Song Ruier walked towards Datian Village in a daze, tears streaming down her face as she went.
He could not accept this result.
Jealousy and resentment surged within him. Were Song Laosan's two new children really that smart and outstanding? What was wrong with him?
The Qiao family didn't like him, and even his own father didn't want him.
Song Ruier became increasingly heartbroken and sat down by the roadside to sob.
I cried for two hours, and then night slowly fell.
Song Ruier's eyes, swollen like walnuts, stared into the air, filled with resentment.
He made up his mind to study hard and put all his energy into it, because only in this way would his powerful father pay more attention to him.
Once they were sure everyone had left and gone to a few villages away, Qiao Lian'er told Da Cheng and Dayong to keep watch outside, and then took a bag of silver out of the latrine.
Those people searched everywhere, even climbing onto the roof and knocking on the ground and walls to see if there were any hidden compartments, but the cesspool was so smelly that they simply wouldn't come here.
Grandma Qiao filled a bucket with water, rinsed the bag, and it was clean.
All twenty-two taels of silver were taken out.
"My darling, it almost fell into the hands of those thieves." Old Mrs. Qiao held the gleaming silver and quickly ran inside to put it away.
Old Qiao sat under the eaves, smoking his pipe, listening to the crying that came from the side, his face clouded with sorrow.
"It will take at least a year for the effects of this tax to subside. Hopefully, these people won't come back once they leave."
"Whether they will come again depends on whether the North can win the battle." Qiao Lian'er only hoped that the formations she wrote down for Fang Hong to take away would be of some use.
The best course of action would be to severely damage the northern tribal alliance, rendering it unable to invade the south for ten or twenty years.
Night enveloped the world, with stars and the moon shining brightly in the sky, making Datian Village both hazy and clear.
The Qiao family ate their dinner, but they didn't have much of an appetite.
The lunch was a happy one, like surviving a disaster, and everyone was in high spirits because they had gained Chu Zhuo's favor.
But now, the whole village is filled with a gloomy atmosphere, and the sound of crying can be heard all the time. After listening to it for a long time, the Qiao family's mood has become quite gloomy.
They're all from the same village, and they usually help each other out. How could they possibly want to see their fellow villagers in such a state?
Old Man Qiao said, "Let's invite the fourth son of the Zhao family over tomorrow and see what happens."
"First, choose a date to go to Lingjia Village to present the betrothal gifts, then set a date to hold the wedding banquet and the housewarming banquet together."
“No, the wedding needs to be postponed.” Qiao Lian’er shook her head.
"Why, sickle?" Feng asked.
Da Yong looked at Qiao Lian'er anxiously, wondering if something else was going to happen.
"Let's wait until all the tax collectors have left the southern area before we talk about it. Holding a banquet will cost a lot of money, so it's best not to attract their attention."
“Even if the family makes money now, we have to keep a low profile. Song Laosan is also keeping an eye on the Qiao family. After a while, when the eldest brother and the others have established a firm foothold in the camp, it will be more secure.”
Everyone can think of that.
Grandma Qiao made the decision: "Then let's go and present the betrothal gifts first."
After finishing her meal, Qiao Zhizhi went to the woodshed to fetch firewood to boil water in the large pot. She glanced up and saw clusters of firelight on the road above. Someone was coming with torches, and more and more torches were appearing.
"Where are these people going so late at night?"
Qiao Lian'er finished eating and came out, and a sea of fire gradually formed on the road above.
It's obvious that these people are just ordinary villagers. What are they doing making such a fuss so late at night?
There were at least several hundred people, a huge crowd, which added a bit of pressure to people's hearts.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
