Chapter 329: Chapter 329: Making Big Money
Jim Thorne devoured the entire large basin of meat. He used the broth to mix with his rice, polished off all the rice in the pot, and didn’t even leave the scorched crust at the bottom. Watching him eat with such gusto, Tang Xiaonan couldn’t resist taking a bite herself. The rice crust was crispy and fragrant, and mixed with the savory flavor of the meat juices, it was absolutely divine.
Tang Xiaonan ate another small piece of the rice crust until her stomach was truly stuffed. Jim Thorne finished off all the remaining rice and dishes, leaving the pot, basin, and bowls sparkling—cleaner than if a dog had licked them.
BURP...
Jim Thorne let out several satisfied burps and patted his round, bulging belly. ’That really hit the spot.’ Even meals at home weren’t this gratifying. While the Thorne family didn’t lack for meat, there were many mouths to feed, and every one of them had a hearty appetite. He was always too self-conscious to eat too much, so he’d only eat until he was about sixty or seventy percent full. If he really let himself eat his fill, there definitely wouldn’t be enough grain to go around at home.
"Full now?" Adrian Hawthorne asked teasingly.
’This guy’s appetite is massive.’ His own wasn’t small by any means, but Jim Thorne’s was even bigger. He’d really seen it for himself today. There had been plenty of food tonight, and Jim Thorne had eaten half of it by himself.
"BURP... I’m full. It feels so good to be completely full."
With a contented expression, Jim Thorne patted his belly a few more times and let out another couple of burps, involuntarily speaking his mind. A thought struck Tang Xiaonan, and she couldn’t help but ask, "Jim, did you not get to eat your fill before?"
Realizing his slip of the tongue, Jim Thorne gave an embarrassed laugh and stammered, "It’s not that I went hungry... I just never ate until I was stuffed."
Tang Xiaonan’s heart ached a little. ’So my carefree brother, Jim, has a thoughtful side too. He must have been worried there wasn’t enough grain at home, and that’s why he never dared to eat his fill, right?’
’Even though the Thorne family is one of the wealthier households in the village, they still can’t just eat with wild abandon. Normally, the family’s meals consist of rice steamed with sweet potatoes or radishes. They rarely get to eat pure white rice. But the meal at Adrian Hawthorne’s house tonight was pure white rice... no wonder Jim couldn’t stop himself.’
"Jim, once I start making money, you’ll be able to eat your fill every day."
Tang Xiaonan spoke with great solemnity. This was a vow she was making to herself. She was going to earn lots and lots of money so the Thorne family could live a prosperous life, able to eat whatever they wanted, whenever they wanted.
’The Thorne family gave her the love she had always been missing. In return, she would give them what they seemed to like best—money!’
Jim Thorne grinned from ear to ear, his eyes curving into crescents. While he didn’t take his little sister’s words to heart, he didn’t want to dampen her spirits, so he nodded with equal seriousness. "Alright. I’m sure Xiaonan will earn lots of money."
"Of course!"
Tang Xiaonan proudly puffed out her little chest. Her confident expression made everyone laugh. Old Master Tate chuckled. "As long as our little Xiaonan learns her foreign languages well, even if she doesn’t strike it rich, she’s guaranteed to achieve a middle-class standard of living."
"But I want to strike it rich, Grandpa Tate."
Tang Xiaonan said shyly. ’Her little goal has changed again. She’s no longer satisfied with just being middle-class. She wants to be a landlady with a huge ring of keys, the kind with so many properties she can’t even count them all, collecting rent every single day. The very thought is blissful.’
"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. To make big money, you have to start small. You’re not very old, but you’ve got big ambitions."
Adrian Hawthorne tugged one of her little braids, teasing her for her lofty ambitions. ’A six-year-old kid, already thinking about striking it rich.’
Tang Xiaonan rolled her eyes at him irritably and shook her head. ’He’s always pulling on my braids. It’s so annoying! The future tycoon is just an annoying brat right now!’
Jim Thorne sat for a while to let his food settle, then hoisted Tang Xiaonan onto his back, ready to head home. Adrian Hawthorne cautioned them, "For now, don’t spread the word about Ulysses Spann resembling Storm Xavier."
