Chapter 11
Even their parents haven't experienced such a good life.
The eldest couple's expressions changed; once the money was in their pockets, why would they give it away?
“Father, Mother, Xiuyu and I spend a lot of money on daily life in the county.”
Wen Chuanzong's lips moved slightly.
"Does that mean we don't spend any money when we're at home?"
“This village has land to grow grain, and we can gather firewood in the mountains. We can also grow vegetables and raise chickens at home, so there are not many expenses. My parents, my husband and I, everything costs money in the county. He needs to study, he often has to treat people to meals, and he has to socialize. All of these cost money.”
"We really want to save money, but we can't seem to."
As Xiuyu finished speaking, she picked up a handkerchief and pretended to wipe away her tears.
“You don’t know how snobbish the people in this county are. When my husband and I first came here, we dressed plainly and did all the housework ourselves. As a result, we were looked down upon and gossiped about in private. They said that my husband didn’t look like a scholar at all, but just a country bumpkin, and that I didn’t look like a scholar’s wife, but just a village woman.”
Wen Chuanzong was taken aback, but quickly realized what he meant and agreed.
“Father and Mother, it’s not easy for us either. You see that our life is better than yours. If it weren’t like this, who would befriend me? How would I walk in the future? Father, you often tell me that I should build good relationships with people. I can’t just ignore everyone and focus on studying all my life.”
Upon hearing this, Liu glanced at Old Man Wen, who immediately felt a pang of sadness, realizing that the family simply didn't have enough money.
Seeing the two old people lower their heads, Xiuyu glanced triumphantly at Wen Chuanzong. Wen Chuanzong understood and didn't say anything.
“Our family is really struggling. Our third son is going to school, and his wife is going with him. Suddenly, there are two fewer people to work in the family. Now we have two less acres of land. I was thinking of letting our third son go to school after you pass the exam, but he refuses and won’t listen to me.”
"Father, Mother, you should talk to the third son properly. Why don't you stop him from studying and let him stay home and work hard first? When my husband becomes successful in the future, he can do whatever he wants."
“The third son’s wife was never a good person to begin with, and now she’s started a business in town. In the end, the third son didn’t spend any of the family’s money on his education. If your father and I make trouble with the third son, then we’ll have wasted our son in the future.”
Liu was very clear about this.
Yingxiang was no ordinary country girl; her methods were incredibly clever. She caused such a scene right after getting married, and many uninformed young women and wives in the village were gossiping about her mother-in-law behind her back.
What good would it do her to really break ties with this couple?
Let's just leave it at that for now. Anyway, the family hasn't helped or stopped the third son, has it? If the third son does well in school in the future, then the family will have another hope.
The couple had always tacitly accepted this arrangement.
"Alright, that's enough. Let's eat first, Mom and Dad. You've had a long journey. Stay here for a few days. Xiuyu, you can take Mom and Dad to the temple to pray and to tour the county later."
Neither Liu nor Old Man Wen objected to this.
The past is behind us. Although Xiuyu was somewhat unwilling, she did not refuse. After all, she had not yet made a fortune, and it would not do her any good to her in-laws if she really broke off relations with them.
How much is the rent for this house?
During the meal, Old Man Wen asked.
"Three hundred coins a month."
“I don’t think it’s safe with so many people coming and going. Why don’t you find somewhere else to stay? There are too many people here and it’s probably too chaotic. These two children are still young, so you have to keep a close eye on them and make sure they don’t get kidnapped.”
"good."
After Wen Chuanzong finished speaking, he lowered his head. This was the house they rented when they first arrived. At that time, they only wanted to live in a house with blue bricks and white tiles, and these two rooms were quite spacious.
But now he visits his classmates' homes more often. They mostly live in small courtyards with only two or three rooms, but they are all family members, which is indeed better than here. Many of them have hired servants and live like wealthy merchants. To be honest, he also wants to live like that.
"That adds up to quite a bit of money over a year, doesn't it?"
Mrs. Liu picked up a piece of meat and placed it on her grandson's bowl.
"That's how it is in the county, there's nothing a mother can do, it's not like in the village."
"Mother knows."
Wen Shi and Ying Xiang were unaware that the elderly Wen family couple had gone to the county. Since Wen Shi had exams to take in the second half of the year, he naturally needed to prepare, and booking an inn was the first priority.
You can't sleep on the streets when you take the exam in the county, right? It's so cold, and if you catch a cold, it won't be worth it. You have to go early, not late, or you won't even be able to get into the exam hall.
The provincial education commissioner is not one to be reasonable; once a mistake is made, it's a mistake, and there have been precedents for this.
Before each exam, the price of inns in the county would be three to five times higher than usual. If you had relatives there, it would be best to go and stay with them.
But Wen Shi didn't rely on his older brother at all. He planned to make arrangements with a few close classmates in advance. He had spent a lot of money on this exam and needed someone to act as a guarantor. Similarly, he didn't consider his older brother, since it would be more harmful than helpful. Sometimes, it would be more useful to a stranger who had already paid him.
However, this time when he goes to the county, he will be separated from Yingxiang for a few days.
June has arrived in the blink of an eye.
That night, Yingxiang lay on the bed. After hearing what Shi had said, she pondered for a while and then said, "If we go, we should book a large inn that is close to the examination hall. We can't let small things cause us to lose big ones. This way, you can also get a good rest."
“It’s not a problem to have this little bit of money. If you pass the exam, you won’t have to worry about money for your studies anymore.”
Don't worry.
Yingxiang goes to the market to sell things every day. It's impossible to say it's not hard work, but she's willing to do it if she can make money. Now, she has a group of loyal customers.
Thanks to the seasonings provided by the system, other restaurants may be envious, but they can't replicate her flavor.
However, if Wen Shi passes the exam, she will have to think about what to do next. She has saved some money, but it would still be a struggle to open a shop.
Unless the system is powerful enough to make her earn money by signing in, it will be difficult. When Wen Shi went to the county, Ying Xiang gave him a lot of money.
"Take it. Maybe I can enjoy the good life with you someday. Now that you have money, don't be stingy with yourself."
Wen Shi had put some down for her, but Ying Xiang immediately took out her own purse and put it all in him, then shoved it into his arms.
"I've put it away."
"good."
Wen Shi took a deep look at his wife and thought to himself that if he ever became successful in the future, he would never forget his virtuous wife and would repay her a thousandfold.
On the day Wen Shi set off, Liu Shi and Wen Laodi also returned by oxcart. Although they were still a little scared after the trip, things seemed to be going well for now.
"That idiot, I'll tear him apart when I get back."
"Forget it, why bother arguing with a scoundrel? Who are we to begin with? As for their family, it's better to stay far away. We'll still be living in the village anyway."
Old Man Wen looked at Liu Shi and spoke.
Before they knew it, both of them had gray hair and were getting older, but they had not yet lived the life they had longed for.
Under the scorching sun, the trees on both sides of the road were lush and leafy, and the pedestrians coming and going were all soaked with sweat.
"I don't know if the second and fourth sons are working hard at home. In this hot weather, we can't let the crops dry out."
"Don't worry, the second son is very hardworking. As for the fourth son, we need to find him a wife; he's getting on in years."
Wen Shi was only one year younger than his younger brother. Upon hearing Liu's words, Old Man Wen sighed.
"The bride price and the banquet both cost money."
"I hope this year will be a good harvest. After the eldest son receives the benefits, he will ask for some more, and we will get it done for him before the end of the year."
"Get it done sooner rather than later. If we keep dragging it out, who knows what this kid might do?"
The Wen family's children each have their own personalities. The second oldest is the easiest to manage, the eldest is sweet-talking, good at handling things, and good at speaking. As for the third oldest, he is cold but steady and has a good sense of things.
The fifth child is still young, but very clever. The fourth child, although usually quiet, is not as honest and simple as the second child.
You know your own child best.
With five sons, Liu was able to establish herself and gain a voice in the Wen family.
But it's not necessarily a good thing. After all, everyone has to get married and find a wife. Who can go without eating or drinking and still have to spend money? It's a blessing, but it also brings a lot of pressure to the family.
"Old man, it's good to have more people, but if they all have children in the future, there will definitely be even more people in the family. Will the eldest son be able to support them all then?"
After returning home, Liu suddenly spoke.
"Xiuyu told me in private, and it was also the eldest brother who told him. He said that if he really becomes an official, he doesn't want to take all the brothers with him. There are too many people, and our family is not wealthy. If we go to a local post, we may not be able to support so many people. We can't let the brothers go hungry."
Upon hearing this, Old Man Wen's face instantly darkened.
"Of course, it doesn't mean we'll abandon these younger brothers. We'll definitely give them money in the future. As for the family property, the couple won't take it either. You can divide all the land and such among them."
Liu had been holding back for several days. She was naturally angry when she heard her daughter-in-law say that day, and even wanted to hit her. But after Xiuyu explained, she understood a little.
Human nature is inherently biased.
The couple does indeed have their own children, and they will get married in the future.
It's one thing to have few brothers to take care of, but with so many, what if one of them is muddle-headed and does something foolish? It could affect the eldest brother's career in the future.
At that time, the whole family supported the eldest son so that he could make a fortune in the future. But Xiuyu's words made sense when you think about it. They were not a merchant family, but an ordinary family with no wealth.
Even if the eldest son becomes an official, he still needs to accumulate wealth and work hard for the next generation. After all, they share the same surname, Wen, and are all ancestors.
The couple wouldn't abandon their parents, but having too many brothers is a real burden.
The fourth son, who had been excitedly planning to accuse his second brother of secretly working to earn money when he heard his parents return, was stunned when he heard his mother's words at the door.
What does it mean to not bring all your brothers?
Wen Laosi stood at the door, looking puzzled.
He took a breath and continued listening to what his parents were saying. If his parents agreed, then the family had to separate, and the whole family could no longer support the elderly without any limits.
He disagreed no matter what. These two haven't even become officials yet, and they already have such thoughts. If they really became officials, he would definitely kick them to the curb.
Wen Laosi was furious.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com