Chapter 14 Accused

Uncle Wang and Old Zhao led Hou San and Zhu Er to the dock to retrieve their boat. Aunt Wang prepared breakfast with the grain she had brought from home. After a quick meal, the group sat in the courtyard picking out the chili peppers they had brought. The red ones were laid out to dry on the millstone in the courtyard, to be kept as seeds after they were dry. The green ones were picked to prepare something to eat for dinner.

Yu Xiaobao had recovered quite a bit, and he leaned against Fan Shi, watching the adults busy themselves. After watching for a while, he finally couldn't sit still any longer and tugged at Fan Xiaoxiao: "Auntie, why do we have to give the boat after giving those two nuts? Can't we just not give the boat?"

Fan Xiaoxiao, amused by Xiaobao's pitiful little expression, gently rubbed his head and chuckled, "Those two 'cores' are very useful; they're meant for two or three people! What? Xiaobao, are you still reluctant to part with that little boat?"

Xiao Bao hung his head, fidgeted with his fingers, and muttered under his breath, "Those bad guys took our boat away, so we can't fish anymore... If we can't fish, we won't have any food to eat..."

Listening to the little boy's mutterings, Aunt Wang couldn't help but chuckle and wanted to tease him: "Hmm... Xiao Bao is right, what will we do if we can't have food to eat?"

Xiao Bao scratched his head, pouted, and said sadly, "I can't not eat! Mom, Auntie, Grandpa, and Grandma will be hungry! Xiao Bao can eat a little less!"

The little one's appearance made Aunt Wang's heart ache, so she hugged him tightly and rubbed him, calling him her darling and precious baby.

Fan Xiaoxiao got up and spread the selected red chili peppers out to dry in the yard. Fan Shi got up and followed her, a hesitant look on her face. Fan Xiaoxiao turned around, noticed, and dusted off her hands, smiling, "What's wrong, sister?"

"Er Ya, I...I want to go out and find some work..."

Fan Xiaoxiao was taken aback for a moment, then realized what was happening and quickly pulled her to sit down next to Aunt Wang: "Sister, you're worried about our food money too, right?"

Madam Fan's ears turned slightly red, and she nodded slightly, saying, "Yes, now that we're here, we can't stay at Old Master Zhao's place forever, and besides, our meals are indeed a problem..."

Aunt Wang, holding Xiaobao, nodded repeatedly: "Yes, Er Ya."

Fan Xiaoxiao thought for a moment, then pulled the three of them into the room. After confirming that no one could eavesdrop, she took out the money bag that Xiahou had given her.

"This is the silver given by the white-robed hero. I checked it and there are about fifty taels of loose silver inside. It should be enough for our expenses. There are two reasons why I asked Uncle Wang to use the awning boat to pay off the debt."

Firstly, we're too far from the dock. We can't keep an eye on the awning boat all the time, and we're always worried it will be found and towed away. It's better to just leave it as it is; after all, directly confronting those thugs isn't a good option right now.

Secondly, we're new here, and if we flaunt our wealth, it could attract the attention of those with ulterior motives and bring us trouble. Also, we must never let anyone else know about this money, including Old Zhao. Once Uncle Wang and the others return, we need to inquire about the docks. If possible, we should leave this place; the Huang family controls everything here, and it's never a safe place to live.”

Madam Fan nodded, then, as if remembering something, quickly said to Xiao Bao, "Xiao Bao, you can't tell anyone else what your auntie just said, understand?"

Yu Xiaobao covered his mouth and nodded repeatedly to show that he understood. Fan Xiaoxiao poured the silver out of the bag and divided it into three parts, one of which was the sum of the other two parts.

“Let’s split this money equally. You take this extra portion, Auntie, and my sister and I will take these two portions. It’s too risky to put all your eggs in one nest.”

Aunt Wang was a little stunned. The money was indeed very tempting to her, but it was just as important to Fan Xiaoxiao and Fan Shi. Yet Fan Xiaoxiao had so readily and decisively divided it equally. It would be a lie to say she wasn't moved. However, she knew that Fan Xiaoxiao and Fan Shi needed the money more, so she waved her hands repeatedly and refused, saying, "No, no, you keep it yourselves. I can't take this."

"Oh dear, ma'am..."

Just as Fan Xiaoxiao and Granny Wang were still pushing and shoving each other inside the room, Uncle Wang's voice rang out from outside. Granny Wang quickly pushed the silver into Fan Xiaoxiao's hand and ran out. Helpless, Fan Xiaoxiao could only put the silver away for now.

After stepping out of the house, I saw Uncle Wang sitting in the yard, fanning himself with his coat. He looked very unwell, slapping his thigh and sighing repeatedly.

"Sigh! Sigh! Sigh!"

Fan Xiaoxiao quickly went over and asked, "Uncle, what's wrong?"

Old Zhao was gulping down water when Fan Xiaoxiao leaned over to ask him something. He put down his water bowl and said, "Hai, what else could it be? Your uncle got upset by someone."

Uncle Wang shook his head and said to Fan Xiaoxiao, "Alas, do you know why Hou San and Zhu Er arrived so quickly today? Someone tipped them off!"

Old Zhao put down his bowl, sat down next to Uncle Wang, and continued the conversation: "That's right, it was Chen Ergou from next door who snitched! The Huang family has a rule that if anyone is found to be evading taxes, the person who snitches will be exempt from paying taxes once."

Fan Xiaoxiao raised her eyebrows high after hearing this, and thought to herself, "Good heavens, isn't this just involution?"

"Old Zhao! You can't put it so harshly! How can this be called reporting someone? I'm just following the town mayor's rules!"

(End of this chapter)