When going over to the next village, Ye Liu would carry some money on his person, and take off with Li Wazi on Wang Tuozi's ox-cart to purchase bamboo shoots.

For faraway places, or ones they had to attend personally, or those from the same village, Liu Duo would be in charge of the purchases.

"Hold on to that. It's more convenient if we buy our own ox-cart. Then we don't have to keep renting from Uncle Wang," Liu Duo managed the accounts and passed the money bag to him.

Ye Liu agreed and took it.

"How are you doing today, my Little Huzi? I miss you so much," Li Wazi doted on his three-month-old son as he held him in his arms.

Little Lian smiled gently at the two.

Aunt Li said happily, "He's a good boy today, no crying, no fussing. He'd only make some noise when he peed himself."

Looking at their family time, Ye Liu asked Liu Duo, "Little Duo, when are we going to get our own kid to play with?"

"Who's playing!" Liu Duo shot him a look, "That's a little life you're looking at, not a rag doll! I'm not doing it if you say it like that!"

Of course she wouldn't do it yet. There was a great risk to giving birth at a young age.

And so Ye Liu quickly changed his words, "Of course it's not for fun. How can we compare our baby to a rag doll? I'm just joking. We will have kids someday, but exactly how many would be up to you, Little Duo."

Liu Duo left the conversation with a 'tsk', and continued rocking in her chair.

Ye Liu patted her on the head before moving towards Li Wazi to tease Little Huzi. "We're getting an ox-cart tomorrow, then we won't have to keep renting one from Uncle Wang. It'll help save some of our cost. Little Duo has already accounted for your monthly bonus.

When it came to business, Ye Liu could be quite serious.

Li Wazi nodded, "Alright, Liu. The bonus isn't necessary. Take it as if the three of us were working part-time for you."

He wouldn't think about wanting a bonus, since they hadn't contributed anything, so they wouldn't be qualified to receive one. He was already happy and grateful for their thoughtfulness in bringing him along on their business venture.

"Li Wazi, just take it, alright? No need for pointless banter. If it's work you speak of, I could always find other people for the job. They would have to work really hard and wouldn't have the time or leisure like you're having now, holding your baby."

Ye Liu chuckled. He knew Li Wazi would feel undeserving of the bonus. He didn't want to come off as taking advantage.

The Ye family already treated him like a brother. They wouldn't mind.

Li Wazi, an honest man, felt awkward after listening to Ye Mo. It was true that casual workers would have to work non-stop. They wouldn't have the time to sit aside and dote on a child, like he was doing. The boss would have them fired, no questions asked!

"Gen Er, Liu and his family don't treat us like outsiders, but is that how you see them?" Aunt Li questioned her son.

She didn't want to take advantage. She knew that Ye Liu thought of them as family, but what Li Wazi said to him sounded like they didn't consider Ye Liu a part of their family!

"Aunt's right. Do you take me as a stranger? If so, then you don't have to follow me tomorrow. I'm not taking you on!" Ye Liu put up an angry pretense, a look of displeasure on his face.

Li Wazi said hurriedly, "Of course not! You're family! I just feel that the bonus we get is quite a lot. It's like I'm taking advantage of you, and it doesn't feel right. If you really want to share the bonus with me, I think one third would be enough. I don't want to ask for too much!"

Pffft, Liu Duo snickered. This was the first time she had heard someone actually demand less money!