Chapter 45

"Chapter 45: Unexpected Fortune"

"Ding Zhuang, Ding Zhao, Ding Shu Nian, and others lectured Ding Chi for over half an hour. He just hummed in response, clearly not taking it in."

"Tang Shi rolled her eyes, displeased, feeling underestimated by everyone. Believing in her ability to bring fortune to her husband and his to earn money, she found their dissatisfaction unreasonable."

"Ding Zhuang was so angry he wanted to slap someone, but Ding Shu Nian held him back."

"'He’s young; persuasion takes time,' she advised."

"Having raised Ding Chi since childhood, Ding Shu Nian felt a soft spot for him, unwilling to harm him in any way."

"Ding Zhuang and the others stood to leave."

"Outside, Ding Xiang ran up, saying, 'Grandpa, Granny, San Ge is smart; he can count to fifteen now.'"

"Everyone was skeptical."

"To them, Ding Xiang being able to count to a hundred was no surprise, given her early speech development. But Ding Li Lai, as simple-minded as his mother, learning to count that much in such a short time seemed improbable."

"Ding Li Lai counted for them, 'One, two, three…'"

"Reaching fifteen, Ding Chi excitedly lifted him, 'Ah, my son is capable, just as clever and handsome as your father!'"

"Ding Xiang thought to herself that she hadn’t yet mentioned Ding Li Lai counted fifteen flowers, excluding eleven red ones, leaving four white."

"Today, the child had overcome the number 'nine,' automatically learning subtraction within fifteen."

"Tang Shi, extremely proud, said, 'Everyone calls my son a fool, but where is he foolish? He’s so smart. Son, once they leave, let's visit your maternal grandparents and share this good news. We’ll eat there for a few days, saving some food for your father.'"

"'Okay, I want to eat soy sauce pork knuckle, crispy fried chicken, and four joy meatballs.'"

"Ding Chi gave an awkward smile."

"Ding Zhuang shook his head and strode out, carrying Ding Xiang."

"After bidding farewell to Ding Shu Nian, Ding Zhao asked, 'Dad, do you think Chi Zi will listen to reason? I’m worried the more he earns, the bolder he gets, risking our entire family’s fortune.'"

Ding Zhuang said, "When has that rebellious son ever listened? Just look at how he's strutting around after making some money. I'm so angry, I could beat him with a shoe. I've advised him all I can. If he insists on continuing down this path, there's nothing I can do. Alas, I pity my three grandchildren for having such foolish parents."

If his eldest son dared to disobey, Ding Zhuang could beat him half to death and then lock him in the house. But he never spent a day with his second son and felt he couldn't control him, nor would the boy listen.

Moreover, Ding Chi always encouraged the three grandchildren to be kind towards Xiang Xiang, something Ding Zhuang was very pleased with.

He said uncertainly, "Chi Zi says Xiang Xiang brings great fortune and can bring prosperity to her husband and family. I'm sure he's right. The Tang family is known for women who bring good fortune to their husbands. Perhaps she could really help him become wealthy."

Ding Zhao said, "Even if Mrs. Tang does bring good fortune to her husband, it might not necessarily be Chi Zi. If she were with someone else, that person might be the one to prosper. It still depends on one's own abilities and reliability, not just aspiring high and achieving low."

Ding Zhuang nodded, "In that case, we absolutely cannot allow that scoundrel to divorce his wife."

Ding Zhao was speechless, as that wasn't what he meant at all.

Ding Xiang explained more clearly, "Grandfather, if Uncle Wu passes away, Aunt Wu won't stay with us anymore."

Ding Zhuang said uncertainly, "Xiang Xiang brings prosperity to the family. Your Uncle Wu won't pass away, right?"

Ding Li Chun said, "Sister might bring prosperity to our family, but it doesn't necessarily extend to Uncle Wu."

Ding Li Ren added, "Also, sister can only bring prosperity to the family when she grows up. She can't do anything right now."

Ding Zhao frowned and seriously said to his three siblings, "Regardless of whether Uncle Wu is right or not, what you need to do is take care of yourselves. Only through your own hard work and diligence can you have good days. Be cautious, heed advice, and don't be like Uncle Wu. Especially Li Chun and Li Ren, sister will depend on your support and the dowry you save for her. You can't just think about relying on sister to have a good life."

The two brothers blushed.

Ding Li Ren quickly pledged, "I will study diligently to become a scholar and support my sister."

Ding Li Chun added, "I want to be a general... No, I'll work hard at blacksmithing to earn money, and I'll train in martial arts diligently to save for sister's dowry and beat up anyone who tries to bully her."

He finished speaking and showed off his fists, larger than those of his peers.

Ding Zhuang had to admit that his eldest son's words were more sensible than those of his second son.

Ding Xiang looked towards the vast sky, deep blue with the setting sun, as a few tired birds flew back to their nests.

She was determined to bring prosperity to her family and ensure they lived well.

She already had several plans in mind, ready to be implemented gradually as she grew older.

She was willing to be a bright genius but refused to be an abnormal freak.

As the weather grew warmer, April arrived.

A significant joyous event occurred in the Ding family, or more precisely, in Ding Chi's household. Ding Chi came into an unexpected fortune.

At the beginning of the month, Ding Chi was persuaded to invest all his savings of 210 silver taels in a shipment of sea goods at a low price, hoping to sell them at a high price to merchants from the capital. However, the merchants drove a hard bargain and, with the rising temperature, he ended up losing a hundred taels in the sale.

Before Ding Chi left, the merchant disdainfully threw him a bizarrely shaped large sea conch, remarking, "What a thing, trying to sell something that's gone bad."

Because of the sea conch, Ding Chi even gave the merchant a refund of 500 wen.

Dejected, Ding Chi began to doubt himself for the first time. Could it be that his master wasn't that skilled, he lacked the talent for physiognomy, and Mrs. Tang wasn't really a bringer of good fortune?

He went home and asked Mrs. Tang, "Before I took the silver out, did you rub your forehead, gold and silver spots with pig fat as you usually do?"

Mrs. Tang denied it, "Ever since Brother Chi scolded me last time, I haven't used pig fat again."

Ding Chi called for Sister Ji and handed her the sea conch, "Clean and steam this for eating."

Mrs. Tang expressed her disgust, "Such an ugly sea conch, and it smells bad too. Don't eat it, just throw it away."

Thinking of the lost hundred plus silver taels, Ding Chi's heart bled. Unwilling to discard it, he thought of smashing the shell to see if the meat inside was still good, planning to slice it and stir-fry it with some extra seasonings.

"Outside, he hacked open a conch shell, its stench stronger. Disgusted, he tossed the meat to Ji Sao, 'Throw this away.'"

"Tang Shi peered at the lump of meat, surprised, 'Oh, what’s that shining inside the meat?'"

"Ding Chi snatched the meat and found a pale pink pearl inside."

"He had heard that very few sea snails produce pearls, which are extremely precious. The Malay and Temasek kingdoms even offered them as tributes to the emperor."

"Although smaller than a soybean and not perfectly round, the pearl’s attractive color, tender and pink, clearly differed from southern and eastern pearls."

"Could this be the legendary sea snail pearl?"

"Overjoyed, Ding Chi's heart skipped a beat. He kissed Tang Shi several times before rushing to the inn where the merchant stayed, with the pearl, smashed shell, and the smelly meat of the sea snail."

"The merchant was overjoyed upon seeing it; it indeed was a sea snail pearl."

"Pearls from sea snails were rare, and this was the first occurrence in the Dali realm."

"Thank you Shandong Huagu, Song Amei, and Anita.In for your rewards, and all your support. Another chapter is coming soon, please support with your monthly votes."