Jane smiled and said, “Alright, I’ll take you shopping for clothes and gifts tomorrow.”

Jane didn’t offer to help the children buy gifts; instead, she let Titus spend his own money.

First, Titus had a small stash of money, so he was not short on funds.

Second, Titus needed to learn how to manage this money, which meant he had to cover expenses himself. If he wanted to buy a gift for Sonny, he would need to pay for it himself.

“What gift should I give Sonny?” Titus seemed to be asking Jane, but he also appeared to be pondering the question himself.

Jane gently replied, “Since it’s a gift for Sonny, it should be something he likes.”

Titus immediately looked puzzled and said, “Sonny loves to eat the most. He has too many toys—every kind of toy you can think of.”

Jane suggested, “Then give him something he enjoys eating.”

“He’s not picky about food. He can eat anything without complaint. He likes it all! Shouldn’t I get him many, many gifts?”

Titus appeared a bit jealous of his money. He looked up at Jane, as if he wanted her to pay for him, but felt too embarrassed to ask.

He had recently mentioned that he wanted to personally buy a gift for Sonny, as it was for his friend.

Whether it was his old master, Uncle Ben, or Mama Jane, they all taught him that he was becoming a man and needed to keep his promises.

However, they only said he would be a man of integrity from now on. He hadn’t fully grown up yet, so was it acceptable for him to go back on his word?

Titus’s dark eyes darted around.

He really wanted to ask Jane for help with payment, but when he saw her gentle smile, he ultimately decided against it. It felt like it would be a blow to his pride.

Suddenly, Titus remembered that before he returned with his master, he had met his master’s good friends, whom he usually…

He affectionately called his grandparents “grandpa” and “grandma,” who showered him with many gifts that truly “surprised” him. They presented him with calligraphy stickers and red drawing books, asking him to complete them during winter vacation. When he returned after the New Year, they would check his progress. If he hadn’t finished them, he wouldn’t receive a New Year’s red envelope.

The red envelopes from his grandparents were particularly generous. He knew he needed to make money! His master often said that when he grew up, he would spend a lot, so he needed to learn how to earn money. Additionally, he would need to learn how to invest his money to generate more.

He believed that once he had money and skills, he wouldn’t have to worry about being bullied anymore. Being young, his uncles and aunts always referred to him as just a little kid. They questioned how a child could make money, suggesting he simply save the red envelopes given to him by his elders.

Despite his reluctance to complete so many calligraphy stickers and drawings for the envelopes, he resolved to spend a few days on it to earn more red envelopes. He finished the task before Sonny arrived, which meant he could safely play with him.

Titus asked, “Mom, can I buy some calligraphy stickers and red tracing books for Sonny? Do you think he would like them?”

Jane replied, “You mean you want to buy calligraphy stickers and red tracing books as gifts for Sonny?” She knew Titus had come home with a bag of calligraphy stickers and red tracing books, which also included a few simple addition and subtraction questions.