Chapter 58 Sending money to help make life really better
Jiang Ji looked at the drawer full of copper coins and shook his head, saying, "I have enough money on me, you don't need to give me any."
"Why don't you need to be fed? You've always had walnut and black sesame powder, pork floss, and eggs with you. Once you go to the prefectural city, your meals will naturally have to keep up."
Ye Li pointed to Jiang Mai and Jiang Ya beside her and said, "Xiaomai and Ya-ge'er, don't you two agree?"
The two little ones nodded in unison: "Yes."
Jiang Ya tugged at Jiang Ji's sleeve: "Big brother, Brother Li said that eating walnuts is good for the brain. When you get to the prefectural city, buy lots of walnuts."
Jiang Mai also said, "Walnuts are very expensive, brother, please bring more money."
Jiang Ji: "...Actually, with the money I have right now, I can afford to eat walnuts."
“It’s not like we’re only eating walnuts; we need to eat meat and eggs too. Tomorrow, take this money to the bank and exchange it for a five-tael silver ingot. You can carry it with you; it won’t take up much space.”
"Besides, Xiaomai, Yage'er, and I have never been to the prefectural city before. Since you rarely go, you should buy some small gifts for the three of us."
Ye Li added.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Mai and Jiang Ya's eyes lit up.
A little gift from the capital city.
Jiang Ya's little face was already beaming with a big smile. He tugged at Jiang Ji's sleeve and said, "Big brother, buy a cheaper one. If you don't have enough money, I have some!"
Jiang Mai nodded hurriedly: "Yes, big brother, you can decide what to buy for me and Ya Ge'er, but you can buy something expensive for Li Ge'er. Ya Ge'er and I have money!"
Hearing this, Ye Li was greatly pleased. Indeed, all the love he had for this little guy hadn't been wasted.
Jiang Ya, reminded by Jiang Mai, immediately tugged at Jiang Ji's sleeve and said, "Yes, yes, buy Li Ge an expensive one. Li Ge works too hard every day."
Having said all that, seeing the expectant looks in the two little ones' eyes, and also feeling indebted to Ye Li, Jiang Ji couldn't possibly refuse any longer.
He then squatted down in front of the chest of drawers and took out five strings of cash from the bottom.
Ye Li was satisfied: "That's more like it."
Now that we have the money, it's time to tidy up the bedding.
Apart from the one on Ye Li's bed, the rest of the bedding in the house were all made by Jiang's mother back then. They are old and stiff, so it doesn't matter which one you bring.
Jiang Ji found the two beds he had brought with him during the last prefectural examination, rolled them up, and stuffed them into a large sack.
Then put a change of clothes into the sack, tie the opening with a rope, and you're all done.
The long robe with the silver notes sewn on it was such a valuable item that it naturally had to be placed at the bottom of the basket, so that it would always be within sight of him.
As for the remaining books, writing materials, etc., Ye Li doesn't need to worry about them. Jiang Ji wanted to get home quickly today, so he didn't bring these heavy items. Tomorrow, the two of them will go to the private school and give the money for renting the car to Master Han.
Previously, Mr. Han had paid for the car rental in advance, and he would have to pay him back tomorrow.
That's all that matters.
The family of four left the main room, preparing to go to Jiang Dahe's house to bring back the money Jiang Ji had saved.
But just then, Jiang Dahe, Liang Erxiang, and Jiang Liu and Jiang Yu, a family of four, appeared at the door pushing a cart.
Jiang Dahe saw Jiang Ji and said with a smile, "Little Ji, I've brought you the money."
Jiang Ji hurriedly said, "Second Uncle, Ye Li and I will go get it. Why did you and Second Aunt bring it here? Please sit down. My two brothers bought watermelon and wheat. Go and cut them up."
Jiang Mai responded and left.
We were all busy drinking bone broth at noon, and there was still more than half of the watermelon left.
Jiang Dahe explained, "It's so heavy, you two don't need to make a special trip. Anyway, it's hot, and you can't get out of bed right now."
Jiang Ji had saved all his money in copper coins, and Ye Li also gave him copper coins. Although the total amount was less than twenty strings of cash, it weighed a hundred catties, so he pushed it over on a cart.
In addition, most of the corn in the fields is now too old.
This morning he searched for a long time before finally finding a basket of tender fruit, which he brought over as well.
He pointed to the basket of tender corn on his back and said, "If we boil this corn, it will be enough for three meals."
Jiang Ji looked at the corn cobs and was touched: "Second Uncle, I can still chew them. You don't need to trouble yourself."
"Sigh, we don't have anything good in the countryside. At this time of year, we can only eat tender corn."
It's just finding some tender corn, it's not troublesome at all.
"Oh, by the way, your second aunt, Xiao Liu, and Yu Ge'er made you two pairs of shoes. Try them on."
Jiang Dahe pointed to the cloth bag next to the basket.
The cloth bag contained two pairs of cloth shoes with multi-layered soles and two pairs of straw sandals.
Jiang Liu and Jiang Yu are usually quite busy buying eggs to make preserved eggs, so the two of them worked together to make a pair.
Liang Erxiang made a pair herself.
He wove two pairs of straw sandals. Although the temperature would drop after autumn, they would be perfect for wearing on rainy days.
Jiang Ji was even more moved. Jiang Dahe's family of four farmed more than ten acres of land. They had entrusted the new clothes for wheat and Ya Ge'er to Liang Erxiang, and now Liang Erxiang had even made him a pair of shoes.
Jiang Liu and Jiang Yu were not left out either.
When he got married, Liang Erxiang made him two new pairs of shoes, so he doesn't lack shoes now.
Jiang Ji was moved, while Ye Li felt guilty.
Sigh, he wouldn't even make clothes, let alone shoes, which require more technical skill—
He could manage to sew clothes a few times, albeit crookedly, but he really couldn't do the job of sewing shoe soles.
At this moment, he could only sigh and politely say as Jiang Ji's husband, "Second Uncle, Second Aunt, and Xiao Liu and Yu Ge'er, as you know, Jiang Ji has enough shoes. You don't need to do these things."
“Especially you, Xiao Liu, you come here to grind grain every day, it’s so tiring, and you haven’t revealed a single word about it.”
Ye Li's tone was somewhat reproachful, but Jiang Liu smiled and said, "It wasn't that tiring. I just did a few needlework sessions when I had some free time. It didn't take much effort."
Making a shoe is a piece of cake for her; it's incredibly easy.
But making money is as difficult as climbing to the sky for her.
Jiang Ji was able to persuade her father to reconsider her marriage and even found her a job grinding grain, so she naturally took Jiang Ji's matter to heart.
Moreover, the profits from the preserved eggs alone were enough to make her want to thank Ye Li.
Back then, she learned the recipe by carrying two pounds of meat, without having to give Ye Li a single penny of commission.
Since Ye Li is not good at needlework, it is only right for her to take the time to help Ye Li with some chores.
"That's right, just a few stitches a day, and it'll be done quickly."
Jiang Dahe nodded.
Besides, given Jiang Ji's habit of running home at the drop of a hat, even the thickest shoe soles would wear out!
These shoes will have to be made sooner or later.
But as an elder, he couldn't say such joking things in front of Ye Li.
So he simply said, "Take advantage of this opportunity to take the exam, make two new pairs of shoes so that Xiao Ji can walk steadily towards a bright future."
This has a very auspicious meaning, and it is also a blessing from Jiang Dahe and Liang Erxiang, the two elders, to Jiang Ji.
Jiang Ji straightened his expression and said earnestly, "Second Uncle and Second Aunt, I will do my best."
“I know you work hard every day, and now you’re just one step away from success, but don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Life is better now, and we can afford to support your studies.”
Jiang Dahe added his instructions.
Jiang Ji nodded in agreement, saying he knew.
He's no longer as tense as he used to be.
After exchanging a few words and enjoying the crisp, sweet watermelon, Jiang Dahe's family didn't stay long, as they had a lot of work to do at home and in the fields.
After they left, Jiang Ji and Ye Li collected all the copper coins, intending to exchange them for silver ingots at the money exchange the next day.
Bring two strings of copper coins; otherwise, it will weigh down your luggage.
Ye Li carried the basket of tender corn into the kitchen, intending to cook it that night.
Tender corn with bone broth is definitely better than eating cornbread.
Tomorrow they need to borrow Jiang Tong's oxcart. Although they had already informed Jiang Tong yesterday, Jiang Ji also wanted to check on the progress of Jiang Tong's new house. So, the two of them, along with Jiang Mai and Jiang Ya, went out.
The new house is almost finished. The main structure is complete, and the next step is to level the interior floor and lay the tiles.
However, the family of four ran into Jiang Tong not long after leaving the yard.
Jiang Tong was carrying two old hens. When he saw Jiang Ji and Ye Li, he quickly asked, "Where are you two going?"
"What a coincidence, I was just about to go to your house to check on the progress of your new house."
Ye Li said with a smile.
"Let's see tomorrow. Take these two chickens back and stew them for Xiao Ji to make him stronger."
Jiang Tong handed the two chickens to Ye Li.
Before Ye Li could say no, he reached into his waistband and untied a string of copper coins: "It's not much, just a token of my appreciation. Consider it a few extra chicken legs for Xiao Ji."
"Brother Datong, my home..."
Jiang Ji only had time to say those five words before Jiang Tong stuffed the copper coins into his arms, then turned and ran away: "I have a lot of things to do at home, I'm going back first, you can come and get the oxcart tomorrow."
He ran very fast, and Jiang Ji was careless and failed to catch the heavy copper coins, which fell to the ground.
By the time Jiang Ji picked it up and looked up, Jiang Tong had already run far away.
Jiang Ji: "..."
He looked at Ye Li, who shook the hen in her hand, looking somewhat helpless.
But as Jiang Tong said, it's not much, it's just a token of my appreciation.
The Jiang family had already given gifts, and the couple had accepted them, so it was impossible to refuse the Jiang family's goodwill.
He said, "Go back, boil water to remove the chicken feathers, and stew the chicken tonight."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Ya was delighted and quickly stretched out her small hand: "Brother Li, let me carry one for you?"
"Okay, here you go."
Ye Li handed him an old hen whose legs and wings were tied.
The old hen weighed over three pounds, but Jiang Ya, who had developed great strength from collecting firewood every day, could lift it with ease.
He practically skipped along, he was so happy.
Seeing this, Jiang Mai took the other hen and caught up with him, and the two of them hopped home together.
Ye Li and Jiang Ji walked behind, slowly counting the string of coins.
By the time I got home, I had finished counting.
Two hundred coins in total, it's not much, but it's a token of my appreciation.
However, there was still half a pot of bone broth left over from lunch, and we were going to stew an old hen for dinner, so we didn't have time to drink the bone broth.
Before Ye Liang had finished frying the tofu puffs, Ye Li brought out a small stove, heated up the half-bowl of bone broth, and then called Ye Liang, Jiang Mai, and Jiang Ya to drink it.
The three of them loosened their belts and drank the half-bowl of bone broth.
Even if there are no bones or meat left, we can't waste it!
After drinking the bone broth, the tofu puffs and fried dough twists were quickly finished.
Ye Liang packed the food into his basket, said goodbye to Ye Li and the others, and then set off on his way home.
Ye Li, on the other hand, plucked the feathers and killed the chickens, preparing to stew both hens.
I'm going to the county town tomorrow, so I don't have time to pack.
Chicken feathers are also a good thing; they can be exchanged with peddlers for shuttlecocks or feather dusters. He asked Jiang Mai and Jiang Ya to collect the chicken feathers while he gutted the two chickens. After a flurry of activity, by the time the two chickens were put into the pot, the sun was already setting.
Another day is almost over.
Jiang Mai and Jiang Ya carried small stools and sat in front of the stove, ignoring the heat, and took on the task of starting the fire.
Ye Li and Jiang Ji went to chop pig feed to feed the pigs and chickens.
Nowadays, not only do the people in the family eat well, but the pigs also get to eat soybean residue or bran at every meal, so they gain weight very quickly and their whole bodies tremble when they run.
The pig farmer naturally loved the sight, and Jiang Ji couldn't help but say, "We won't sell them during the New Year; we'll slaughter them ourselves and eat the meat."
Ye Li nodded: "That's what I'm planning too. Xiaomai and Ya Ge'er put in a lot of effort, so let them choose whatever they want and eat to their heart's content."
Jiang Ji turned to look at him: "You also contributed a lot."
"I'm not a child, I won't fight with them."
Ye Li raised an eyebrow.
Jiang Ji's lips curled up slightly upon hearing this, and he was about to lean over and kiss him when Jiang Mai's voice came from the front yard: "Big Brother, Brother Li! The neighborhood chief is here!"
"...We'll kiss again tonight."
Jiang Ji straightened up.
Ye Lile gently pushed him: "Don't you mind the smell here?"
The two of them are standing in front of a pigsty right now!
Upon hearing this, Jiang Ji raised an eyebrow, then put an arm around his shoulder and quickly kissed him on the lips.
The kiss was fleeting, like a dragonfly skimming the water, gone in an instant.
Jiang Ji straightened up and said in a serious tone, "It smells good."
"...smooth-talking."
That's true, but Ye Li's face was full of smiles.
Jiang Ji smiled, took his hand, and led him toward the front yard.
However, once they reached the front yard, the two quickly separated their hands; they couldn't be pulling or tugging at each other in front of their elders.
Jiang Fuzheng had already sat down on the bench, and Jiang Mai poured him a bowl of cool boiled water with sugar.
On the dining table, besides a bowl of cold boiled water, there was also a string of copper coins.
"Uncle Jiang, this is..." Jiang Ji couldn't help but ask.
Ye Li also looked at Jiang Fuzheng with curiosity.
"This sum of money was contributed by all the villagers to help you take the exam."
Jiang Fuzhengdao.
Excluding the Jiang Dachuan and Jiang Dahe families, the nineteen households in the village each contributed fifty coins, totaling nine hundred and fifty coins.
He rounded it up and added fifty coins, so he had a total of one thousand coins.
Jiang Ji refused, saying, "Uncle Jiang, I know everyone's good intentions, but Ye Li can support my studies now, so please take this money back."
Jiang Fuzheng shook his head: "Young Ji, the whole village used to be poor. Everyone would try to stretch every penny in half. You also rented out all the land and were away from home most of the year. So after your parents passed away, no one has helped you much in the past few years."
"Don't hold a grudge against them. Although they all share the surname Jiang, they have been around for generations in Yezaopo, so their relationship is actually quite distant."
"Moreover, Dahe and the Ye family are doing their best to support you, so you can be considered to have elders to rely on."
The three Jiang brothers had fallen so low that they had to beg for food, so the villagers felt pity for them but did little to help them.
“But the village kids never bullied Xiaomai or Ya Ge’er.”
“The villagers are not bad people by nature, but they are so tormented by poverty that they have no energy to care about anything else.”
These words are reasonable.
Jiang Ji nodded: "Uncle Jiang, I have never hated anyone."
He was indeed not without support.
His second uncle treated him like his own son.
The Ye family also did their best to support his studies and even betrothed their youngest son to him.
Even though he lost his parents, he still has elders who genuinely love and protect him.
He never complained about his fellow villagers.
The suffering I've endured over the past few years can't be blamed on the villagers.
Jiang Fuzheng was very pleased to hear this. He continued, "I know you are a good child. Since you don't hold a grudge, then accept it. Fifty coins per household, everyone can earn it back in half a day."
"It's just a token of my good wishes. I hope you can take this final step and achieve the title of Xiucai (a scholar who passed the lowest level of the imperial examinations)."
Having said that, Jiang Ji could no longer refuse.
Fifty coins per household, and considering the profits from preserved eggs, it's indeed possible to earn that back in half a day.
Jiang Ji was deeply moved: "Uncle Jiang, thank you everyone. If you need any letter-writing work in the future, please feel free to contact me."
Jiang Fuzheng nodded with a smile: "Alright, once you pass the imperial examination and become a scholar, everyone will definitely be vying to ask for your calligraphy."
These words made Jiang Ji feel ashamed, and he repeatedly said he dared not.
Although his calligraphy has been praised by the Master, it does not deserve the title of "masterpiece".
Jiang Fuzheng asked a few more questions, and then left quickly despite Jiang Ji and Ye Li's attempts to persuade him to stay.
Jiang Ji returned to the courtyard from the gate. He walked to the dining table and picked up the string of coins.
It's very heavy.
But life has really gotten better.
He turned to look at Ye Li.
All of this was brought about by Ye Li.
Ye Li, unaware of his thoughts, pointed to the main room and said, "Put it in the basket."
He hummed in agreement and smiled.
While Jiang Mai and Jiang Ya were focused on the stove, he touched his lips with his other hand.
Ye Li was delighted: "Let's go, I have something to tell you."
My dear husband has invited me, so I must accept!
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