Chapter 92: Short-sighted
When we arrived at the village chief's house, there were other people there, including Jiang Sheng, the boy from the Jiang family.
He bought a lot of snacks, invited a matchmaker, and tore off a few feet of red cloth, and came to the He family to propose marriage.
When the He family saw Su's father coming, they warmly invited him in to sit down.
"Oh, good things are coming to your family!"
Seeing this scene, Su's father thought that Jiang Sheng was going to marry He Jiaolan, but Jiang Sheng's family was very poor, so he didn't expect the He family to agree.
"Yes, it's just in time that you're here. The 25th of this month is a good day. If your family is free, come to our house to celebrate the wedding of our little daughter Jiao Xing!"
When he heard that it was He Jiaoxing's wedding banquet, a hint of confusion flashed across Su's father's face, but he quickly concealed it.
Don't meddle in other people's affairs and don't ask so many questions.
"Okay, congratulations. The child's mother and I will come and help you when the time comes!"
Village Chief He smiled and nodded, then pulled Father Su aside to talk:
"Old Su, you came here today because you need my help. Just ask. I know your family is not doing well. Dalang is going to take the imperial examination. If you need money, I can find a way for you."
He subconsciously thought that Father Su came to borrow money. Normally, he would have nothing else to ask him except this matter.
It would be better to lend him more. If they can't pay it back, they can only use her Guerlain to pay off the debt, and then their plan will be a natural outcome.
But he never thought that the Su family's business has been booming recently, so how could they be short of money?
After all, he never thought about how much money that business could make. He also calculated that Su Jing's trip to Kyoto to take the exam would cost at least a hundred taels of silver.
After traveling through mountains and rivers and arriving in a place like Kyoto where every inch of land is worth a lot of money, this money would not be enough to spend, and it would take more than half a year!
You also have to make connections and make some local friends in Kyoto, which all costs money.
In order to fight for the position of an official wife for her daughter He Jiaolan, he really risked everything. They had no sons, only two daughters, and the younger one was born with a disability and was mute. The whole family wanted everyone to rise to a higher level, so they placed all their hopes on He Jiaolan.
"Old He, you misunderstood. I'm here today to pay you back. I still owe you fifteen taels of silver, and I've owed you for years. I'll pay it back today. Tomorrow night, please take some time to come to my house for a drink. I've also invited Old Zhao and Old Chen, so we can have a good time!"
As soon as Mr. Su explained his purpose, he took out a bag of silver from his pocket and stuffed it into his hand. Village Chief He almost couldn't cover his face.
"Lao Su, don't be so reserved. I don't know your family's situation yet. Don't rush to pay it back. Put your family in good order first. It won't be too late to pay it back when your sons have made it big!"
If you pay back the money, you won't owe it anymore. If you want to become a relative of someone just based on some favors, that's still too little.
"Old He, I know you're doing this for my own good, but don't worry. My son's travel expenses for the exam have been collected. My daughter and son have been running a snack business lately, and you should have heard about it. They've made a decent profit, and our family isn't in such a difficult situation now. I just wanted to return the money to you. It's not easy for everyone, and you have to support the family, too. I'm worried that if you owe me too much money, it will be hard for me to do my job. You see, your family is about to have a good thing happen, and you need money too!"
Over the years, Village Chief He has been acting really well. Father Su really treats him as a brother, so he doesn't hide anything. But who would have thought that he actually has such a trick up his sleeve?
If Su's father knew, how disappointed he would be.
"How is that possible? Qinghe County is thousands of miles away from Kyoto. The travel expenses alone would cost a fortune, plus accommodation and food. Once in Kyoto, we'd have to find a place to stay. Land is incredibly valuable in a land like the Emperor's. A trip like this would take half a year, and would cost at least a hundred taels of silver. What kind of business does your family have that could earn so much all at once?"
Many poor children went to Kyoto to take the imperial examinations in the spring. Because their families were poor, they had no money or warm clothes. The long journey was accompanied by a late spring cold snap, and many of them froze to death or starved to death on the road.
Therefore, Village Chief He didn't believe it. He didn't pay much attention to it and didn't know that Su Wan's goat milk soap was also very profitable.
Shaqima never thought about how much profit he could make or how much he could earn in a short period of time.
Maybe, this is short-sightedness!
But if you say he is short-sighted, he is actually quite thoughtful and has some beautiful ideas.
"I'm not sure about that, but it's definitely enough. You can keep the money. Remember to come over for drinks tomorrow night and have a good chat with me. You have something important to do at home today, so I won't bother you anymore. I'm leaving now!"
The other family is discussing marriage, and it's not appropriate for him, a grown man, to eavesdrop, so he'd better go home early.
Village chief He wanted to stop them but couldn't, and was very anxious. Seeing that his face looked strange, Dazaohua immediately came to ask him what was going on.
After Village Chief He told her, she slapped her thigh in anxiety.
"Oh, that won't do. Think of a solution quickly!" Her voice was so loud that all the guests in the room stared at her.
There were relatives from his own family as well as elders from Jiang Sheng's family who were brought in to propose marriage. Village chief He quickly signaled her to shut up with his eyes.
"Alright, we'll talk about this tonight. Let's go and greet the guests first!"
How could Dazaohua have the mood to care about her youngest daughter's marriage? Her dream of becoming the mother-in-law of a scholar-official was about to be ruined.
…
After returning home, Su's father informed Su's mother about the He family's wedding and asked her to go to their house two days in advance to help with things.
Su Wan also heard it nearby and was puzzled.
"Dad, you heard it right, it's He Jiaoxing and Jiang Sheng's wedding."
"Yes, I saw it with my own eyes. Jiang Sheng brought the matchmaker and his uncle's family, and even pulled out the red cloth. Lao He said it was a marriage with Jiao Xing, but I also wonder why my eldest sister is not married yet, but my daughter is anxious."
"Jiao Xing is a mute, so it's difficult for her to find a husband. I guess Sister Zaohua is worried!" Su's mother looked at the matter from a woman's perspective.
Upon hearing this, Su Wan felt that it was not that simple, so he told his father and mother what happened at the doorstep that day.
The couple was shocked when they heard this:
"Wanwan, did your aunt really say that?" Su's mother was surprised.
He agreed to marry Jiao Xing to Jiang Sheng for thirty taels of silver. Jiang Sheng's family was an orphan and a widow, and his family was very poor. Where could he get thirty taels of silver?
Su Wan nodded. She was close and saw it with her own eyes, so there was no way she could have heard it wrong.
"Sister Zaohua does love money, but she wouldn't be so sarcastic. Or maybe, the two children are a mutual wish, and the He family had no choice but to agree. After all, Jiang Sheng has healthy hands and feet, which is better than marrying a lame bachelor!" Mother Su analyzed silently.
She had dealt with Dazaohua in her early years and knew her temper to some extent, but she never thought that people are not as kind as she thought.
Su Wan secretly curled her lips. She didn't know the reason, but since Dazaohua agreed, it must be because the money was in place.
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