"Who said there isn't?" Qin Lao Er looked at his elder brother meaningfully. "That little Taoist priest said today that as long as you send your sister-in-law over there, you can get ten taels of silver."

"Is that so?" Qin's mother was very intrigued. "Husband, is this true?"

"It's true, but the boss doesn't agree, and I also feel it's not quite right."

Upon hearing this, Qin's mother pursed her lips and said, "What's wrong with that? Ten taels of silver is enough for the eldest son to marry two young maidens."

"Mother, how could you say that?" Qin the eldest looked at his mother in disbelief. "You'd let your son wear a green hat just for ten taels of silver?"

Money is a small matter; face is a big matter.

Even if he dislikes his wife, he wouldn't cheat on her. Not only would it make him a laughingstock, but his children would also never be able to hold their heads high again.

Don't even mention ten taels of silver, not even twenty taels!

"Otherwise, what do you suggest we do?" Mother Qin complained. "Our family owes the Yang family seventeen taels of silver, which is no small sum. We can't borrow it, and we can't delay it. Where are we going to raise the money?"

“We still have land,” Qin Laoda said through gritted teeth. “If all else fails, we’ll sell two acres first.”

In order to keep his wife, Qin Laoda decisively changed his tune.

"You scoundrel!" Qin's father slapped him hard. "The land is our family's lifeline. How can we just sell it like that!"

If he still had some silver in his savings, he wouldn't mind selling two acres of land; as long as he had the silver, he could buy anything.

Now that he had lost his savings and was heavily in debt, he suddenly realized the importance of land.

No matter what, as long as there is land, people will not starve. No matter what, there is always a way out.

It is precisely because they recognize the importance of land that they are so excited about Qin Laoda's proposal to sell land.

“That’s right,” Qin’s mother chimed in. “The legacy left by our ancestors can’t be sold off so easily. Selling it is easy, but buying it back is difficult. Even if we owe a hundred taels, let alone seventeen taels, we can’t sell it.”

“That’s right,” Qin Lao Er said with a pout, “If I can raise money for the family, I’ll sell my wife, or even my sons and daughters.”

As he spoke, he earnestly advised, "Brother, the family is going through a difficult time right now. Just let your sister-in-law go to Qingfeng Temple. She won't get beaten or scolded, and it won't kill her. What's the big deal?"

"Easier said than done, why don't you send your wife?" Qin the eldest said coldly. "Second brother, I'm warning you, keep your little schemes to yourself and don't mess with me."

Qin Laoda (Old Qin) had a clear understanding of his own position: since ancient times, the common people have always doted on their youngest son.

His younger brother was indeed more favored by his parents than he was, but so what? He was the eldest son in the family, and when his parents passed away, he, as the eldest son, was the only one who could do both the ritual of breaking the basin and carrying the funeral banner.

Unless my parents want to die with regrets, I will not be shortchanged from what I deserve, whether they like it or not.

He originally thought that his family didn't need to worry about so much, but since they were all targeting him, he wasn't someone to be trifled with.

Don't even think about letting yourself and your little sister be manipulated by them like that!

"Brother, why do you say that?" Qin Lao Er felt wronged. "I was only thinking of the Qin family."

“No need,” the eldest brother Qin said directly. “You will definitely be separated from the family in the future. It is my duty to handle the affairs of the Qin family. Don’t interfere so much.”

Upon hearing this, Qin Lao Er's expression turned very unpleasant.

He couldn't understand why his older brother, who had always been indecisive, was being so stubborn today.

She's just a woman, skin dry and fleshless, what's so special about her?

"Eldest brother, how can you talk like that?" Qin's mother scolded unhappily, "You brothers are family, how can you ruin your relationship because of an outsider?"

Qin's mother originally disliked her eldest daughter-in-law but didn't hate her, but now she felt that she couldn't keep this troublemaker around.

With such a troublemaker around, there's no peace and quiet at home.

"Eldest brother," Qin's father also spoke up, "the second brother is three years younger than you, so it's normal for him to be less thoughtful in his actions. Don't take it to heart. You're the eldest brother, so be more accommodating to him."

Deep down, Qin's father didn't think Qin's second son had done anything wrong. Although his words were unpleasant to hear, he genuinely cared about the family.

After all, such a large debt has to be repaid sooner or later.

“Father, Mother, no matter what you think, don’t try anything with my wife,” the eldest son of the Qin family said with unprecedented seriousness. “My wife is the head wife of the Qin family and the face of our family. If she is disgraced, the Qin family will not be happy either.”

He glanced sideways at Qin Lao Er, gritted his teeth and said, "If anyone tries anything funny, I will never let it go."

After saying that, he left the hall.

Qin Lao Da's words made Qin Lao Er very angry.

"Father, Mother, listen to what my eldest brother is saying! What does he mean? Would a brother harm him? Isn't it all for the sake of the family!"

"Don't be angry," Qin's mother quickly comforted her. "Your older brother is wrong. I'll talk to him about it later. Let's not argue with him."

“The eldest son really went too far this time,” Qin’s father said with a frown. “Your mother and I won’t live much longer. We did all this for you brothers. He shouldn’t have let his anger out like this.”

Qin's father had actually been persuaded by Qin's mother, but being a man, he was more knowledgeable and knew that this matter would have a huge impact.

He wouldn't want to do this unless absolutely necessary, but right now, he can't find a better way.

"It's more than just excessive," Qin Lao Er said indignantly, "it's downright unfilial. As a son, instead of thinking about being filial to his parents, he throws tantrums at them. It's outrageous!"

These words left the Qin couple feeling quite uncomfortable.

They already felt that their son had overreacted and shouldn't have lost his temper like that.

Hearing her youngest son's words and thinking about all the sacrifices she had made over the years, she felt even more heartbroken.

"Enough," Qin's father said coldly, waving his hand. "Let's just let this matter rest."

Qin's father still had some compassion for his son and was reluctant to say anything too harsh.

"I know," he said, turning his face away indignantly, continuing to fan the flames. "No matter how good my parents are to my elder brother, he doesn't appreciate it. With so much debt in the family, if Qingfeng Temple wanted my wife, my son would have sent her over there long ago."

“The second son is the most considerate,” Qin’s mother said with a smile. “They’re all ingrates. I’ve raised them for nothing all these years.”

"Your son would never do that," Qin Lao Er seized the opportunity to assure him. "The Qin family will be good only if your son is good. As long as your parents need your son, your son will never hesitate."

"My dear husband," Qin's mother said, pleased by her youngest son's coaxing, "my youngest son is always the most considerate."

“The second son is indeed better than the eldest, but unfortunately,” Qin’s father shook his head, “he is only the second son.”

Although Qin's father preferred his second son, he understood that he would have to rely on his eldest son in the future.

These words instantly froze the smile on Qin Lao Er's face.