Chapter 36 Mrs. He is going to pawn her dowry
Regardless, Zhang Si's reformation and cessation of slandering her are commendable, so Song Li bought him a jar of pickled chili peppers and several cloves of pickled garlic at the original price.
Zhang Si earned ten coins in no time, and he was so happy that he couldn't stop smiling. He secretly vowed never to gossip about Song Daya again.
"I've also planted some new houttuynia cordata and leek sprouts. Take them back and try them out."
Without saying a word, Zhang Si enthusiastically stuffed a handful of fresh vegetables into Song Xiaoxiao's hand.
Song Li then smiled generously and said, "Then thank you, Fourth Brother."
Meanwhile, Song Lao Er soon arrived at Li Cunzheng's house.
"Muramasa, I'm here to collect my brother's allowance for this month." He swaggered into the main room.
After all, it had been a few days since they had seen Song Lao Er wandering around the village, so the village head was a little surprised.
"Second brother, where have you been these past few days?"
When asked, Song Lao Er sighed, "Oh dear, it's all because of my brother's unfilial daughter, who was born of a mother but not raised by one. She nailed the doors and windows shut when we weren't looking, and our whole family was locked up for ten days. I just broke down the door to get out."
He had already discussed it with Mrs. He, and he would tell everyone he met after they came out.
Once they've ruined that brat's reputation again, they can manipulate her however they want.
Little did he know that his supposedly proud framing was perceived differently by Muramasa.
Muramasa was surprised by Song Daya's abilities; she could even do something as simple as nailing doors and windows shut.
He originally planned to transfer Song Da's allowance to Song Daya, and then instigate Song Er's family to make a scene, forcing Song Daya to have no other choice but to sell herself to Lou Yicong as a slave.
But Song Daya was too fierce, so he had to cancel the plan.
Transactions are based on mutual consent. If Song Daya is pushed to the limit and starts biting people indiscriminately, he will only suffer losses.
Having made up his mind, Muramasa nodded without saying a word.
With no further developments regarding the village head, Song Lao Er frowned sensitively.
This isn't the usual Muramasa!
But the roof of his house was still collapsed, and he urgently needed money to repair it. Without thinking much, he simply said, "Village head, I've come to collect my allowance."
Muramasa rolled his eyes and smiled as he declined, saying, "I received a conscription order a few days ago, saying that we have suffered another defeat in the north and need to conscript soldiers and collect grain. Perhaps the higher-ups are too busy, because this month's allowance has not yet been issued."
He deliberately brought up the two things the villagers feared most: conscription and grain requisition, to divert Song Lao Er's attention.
As expected, Song Lao Er turned pale with fright and hurriedly asked, "Conscription? When? How much?"
The first question asks when the conscription will take place, and the second question asks how much grain will be conscripted.
He was in such a hurry that his words were incoherent.
He didn't want to be conscripted and sent to the battlefield as cannon fodder!
They couldn't bear to part with the food at home!
The village headman then chuckled and reassured him, "Don't worry, second brother. Since your eldest brother left, you've been the only adult male in the Song family. According to regulations, you're exempt from military service. As for the grain tax..."
He paused for a moment, then said, "I'll convert all your family's fields into low-grade fields with extremely poor yields, so that even if we levy grain, we won't be able to collect much."
Upon hearing this, Song Lao Er was moved to tears and held the village head's hand, thanking him profusely.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you..."
If the Song family's fertile land of more than ten mu were all converted into inferior land, it would save several hundred jin of fine grain.
Since the village head was willing to do him such a big favor, Song Lao Er considered himself a very sensible person and didn't feel comfortable asking for any more subsidies, so he went home empty-handed.
When He saw that Song Lao Er had returned empty-handed, her heart sank.
We didn't get the five taels of silver; how are we going to repair the roof? Besides, we don't have much food left at home.
Unfortunately, Song Lao Er always had the urge to bring up the most sensitive topics:
"I think we should go to the money exchange in town and withdraw the money. We don't care about the interest rate; the Song family doesn't care about such a small amount of money."
Muramasa had just agreed to change his superior land to inferior land, which saved him several dozen taels of silver worth of grain, and he immediately felt like he had made a huge profit.
In comparison, the interest rates charged by money shops were negligible.
Faced with Song Lao Er's sudden arrogance, Madam He was speechless.
Further persuasion might give her away, so with no other option, Madam He opened her dowry chest, took out a pair of silver shrimp-whisker bracelets, and prepared to pawn them for money.
But she didn't dare to say it directly, and only dared to say to Song Lao Er while holding the silver bracelet in her hand, "I'll go to the bank and withdraw the money right away."
Song Lao Er nodded.
Song Yu exclaimed, "Mother, I want to go to town to play too!"
How could Mrs. He possibly take him along?
"It's snowing. What if it freezes outside? Stay home and take good care of yourself. Mom will be right back."
After saying that, she ran away quickly, afraid that her son would catch up with her.
On the way, He passed by the old Song family residence.
Originally, the Song family consisted of the elderly couple, Song Xiaogu, and Song Da and his siblings, totaling five people. Later, Song Da got married, and a year later, Song Daya was born, making a family of ten—a lively and large family.
The old house was very large, divided into two courtyards, front and back. The front courtyard was where the main room and the old couple lived, while the back courtyard was where the younger generation lived. But no matter how big or large the house was, it was still a thatched house and a fenced yard typical of the countryside.
He family looks down on it the most!
More than ten years ago, He Shi married down from the county town and asked to live in a tiled house. The Song family emptied their savings to buy land, and the eldest son of the Song family went to the prefectural city to work as a laborer to earn money to build the house.
Now, more than a decade has passed in the blink of an eye, and even if He were just passing by, he would still look down on the old Song family's dilapidated and rustic thatched house.
But suddenly, a meaty aroma wafted to Mr. He's nose.
Ms. He unconsciously swallowed.
She had never smelled such a delicious meaty aroma before.
She frowned as she looked at the dilapidated house in front of her, and couldn't help but walk over.
Who knew that she would see through the crack in the window that Song Daya was with Song Xiaoxiao and the eldest daughter of the Qian family, eating hot pot around the stove!
The small table next to them was filled with various small dishes of condiments, including scallions, minced garlic, chili peppers, sesame oil, houttuynia cordata, leek sprouts, and cilantro... It's clear they know how to enjoy food!
And he even treated us to a meal!
Mrs. He was stunned.
She herself had no money or food, and was so poor that she had to pawn her dowry at the town's pawnshop, while this brat was enjoying herself here!
He was both jealous and furious. Enraged, she grabbed a plow from beside the fence and smashed the window with two loud bangs.
A biting gust of cold wind blew in through the broken window, extinguishing the fire in the furnace.
The warm room suddenly turned cold.
"You unfilial daughter, how dare you steal food behind our backs!" Madam He was furious.
But aside from her anger, her eyes darted around the room.
The room was spotless and tidy, with soft pillows and thick mattresses on the bed, dishes piled high on the table, and a pot full of meat!
Song Daya and Song Xiaoxiao no longer looked like beggars. They were both dressed neatly, and not only had they grown taller, but their faces had also become fuller, with rosy cheeks. It was clear that they had been living quite comfortably recently!
Song Daya must have obtained the money through shady means; that was the first thing He thought of.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
Hmph, I was just worried about how to explain to Song Lao Er that I secretly took money to support my family, now I've found someone to take the blame.
"You dare steal money from my house? I'm going to report you to the authorities!" Madam He burst through the door and shouted.
Song Li shielded Song Xiaoxiao behind her, coldly glaring at Madam He, "You say I stole your money, what evidence do you have?"
Madam He gave her a look that said, "Is that even a question?" She replied, "Where would a girl like you with no skills get the money to eat meat?"
"And these two cotton-padded coats you're wearing, you couldn't have bought them for less than two taels of silver, could you?"
“You’ve always been clumsy and inept at needlework, so you certainly can’t make clothes. If you want to wear something, you’ll have to buy it from a tailor shop, which will cost at least five taels.”
"Where did you get so much money? What else could it be but stealing from my family?"
Mr. He spoke with complete confidence.
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