Feng Zicai paused, wondering why she suddenly shifted the topic from borrowing money to the Meng family's murder and theft of the property. He nodded subconsciously.

“I heard the villagers mention it a few days ago.”

It wasn't that he paid special attention, but everyone in Shanghe Village was talking about the Meng family's murder and the seizure of the property, so it was hard for him not to know.

Su Hua raised an eyebrow slightly, "Since Scholar Feng knows this, why didn't he go and find Meng Yun'er sooner?"

"Go find Meng Yun'er?" Feng Zicai's heart skipped a beat when he heard this, and he quickly waved his hand, "Xiao Hua, what are you talking about?"

I admit that I was wrong before, but that was because I was young and naive and was fooled by Meng Yun'er's sweet words.

But I've already realized that she has absolutely nothing to do with me now, and there's no way I'd go looking for her again!

Su Hua didn't argue with him about this, and continued calmly, "Now, Meng Yongfu has been sentenced to death and will be executed in half a month. But you know Meng Yongfu's character. If a cunning rabbit has three burrows, then Meng Yongfu must have at least five or six."

Otherwise, how could Meng Yongfu have remained completely silent after Meng Fu gambled away his family fortune and incurred huge gambling debts?

The Meng family only has two siblings, Meng Fu and Meng Yun'er. If Meng Yun'er doesn't return soon, and Meng Yongfu dies, won't Meng Fu be able to enjoy all the remaining five or six family homes all to himself?

A few simple words, spoken lightly, struck the man's heart like pebbles.

Her dull eyes suddenly lit up. "Xiao Hua means that Meng Yongfu has other money hidden away?"

As soon as the words left his mouth, he seemed to realize that he had overreacted.

He quickly lowered his head, composed himself, and put on a bitter expression.

Su Hua gave him a half-smile, "You should ask Meng Yun'er about this, Scholar Feng. Putting aside these trivial matters, Meng Fu is about to be exiled to Gucheng. After Meng Yongfu dies, at least someone needs to come back to handle the funeral arrangements, right?"

As the prospective son-in-law of the Meng family, isn't it perfectly reasonable for Scholar Feng to make a trip to Tangshan Prefecture to inform Meng Yun'er?

Feng Zicai was completely bewildered. "What prospective son-in-law of the Meng family? That's all nonsense. Xiaohua, please don't bring up these old, trivial matters to make fun of me... Xiaohua..."

He was halfway through his sentence when he looked up and saw that the girl had already turned and left.

"Xiao Hua! Xiao Hua..." The man watched the emerald green figure disappear into the distance, his eyes filled with complex emotions. In the end, he could only stomp his foot and run towards the east end of the village.

Inside the Feng family's mud house.

Mrs. Feng was leaning against the bed, watching the person rush back. She quickly sat up, but the sitting up aggravated some wound, making her wince in pain. "How is it? Is Su Hua willing to lend you money?"

Feng Zicai walked up to the woman in a few steps, "Mother, don't say anything more, give me some silver quickly, I need to go to Tangshan Prefecture!"

"Silver? We can't even afford medical expenses now, where would we get any silver?" Upon hearing this, Madam Feng's expression immediately turned sour, and even the wounds on her body seemed to hurt more.

A few days ago, he went to Su's Restaurant and made a scene. He thought that the Su family would be considerate of their reputation and would let the matter go and help Zicai pay off his gambling debts.

Unexpectedly, Su Erhu turned out to be an utterly unreasonable and heartless person.

Not only did they fail to get the money, but they also went along with it, causing Zicai to be expelled from Qingshan Academy. On his way back, he was even covered with a burlap sack and severely beaten. Now, every part of his body aches.

Seeing that she wouldn't budge, Feng Zicai had no choice but to back down. "If you don't have the money, then forget it. Just give me twelve copper coins, enough for a carriage ride to Tangshan Prefecture!"

Mother Feng was completely bewildered. "Your most urgent task right now is to get two hundred taels from Su Hua to pay off this gambling debt. Why did you go to Tangshan Prefecture for no reason?"

"I'm going to find Yun'er!" Feng Zicai flung his sleeves, then simply lifted the covers and began searching under the bed.

Normally, the family's money was hidden under the bed board.

And sure enough, his search led him to a money bag.

Inside were not only more than ten copper coins, but also two small pieces of silver. The man glanced at them, put them all into his sleeve, and then walked out.

"Looking for Meng Yun'er?!" Madam Feng's face darkened immediately, and she stopped him. "The Meng family is full of scoundrels. Some have committed murder, and others are in jail. Everyone who hears about the Meng family wants to distance themselves from them. Why are you going to look for her instead of staying away from her?"

Feng Zicai sneered, "If it weren't for Meng Yun'er's scheming, I wouldn't have fallen out with Xiao Hua and missed out on such a golden opportunity as the Su family. Now, I'm going to Tangshan Prefecture to ask her for money! I'll pay off the gambling debts at the gambling den first, and then we'll slowly work our way up."

"Ask Meng Yun'er for money?"

Mother Feng stared blankly, "What nonsense are you talking about? Meng Yun'er has been neglected by her father and mother since she was little. The Meng family can barely take care of themselves now, let alone Meng Yun'er, an unloved daughter, how could she possibly have any money!"

“Meng Yun’er doesn’t have it, but her father does! Alright, I’m not talking to you anymore. If we wait any longer, the money might not even reach us.” Feng Zicai picked up the money bag, changed his clothes, and left the mud house.

They sped towards the village entrance.

Xiao Hua is right. Given Meng Yongfu's habit of plucking even the hairs off dogs, he must have a considerable amount of savings hidden away.

He and Meng Yun'er had once shared a relationship, and now that the Meng family was in decline, he had to get the money for Meng Yun'er.

Otherwise, it would all benefit that idiot Meng Fu.

When the time comes, it wouldn't be too much for Meng Yun'er to give him half as a token of gratitude, would it? If there's enough money, after paying off the gambling debts, there might even be some left over for him to try and turn his fortunes around at the gambling den.

Meanwhile, the person he was talking about was currently in Tangshan Prefecture, thousands of miles away, going from street to street collecting dirty clothes.

"Didn't I tell you long ago that this garment must be washed clean, without a single stain?"

But you can't even see such a tiny oil stain the size of a fingernail? Are the two things in your eye sockets just for show?

"You made me get scolded like a grandson in front of my master. You don't need to do this job anymore..."

The girl was scolded harshly, but she didn't dare to utter a sound. She quickly took out seven or eight copper coins from her sleeve and stuffed them into the purse. "Aunt Wang, I know I was wrong. It was my fault this time, and I dragged you into this mess."

But I promise I will never make the same mistake again.

My family has several mouths to feed, and they all depend on this laundry work for food. Aunt Wang, please have mercy on me this time, okay?