After playing a few rounds, Fan Xian's luck wasn't great, and he was genuinely impatient with Liu Yiniang's superficial affection, so he gave up his seat, patting Fan Sizhe.

Fan Sizhe timidly glanced at his father, Si Nanbo (Duke) Fan Jian, who nodded slightly. Overjoyed, he called out softly and hopped onto the stool.

This child was usually timid and shrinking in front of his father, forced to study after meals, and never allowed to gamble. He knew that he could get to play today because his father was in a good mood, giving Fan Xian face, so Fan Sizhe's impression of this brother from Danzhou improved a lot.

Fan Xian wandered around the courtyard and when he returned to the flower hall, he stared dumbfounded at the table. He discovered that Fan Sizhe had a pile of copper coins in front of him, while the other three players had lost almost everything.

Recalling the boundless enthusiasm for wealth that this seemingly mischievous younger brother had displayed on the carriage during the day, Fan Xian finally realized that his brother wasn't entirely useless. At least in terms of making money, he seemed to have some talent.

Curious, he stood behind Fan Sizhe, carefully observing how this twelve-year-old boy operated. After watching for a while, he couldn't help but feel respect. The boy's hands were extremely agile, and he could actually arrange the tiles with one hand, drawing, picking, discarding, konging, chiing, and winning... The other hand was on the abacus, the chubby fingers clicking the beads.

Fan Sizhe was the one who won every round, and the method of calculating the fan (doubling value) was very complex, so Fan Sizhe also calculated the money. Fan Xian watched from the side, feeling that this kid could probably add extra money, no wonder he had so many copper coins in front of him.

Noticing that Fan Xian was staring at Fan Sizhe, Liu Yiniang's expression didn't change, but she sighed inwardly, feeling that her son's greedy and ugly behavior had been seen by Fan Xian, and fearing that the other's confidence would be even greater.

She had no idea of Fan Xian's shock, because Fan Xian couldn't see a trace of arrogance or recklessness on Fan Sizhe's face at this time. All he could see was the firm and earnest light that only an "idealist" could possess.

Fan Xian concluded that this young man, given the space to develop, would definitely become a very powerful person in the future. But he also knew that in Qing Yu Nian, the only way to stand out was still through the imperial examination. Even if Fan Sizhe inherited a title because of his family, he still wouldn't be able to get a real position with his current academic level. No wonder Teng Zijing said that Liu Yiniang both hated and pitied this son.

Merchants were still not valued in this era. The Ministry of Revenue was one thing, the imperial merchant houses were another, but private merchants were something else entirely.

The card game ended quickly, and Si Nanbo (Duke) Fan Jian left his seat without any expression. This kind of harmonious family gathering didn't suit his personality, but for some reason, today was different from usual. But as he left, he looked at Fan Xian.

Fan Xian understood something from his father's gaze. It seemed that he was unhappy about Fan Xian shaking off the guards his father had assigned him during the day. Fan Xian smiled but didn't respond. After all, he was someone who didn't like being followed. If that was the case, then he might as well make that clear with his actions.

Liu Yiniang glanced at her son, her eyes revealing a trace of love and helplessness, but this emotion was fleeting. She stood up and politely bid farewell to Fan Xian and Fan Ruoruo before leaving with her husband. The servants of Si Nanbo (Duke)'s residence knew that the master liked to drink a cup of fruit juice before going to bed every night, and that it was made by Liu Yiniang herself to help the master, who was overworked in the Ministry of Revenue every day, fall asleep.

Fan Xian frowned. He had originally wanted to talk to his father about some things, but it seemed that he would have to postpone it. Turning his head, he saw Fan Sizhe still hunched over the table, recording the numbers, and asked curiously, "Why don't you put the money away and just write down what you've won?"

Ruoruo had played cards for a while and was already a little tired. She gently stretched her wrist and said with a smile, "Heh. During the New Year, some guests will come, and only then will father allow him to play for a while, but he's not allowed to keep the copper coins he wins, saying that a true man can't be greedy for these petty profits. Zhe'er doesn't dare to go against father's wishes, but he always records how much he's won each time, saying that he'll settle accounts with us slowly in the future."

Fan Xian's heart skipped a beat, and he heard some other meaning in the words "settle accounts." Stabilizing his mind, he asked with a smile, "Sizhe, I see that you are skilled in calculation. I wonder what you plan to do when you grow up?"

At such a young age, Fan Sizhe was single-minded when recording accounts, very focused. He didn't answer when he heard Fan Xian's question. Fan Ruoruo thought that her brother didn't know her younger brother's temper, and was afraid that he would be unhappy, so she prepared to help explain. But when she turned her head, she saw Fan Xian looking at the boy at the table with a smile and a hint of appreciation.

After finishing recording the accounts, Fan Sizhe seemed to have just remembered the question that Fan Xian had asked earlier. He scratched his head, frowned, thought for a while, and said, "Of course, I'll study and become an official, to bring honor to the family."

Fan Xian looked at him amusingly and asked, "Is that really so?"

Fan Sizhe's energy immediately dissipated, and he lay weakly on the table, saying, "If I didn't say that, mother would hear it and give me another beating."

"There are only the three of us siblings here, so what's wrong with telling the truth?" Fan Xian teased.

These words fell into Fan Sizhe's ears, but they gave him a different feeling. He had grown up in the awed gazes of servants since he was a child. Generally, officials' children had strict fathers and loving mothers, but his father and mother were both strict. Later, his father let his older sister discipline him, but who knew that his sister was even stricter. So he wasn't unfamiliar with the feeling of fraternal respect, but he had never experienced brotherly affection.

At this moment, hearing the words "tell the truth," Fan Sizhe was somewhat dazed. It seemed that this "older brother," who was four years older than him, didn't seem that scary, unlike what his mother said, but rather, was somewhat kind.

"I...I like making money."

"Merchants pursue profit, what's good about that?" Fan Ruoruo frowned and reprimanded.

Fan Xian looked at his sister with great disapproval, feeling somewhat disappointed. He thought that this girl had corresponded with him for many years, how could she still have such rigid and inflexible strange ideas? He gave her a glare, and Ruoruo's heart tightened, knowing that she had said the wrong thing, and quickly shut her mouth.

Fan Xian smiled and looked at Fan Sizhe, saying, "Whatever you do, as long as you do it well, that's enough. Making money is the same. I support you."

"What's the point of your support?" Fan Sizhe sighed dejectedly, "I have to get Father to say it's okay."

"Just do it secretly," Fan Xian tempted him like a devil.

Fan Sizhe's spirits lifted, and he immediately thought of something, saying enthusiastically, "Brother, then give me the manuscript of that book first. I have a way to sell this book for a great price." He called out "brother" without any hesitation.

Fan Xian was stunned and said, "Isn't making money this way a little slow?"

"Are you worried about not having money?" Fan Sizhe looked at him with contempt, "I'm just trying it out."

Discovering that this kid actually dared to look down on him, Fan Xian was furious and shouted, "If you want the goods, you have to show me a business plan first!"