The stewards of these wealthy families, who were always eager to skim money, would never let such an opportunity pass them by. The Song family was unlucky enough to run into it, but what could they do when their hearts were filled with evil?
"Thirty taels, thirty taels."
Song Dahua walked behind, her eyes glazed over, muttering to herself.
She was a little afraid to go back, afraid that Old Lady Song would take all her anger out on her.
The Qiao siblings in front heard clearly; it turned out to be thirty taels.
"The steward was really ruthless this week; he squeezed out ten taels of silver from one person alone," Qiao Dayong said.
"Flies don't land on eggs without cracks. If you don't have those wicked ideas, how can you expect to be scammed?"
Qiao Dacheng said that the housekeeper, Zhou, always acted like an honest businessman and spoke to them very politely.
All I can say is to treat people as people and ghosts as ghosts.
Old Mrs. Song was waiting for the group to bring back eighty taels of silver, and she figured it was about time.
Song Ruier was also full of anticipation. Today he was going to make a great contribution and become a respected figure in the Song family.
Thinking of this, a smile curved his swollen face.
Hearing the familiar footsteps of her family members outside, Old Mrs. Song quickly went to the door.
Seeing Song Dahua standing at the door with tears streaming down her face, her eyes swollen like walnuts from crying.
"What's going on? Where are your father and uncles?" Old Mrs. Song had a bad feeling.
"Grandma, they've been discovered. The Han family has arrested them."
"What?" Old Mrs. Song exclaimed in surprise.
"They've all been detained by the Han family, who said they'd send them to the county government office, unless—unless—"
Song Dahua started crying again.
"Unless what? Explain yourself." Old Mrs. Song's hands, which hadn't been trimmed in six months, gripped Song Dahua's shoulders, her nails digging into her flesh.
"Unless you offer silver to exchange for them, it's not enough to just send them to the yamen; they'll also reduce Father and Uncle to lowly status, so their descendants can't do anything."
Old Mrs. Song became very excited, panting heavily: "How much silver do they want?"
Song Dahua cried even louder: "Ten taels per person, thirty taels in total."
Old Mrs. Song swayed and let go of his hand, her eyes wide open, her body falling straight backward.
Song Ruier was hiding behind the door when she heard the news, and she was completely stunned.
He immediately took off running, ran to the backyard, and then climbed over the wall to get out. He doesn't dare to go home for the next two days.
The Song family members were all working in the fields not far away. When they saw Song Dahua return, they all assumed she had eighty taels of silver with her, so they hurried back as well.
But soon, a bolt of lightning struck them, and cries of grief erupted from the Song family.
Qiao Lian'er and her siblings carried baskets on their backs and went up the mountain.
Da Yong had thought they would have to go far, but seeing Qiao Lian'er searching around on the nearby mountain, he couldn't help but wonder.
"Lian'er, there are no more termite mushrooms on these hills."
"Yes, I know." Qiao Lian'er squatted down, picked a few red onion mushrooms, and put them in her basket.
They were stunned by Da Yong's great achievements.
Just as they were about to dissuade them, Qiao Lian'er said, "Brother Dayong, Brother Dacheng, there are actually many mushrooms that can be eaten and fried into delicious dried mushrooms."
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