The patriarch was drinking tea in the main room, and after dinner he would prepare to go to the fields.

When he saw two people coming in, he was a little surprised: "Dashun, why are you two here together?"

Chang Shun had already prepared his emotions. He knelt down with a plop, looking at the clan leader with his big red eyes.

Chang Chunlai hurriedly told He Meiniang that she had been forced to make a living by debt and had decided to remarry.

The village chief sighed. Dashun's family owed a lot of debts, all of which were for the medical treatment and funeral of the two elderly people. Now two or three years have passed, and they are forcing the debts to be paid. His family also has a share of these debts.

"Dashun, get up first. What is your mother going to do?"

Chang Chun came and hurriedly pulled the child up.

Chang Shun got up with the force. This kneeling was meant to show his pity, and since he had already bought the pity, there was no need to continue kneeling.

"Uncle clan leader, we still owe a debt of sixteen taels and five cents. My mother and I really can't pay it back. Someone came to propose marriage a few days ago, and we..." He choked up a little and paused for a while.

The clan leader Chang Chunshan was of the same generation as Chang Shun's father. He couldn't help but sigh. How could he have died along the way when he was so handsome and had done well in his studies?

These debts are the hard-earned money of others, and we can't just say that they don't have to be repaid. Dashun's family now has only one acre of land, and if they sell it, they can get about 15 taels. But if they sell the land, what will the mother and daughter eat?

Remarrying is also an option, so that the land can be sold to pay off the debt.

"What is your mother's plan?"

Chang Shun said, "My mother had no other choice but to ask the other party to pay off the debt with a betrothal gift. The house belonged to my father, and we were reluctant to sell it, so we thought of giving it to my cousin's family to live in. We are all relatives after all.

The land will be donated to the clan, and the produce will be used to repair the clan's ancestral hall. I believe my father's spirit in heaven would also be willing to do so."

Chang Chunshan was shocked. The land and the house together were worth at least twenty-five taels. Are these mother and daughter stupid?

"Dashun, you want to go with your mother? You are a boy, so you cannot remarry. How will outsiders view our Chang family? You can live with your cousin's family, and you can live alone after ten years."

Chang Shun sobbed and sobbed, his face covered with tears, "Uncle Chief, I want to be with my mother. I already lost my father, but I cannot be without my mother."

Chang Chunlai said, "Village chief, the child is young and the other party is willing to take him, so let's release him. I promise to help him take care of the ancestral grave mountain every year."

This was one of the conditions that Chang Shun agreed to give him the house.

Chang Chunshan also fell silent. Changjia Village was not rich and could be said to be in great difficulty. He had to go from house to house to beg for several hundred coins every year for the maintenance of the ancestral hall. If he had the produce from these acres of land, he would not have to worry about the maintenance costs.

"Dashun, who is that person, and why is he willing to take such a large dowry?"

Chang Shun wiped his tears and said, "The clan leader, he is from Wanjia Village. He served in the military for seven years and delayed his marriage. Because he has no son, he is willing to let me go. He is also willing to raise such a large amount of betrothal money, but the premise is that you write a divorce letter for my mother in the name of the clan and indicate that the clan agrees to my changing my surname to Wan."

Chang Chunshan was puzzled: "Your father has been gone for more than five years, it is natural for your mother to remarry, why do you need a divorce letter?"

Chang Shun shook his head: "I don't know, but he just wants it. He said he would come over to take a look in the afternoon. If it's OK, the betrothal money will be paid in the afternoon, and the land deeds will be handed over to the clan leader in the afternoon."

Chang Chun came to see the village chief without saying a word. It was probably because of the matter of his children going to Wan Village. In the end, it was all about face.

"Village chief, just agree to it. The mother and daughter have no other choice. They spent so much money on the bride price because they wanted a son. Otherwise, the bride price for a grown girl would only be 10 or 8 taels."

In fact, he didn't understand in his heart. Mei Niang was beautiful, but could beauty be used to make a living?

Sixteen taels and five cents, at least you can marry two wives.

Chang Chunshan thought about it again and again. He was the only child in Chang Shun's family. Chunlai was the closest to his family and spoke like that. So, it didn't matter. No one could speak for the dead anyway.

"Dashun, all right. I'll write a divorce letter for your mother. You can ask that man from Wancun to come over this afternoon to pay off all the debts. Bring the land deeds as well. Chunlai, you're living in someone else's house, so you have to take good care of their cemetery, otherwise the clan will take it back. Dashun, this is all I can do."

"Thank you, Chief."

Quarter of an hour later, Chang Shun and Chang Chunlai walked out of the village chief's yard.

There were two copies of the divorce agreement, one with the village chief and the other in his arms.

With this, even if that person really comes back in the future, he won’t be able to take them away.

It's not that he is cruel, he just wants to live a good life, and he will try his best to nip in the bud any signs that may hinder him from living a good life.

"Dashun, I'm going to work. Will that person come in the afternoon?"

"Uncle, we agreed to come over in the afternoon. After paying off the debt, we will go to my uncle's house in the afternoon. Before we leave, the house will be given to you to stay in. I hope you can help take care of my grandfather's grave."

Chang Chunlai was overjoyed, "What we promised will definitely be done well, especially something like this. Don't worry, Dashun, I've received your kindness, so I will definitely do it properly."

He turned around and walked towards home. It was really a pie in the sky. He got a house for free. It was a little small, but it was not bad. To build a house like this, he would have to spend less than ten taels of silver.

Let my wife watch over him in the afternoon and make sure no one gets away.

He Mei Niang and others were waiting anxiously at home. When they saw Dashun coming home, the uncle hurriedly asked, "Is everything settled?"

Chang Shun hurriedly told his mother everything in detail, then handed the divorce papers to his mother, "Mom, you must keep this thing safe. You must listen to me."

Mei Niang took the things with red eyes. Her husband had been gone for five or six years, so why did he need a divorce letter? She didn't understand much, but she would listen to what her son said.

The eldest aunt was surprised and said, "It seems that if the house and land are not given away, Dashun really can't leave. He still needs money to pave the way."

Mother He rolled her eyes at her and said, "Even if that's the case, don't say this outside in the future. Village Chief Chang and his family also have to save face. If they tell others that the Chang family's boy is marrying into the Wan family, they won't be able to save face."

On this side, Wan Changsheng wanted to come here in the morning, so he exchanged the silver for small change and copper coins early. As soon as noon came, he hurried over in his donkey cart.

When he heard that it was done, his face was full of smiles.

Uncle He said, "It's done. Dashun, your uncle Changsheng and I will go with you to the village chief's house. Mei Niang, you bring us the debt note. The three of you should pack your things quickly. Once we're done, we'll go home right away."

My aunt said, "Master, go ahead and tear up the loan agreement in front of me. We have packed up all our things at home and there is no time to waste."

Chang Shun and his two companions followed the village chief to pay off debts one by one and said a lot of good things.

The debt of sixteen taels and five cents was repaid in full. Each family that paid back the debt gave more or less meat, ranging from half a catty to eight taels, depending on the amount of the debt. The meat was brought by Wan Changsheng.

After paying off his debts, Chang Shun handed the land deeds to the clan leader and the house deed to his uncle. He then went to the cemetery with his mother to pay homage to his grandparents and his father's cenotaphs for the last time.

After he changed his surname to Wan, he no longer had the qualifications to come and worship his ancestors.

His little face was wrinkled and he looked sad. Many women in the village shed tears. This child had suffered so much.

When the ox carts and donkey carts left the village, Chang Shun looked behind him again. He had lived here for seven years and he probably wouldn't come here again.