Li Qingzhi and Jin Xiaoye usually gave Li Laogen five cents of pocket money every day.
It was not a lot of money, but it was not a small amount either. It was enough for Li Laogen to go to a teahouse and have a pot of tea, a bowl of noodles or two buns.
If Li Laogen had breakfast at home, he could save some money.
However, since Li Laogen came to the county town and had a place to spend money, he has become a living hell... This money will not last overnight in his pocket.
Sometimes Li Qingzhi or Jin Xiaoye would ask him to help buy things and give him a few more cents, which he would spend immediately.
It was also for this reason that Li Qingzhi never increased his pocket money.
But if you want to go to the Lantern Festival... Li Qingzhi said, "Dad, during the Lantern Festival, I will give you an extra ten cents a day, so fifteen cents a day."
"Okay!" Li Laogen was overjoyed, and then said: "Ah Qing, you can give me these fifteen cents in two installments, five cents in the morning, and ten cents when I leave in the evening."
Li Laogen was self-aware. He knew that if Li Qingzhi gave him the money all at once, he might spend it all in the morning.
"Okay." Li Qingzhi agreed, and told Zhao Xiaodou to give him ten cents pocket money as well.
Jin Xiaoye said: "When the time comes, I will also give those female workers in Miaoqian Village ten cents a day in pocket money."
Jin Xiaoye never paid these female workers wages, but gave them a few dozen cents in pocket money a few times.
But she also spent a lot of money on these women workers. Not long ago, she bought cloth and silk for these women workers to make new quilts for her.
When the weather gets cold, she would buy cloth and silk and ask the female workers to make cotton-padded jackets for her.
These are not cheap.
She also bought washbasins and other things. Now these female workers have a lot of belongings. Even the dowries of country girls are not so much.
"Yes, give them some money and let them buy some things." Li Qingzhi agreed.
Their family discussed going to see the Lantern Festival tomorrow, and many families in Chongcheng County were also talking about this.
The people in Miaoqian Village are looking forward to this lantern festival.
"I heard that the Lantern Festival is more lively than the temple fair."
"My brother went to see it yesterday. There's a stage there! There will be opera performances!"
"I must go and see it."
“Our whole family is going.”
…
At the riverside pier of Miaoqian Village, everyone made an appointment to go to see the lantern festival together tomorrow, and then they saw Golden Willow Tree returning on Golden Mulberry Tree's boat.
Jueweizhai’s braised food is not cheap, and now people in the village rarely buy from Jin Liushu. Only a man whose wife had just given birth bought two braised eggs from Jin Liushu.
It is very uncomfortable to be in confinement in such hot weather. His wife has a poor appetite and can't eat anything. Only this braised egg can stimulate her appetite.
"Golden Willow Tree, will you go to the Lantern Festival tomorrow?" asked the villagers.
The Golden Willow Tree said, "Of course I will go! I will set up a stall to sell braised dried tofu and braised eggs!"
"That's really good. I'm sure a lot of people will buy it."
“I heard that many people will go to set up stalls.”
“It would be better if there were more stalls so we could go shopping!”
…
As everyone was talking, Jin Xiaoshu came back.