Manager Qian held up two fingers.
“Originally it was one hundred taels of silver per person, but I found an acquaintance of mine who said it would only cost two hundred taels of silver to rescue them all.”
Pei Yao frowned and asked again, "Is there any less?"
Manager Qian hesitated, "That won't work..."
Pei Yao didn't say anything more after hearing this. She got up to thank Manager Qian and praised him a few times.
Qian Zhangui was delighted by Pei Yao's praise, but suddenly paused for a moment: "Miss Pei, please wait for me."
After saying that, he got up and went to the next room.
When he came back, he was carrying some things in his hands.
"By the way, Miss Pei, your dental stickers (similar to a business license today) are all ready."
Uncle Qian handed the teeth whitening strips to Pei Yao.
Pei Yao: "Thank you, Uncle Qian."
Pei Yao took it and looked at it, but she couldn't understand many of the words, so she didn't continue reading.
After Pei Yao put the teeth whitening strips away, she thought for a moment and then said:
"Uncle Qian, do you have time to take me to the saltworks today?"
Pei Yao originally intended to go back and talk to the Liu family first, but thinking about what Uncle Qian had just said, Old Master Liu was unwell and probably wouldn't have a good time at the salt field.
Uncle Qian said somewhat apologetically:
“Miss Pei, it may not be possible today. My friend is off today and is not at the salt field.”
Pei Yao nodded in understanding, and it would be good for her to go back and ask the Liu family for their opinion.
On her way back, Pei Yao showed the dental strips that Manager Qian had given her to Pei Dalang.
After confirming that there were no problems, they reassembled it.
"Uncle, my cousin and I will study with you and Dad from now on. I also want to learn to read. It's a bit inconvenient not knowing many characters."
Pei Dalang was relieved to hear Pei Yao say that she wanted to learn the word.
"That's great! We can send you both to school together next spring, so you'll have each other's company."
Pei Yao's lips twitched: "Then there's no need to go to school. I can just study at home with you and Father."
Pei Yao was completely against going to school; she just wanted to read and learn to read so she wouldn't be illiterate.
Right now, when she sees those complicated traditional Chinese characters, she is completely illiterate.
It's inconvenient in many situations.
Pei Dalang thought about it and didn't force Pei Yao to go to school:
“It’s fine if you don’t want to go. Your father and I are just as learned as the teachers in the school. We’re more than capable of teaching you.”
Pei Yao smiled and nodded.
......
When the two arrived home, no one was home; only Xiao Xuan'er and Pei Yichen were in the yard.
Pei Xuan rushed over as soon as Pei Yao entered the courtyard.
Pei Yichen also looked up from his book.
"Sister, Father."
Pei Dalang tied up the horse and walked towards Pei Yichen: "How's your study going?"
Pei Xuan'er then hugged Pei Yao's leg tightly, shaking her little head:
"Sister, Uncle, you're back!"
Pei Yao pinched the little girl's cheek and asked with a smile, "Where are Mother and the others?"
Pei Xuan looked at Pei Yao with bright eyes:
"My mother, father, and aunt have all gone to the beach. They told me to stay home and listen to my cousin."
Pei Yao imitated the little girl's grandmother's voice: "Did Xiao Xuan'er listen to her cousin obediently?"
Pei Xuan'er nodded vigorously: "Yes, I was obedient!"
Pei Yao gently patted Pei Xuan's head and praised her affectionately, "Great job! Look what your older sister bought for you!"
Pei Yao revealed her hand hidden behind her back and shook the object she was holding.
Pei Yao's eyes lit up instantly, and she jumped up excitedly: "It's cloud cake candy!"
"Oh right, here you go."
Pei Yao handed the cloud cake candy in her hand to the little girl.
"Share it with your cousin," Pei Yao instructed.
Upon hearing that there were pastries to eat, Pei Yichen immediately lost interest in reading and became eager to come and enjoy the pastries.
Pei Dalang saw that he had done a good job with his homework that day, so he let him go.
Pei Erlang is full of talent, and recently, with Pei Erlang overseeing Pei Yichen's studies, Pei Yichen has indeed made great progress.
Pei Yao glanced at the time, then went into the kitchen to prepare dinner, which she would then deliver to Yunniang and the others.
She went to the butcher shop and bought some meat when she was in town today.
I chopped it up and made some meat patties.
After preparing the food, Pei Dalang and Pei Yao ate a simple meal at home before putting the food in a basket to deliver to them.
Before leaving, Pei Yao filled several bamboo buckets with water and set off together.
When the two arrived at the beach, everyone was still busy.
Pei Dalang put his things aside and went to call Chen Fang and the others to eat.
Madam Zhang happened to come over for a drink of water. When she saw Pei Yao, a smile appeared on her face: "Miss Pei, you've come to bring me food."
Pei Yao smiled and nodded, "Yes, has Madam Zhang eaten yet?"
Madam Zhang shook her head: "I haven't eaten yet, but I brought some cornbread with me today. I was just finished with my work and was planning to eat it. Has Miss Pei had any?"
Zhang Niangzi took out a few dry cornbread buns from her bosom, with more vegetables on top than cornmeal.
Pei Yao glanced at the smile on Zhang Niangzi's face and suddenly noticed that one of her eyes was swollen.
It felt like I'd been beaten up.
She immediately guessed what had happened; it was probably her husband, who was prone to violence, who had beaten her.
I had heard several people say this before.
Zhang Niangzi's life was very hard. She not only had to take care of three children on her own, but also had to endure Qi Dayong's punches from time to time.
Qi Dayong loved to drink, and he would spend all the money in the house on alcohol. When he was drunk, he would come back and beat Zhang Niangzi.
Therefore, Zhang Niangzi's daily life was very difficult.
Pei Yao's expression darkened as she tried to say something, but in the end she only said, "Madam Zhang, I've already eaten."
Pei Yao watched as Zhang Niangzi sat there alone, munching on a cornbread bun.
I felt a pang of sympathy. She was earning sixty coins a day these days, yet she couldn't bear to bring herself any good food.
They were just eating cornbread with more vegetables than flour.
Pei Yao took a meat pie from the basket, poured a glass of water, and handed it to her.
"Madam Zhang, my family made some extra pancakes. Here are some for you. I hope you won't find them too sparse."
Zhang Niangzi looked at the pancake that Pei Yao handed her. The half-sized pancake had more meat than flour on it and emitted an enticing aroma.
Madam Zhang was terrified and quickly waved her hand, saying, "Miss Pei, I have enough to eat with cornbread. You can keep the flatbread for yourself later."
Ignoring her refusal, Pei Yao took her hand and placed the pancake in her hand.
“Zhang Niangzi, don’t refuse. It’s just a pancake. It’s made to be eaten. We have enough to eat over there. You can take it.”
Zhang Niangzi was about to decline when Yunniang and the others returned from their work. Seeing that Zhang Niangzi was unwilling to accept the cakes, they smiled and said:
"Zhang Niangzi, please eat, it's alright."
"……."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com