A New Dawn for the Whitlocks Chapter 7

In the Zhu family courtyard in the morning light, Ethan Whitlock woke up, rubbed his sleepy eyes, touched the mattress, and pushed Caleb Whitlock to wake up: "San'er, did you pee on the bed again?" Caleb Whitlock said: "I didn't pee, you did!" Ethan Whitlock said: "You are playing tricks again! Look at your pants, is it wet?"

Caleb Whitlock laughed: "Brother, it's useless to look, I'm not wearing any pants, my bottom is naked." Ethan Whitlock: "Okay, you kid, you've been prepared, I'll tell our mother!" Caleb Whitlock said: "Sue me if you want! How did I get the bed-wetting problem? Isn't it because of you? You and Yushu made me drink eight cups of wine, and the old shopkeeper didn't know about it and gave me tea, but I didn't suffocate to death. I haven't settled the score with you yet!" Ethan Whitlock: "Hey, what's wrong with you? Why do you always pee on the bed? Can't you hold it back?"

Caleb Whitlock said: "Alas, ever since you and Yushu played a trick on me that time, I often have dreams at night. I dream that I have to hold my urine, and I look for a toilet everywhere, but I can't find it. In the end, I always find it, take out my little bird and pee, wow... I wake up halfway through peeing, but I can't hold it back, so I just pee to my heart's content. Ah, it feels so good! You are the one who gave me this problem. I'm sorry, as long as you don't get married, you can sleep in the same bed with me and bear with it." Ethan Whitlock said: "Okay, I'll bear with it, but what will you do if you find a wife in the future? You will blame your wife for peeing on the kang?" Caleb Whitlock said: "Don't worry about this. There will be a way out when you get to the mountain." Ethan Whitlock said: "Okay, okay, I won't worry about it. Get up and dry the piss on the mattress."

The family had dinner in the courtyard. Wen's mother said happily: "My third son has made progress and is now working behind the counter. In the future, learn from Shopkeeper Xia and become a good businessman to bring honor to your father." Ethan Whitlock said with a frown: "What's the big deal? It's just working behind the counter. If you tie up too many people, you won't have time to play anymore!"

Wen's mother glared at him and said, "You only know how to play. When will you stop playing? Can you become an apprentice? It will take a long time! In the future, you will be a person who can bend iron." Caleb Whitlock asked, "Mom, what is a bent iron?" Wen's mother said, "It's a plow pole. Your second brother will be a farmer."

Ethan Whitlock said: "Just farm, it's good to be free and easy, without so many troubles. Hey, San'er, does the shopkeeper know that you peed on the kang? What if you peed on someone else's kang and it collapsed?" Caleb Whitlock said: "Don't worry about that, I sleep in the barn in the yard, a single room."

Ethan Whitlock laughed and said, "That's dangerous. If you pee all night, the next day when the shopkeeper opens the door, there will be a high tide, and the shopkeeper will fall over. The shopkeeper will shout, 'Oh no, run for your life, the Bohai Sea has a high tide again, captain, quickly raise the sail and head for Lushunkou...'"

Wen's mother stroked Ethan Whitlock with a chopstick: "How dare you say that? Your brother's bed-wetting problem is caused by you. I haven't settled this account with you yet. I'm saving it for you. When your father comes back to settle the account, he will peel off your skin." Ethan Whitlock drooled: "Skin it, a dead pig is not afraid of heat. I just think I'm too dark. It would be better if I peel off this skin and reveal my delicate skin and tender meat."

Wen's mother was at a loss whether to laugh or cry: "How come you have become such a difficult person? San'er, don't worry about him. Now that we are with Manager Xia, we don't have to think about anything else. We can just focus on learning business and open a shop and become the manager in the future." Caleb Whitlock smiled and said: "Mom, that's what I think."

2

Under the scorching sun, Lily Summers followed the troupe and learned as they walked, and together they began their wandering life. Lily Summers was a dedicated person, and whenever she had time, she would study and practice attentively, especially practicing the three unique skills of Errenzhuan: the hand jade, the fan, and the handkerchief.

Lily Summers already had a foundation in opera singing and was born with a bright voice. The troupe leader Wang really did his best to teach her, and Da Ji Jin and Da La Hua even taught and cared for this junior sister. Before she knew it, Lily Summers's singing skills had become proficient and advanced, and extraordinary.

The dirt road in the wilderness illuminated by the sunset. The troupe's carriage slowly moved towards the direction of the setting sun. A hare passed by the roadside. Da Jiji and others shouted, "Catch the hare!" and chased in the direction of the hare. Lily Summers held the jade ball in his hand and shouted, "Don't chase it." As he said that, the jade ball flew out and hit the hare's head, killing it instantly.

Everyone praised: "Lily Summers, what a great skill you have!" Lily Summers said modestly: "This is nothing, haven't you seen our master's jade ball hit a flying bird?" Da Jiji said: "We have seen it, have you seen it?" Lily Summers smiled: "I have heard of it."

Big wax flower ran back happily with the rabbit in her hand and said to Wang Laoyong: "Master, this rabbit is so big. Let's stew it to nourish your body." Wang Laoyong said: "Let's eat together and have a good meal. Lily Summers, I think your stuff is good enough. You can go on stage when you have the chance." Lily Summers asked: "Master, can I do it?"

Wang Laoyong said, "I think it's OK. If you go on stage, it will be the first time for our Bengbeng Opera to have a female role. Give it a stage name." It happened that a flock of geese passed by in the sky, and Wang Laoyong had an idea and said, "I think we should call it Xiao Qiuyan."

Everyone applauded and said, "Master, this name is good, let's call it Xiao Qiuyan, it sounds good!" Lily Summers looked at the geese flying away and asked Wang Laoyong, "Master, should we continue to go north?" Wang Laoyong said, "Yes, we have arrived outside the Great Wall! Let's continue to go north."

Yuanbao Town in autumn has a unique charm. The bustling crowds of people and various shops make this town look bustling and prosperous. In Chunhesheng Shop, Caleb Whitlock was dressed neatly and cleanly, standing steadily behind the counter and counting the abacus. He really looked like a real person, even though he was standing on a wooden block.

Xia Yuanzhang and Mr. Chang sat at a table elsewhere in the shop, talking in low voices.

Mr. Chang said, "The shopkeeper has a good eye. In my opinion, this child is right." Xia Yuanzhang nodded and said, "This little kid is so steady and calm. It's rare." Mr. Chang said, "The shopkeeper has trained him well." Xia Yuanzhang said with emotion, "It's not easy for a child from a poor family to know how to cherish opportunities." Mr. Chang said, "Regardless of that, Ethan Whitlock also came from a poor family. He is much worse than you." Xia Yuanzhang said, "The two brothers are not from the same forest. Ethan Whitlock's mind is not on business."

Yushu came in from the door with a book in her hand, looking at Caleb Whitlock standing at the counter and laughing. She approached the counter, lay on it, and said to Caleb Whitlock: "Okay, I'll stand at the counter." Caleb Whitlock glanced at Xia Yuanzhang carefully and quickly, and whispered to Yushu: "The shopkeeper is over there, don't get in my way, go away!" Yushu laughed: "Why are you pretending to be so big and powerful? You look like a bear, and if you put on a melon-shaped hat, you look like a little stupid rich man." Caleb Whitlock said seriously and in a low voice: "I don't want to be a rich man, if I want to be one, I want to be a shopkeeper like your father." Yushu pouted and said: "Forget it, how can there be a shopkeeper who wets his pants?"

Caleb Whitlock was a little anxious: "You... I just peed that time, it was all your and Ethan Whitlock's fault." Xia Yuanzhang and Mr. Chang looked at Caleb Whitlock and Yushu with interest. The sound of a carriage and the shouting of the coachman came from outside the door. Mr. Chang said: "Boss, the mountain goods delivery is here. It sounds like the 'oil gourd' from Beishan. Let's go and have a look?"

Xia Yuanzhang frowned and said, "It's him again? Didn't I say that this guy is not honest? Many of the hazelnuts he sent last time had worm holes. Don't deal with him in the future." Mr. Chang said, "We have to do business when it comes to our door. We can do a good job of inspecting the goods so that we don't have to worry about him doing something stupid."

Xia Yuanzhang pondered for a while, then waved to the counter and said, "Caleb Whitlock, the counter has received some goods, go and take care of it." Caleb Whitlock replied crisply, "Hey." He ran over. Xia Yuanzhang said, "Caleb Whitlock, the guy who delivered the goods today is not very honest and not easy to deal with. It would be inappropriate to offend him. Mr. Chang and I are not in a good position to deal with him, so you go and deal with him. You must check the goods carefully. If they are reasonable, accept them. If they are adulterated, return them. But one thing is for sure, don't offend him."

Caleb Whitlock was a bit embarrassed: "Boss, can I do it?" Mr. Chang encouraged: "If the boss wants you to do it, then do it. He is here for you." Caleb Whitlock said: "Then I will try. Boss, I also have a rule. If you let me inspect the goods, I have to speak and make the final decision. Please forgive me if there are any mistakes." Xia Yuanzhang said: "Okay, you have the final say. But try not to hurt the harmony. Harmony is the most important thing. This is the bottom line of doing business." Caleb Whitlock said: "I know this. You two don't show up. Leave it to me." After that, he straightened his gown and walked out of the warehouse with his hands behind his back. Yushu looked at Caleb Whitlock with a strange look.

Ethan Whitlock and a shop assistant were unloading mountain products from the truck, including skins, mushrooms, fungus, and hazelnuts. There were not many skins, but there were a lot of dry goods, packed in sacks. Youhulu deliberately said loudly to Ethan Whitlock and the assistant in dissatisfaction: "I say, where is your shopkeeper? Why hasn't he come out yet? Is your store bullying customers or something?" Caleb Whitlock walked out of the store and said enthusiastically and seriously: "Oh, boss You, is it you? I didn't recognize you at first, I thought you were a master from some mansion, you are dressed so neatly, how can you look like a businessman?"

Youhulu looked Caleb Whitlock up and down and said, "Huh? Aren't you an apprentice? Why are you wearing a long gown? Standing at the counter? Where is your boss?" Caleb Whitlock bowed and said, "What a coincidence, the boss and Mr. Chang went into the mountains and asked me to take care of the counter for a few days." Youhulu smiled and said, "Okay, it's okay to have someone in charge. I gave you some mountain products, you can count and weigh them and take them."

Caleb Whitlock said, "Boss You, this is my first time in charge. Please forgive me if I am not considerate enough." Youhulu said, "No problem. Let's weigh them then?" Caleb Whitlock said with a smile, "Boss You is impatient, right? We can't lose the old rules. I have to check the goods first." Youhulu said, "Well, you are right. Take a look at these leathers first. They are all good leathers. Many old customers came to me and offered high prices for them, but I didn't sell them. I said that Chunhesheng and I are old customers. If I keep them for them, they will be unhappy."

Caleb Whitlock said, "The boss is being a good friend. I will tell the shopkeeper later." He carefully examined the leather and praised, "Oh, the leather is good, really good." Youhulu said, "Of course, I didn't lie. I will buy it at the old price?" Caleb Whitlock said, "No! The leather price has increased now, so our purchase price must also increase. We can't let you suffer a loss." Youhulu asked, "Do you have the final say?"

Caleb Whitlock said, "Don't worry, the shopkeeper authorized me before he left. Besides, this is my first big deal, how can I not take care of it? OK, receive the goods." The guys moved the goods. Youhulu said, "Okay, you are a quick and efficient shopkeeper. Then, how about weighing these dry goods?" Caleb Whitlock smiled and said, "Look, you are impatient again, aren't you? Check the goods first."

Youhulu said, "Let's test it. Just take a look." He opened a bag of black fungus and turned it over with his hands. "Look at these black fungus. They are so good, so strong, so dry, black, and oily! Can I pour them out for you to see?"

Caleb Whitlock smiled and said, "That's not necessary." He picked up a sack and weighed it, then picked up another one and weighed it, and then frowned, "Boss You, I'm sorry, I'm having trouble with small amounts of money recently. You can try looking at other places."

Youhulu was anxious: "What did you say? You were talking fine just now, why did you change your mind in the blink of an eye?" Caleb Whitlock asked back: "What do you think?" Youhulu felt guilty: "Don't you trust me? How about we open the package and have a look?"

Caleb Whitlock laughed again, "No need." He pulled out a special needle from his gown, inserted it into the sack, and stared at the oil gourd, "Boss You, do you still need me to pull it out?"

Youhulu's face changed: "No, no." Caleb Whitlock smiled and said: "Okay. If the boss is sincere, he can go back and pack it again, remove the stuff that comes with it, and sort it into different grades before sending it back. The small account can collect enough money to take it all. If you are not interested, you can choose another one."

Oil gourd was full of shame: "Thank you for your kindness. Oh, you are awesome, really awesome, little brother." He waved his hand, "Boys, load the truck." Then he turned around and said, "Thank you, little brother. You have given me enough face. I appreciate it."

Youhulu jumped on the carriage and clasped his fists: "Little brother, come to the mountain to visit me when you have time. I want to make friends with you, is that okay?" Caleb Whitlock also clasped his fists and said: "I'd love to. Have a nice trip." The carriage left. Ethan Whitlock, who had been watching from the side, approached Caleb Whitlock, poked him affectionately and said: "Brother, you're awesome!"

Caleb Whitlock pretended to be calm and said: "It's OK." In the shop, Grandpa Xia, Yushu, Xia Yuanzhang, and Mr. Chang all looked at Caleb Whitlock with satisfaction. Caleb Whitlock was stunned when he saw Grandpa Xia, and then he said respectfully: "Old shopkeeper, why are you here?" Yushu beside Grandpa Xia rushed to say: "I invited you here. You are great, and you didn't bring shame to our shop." Grandpa Xia tapped the table and said: "More than great, you are wonderful, really wonderful, you little kid, where did you learn these skills?" Caleb Whitlock said: "The shopkeeper and Mr. Chang have taught me a lot."

Xia Yuanzhang took the hole from Caleb Whitlock's hand and said, "Caleb Whitlock, where did you get this thing? I've never seen it before." Caleb Whitlock said, "You mean this thing? I saw it used in the government's granary in my hometown in Shandong, but it was smaller than this one. I drew a pattern a few days ago and asked the blacksmith to make it."

Mr. Chang sighed and said, "Opportunities are reserved for those who are prepared. It seems that this is absolutely true." Xia Yuanzhang said, "Okay, Caleb Whitlock has made the first contribution today. I will hold a banquet to celebrate for him." However, Caleb Whitlock was sweating profusely and stood there motionless.

Old Master Xia felt strange and asked, "What's wrong with this kid?" Caleb Whitlock cried, "Boss, I can't hold it anymore, I have to pee in my pants!" Xia Yuanzhang said, "Then go pee!" Caleb Whitlock ran away as if he had received a pardon. Everyone couldn't help laughing.

Yushu quickly chased after Caleb Whitlock, surpassed Caleb Whitlock and entered the toilet first. Caleb Whitlock turned around at the door and begged, "Yushu, Miss, please, come out, I'm going to pee my pants again!"

Yushu said: "You are not allowed to call me by my name or Miss. You must call me Sister. If you don't call me Sister, I will never go out!" Caleb Whitlock said: "You are not as old as me, why should I call you Sister?" Yushu said: "Then I don't care. If you don't call me Sister, I won't go out. You will be suffocated to death!"

Caleb Whitlock finally gave in and begged, "Sister, please, come out quickly." Suddenly, Yushu screamed "Aiya" in the toilet, and then she ran out of the toilet with a blushing face. She ran to the living room and shouted loudly, "Dad, come quickly!" Caleb Whitlock was stunned looking at her back, and he wet his pants again...

In the main hall, Xia Yuanzhang stroked Yushu's head and said kindly: "Don't be afraid, child. You have grown up and become a big girl. Dad will also hold a banquet for you to celebrate, with Caleb Whitlock." It turned out that Yushu had her first period and had seen blood. This child who had lost her mother since childhood was frightened. Yushu said shyly: "Dad, I am too embarrassed not to have a banquet with him!" Xia Yuanzhang said: "Don't be ashamed, don't be ashamed, this is a happy event, every woman has this day. Alas, these things should have been told to you by your mother, and it is difficult for me to tell you. Your grandfather has urged me so many times to let me find you a stepmother, but I am afraid that my daughter will be wronged. Let's talk about the matter of renewing the house after you get married. But where is your son-in-law? What kind of in-laws should I find for you in the future? Let's talk about it later."

After eating the dinner prepared by the shopkeeper, Caleb Whitlock went back to his room and fell asleep. After sleeping for half a night, he suddenly woke up, lifted the quilt, and smelled a urine smell. He stared at the "map" on the mattress in a daze. In the early morning, Caleb Whitlock got up and dressed, searched around the room, found a piece of sack and spread it on the urine stain, closed the door, and walked out of the room. After a while, Yushu pushed the door open, lifted the sack, looked at the "map", and laughed with his hands covering his mouth.

The shop was not open yet, and Caleb Whitlock was wiping the counter alone. Yushu quietly walked up to him and whispered, "Last night again..." Caleb Whitlock blushed and lowered his head almost to the counter. Yushu chuckled and said, "This time it looks like England. Hey, next time you can draw Italy! Italy is difficult to draw, like a tall boot, let me draw a pattern for you first?" Then he took a piece of paper and drew a map of Italy, "I saw this in a book."

Caleb Whitlock begged for mercy: "Sister, please forgive me." Yushu said: "I didn't do anything to you!" Caleb Whitlock said: "Sister, please don't tell anyone about this, it's so embarrassing!" Yushu said: "What do you think of me? Am I the kind of person who talks fast? Sister..." Caleb Whitlock interrupted her: "Sister, don't call yourself sister all the time, it makes me uncomfortable." Yushu said: "It doesn't make me uncomfortable! My brother Yuqing used to call me sister all the time..." As she spoke, her eyes turned red and she couldn't go on.

Caleb Whitlock said, "Sister, don't be upset. Can't I call you sister from now on? We have agreed that even if we call each other behind each other's backs, I have to call you Miss in front of everyone. No, call you Yushu. In fact, I have always regarded you as my sister. You know, there are no girls in our family. I really want to have a sister. How about I call you sister?" Yushu said, "No, I have to call you sister. I feel comfortable when you call me sister." Caleb Whitlock said, "But I don't feel comfortable!" Yushu said, "I don't care. Who told you to hold your pigtail in my hand?"

The weather was fine and the grass was green. Yushu sat on a big rock and dipped her feet in the water. The light on the water dazzled her eyes. She closed her eyes and turned her face up. On the grass, Caleb Whitlock's urine mat was spread out, with circles of urine stains. Yushu untied her braids and bent down. A dark cloud floated in the water, attracting fish to come around and peck at it.

Caleb Whitlock dragged his tired body into the house, washed up and walked to the bed, and was stunned to see that the bed was ironed. Caleb Whitlock put his hand under the quilt, it was warm, and it seemed to smell like sunshine, and a smile appeared on Caleb Whitlock's face.

Yushu entered the house carefully with a bowl in her hand. Caleb Whitlock smiled gratefully: "Thank you, sister." Yushu said: "Who asked you to thank me? I am here to repay my debt. I am responsible for your peeing on the kang when you sat down." She handed the bowl to Caleb Whitlock, "Drink it." Caleb Whitlock asked: "What is it? It's not arsenic, right?"

Yu Shu said coquettishly, "Go away! Here are some mantis seeds I cooked for you, a folk remedy for kang-wetting."

Mr. Chang accompanied two merchants to look at the goods in the store. Xia Yuanzhang sat at the table in the store and said to Caleb Whitlock standing opposite: "Caleb Whitlock, have you read the Art of War?" Caleb Whitlock laughed: "I don't lead troops to fight, why should I read military books?" Xia Yuanzhang said: "No, doing business is the same as fighting a war, and you also need to pay attention to strategy..."

As the two were talking, Yushu hurriedly ran into the shop, shouting, "Dad, something bad has happened to Ethan Whitlock. Blood is coming out of his nose and mouth. You should go and have a look!" Xia Yuanzhang, Caleb Whitlock and others were all frightened when they heard the news and hurried out.

Ethan Whitlock sat on the steps in front of the living room, his face covered in blood, all dripping from his nose. Caleb Whitlock asked in panic: "Second brother, what happened to you?" Ethan Whitlock cried and said: "I don't know what happened, the bleeding just won't stop, I'm going to die." Xia Yuanzhang said: "Caleb Whitlock, hurry up and get a doctor!"

As everyone was in a panic, Old Master Xia came over from another part of the courtyard with an angry face and said, "No need! This kid stole my ginseng. Let's make him a bowl of mung bean soup to help him digest it."

Caleb Whitlock said angrily: "Second brother, how did you get into trouble again! This mountain ginseng is very nutritious, how can you eat it casually!" Xia Yuanzhang sighed: "Ethan Whitlock, it's not that I don't want to keep you, you are too disappointing. You are not born to be a business person, and keeping you here will ruin your future. Pack up, I will take you back."

Caleb Whitlock wanted to plead: "Boss, please forgive him this time and give him another chance." Yushu echoed: "Dad---" Xia Yuanzhang interrupted Yushu and said: "Don't say it, it's not that I don't give him a chance, his heart is not in business, this child's heart is too wild."

Xia Yuanzhang sat on the edge of Zhu's kang in silence. Ethan Whitlock stood with his head down, extremely frustrated. Wen's mother also stood on the ground, with a guilty look on her face, saying: "Manager Xia, what can I say? It's all because of my poor discipline of my child. This child should be fired from the counter. Keeping him will only bring trouble. Look, the old man treated the ginseng like a treasure, how could he dare to eat it? Who gave him the courage?"

Ethan Whitlock said in defense, "I thought it was something good. It's not tasty at all." Wen's mother picked up a broom and beat Ethan Whitlock, scolding, "I told you to be greedy. I'll beat you to death, you useless thing!" Xia Yuanzhang stood up to stop her and said, "Mrs. Zhu, you beat the child in front of me. Isn't that the same as hitting me in the face? What happened is over and it's over." Wen's mother said, "Manager Xia, I know that thing is precious, but I don't know how much it is worth. You tell me a number and I'll pay you." Xia Yuanzhang smiled and said, "Not everything in this world can be priced. Yes, this old mountain ginseng is worth a lot of money. It is indeed worth some silver now, and you may not be able to compensate for it even if you sell your belongings, but in Ethan Whitlock's eyes, it is just a piece of grass root with bad taste. "Xia Yuanzhang stood up and picked up a pancake on the table, "Let's talk about this pancake. It is worthless now, but sometimes it is worth a life. How can this price be justified? I am not here to ask you to pay me. It is okay for me to keep this child, isn't it just an extra pair of chopsticks on the table? But it is not the case. This child is indeed not a business talent, and it is unfair for him to stay with me. Let him learn something else and let him do what he wants to do."

Wen's mother said, "If Manager Xia says so, I can't say anything. I'll keep this account and wait for his father to come back to settle it." Xia Yuanzhang waved his hand and said, "Don't keep it. There is no debt between our two families. If you really want to say there is, then I still owe you. After all, your family saved my life. Okay, I'm leaving. Don't make things difficult for the child."

After sending Xia Yuanzhang away, Wen's mother turned around and yelled at Ethan Whitlock: "Ethan Whitlock, kneel down!" Ethan Whitlock pouted: "Kneel down if you want." Wen's mother swung the broom and cursed: "You evil creature, I won't be satisfied even if I beat you to death, you are the root of trouble, you are going to piss your mother off to death!" Ethan Whitlock stiffened his neck and did not beg for mercy, but smiled at his mother, saying: "Mom, don't use so much strength, you might sprain your neck." Wen's mother became more and more angry as she beat him: "Who do you think you look like? The more I beat you, the happier you look. I'll beat you to death, you rolling meat. I told you to laugh, I told you to laugh!"

Ethan Whitlock was still giggling, rolling on the ground, and shouting, "Oh, mother, you touched my itchy spot, it's so itchy! I can't take it anymore, I have to go out for a walk and catch my breath." He jumped up, ran to the yard, led out the little red horse, climbed on the horse, and ran away. Wen's mother stood in the yard, stamping her feet and shouting, "Little ancestor, we haven't eaten yet, come back here!"

The autumn forest scenery is pleasant. The little red horse is tied to a tree and eating grass with his head down. Ethan Whitlock holds a grass stick in his mouth, rests his head on his arms and looks at the blue sky. On a nearby tree, a little squirrel is peeping at Ethan Whitlock. Ethan Whitlock laughed and hit it with a pine basket. The little squirrel slipped into the tree hole. Ethan Whitlock laughed and said to himself: "Little thing, are you laughing at me? It's nothing great. Guandong Mountain is so big. As long as you have a good body, you can make a living by doing anything. What a broken thing, it made my nose bleed, and you treat it as a treasure, and you don't want me anymore, I'm so angry!"

Mr. Chang was testing Caleb Whitlock's abacus, reciting a string of numbers as fast as frying beans: "456, 145, 125, 478, 589, 254, 267... How many are there in total?" Caleb Whitlock calculated quickly and reported the number. Mr. Chang smiled and said, "That's right." Caleb Whitlock asked, "Hey, Mr. Chang, you said that Westerners don't have abacus, how do they calculate this?" Mr. Chang said, "They have to calculate it, just a little slower."

Caleb Whitlock said, "I heard that they use pen to calculate, and they have formulas for addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, which is also very convenient." Mr. Chang said, "Chickens don't pee, each has its own way. Hey, I heard that since you moved in, no one is allowed to enter the small warehouse, what's going on?" Caleb Whitlock hesitated, "That's not the case." Mr. Chang laughed, "Caleb Whitlock, don't hide it, everyone knows it. It's nothing, young people are sleepy, just get married and it will be fine."

Xia Yuanzhang walked into the warehouse with his hands behind his back and asked, "What are you two talking about?"

Mr. Chang said: "Nothing, I was telling him about the abacus." Xia Yuanzhang handed over an IOU: "Caleb Whitlock, while the store is not busy now, go to Fuxingxiang to collect the debt." Caleb Whitlock agreed: "Hey. How to say it? Shopkeeper, teach me?" Xia Yuanzhang smiled: "No need to teach, just watch and tell." Caleb Whitlock took the IOU and left. Mr. Chang was full of confusion: "Shopkeeper, Fuxingxiang...what are you talking about?" Xia Yuanzhang whispered a few words in Mr. Chang's ear. Mr. Chang laughed: "You really have good intentions, this kid is too kind, he really needs to work hard in this area."

Fuxingxiang is a small grocery store. On the eight-immortal table was an IOU. Boss Wu said to Caleb Whitlock with a sad face: "My dear, please put the IOU away. I will pay you back. It's not that I don't want to pay you back, but I really can't pay you back right now." Caleb Whitlock said: "Boss Wu, I'm not forcing you to pay back. We are really short of money. Yesterday, Lao You from the mountain sent us a truckload of mountain products. We didn't have cash, so we confiscated it and offended all our customers. If you don't pay us back, our business will be in trouble. What's the saying? Borrow and repay, and it will be easy to borrow again. All businessmen know this."

Boss Wu's wife shed tears: "Brother, this money is really impossible to pay back. Originally, we were ready to pay back the debt, but who knew that man proposes, God disposes. My mother stretched her legs with a bang, and the coffin was not prepared, so she took it away for emergency. My mother suffered all her life, and as her daughter, I really have to watch the yellow earth hit her face? Oh... As a child, can't we be filial? Brother, you also have parents, can't you be considerate?"

Caleb Whitlock listened and cried: "Oh, your words reminded me of my grandparents. They died without money for coffins, so my mother killed the old poplar tree in her yard to make coffins for them." Boss Wu said: "Oh, people are all made of flesh and blood. Put yourself in their shoes. Go back and talk to your shopkeeper and ask him to give you a few more days. I will pay you back as soon as I have the money."

Caleb Whitlock wiped his tears and said, "Okay, I'll go back and talk." Caleb Whitlock replied to Mr. Xia, who didn't even raise his head and just said that there was no time to delay and asked Caleb Whitlock to go again. Caleb Whitlock had no choice but to go back. This happened for the third time, and Boss Wu said something harsh and refused to pay. Caleb Whitlock had no choice but to go back to the shop with his head down.

Xia Yuanzhang burned his feet, stared at Caleb Whitlock standing opposite with his hands hanging down, and said earnestly: "Caleb Whitlock, let me tell you, this business is just two words, one is buy, the other is sell. Buying requires payment, selling requires payment, what is the bond between buyers and sellers? It's money. There is a lot of knowledge here about collecting money. You have failed to collect debts three times today, and you have violated the three taboos of debt collection. The first taboo is the word "kindness". You cannot be compassionate when collecting debts. Anyone who owes money, unless he is a rogue, who doesn't make people pity him? If you have compassion, you will never ask for the debt back. The second taboo is the word "faint". You asked for the debt for the second time, and the words that the shopkeeper Wu said were all twisted logic, and you should have argued with reason. But what about you? He scared you. The third taboo is the word "cowardice". You are afraid when he says he wants to die? Has anyone ever forced someone to death by collecting debts? Yes, if the demands are reasonable, it is not against the law to force someone to death!"

Upon hearing this, Caleb Whitlock took a deep breath and said, "Boss, I can't bear it." Xia Yuanzhang sighed, "Son, I know you have a kind heart, which is good, and it's why I value you. But once you enter the business world, kindness is unnecessary. This is what is meant by the saying that there is no father and son in the business world." Upon hearing this, Caleb Whitlock's smiling face turned cold.

Xia Yuanzhang said: "Okay, let's not talk about this today. If I talk too much, you won't be able to bear it. In the future, I will teach you what to say when you ask for a debt three times. In short, debt collection is not done with fists, but with a mouth. Let me tell you how the merchants in Huang County sell fur coats with their mouths. You are from Shandong, haven't you heard of it? The mouths of Huang County are the legs of Ye County. The merchants in Huang County sell fur coats with their mouths. They can sell a rotten fur coat in a lively way, holding the rotten fur coat high and talking nonsense: Look at this fur coat, the fur, oh, the fur has fallen off; look at this board---with a poke of the finger, a hole is poked in the leather board. They laugh at themselves, look at this mouth..."

Xia Yuanzhang spoke vividly, while Caleb Whitlock listened blankly. Xia Yuanzhang sighed and said, "Alas, you don't understand. Take my foot washing water out and throw it away." Caleb Whitlock walked to the door with the foot washing water, and suddenly squatted on the ground and laughed non-stop. Xia Yuanzhang asked, "What are you laughing at?" Caleb Whitlock smiled and said, "People in Huang County should say, look at this finger!" Xia Yuanzhang was stunned, then laughed, and said, "You haven't been home for a while, go back to see your mother tonight, I have prepared a bag of snacks here, go back and honor your mother."

It was raining on the street, like smoke and fog. Xia Yuanzhang talked endlessly about integrity for Caleb Whitlock: "When it comes to doing business, what is the most important thing? It's two words, integrity. What is integrity? It's the root of a tree. A big tree looks lush and leafy, but what does it rely on? It has roots. Can a tree without roots survive? As the saying goes: The human heart is a scale, and it can weigh the weight clearly. If you want to do good business, reputation is a treasure..."

Caleb Whitlock nodded. Boss Wu of Fuxingxiang ran into the store holding an umbrella, with a calm face, and said with a bow: "Boss Xia, you are in a good mood, talking about business with your apprentice?" Caleb Whitlock was stunned, unable to understand the relationship between the two. Xia Yuanzhang smiled and said: "It's a rainy day and I have nothing to do, so I chat with my apprentice. You came at the right time. I recently bought some deer placenta cream, and I'm not sure about its quality. You are an expert in this area, can you show it to me?"

Boss Wu said, "I'm busy, let's do it another day. I got some goods from the mountain, so I don't have cash right now. Please pay me the money you owe me first." Xia Yuanzhang said, "Okay, Mr. Chang, I'll pay the money to Shopkeeper Wu." Mr. Chang said, "Okay. Shopkeeper Wu, come here."

Boss Wu smiled at Caleb Whitlock. Caleb Whitlock stood there confused, with his mouth wide open.

Xia Yuanzhang looked at Caleb Whitlock with a smile and asked, "Caleb Whitlock, are you upset?" Caleb Whitlock said with a tearful tone, "Boss, I have always regarded you as a saint. You always tell me to be honest, but you cheated me. Boss Wu doesn't owe us money, we owe him money. You are making fun of me by asking me to collect the money. I can't get over it!"

Xia Yuanzhang laughed and said, "My child, I am telling you that honesty is true. I am talking about great honesty and trustworthiness. For a businessman, what does honesty mean? What does trustworthiness mean? It means not cheating or deceiving customers, fair transactions, genuine goods, reasonable prices, and fair weights. But businessmen have their own secrets after all, and not all words can be true. For example, you sell goods to a customer, and the customer asks: 'Boss, how much did you make from this batch of goods?' How do you answer? Be honest? Tell the truth? No way? You should say: 'Well, what's the profit? I'm giving you the lowest price, I'm losing money but making a profit! 'You're being honest! Ah, you say: 'How can I not make money doing business? Just from this transaction, I've made a lot of money. No matter how smart you are, you can't be as smart as us businessmen. ' Can you say that? For example, a colleague comes to ask: 'What is the purchase price of this batch of goods? ' Can you tell the truth? Can you tell the truth? Ah? So the integrity of a businessman is great honesty and trustworthiness. I'm not lying when I ask you to collect the debt. I'm using a trick, one of the Thirty-Six Stratagems, called concealing the truth. It's to temper you. "

Caleb Whitlock laughed: "Now that you said that, boss, I understand. I thought you were playing a trick on me."

The gold field is already a little chilly in autumn.

In the empty tavern, Xiao Jinli fell asleep on the table. Connor Whitlock and Dahei Yatou were drunk and talking. Connor Whitlock pointed at Xiao Jinli and said, "I heard that you want to take him as your godson?" Dahei Yatou smiled and said, "Well, this child is quite likable."

Connor Whitlock nodded: "Yes, he is a good kid. But he is also pitiful. He is so young and he is risking his life here. How can his parents be so cruel? Well, it is you who miss him every now and then. I just heard that your husband is gone. Do you have children?"

The big black girl paused for a moment and said, "Ahem! I don't have any children." Just after she finished speaking, she suddenly burst into tears, "Oh... I have a miserable life. The dead man only farmed but didn't plant any seeds, leaving me a widow with no children. Who will I rely on in the future?" Connor Whitlock asked, "Then why don't you find a master when you left so easily?" The big black girl said, "Who would want a withered flower?"

Connor Whitlock smiled: "Who said you are a fallen woman? Although you are a little dark, you have a pair of curved eyes that can attract men's souls." The big black girl raised her eyebrows tenderly, looked up at Connor Whitlock and asked: "Who are you attracting?" Connor Whitlock smiled but did not answer, and just drank.

The big black girl smiled sweetly and said softly: "Brother, I'll tell you the truth. Many men have been interested in me, but I didn't like any of them. I just like men like you. If there is a man like you who is interested in me, I will be willing. Brother, are you sleepy? The quilt is ready for you. Let's sleep in the room. You have been sleeping for more than half a year. Can I help you relax?" Connor Whitlock pretended to be drunk and said nothing. He fell on the table and snored loudly in a moment. The big black girl sighed and walked into the inner room.

Connor Whitlock suddenly seemed like a different person. He jumped up nimbly and approached the door of the inner room almost without any sound. He saw a big black girl lying on the kang in the inner room, holding a colorful little girl's top in her hands and crying softly.

And all of this was seen by a masked man in black through a small hole in the window paper.