Chapter 176: Getting by

As the ox cart just entered the village, the villagers working in the fields looked up in the direction of the ox cart and whispered about something.

"I heard that Tang's family has become prosperous. Deng Gui asked her to go back and borrow ten taels of silver. The old lady of the Deng family boasted everywhere early in the morning, saying that her daughter-in-law's family has become prosperous, and they, as relatives, can also benefit from it. I think the Tang family is also unlucky. They have such relatives, who are like leeches. Not only do they like to suck blood, but they can't get rid of them."

"I heard that the widow Tang Dafu married is not a pushover. If they want to suck her, they have to see if she will let them. What was Tang Dafu like before and what is he like now? You still look down on his widow, but we saw her last time. She is so pretty, much better than many other girls. Also, their family is prosperous thanks to the widow. Tang Dafu treasures her like nothing, and you men can't even be jealous."

"Peony is hardworking and capable, and she's not bad looking, but it's a pity that she has a father like Deng Gui. I'm afraid no one will dare to marry her in the future."

"Marry? The first two girls were sold, and we don't even know if this last girl can be raised to the age of fifteen. How can someone else marry her?"

…

Deng Shaoyao looked at the dilapidated house in front and said to Qin Huiyin in front of the ox cart: "Sister, that's the one in front."

Qin Huiyin drove the ox cart over.

She parked the bullock cart at the door.

The people inside heard the noise and ran out, and saw that Deng Shaoyao and Tang Caiyun were sent back by ox cart. They were sent back not only by an old man, but also by a pretty little girl.

"Is this Lu Wu?" The calculating old lady looked at Qin Huiyin and smiled as she came over. "I haven't seen you for so many years. You've grown up so beautiful. You look so lovely. I remember when you were just born, I held you in my arms! Now that you're home, come down and have dinner before you leave."

"She is not..." Deng Shaoyao was about to say "She is not Tang Luwu", but Qin Huiyin spoke first.

Qin Huiyin sat on the ox cart and smiled at the old lady of the Deng family: "I still have work to do at home, so I won't delay. I'll ask you to take care of my aunt and cousin. I'm very busy at home recently, and I really can't spare you, otherwise you can let them stay at home for a few more days."

"I heard that your family has made a lot of money and has a big business. Are you still short of people? We have a lot of laborers at home. Instead of looking for others, we might as well find our own family."

"It's just a small business now, so we don't need so many people. We can do it ourselves. If we need people in the future, we can pick a few more skilled ones." Qin Huiyin said to Tang Caiyun, "Aunt, my mother asked me to tell you that in the future, whether it's collecting firewood or fetching water, if it's inconvenient, let others do it. Your family has not been divided, so why are you the only one working out of a family of more than a dozen people? My mother is very unhappy to see that you are injured here and there. She said that if you are so careless again, she will suspect that someone has treated you harshly. Then we will report to the police directly!"

"How could it be that you are treated harshly? You seldom do the work normally, but when you start working, you bump into things here and there!" The old lady of the Deng family glared at Tang Caiyun.

"My aunt's hands are full of calluses. She said she seldom works. Only a fool would believe that! How about I ask people in the village?" Qin Huiyin said calmly.

"Oh, you are such a serious girl. We are all from the country, and we can't even make ends meet at home. The whole family has to work in the fields. But things will be better in the future. With such good in-laws to help, your aunt will be able to enjoy her life too." The old lady of the Deng family said cunningly.

"Aunt, cousin, we're leaving first." Qin Huiyin said calmly, "I'll come pick you up to play at home next time when I'm free."

"Are you really not going to stay for dinner?" the old lady of the Deng family shouted at the back of the ox cart.

When he saw the man leave, he said with a sullen voice, "What's the big deal about having a few stinky bucks?"

Tang Caiyun shuddered and looked at Deng Shaoyao.

Deng Shaoyao blocked Tang Caiyun behind her and waited for the old lady of the Deng family to come closer so that she could bravely respond.

"Have you got the money?" Mrs. Deng stretched out her hand. "Take it out!"

Deng Shaoyao put fifty cents into Old Lady Deng's hand.

Old Mrs. Deng stared at the fifty coins and said angrily, "I was talking about ten taels of silver. What do you mean? Are you using these dozens of coins to pay off beggars?"

As he said this, he slapped Deng Shaoyao.

Tang Caiyun rushed over to block it, allowing the slap to fall on her back.

"Grandma, were you not awake when you made this request? Ten taels of silver! You might as well be a robber! My aunt is a successor, not a biological one, and my cousins have to live under her thumb. My uncle's leg is injured and he has been away from home. Do you think my mother and I can borrow ten taels of silver? Besides, he asked for ten taels right away. It's obvious that he is a poor relative who wants to take advantage of me..."

"Okay, you've grown wings now, and you dare to challenge me, right? You should have kept the capable girl and sold you, the foul-mouthed girl."

"How dare you mention my elder sister? My elder sister and second sister are suffering somewhere. They have been obedient since they were young, but what did they get?"

"You are trying to rebel, you little bitch. Don't run away. I will show you how I will deal with you..."

"Mom, stop hitting me. My sister-in-law won't lend it to us, and there's nothing we can do!"

"Go ahead and hit me. My aunt won't lend me money because you guys are not good to us. My elder sister and second sister were sold, and my mother was almost forced to death. Even so, you still want to lend me money?"

The eldest wife stood at the door and said in a quiet voice, "Peony, we are not forcing you to borrow money, but your father, the gambler, lost again. If you have no money, we will have to sell you off!"

"These fifty coins are given to us, not borrowed. Do you think it's too little?" Deng Shaoyao said, "As for borrowing money, my aunt is reluctant to give me an egg. How can she lend me money?"

"You mean..." Mrs. Deng's eyes were full of calculation. "You don't have to pay back the money."

"No! My aunt said that all the money she earned recently was spent on my uncle's leg treatment, and she has no money left. Their small business is not as profitable as others say. After my uncle's leg is healed, my mother will go to help her with work for a few days, and they will have more money in their hands, so maybe they will lend it to her." Deng Shaoyao said.

"It's not a wasted trip." Old Mrs. Deng said, "You're a money-loser. Why don't you get back to work?"

Deng Shaoyao pulled Tang Caiyun inside.

Tang Caiyun went from being terrified at first to being terrified now.

She looked back at the door, making sure that Mrs. Deng and her sister-in-law hadn't caught up with her, and lowered her voice to ask, "Did we really get away with it?"

Originally, her sister-in-law gave her two hundred coins, one hundred coins were given to her for the task, and one hundred coins were left for Shaoyao to plan on her own. However, on the way, Shaoyao took out fifty coins and said that she would only hand in this part later.