thing, but it looked like he had to put that on hold. Fan Xian turned round and saw Fan Sizhe still at the table, recording his winnings. He asked curiously, "You still haven’t put the money away? What are you writing down?"

Ruoruo was tired from playing. She circled her wrists and laughed, "Father only allows him to play when guests visit on New Year’s Day, but he won’t allow him to keep the coins he wins. He says that a real man should not be greedy over such little money. Of Course, Fan Sizhe wouldn’t dare go against his father, so he records his winnings instead and says that he’ll gradually come to us to deal with it in the future."

Fan Xian felt a sudden emotion as he thought about the hidden meaning behind the word "deal." He calmed himself and asked with a smile, "Sizhe, I see that you are good at calculations. What do you plan to do when you grow up?"

Fan Sizhe was young, but could not be disturbed when he was counting his earnings. Completely focused on his task, he ignored the question. Fan Ruoruo grew worried that her older brother would be angry at her little brother and was prepared to offer an explanation, but instead, her eyes met with the cheery-faced Fan Xian who was admiring this young accountant at the table.

Fan Sizhe seemed to have registered the question only when the counting was done.

He rubbed his head and frowned in thought before answering, "Of course, I’ll study and become a government official and bring glory to my family."

Fan Xian laughed at him and asked, "Really?"

Fan Sizhe’s vigor quickly drained away, and he answered in a defeated tone, "If mother hears me say otherwise, I’ll get beaten again for sure."

"There’s only the three of us here; why be afraid to say what you really think?" Fan Xian said jokingly.

Hearing these words caused unknown emotions to well up in Fan Sizhe. He had grown up respected by the servants. It was said that the n.o.ble boys had strict fathers and kind mothers, but he had a strict father and mother. When his father gave his sister the power to discipline him, it turned out that his sister was even stricter, so he was used to respecting his elders but love and care was something he had never experienced.

In the moment he heard the words ‘what you really think’, Fan Sizhe was somewhat confused. His big brother, who was four years older, was not as scary as mother had described; instead he was kind.

"I...like making money."

"What’s so good about the profits of merchants?" Fan Ruoruo furrowed her brows as she disciplined her brother.

Fan Xian shot her a look of disapproval. He felt disappointed that after all the letters they had exchanged, she still held on to such silly logic. After being glared at, Ruoruo knew she had said the wrong thing and instantly became silent

Fan Xian smiled at his brother, "No matter what you do, you just have to do your best. Even if it is with making money, I will support you."

"And what good is your support?" Fan Sizhe sighed in despair. "I need father’s personal permission."

"Do it secretly." Fan Xian was like the devil on Fan Sizhe shoulder.

Fan Sizhe lit up as something occurred to him. He spoke pa.s.sionately, "Brother, give me your draft for the book. I have a way of making big money from it." The word 'brother' rolled off his tongue naturally.

Confused, Fan Xian questioned, "Won’t it be a slow way to make money?"

"Oh, so you’re in such desperate need of money?" Fan Sizhe sneered at him, "I’m just testing this out."

Realizing that the little rascal had just sneered at him, Fan Xian replied in annoyance:

"You want the goods? Show me your proposal first!"