After playing a few rounds, Fan Xian's luck was not good, and he was impatient with Lady Liu being so affectionate, so he gave up his seat and patted Fan Sizhe.
Fan Sizhe timidly glanced at his father, and Count Sinan nodded slightly. Overjoyed, Fan Xian let out a soft cry and jumped onto the stool.
This child was usually timid in front of his father. After eating, he would be forced to study, and he would never be allowed to gamble or play cards. He knew that he was allowed to sit at the table today because his father was in a good mood and wanted to give Fan Xian some face. So Fan Sizhe had a much better impression of his older brother from Danzhou.
Fan Xian wandered around the courtyard, and when he returned to the reception hall, he stared dumbfounded at the table. In front of Fan Sizhe was a pile of copper coins, while the other three families had lost almost all of their money.
Thinking back to the day in the carriage, this seemingly naughty little brother of his had displayed an unparalleled passion for wealth, Fan Xian finally realized that his little brother was not completely useless. At least when it came to making money, he seemed to have some talent.
He stood curiously behind Fan Sizhe, carefully observing how this twelve-year-old boy operated. After watching for a while, he couldn't help but be in awe. He saw that this kid's hands were extremely nimble. He could actually count the tiles with one hand, grab them, draw them, play them, knock them, eat them, win them... his other hand was on the abacus, and his five fat fingers plucked at the beads on the abacus, making a popping sound.
Fan Sizhe won all the bets, and the method of calculating the pawns was very complicated, so Fan Sizhe was the one doing the counting. Fan Xian watched from the side. He always felt that this kid could calculate a lot of money. No wonder there were so many copper coins in front of him.
Seeing that Fan Xian was staring at Fan Sizhe, Lady Liu's expression did not change. She sighed inwardly, thinking that her son's ugly greed for money had been seen by Fan Xian. She was afraid that he would become even more confident.
She had no idea how shocked Fan Xian was, because Fan Xian could not see a trace of arrogance or mischief on Fan Sizhe's face. Instead, there was the kind of resolute and serious light that only an "idealist" could possess.
Fan Xian concluded that the youth in front of him, as long as he was given a chance to display his abilities, would become a very powerful person in the future. But he also knew that in the Kingdom of Qing, if he wanted to make a name for himself, the only way was through the imperial examinations. Even if Fan Sizhe were to inherit the title of nobility due to his family connections, it would be impossible for him to be given an actual position. No wonder Teng Zijing said that Lady Liu hated and hated her son.
In this era, merchants were still not valued. The Ministry of Revenue was one thing, the imperial merchant was another, but the merchants of the common people were another.
The game ended quickly, and Count Sinan left his seat expressionlessly. This kind of joyous family gathering was not in his nature, but for some reason, today was different from usual. However, as he left, he glanced at Fan Xian.
Fan Xian understood something from the look in his father's eyes. It seemed that he was not happy that he had thrown off the guards his father had sent to protect him during the day. Fan Xian smiled and did not respond. After all, he did not like to be followed. Since that was the case, he might as well take action to clarify this point.
Lady Liu looked at her son, and her eyes revealed a trace of affection and helplessness. But this emotion was fleeting. She got up and politely bade farewell to Fan Xian and Fan Ruoruo, then left with her husband. All the servants in Count Sinan's manor knew that the master liked to drink a cup of fruit juice every night before going to bed. This was made by Lady Liu herself to help him sleep, as he toiled away at the Ministry of Revenue.
Fan Xian frowned. He had wanted to talk to his father about something, but it seemed that he would have to postpone it. He turned his head and saw Fan Sizhe still bent over the table, recording the numbers. He asked curiously, "Aren't you going to collect the money? What are you recording?"
Ruoruo had been playing mahjong for a while and was tired. She gently stretched her wrists and smiled. "He gets guests during the New Year. That's when father allows him to play for a while. But every time he wins, he doesn't allow him to keep the copper he wins. He says that a man should not be greedy for such petty gains. Sizhe doesn't dare go against his father's wishes, but he always records how much he wins. He says that he'll slowly settle accounts with us in the future. "
Fan Xian's heart skipped a beat. The word 'settle accounts' had a different meaning. He steadied his mind and smiled. "Sizhe, I see that you're good at calculating. What are you going to do when you grow up?"
Fan Sizhe was young, but when it came to keeping accounts, he was very focused. He didn't answer Fan Xian's question. Ruoruo thought that her brother didn't know her brother's temper, and was afraid that he would be unhappy. She prepared to help explain, but then she saw Fan Xian's face full of smiles. He was looking at the young man keeping accounts with some appreciation.
After the accounts were finished, Fan Sizhe seemed to remember the question Fan Xian had just asked. He scratched his head and frowned. "Of course I'm going to study, become an official, and bring glory to the family."
Fan Xian looked at him, amused. "Is that true?"
Fan Sizhe's anger dissipated. He lay on the table and said weakly, "If I don't say it like that, mother will hear me and give me a good beating."
"There are only the three of us here. Why don't you just say the truth?" Fan Xian teased.
These words fell into Fan Sizhe's ears, and they gave him a different feeling. He had grown up in the eyes of servants. Most children of officials had strict fathers and kind mothers, but Fan Sizhe had strict parents. Later, his father asked his sister to discipline him, but she was even stricter. So he was no stranger to the feeling of respect for his younger brother, but he had never experienced it as an older brother.
Hearing the words "the truth," Fan Sizhe was a little dazed. It seemed that this "brother" in front of him, who was four years older than him, wasn't all that scary. He wasn't like his mother had described him to be; on the contrary, he felt a sense of closeness.
"I... I like to make money."
"What's so good about merchants chasing profit?" Ruoruo frowned.
Fan Xian looked at his sister with disapproval. He was a little disappointed. We've exchanged letters for so many years, how could she still have such strange ideas? Ruoruo's heart tightened when he glared at her. She knew she had said something wrong, and she quickly shut her mouth.
Fan Xian smiled and looked at Fan Sizhe. "Whatever it is, just do it well. Making money is the same. I support you."
"What's the use of your support?" Fan Sizhe sighed. "You have to get father to say this."
"Do it secretly." Fan Xian was like a devil trying to tempt him.
Fan Sizhe's spirits rose, and then he thought of something. He said passionately, "Brother, give me the manuscript for that book. I have a way to sell it for a high price." He didn't seem forced to call him brother.
Fan Xian was surprised. "Isn't it a bit slow to make money?"
"Are you worried about money?" Fan Sizhe looked at him with disdain. "I'm just trying."
Realizing that the kid dared to look down on him, Fan Xian became angry. "If you want to get the goods, you'll have to show me the proposal first!"
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