went to the night market with the farmhands. He is so old, but he still wants to have fun. He has to go to the night market by the sea to see the scene. It's more than a hundred miles away. He won't be back until tomorrow evening... This kid, he didn't tell you before he left?" Lily Summers looked at Mr. Zhang blankly...

The next morning, Lily Summers and Liang got on the carriage. Mr. Zhang waved his hand and said, "Go without worry. I'll let your brother know when he comes back." Lily Summers was still looking around when the carriage drove out of the village.

Lily Summers and the others had been gone for only a short while when Aiden Whitlock and the farmhands came back. Aiden Whitlock entered the yard and called for Lily Summers. He called in the yard, in the small room, and in the new house... He searched everywhere but couldn't find her.

Aiden Whitlock ran into the hall and asked Mr. Zhang, "Uncle, where is Lily Summers? Why did Lily Summers disappear?" Mr. Zhang sat down and said, "Aiden Whitlock, sit down and talk slowly." Aiden Whitlock said, "Uncle, where did Lily Summers go?" Mr. Zhang said, "This is what happened. Your aunt took Lily Summers and grain to Hebei to visit his grandmother. They will stay there for a while." Aiden Whitlock asked, "How long will they stay?" Mr. Zhang said, "Maybe one or two years. Don't worry. Lily Summers told me to treat you well before she left. She also left you twenty silver dollars. You can stay here with peace of mind. It will only be one or two years. If you want to find her, that's fine. Here is the address." Mr. Zhang put an envelope in Aiden Whitlock's hand and put twenty silver dollars in it.

Aiden Whitlock stood there in a daze. Mr. Zhang said, "It's getting late, take a rest. You can eat here with me tomorrow morning."

Aiden Whitlock was stunned for a moment, then took the envelope and the silver dollar and put them in his arms, saying "I'm going to look for my sister", and left without looking back. Zhang Da Hu was left alone in the room, squinting his eyes, taking a long puff of water pipe, and laughing sinisterly.

More than ten days later, a large cart brought Lily Summers and Liang's mother back. Mr. Zhang greeted them at the door. Lily Summers rushed into the yard and asked, "Dad, where is my brother?"

Mr. Zhang shook his head and said, "Well, this stubborn man, no matter how I tried to persuade him, he wouldn't change his mind. In the end, he left, saying that he was going to Guandong to find your father. I had no choice but to give him twenty silver dollars..." Lily Summers looked at Mr. Zhang blankly, and she suddenly understood everything.

Lily Summers returned to her room, regretting her decision. She closed the door, feeling grief-stricken, and blamed herself for her carelessness. After crying for a long time, Lily Summers made up her mind: she had to leave, because staying would please Mr. Zhang. She had to leave anyway to find Aiden Whitlock. That night, Lily Summers comforted Liang, but she shed tears and said, "Liang, I can't live anymore. Your father is too cruel and sinister!" Liang saw Lily Summers crying, and he cried anxiously too. Lily Summers said, "Liang, ask me to go find Brother Aiden Whitlock, and I won't cry if I find him." Liang said, "Dad told me to keep an eye on you!" Lily Summers said, "Do you believe me or Dad?" Liang scratched his head and said, "I believe you." Lily Summers scratched his nose and said with a smile, "You are so good, I will play with you when I come back." Liang nodded, and his expression became serious for the first time, and said, "Lily Summers, go away, you will not have a good life in my house. Aunt Liu told me that Brother Aiden Whitlock is your man, you go find him. I will protect you from Dad and Mom, you go quickly."

Lily Summers immediately hugged Liang in her arms, K!ssed him fiercely, and cried, "Liang, I'm sorry for you. You are a good man. You will definitely find a better wife than me in the future!" Liang touched his face, tears streaming down his eyes, and said, "I only want you."

The fields in spring are full of vitality, and the whole place is filled with the spirit of spring.

On the winding path, the carriage of the Wang family opera troupe was moving slowly forward, and several musicians played their instruments and sang a two-person opera tune:

In the first month of the year, we celebrate the New Year.

The widow in her room asked her heart,

The widow was thirty-two years old.

At the age of seventeen, I entered the door...

The carriage suddenly stopped. The troupe owner Wang Laoyong jumped off the carriage and asked anxiously: "Why did it stop?" The artist with the stage name "Big Machine" walked around the horse's head and approached Wang Laoyong and said: "Master, there is a girl kneeling on the road ahead asking for directions!" Wang Laoyong said: "Oh? Is she blocking the road?"

It was Lily Summers who was blocking the road. She knelt in the middle of the road, her eyes red and tears hanging on her eyelashes. She shouted, "Master." Wang Laoyong helped her up and said, "Girl, get up quickly. What are you talking about? Where are you from? What's your name? What are you doing kneeling here?"

Lily Summers stood up and said, "Master, I am a refugee from Shandong. My surname is Tan and my name is Lily Summers. I was separated from my family on the road and have no way to make a living. Please accept me." Wang Laoyong sighed and said, "You are a pitiful child, but the opera troupe is also in trouble now. Nowadays, fewer and fewer people invite actors to perform, and the opera troupe is not doing well. They may not be able to support you even if they take you with them." Lily Summers said, "Master, I don't eat for free. I can do everything, such as sewing, mending, washing, and cooking." Wang Laoyong said, "My daughter, it's not like that. The opera troupe does all these jobs by themselves. They don't support idle people!" Lily Summers said, "I want to learn opera from you and earn money to support myself in the future."

Wang Laoyong waved his hands and said, "No, no, I can't do this unless I have to. Besides, this is the Peng Peng Opera Troupe, and they have never accepted female apprentices since ancient times." Da Jiji said, "Master, this rule has been broken. The Ma family troupe recently accepted a female apprentice, and she is quite popular." Wang Laoyong glared at Da Jiji and said, "You know everything!"

Big Machine stuck out his tongue and said, "I heard that, too." Wang Laoyong said, "Girl, let me tell you something you don't like. Of all the 360   professions, this one is the most despicable. It's not even counted among the three religions and nine classes. Singing opera is at the bottom of the nine classes. It's worse than beggars, and even worse than prostitutes. Everyone laughs at it. If you have a chance to make a living, don't try to do this. Girl, I'm sorry I can't take you in. Don't blame me for being cruel. I'm doing this for your own good."

Lily Summers said, "Master, I have no way to make a living. I learn opera from you not only for a living, but I like the opera troupe and I like singing opera. I am not afraid of being laughed at. Please accept me." Wang Laoyong stamped his feet and said, "You are a child and don't know how to behave. I am an adult and I cannot be foolish like you. Get in the car and go!"

Da Ji Ji begged Wang Lao Yong, "Master, Miss Xian Er is so lonely and pitiful, please be kind and keep her." Wang Lao Yong frowned and said, "You are so young, what do you know? Why don't you keep me? I've said before, don't think we are singing on the stage, and everyone is following our duo, but in people's eyes, we are doing the lowest profession. What do they call us? Opera actors! Who would do this if they could make a living? Count the people in the opera troupe, who doesn't have a roof over their heads and a piece of land? Who doesn't wander around the world without a home? Take you, Da Ji Ji, for example, how did you get into the opera troupe? Didn't I pick you up in the snow? We are suffering, why do we have to drag down other people's girls?"

Big Machine said: "She is now alone and without any relatives."

Wang Laoyong said: "She still has a way out. At least she still has something to look forward to."

Big Machine said: "But who can support her now?"

Wang Laoyong said: "There will be a way when the car reaches the mountain, so you don't have to worry about it. Let's go and hurry on."

The driver, Da Ji Ji, raised his whip and said, "Master, look, she is still kneeling on the road." Wang Lao Yong stamped his feet and said, "Girl, why are you so determined to stick to one path? What's so good about the opera troupe?" Xian Er was in tears, kneeling on the ground with her head down and not saying a word. Da Ji Ji advised again, "Master, Xian Er is sincere, please take her in."

Seeing Lily Summers's pitiful appearance, other artists also advised: "Yes, Master, please keep her." Wang Laoyong said: "Girl, even if I keep you, what can you do? Everyone can do odd jobs, but it's too late for you to learn opera at your age. I can't support someone for nothing, can I?" Lily Summers said: "Master, I used to sing opera and can sing a few parts." Wang Laoyong said: "Oh? How many parts can you sing? Sing for me." Lily Summers said: "Why not? Which part?" Wang Laoyong said: "Look at your tone, it's up to you."

Lily Summers said, "Then I will perform a piece of "Mu Guiying's Expedition to the West", the part where she selects the generals." As she spoke, she began to sing. Although her singing was still immature, it was also very rhythmic, but with a strong flavor of Lü Opera. Wang Laoyong asked in surprise, "Have you ever sung Shandong Qinshu in the past?" Lily Summers nodded and said, "Yes."

Wang Laoyong said: "Alas, my daughter, it is hard to do our job. You can only shut your mouth when the chicken opens its mouth." Lily Summers said: "Master, I know, I can bear it!" Wang Laoyong said: "It is difficult to do our job. You have to sing in the south, sing in the north, and sing in the east. It is not easy to learn nine tunes, eighteen tunes, and seventy-two coughs." Lily Summers said: "I know, I will learn well from my master." Wang Laoyong said: "If you sing wrong, you will be beaten. If you get sick or die, you will have to leave the class. No one will take care of you." Lily Summers said: "I am not afraid!" Wang Laoyong said: "Okay, if that's the case, then I will accept you. Get in the car."

Lily Summers kowtowed and said, "Thank you, Master!" Lily Summers got on the car and talked with everyone, feeling secretly happy. It turned out that the Wang family troupe was also going to Guandong. They were like migratory birds, and they would return north when the weather got warmer. Lily Summers said to herself, "Brother Aiden Whitlock, I was desperate and accidentally entered the troupe, but I was still heading towards Guandong. God made me find you for sure."

It was getting late, and the troupe settled in a carriage inn. The troupe leader Wang lived in a room by himself. He cleaned up and called Lily Summers in. The room was filled with smoke and candlelight. On the table was a tablet of Tang Minghuang, the founder of the opera world, and next to it were the tablets of the master and the teacher. Wang Laoyong burned incense and prayed: "Master and teacher, our troupe will have another child today. It's a break in the rules. It's a girl. There's nothing we can do. This child has spiritual roots and is a good seedling. I won't make a mistake. The child will definitely become famous and bring honor to our troupe. She will never disgrace the master."

Lily Summers knelt down obediently, put his hands together, and kowtowed three times. Da Jiji helped Lily Summers up and said, "Kowtow to the master."

Wang Laoyong sat upright on a chair. Lily Summers came over, knelt down with a plop, and called out: "Master!" He kowtowed three times and then knelt straight again. Wang Laoyong said: "Now that you have become my disciple today, you are a member of the troupe. The country has its laws, the family has its rules, and our troupe also has its rules. Once you join the troupe, you are a member of the troupe in life and a ghost of the troupe in death. It is considered as a citizen. During the apprenticeship period, you will not have any role, but you will be provided with food and accommodation. The master will teach you, and you are not allowed to complain even if you are beaten or punished. After you become an apprentice, you must work for the troupe and get role according to your contribution..."

Lily Summers nodded and said, "Master, I remember it." Wang Laoyong said, "What I just said was the rules of learning art and acting. We actors must first be good people. No one in this world treats us actors as human beings, but we must treat ourselves as human beings and never belittle ourselves. You are not allowed to talk about marriage after joining the troupe. If you want to get married, you have to leave the troupe. Why? These thousands of fans support you and admire you. Why? Because you belong to everyone, and you are their dream. If you are a pig head in the temple---you have a master, who will support you? Then you will be dead in the eyes of the fans and worthless. All right, get up. Big machine, send your sister back to the house to rest."

Lily Summers left the room. Wang Laoyong said, "Wait, I have one more thing to tell you. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Change your accent in the future." Lily Summers said crisply, "Hey!"

The spring is in the Jingou, and the water in the Hetao waterway is gurgling. The water on the Liuzi is gurgling, and the water on the Jin Biaoqi is gurgling. The "hero stake" has been set up. The gold diggers buried a three-meter-long wooden pole in front of the workshop, and the gold boss tied a red cloth devoutly. There was an offering table in front of the temple. The gold boss led the gold diggers to kneel on the grass in unison, and performed a pious ceremony of worshiping the mountain and the water. After the worship, Jin Dana supported a skinny man and stood in front of everyone and said: "Guys, today I have invited Lao Jin Nugget from Mohe with a lot of money. He is a good expert in gold panning and ditching. Follow him and you will get rich."

After giving the order, Jin Dana sang again:

Not afraid of eating,

Not afraid of being smashed,

I'm afraid of being scratched by claws.

Not afraid of Dad,

Not afraid of mother,

I’m afraid that gold won’t go to bed.

Qingliuzi,

Keep your mind right.

Otherwise your puppy will die.

To press the key,

Down the deep well,

I also cleaned out the crotch...

Old Jin Nugget also closed his eyes and sang:

Mountain God, Water God,

Say hello and send a message,

We will break ground today.

The mountains have their own spirits.

There are water monsters in the water.

There is a king of grasses.

The earth has Tuxingsun,

Please forgive me.

Get rich and get a big gold nugget,

Come back to repay the gods!

Everyone shouted together: "Make a fortune, make a fortune!"

Outside the wooden houses where the gold diggers lived, many gold diggers were packing up their tools. Niu Dejin said to Connor Whitlock: "Brother Zhu, it's really interesting to worship the mountains and waters. Gold diggers have so many things to say." Little Jinli interrupted and said: "That's not true!" Niu Dejin said: "What's the ability of that old gold nugget? Even the big cabinet is respectful to him." Connor Whitlock said: "This old gold nugget is not simple. He is famous for thousands of miles. Lagou is all thanks to him." Niu Dejin asked: "Hey, I heard about Lagou when I came here. What exactly is Lagou?"

Little Jinli said, "You don't know this? You call it Dejin, or Deshi. Let me tell you, ditching means looking at the water, stones, and the trend of the mountains in the gold field." Niu Dejin asked, "Why do you look at these?" Lao Yaner said, "You are stupid and don't want to listen. It's about choosing a nest. If you don't choose the right nest, your work will be in vain." Niu Dejin said, "Oh, I see."

The leader of the group raised a tattered flag on the wooden pole in front of the door. Little Jinli said, "The flag is raised. Let's go!"

The gold miners carried pickaxes and shovels and went to work. Old Jin Nugget carried a stick and looked at the mountains and water with a serious face. Connor Whitlock and the gold miners who lived in the same room followed closely behind him. Old Jin Nugget said: "Well, this is a good place, Mantou Mountain. Where there are mountains, there are gullies. To see the gullies, you need to look at the direction. There is no gold in the north-south direction, but there is gold in the east-west direction."

Connor Whitlock asked, "What do you mean?" The old gold nugget said, "What is gold? It's a spirit! The sun rises in the east and sets in the west, and gold follows the sun, moving from east to west. Look at this ditch gate, it's tight, there must be gold. The water is also good, it can hold water, but gold can stand." Connor Whitlock said, "There is a lot of knowledge here."

Old Jin Nedda led his men to the Hetao again, bent down to pick up a fat stone and said: "Well, this stone is female, good." Connor Whitlock asked: "Do stones have male and female?" Old Jin Nedda stared and said: "Don't ask!" He pointed at one place after another with a stick, "Here, here." The gold diggers dared not say anything and started digging at the place where Old Jin Nedda pointed. Old Jin Nedda suddenly sighed and said: "Alas, if He Lao Si was alive, there would be no need for me! The gold veins of Wudaogou are all in his belly..."

Connor Whitlock's partner was a young man named Shunzi, who was very strong but inexperienced. It was all thanks to Connor Whitlock's care. The two of them made rapid progress. Others' wells were still shallow, but theirs was nearly two meters deep. At noon that day, Connor Whitlock was late for drinking at Dahei Yatou's place. When he arrived at the river, he saw Shunzi working hard. Connor Whitlock smiled, but frowned when he got closer. It turned out that Shunzi didn't know the rules of digging gold and expanded the well mouth into a square one.

Da Jinli came over and said, "Hey, boy, do you know how to dig? Expand the well into a square. Digging a round mouth is the old rule, why haven't you figured it out yet?" Connor Whitlock ran over and said, "I'm sorry, he has never dug a well and doesn't know the rules. Okay, I'll do as you say."

As he was talking, Jin Dana came to inspect the work. When he walked to Connor Whitlock's well, he was furious and said, "Who told you to do this? Huh?" Connor Whitlock said, "This kid doesn't understand the rules." Jin Dana was furious and said, "He doesn't understand, and neither do you? Expanding the well mouth into a square will prevent me from panning for gold! Whoever digs a square well must go down! You get down the well, get down now!" Jin's husband was shocked and hid behind Connor Whitlock. Connor Whitlock said, "He is still a child, forget it..."

Hearing the noise, Jin Baotou ran over and said, "Boss, what happened?" Jin Dana said, "Look!" Jin Baotou was shocked and said, "Oh my god, kid, you are in trouble. According to the rules, you have to go down the well. Go down quickly." Jin Fu looked at Connor Whitlock in fear. Connor Whitlock sighed and went down the well silently. Suddenly, the well collapsed. Everyone was stunned, exclaimed, and surrounded him.

Jin Baotou waved his hand indifferently and said: "Fill up the well! This well is depressing!" None of the Jinfu moved. Jin Baotou roared, waved a stick and beat the Jinfu, saying: "You want to rebel! Fill it up!" Little Jinli cried, dug the soil of the well and said: "Boss, you can't be so cruel, he is still alive!" Jin Baotou was unmoved, and the Jinfu had no choice but to fill up the square well. As soon as the well was leveled, everyone was stunned---the soil in the well kept loosening, and in a moment, Connor Whitlock stood up from the soil of the well, and he had become a native! Big Jinli and Little Jinli stared at Connor Whitlock in a daze. Lao Yaner exclaimed: "Oh my God, is this a human? It's simply a god!" Jin Dana and Jin Baotou retreated in fear. Connor Whitlock walked forward slowly and forced Jin Baotou to the side of the cliff. Connor Whitlock clenched his fists and his eyes were blazing. The husbands gathered around, wanting to see a fierce fight. Unexpectedly, Connor Whitlock clasped his fists and said, "It's not easy for any of us!" Then he fell to the ground with a bang.

Little Jinli carried Connor Whitlock back to the hut of the Jinfus, running around. Connor Whitlock had just let out a sigh of relief, and when he relaxed, he suddenly felt weak. It took him half a day to recover. In the evening, Little Jinli fed him water and food. Big Jinli came over and said, "Old Zhu, I'm sorry. I admit my mistake. You, the big man, didn't fight with the small man. It's all my fault for being blind."

Connor Whitlock said softly: "My dear, we are all well-traveled people, and the poor people in the world are brothers. Even if the mountains don't change, the water will change. The two hilltops will never meet. Even if the two people break up, they may meet again in the future. Forgive others when you can, the old saying is not wrong." Da Jinli said: "Old Zhu, you are simply a god. What kind of kung fu did you learn? Teach me." Connor Whitlock smiled and said: "Where did I get the kung fu? People can do anything when they are desperate, and dogs will jump over the wall when they are desperate, right?" There was something behind his words. Da Jinli understood, of course, and said: "That's right."

The big black girl came and stared at Connor Whitlock and said, "Oh, it's incredible. It's spread in the gold field that you, Zhu Laosan, can't get out of the well without a thousand and eight hundred pounds of strength! You must have practiced the Golden Bell Cover and Iron Cloth Shirt. I'm convinced!" Connor Whitlock said, "Stop it, don't make a fuss. I'm telling you the truth. I really don't know kung fu, but I have a lot of strength." The big black girl said, "That's also supernatural power." Connor Whitlock avoided the topic and said, "It's been a while since I went to your place to drink. I'll invite our leader to your place to drink someday, and I'll invite you as well." The big golden grain said, "No, I'll still invite you to calm you down."

The goldsmiths were busy. A group of bandits came on horseback, stirring up a cloud of dust. Behind one horse was an old man's body, bloody and mangled. The goldsmiths stopped what they were doing and approached the stopped horse team from different directions.

As they walked, Xiao Jinli whispered to Connor Whitlock: "Oh my god, what's going on?" Connor Whitlock had a gloomy face and was speechless.

Jin Dana ran over and said to the bandits in a cryptic voice:

"Who are you?"

"I am me."

"Press your wrist!"

"Turn off the fire."

"Where did you get it from?"

"Hulanhaka."

"The grass stem is empty? The grass stem is rich in water, the empty stem is connected to the sea, neither empty nor dry, the grass roots are rolled up?"

The bandit stopped talking in jargon and said, "Thank you. Are you the head of the shop here?" Jin Dana said, "Yes." The bandit raised his whip and said, "Well, you have nothing to do. Look carefully, this is an old gold prospector, a Shandong native, not one of you. The old guy wants to take the gold he mined last year back to Shandong, he is courting death!" Connor Whitlock looked indifferent, and Xiao Jinli beside him looked at the corpse in horror. Da Jinli, Niu Dejin, Lao Yan'er and others listened with different expressions. The gold prospectors looked at each other with different expressions.

The bandit was actually full of reason: "There is no order without rules. This is our territory. We want to protect you so that you can pan for gold in peace. You can't hide the gold you have panned or take it out. This is the consequence for taking it away privately!" After saying that, he rode away on his horse in a cloud of dust.

Jin Dana was talking to everyone: "Guys, you all saw it. Is it easy for us gold diggers? We are supervised by the government, and there are several horse gangs waiting for us. We dare not hide the gold we have mined. We must hand it over to the counter and exchange it for wages. The emperor has ordered that gold is the expense of the Qing Dynasty. Even if you take out a grain, you will be punished by death. Most of you are from Shandong. For hundreds of years, how many of you have taken gold home? I advise you not to take risks and abide by the rules. Guys, the people buried here are gold diggers from Shandong. Since the Daoguang period, a gold mine has been opened here. Until now, no one has been able to take out the gold! Those who do not abide by the rules have left these bones. Think about it carefully, which is more valuable, gold or life?" Connor Whitlock still looked indifferent. But Lao Yan'er, Niu Dejin and others looked terrified.

The narrow gully was silent. Connor Whitlock led his horse and quietly hid behind a tree, looking at the quiet gully. After a long time, Connor Whitlock suddenly stabbed the horse's B*tt. The horse neighed and ran towards the gully. Connor Whitlock looked at the gully with concern. Suddenly, a row of dense gunshots came from the gully. The horse neighed and fell down. Connor Whitlock leaned against the tree trunk and closed his eyes in despair...

In Chunheshengxia's shop, Ethan Whitlock and two assistants were tidying up the shelves. Mr. Chang was teaching Caleb Whitlock to identify various goods. Xia Yuanzhang was checking the account book at the counter. Old man Xia walked into the shop. Xia Yuanzhang stood up and greeted him, saying, "Dad, why are you here instead of taking a rest? Are you worried about leaving the business to me?" As he spoke, he arranged for the old man to sit down at the table. Caleb Whitlock hurriedly served tea and said with a smile, "Old shopkeeper, have some tea. This is your favorite scented tea. I knew you could come at this time, so I brought you a blanket to cover your mouth. It's hot." Old man Xia couldn't hide his love and said, "This child is so thoughtful. He has business on his face and in his mouth."

Xia Yuanzhang said: "No doubt, but still a little dull." Old Master Xia said: "Don't worry, slowly gain experience. Yuanzhang, let me tell you something." Xia Yuanzhang said: "Dad, go ahead, your son is listening." Old Master Xia said: "Yuanzhang, there are three kinds of unfilial behavior, and the worst is to have no descendants. Yushu's mother and my grandson are gone, so you should find a new wife. Take care of this matter. You can't let the Xia family die out, that would be a shame to our ancestors. Besides, you can't let Yushu inherit this family business, right?"

Xia Yuanzhang said, "Dad, I have been completely desperate since I came back from Lushunkou. Let's put this matter aside for now." Old Master Xia said, "Don't delay it for too long. It won't delay me from having a grandson. Our Xia family has only one son for three generations. I don't want to let the cigarette run out in your hands." Xia Yuanzhang said, "Dad, don't worry."

Old Master Xia said: "Alas, it's all my fault that I lost my mind. I shouldn't have let you follow my father-in-law to Lushun to do business. Wouldn't you have escaped this disaster if you stayed in Yuanbao Town?" Xia Yuanzhang said: "Alas, no one has foresight. Didn't my father-in-law join him because he had some connection with Lord Li Hongzhang? Who knew..."

Old Master Xia said, "Okay, let's not talk about this anymore. It makes me feel upset. Let's talk about these two children. I am optimistic about Caleb Whitlock. He has talent, but I don't know if he has a good heart. We have to wait and see." Xia Yuanzhang said, "How do I see it?" Old Master Xia smiled and said, "I have my own way." He took out a copper coin from his pocket. Xia Yuanzhang understood and said, "Can it work?" Old Master Xia said, "Why not?"

Two days later, Ethan Whitlock was sweeping the yard in the morning when he found a few copper coins in the corner of the wall. He looked around to see if there was anyone around and put them in his pocket. However, Caleb Whitlock saw this and advised him, "Brother, you can't keep the things on the counter. Hand them over to the counter." Ethan Whitlock said, "I picked them up, how come they are on the counter? Why not keep them for something else?"

Caleb Whitlock said: "Didn't the shopkeeper say that everything in the store belongs to the counter and you should hand it in if you pick it up." Ethan Whitlock argued: "I didn't pick it up from the store either. I found it in the yard." Caleb Whitlock said: "You don't want to hand it in? If you don't, I will tell the shopkeeper." Ethan Whitlock said: "Go ahead and sue me. I picked it up anyway and I'm not afraid of suing the authorities." Caleb Whitlock glanced at him and turned around and walked towards Xia Yuanzhang's room.

Xia Yuanzhang was chatting with Yushu. Xia Yuanzhang said, "Yushu, there are not many girls who have studied as much as you do, and you can't take the imperial examination. You should work harder on needlework in the future." Yushu said, "Dad, I'm not taking the imperial examination, I just want to learn more knowledge. Why can't we go to school like Westerners, where both men and women can go to school? This is unfair." Xia Yuanzhang said, "We are the Qing Dynasty, not like Westerners, where men and women are equal. Dad has been indulgent to you, and he didn't let you bind your feet. Look, how can a girl of your age not bind her feet now?"

At this time, Caleb Whitlock came in and said, "Boss, I have something to tell you." Xia Yuanzhang: "Oh? What is it? Tell me." Caleb Whitlock said, "Boss, I found that there are always coins falling from the counter these days, and at most there are more than ten copper coins at a time." Xia Yuanzhang pretended to be surprised and said, "Really? There is nothing to be surprised about. We have many customers at the counter. Maybe they dropped the money. You can keep it if you pick it up and buy something good to honor your mother." Caleb Whitlock said, "I can't do that. Everything here is from the counter. According to the rules, no matter what you pick up, you should hand it in to the counter. I have handed it in." Xia Yuanzhang said, "Okay, that's good."

Caleb Whitlock stammered again: "Shopkeeper, my second brother also picked up money just now, but he didn't hand it in. I advised him to hand it in but he didn't listen. I thought about it for a long time and I have to tell you about this. Please discipline him more." Xia Yuanzhang frowned and said: "Oh? Is that true? This is against the store rules. I must discipline him strictly." Yushu frowned and said: "Caleb Whitlock, no matter what, he is your second brother. Aren't you betraying your brother?" Xia Yuanzhang said: "Yushu, how can you talk! The younger brother should stop the elder brother from following the rules. To learn how to do business, you must first learn how to be a human being. You must be honest and trustworthy. Caleb Whitlock, you are right."

After the test, Xia Yuanzhang had a better idea and asked Mr. Chang to cultivate Caleb Whitlock. One day, Caleb Whitlock was cleaning the counter. Mr. Chang waved and said, "Caleb Whitlock, come here." Caleb Whitlock asked, "Mr. Chang, what's the matter?" Mr. Chang held up a mink skin and said, "Test your eyesight. What kind of skin is this?" Caleb Whitlock said, "Do you need to ask? It's sable skin." Mr. Chang said, "Let me see what the product is like."

Caleb Whitlock looked at the leather carefully, touched it for a while, thought for a while and said: "Good leather, top-quality, winter leather." Xia Yuanzhang, who was sitting at the table and always paying attention to Caleb Whitlock, took over and said: "Don't worry about the sable leather that can be sent here. They are all winter leather. No one can hunt it except in winter." Caleb Whitlock said: "Boss, tell me how to hunt sable." Ethan Whitlock also came over and said: "Boss, tell me."

Xia Yuanzhang said: "Hunting martens is also called hunting big skins. They are suspicious by nature and difficult to catch. Hunters set out as soon as the first snow falls in winter. They dig traps and bury barriers in places where these animals appear, and then chase them. This chase will last all winter until the beginning of the next spring, when the snow on the mountains melts and the mountain roads become muddy. The martens will return to the old places step by step, looking back. As it is, a wise man will make a thousand plans, but there will always be a mistake. In the end, they will fall into the trap and become the hunter's prey. The best hunter can only catch one marten a year."

The two children were fascinated by what they heard and exclaimed: "Oh, sables are so hard to catch!" Xia Yuanzhang said: "It is precisely because they are hard to catch that they are so precious. The best sable furs are all tributed to the imperial palace. In addition to making jackets, vests and waistcoats for the emperor's Concub!nes, they are mainly used to make sleeves for the emperor's ministers." Caleb Whitlock said: "Made into sleeves? Such a good thing is used to make sleeves?" Xia Yuanzhang smiled slightly and said: "How can the emperor and his ministers not spit when they eat delicious food all day? They are too proud to spit in front of everyone, so they spit in the sable sleeves. The sable sleeves have one advantage, that is, they will not get muddy or watery. When you get to a place where no one is around, just shake them lightly and the spit will fly out." Caleb Whitlock said: "Oh, no wonder sable fur is said to be a treasure of Guandong Mountain. It is indeed a good thing."

Xia Yuanzhang said: "Caleb Whitlock, come with me. I'll show you something." Ethan Whitlock said: "Boss, can I take a look too?" Xia Yuanzhang said: "It's no use showing it to you. Go and clean up the warehouse." Ethan Whitlock had no choice but to go out with his head down.

On the shelves of the upstairs warehouse, various rare products from Guandong are neatly arranged. Xia Yuanzhang holds something up and asks, "Caleb Whitlock, look, what is this?" Caleb Whitlock says, "This is deer antler, right?"

Xia Yuanzhang smiled and said, "Right. Can you tell the quality of this thing by its color?" Caleb Whitlock shook his head. Xia Yuanzhang said, "The best quality antler is called blood slice. In spring, the antlers of deer fade and new antlers begin to grow. If you cut it while it's still young, it's a blood slice. When it's old, it's worthless. How do you tell if it's a blood slice? Cut off a piece and look at it in the sun. If there's red, it's a blood slice. Look at this piece and remember the color."

Caleb Whitlock looked at the blood smear of deer antlers in the sunlight and sighed, "Boss, there is so much knowledge about mountain products!"

Ethan Whitlock cleaned up the storeroom, bored, and slipped out of the door. He saw Hei Niu squatting at the door of the Wu family shop next door. He went over, pulled Hei Niu and said: "Let's play bone throwing. Whoever loses will get a big coin." Hei Niu thought for a while and agreed. The two of them started to compete enthusiastically. After a few rounds, Ethan Whitlock lost. Hei Niu said: "You lost, give me a big coin." Ethan Whitlock said: "I don't have it now, I owe it to you first. Come on, let's play again." Hei Niu said: "You are cheating, I don't want to play with you." Ethan Whitlock grabbed Hei Niu's collar and said: "Do you want to play or not? If not, give me back what you won." Hei Niu said: "Why should I give it back to you? I won." Ethan Whitlock said: "If you don't give it back, I will beat you!" Hei Niu said: "You dare!" Ethan Whitlock said: "I dare!"

The two men started fighting. The angry Hei Niu picked up a stone and smashed it on Ethan Whitlock's head, causing blood to flow out of his head. Ethan Whitlock also got angry and picked up the broom by the door and rushed towards the window of Wu's shop, tearing the window paper to pieces. Shopkeeper Wu went out and shouted, "Shopkeeper Xia, come out and see, your clerk has gone crazy!"

Xia Yuanzhang and Caleb Whitlock from upstairs hurried out of the shop. Xia Yuanzhang shouted: "Ethan Whitlock, stop being wild! Go back!" Caleb Whitlock hugged Ethan Whitlock tightly and said: "Second brother, go back." Yushu said: "Caleb Whitlock, you don't have to stop him. Hei Niu is too wild. Why did he break your brother's head? You should go up!" Xia Yuanzhang yelled at his daughter: "Don't fan them. I will deal with you one by one later!"