Chapter 416 Someone's Robbing Ahead
The fourth brother chuckled, "What if I can find a woman from Jincheng in the future? Then my children will be from Jincheng. Wouldn't that be even better?"
Sanwa nodded, "That's right."
He put away the envelope, glanced at his mother who was busy in the kitchen, and couldn't help but move closer to his fourth son.
“When you have something serious to do, your mother might buy you a house. But if you keep being so unrealistic and irresponsible, you'll have to build your own house later.”
The fourth child looked at the third child in surprise, "You don't have any objections?"
Sanwa asked, puzzled, "What's wrong with me?"
"Everything your mother has is for you. She built a house for me. Now you're just studying. What if you don't achieve anything in your studies and end up like me? Wouldn't you have to share the benefits with me?"
Sanwa laughed, "You've been worried about this all along? No wonder you have a problem with me."
The fourth brother stepped on his foot and said, "Don't play the nice guy. You really don't mind?"
“What do I care about? I know our family’s ancestral graves aren’t blessed with good fortune. I’d be content if I could pass the imperial examination and become a scholar. If I don’t pass, I’ll farm or do business. Besides, Mother has already shown me the inn’s accounts. I don’t have any great ambitions. I’d be happy to earn some money and live a peaceful life. I’m afraid I’ll die on the road if I go out and make my way in the world.”
The fourth brother stared at the third brother, never expecting him to think that way.
He was deeply moved; no wonder his mother favored the third child.
Of them, the third child is the most worry-free.
"Then you must quickly have Mother take me to Jincheng. I'm afraid something might happen to my second brother. He'll lose his job at the yamen and won't be able to return to the army. He'll end up losing the big picture for nothing. All the hardship he's endured over the past three years will have been for nothing."
Sanwa stood up. "Yes, I definitely have to go. I'll tell my mother."
Song Chunxue had just packed her senior brother's food into a food box.
Seeing Sanwa come in, she handed him the food box. "Go and deliver this?"
Sanwa touched his nose. "Then shall I go with Mulan?"
Seeing his beaming smile, Song Chunxue laughed and said, "Go ahead, she's uncomfortable eating with us. Anyway, the more you two stick together, the more at ease I feel."
The third child took the food box, his mouth almost stretched to his ears in a wide grin.
"Mother, aren't you going to see what's going on with Second Brother yourself?" Sanwa looked into Song Chunxue's eyes. "Where does he live and what does he eat? And since he's older than me, shouldn't Mother also worry about his marriage?"
Song Chunxue glanced at him. "Don't worry, I said that to the fourth brother on purpose. After all, the second brother is my son. He wants me to see him. How can I not go?"
Sanwa grinned foolishly, showing his big white teeth, and said, "Then let's go up the mountain."
"Okay, don't come back too late, or you might get locked out of the city gates."
The scenery on that mountain is beautiful. If the young couple were to enjoy a romantic evening there and miss their appointed time, they would surely be in tears.
"Okay."
...
Song Chunxue originally wanted to wait for her senior brother to finish his seclusion before going to Jincheng, but the second brother sent her two letters urging her to go to Jincheng, so she had no choice but to go first.
The next day, when she went to the field to pick potatoes, she told Hongying and her husband about her trip to Jincheng.
He Chuan said, "Mother, don't worry. We'll finish the rest of the work, and we'll also keep an eye on Sanwa."
Song Chunxue took out a money pouch from her bosom and handed it to He Chuan. "You two haven't had a single day off these past few days. If you're too tired, take a break and find someone to help you tidy up. Your health is your own responsibility, and your child will be counting on you in the future."
He Chuan understood what she meant, but he didn't accept it and pushed it back.
"Mother, please don't send us money anymore. Save it for yourselves. You need to have some money to rely on when you get old. Don't give it all away."
He's worried that if she squanders all the money, no one will take care of her when she gets old.
Song Chunxue smiled and put the silver into his pocket. "It's not much, just five taels. Don't worry, I'll definitely keep some for myself. An old person without money is just a burden. I'm not that stupid to give it all to you."
He Chuan blushed, “Everyone else is saving up for their coffins, and Mother sends us money every day.”
“You’re harvesting grain for our family and working for me. You’re still young, so save your strength. Don’t get so old that your arms and legs hurt and you can’t walk. Be smart and make things easier for yourself. Don’t wait until I’m old and you’re old too.”
Jiang Hongying laughed and said, "Just take it if I tell you to. Sometimes you don't know how to conserve your energy. I'm a Taoist, and everything in excess is bad. Your back hurt a couple of days ago, and I told you to rest, but you wouldn't listen."
Song Chunxue frowned. "Did you twist your back?"
"It's nothing, it just hurts a little. I can still work if I'm careful."
"That won't do!" Song Chunxue ordered him, "Turn around and let me see."
He Chuan was extremely embarrassed. "It's really nothing. I'll go to the clinic tomorrow."
"I'm currently seeing a doctor for my back injury. Turn around and stand here, I'll try pressing on it a couple of times."
He Chuan looked at Jiang Hongying for help.
Jiang Hongying suppressed a laugh, "Why are you being shy with your mother? All you do is procrastinate. You didn't take it seriously when you sprained your ankle back then, but now your foot hurts whenever you carry heavy things."
He Chuan had no choice but to stand there.
"Aww!"
"Ah... hiss~"
Song Chunxue said expressionlessly, "Tomorrow, neither of you need to worry about the work in the fields. Hongying, take him to the clinic to have Lei Yun take a look. Oh, and don't forget to bring them some food. I made two small jars of cured meat, one for each of them."
Jiang Hongying asked with a worried expression, "Is it serious?"
"If acupuncture is not performed in time, he may have to stay on the kang (a heated brick bed) for a month."
He Chuan asked nervously, "It's not that serious, is it?"
“Let Lei Yun take a look tomorrow. We can’t just ignore it,” Song Chunxue said, turning around to pick up a basket and gather potatoes. “You all know better than I how important a man’s back is. We must make sure it doesn’t become a chronic problem.”
Jiang Hongying and He Chuan blushed and turned away to do their own thing.
In the afternoon, Song Chunxue packed some of the second son's favorite foods, took a lot of travel money, and instructed Mulan to take good care of the house. She also entrusted the two of them to deliver the Taoist priest's meals.
The next morning, she and her fourth brother drove a horse-drawn carriage to Jincheng.
Once outside the city gate, the fourth son couldn't help but sigh, "Mother, who would have thought that we would have our own carriages when we go out now? I never even dared to dream of this when I was a child."
"How did you become so rich? I heard that the owner of the Fortune Inn spent a lot of money. In half a year, she did two, no, three big things, all of which cost money. How much money do you have?"
"We've spent so much, there's not much left this year, so don't worry about it." Song Chunxue said calmly, knowing exactly what her fourth brother was thinking. "If you're ambitious, I'll help you out, but if you're expecting me to open a shop for you or something, it'll be a waste of your time."
“If you lack experience, you can’t get fat overnight. You’ll only lose money. I have a good eye for talent. Don’t think you can get something for nothing.” Song Chunxue said bluntly, “I’m generous to He Chuan because he’s reliable.”
The fourth brother hung his head and said, "I know, I've discussed it with Uncle Zhang, and I'll find something worthwhile to do."
Suddenly, the horses were startled, and the carriage came to a stop.
"Mother, there's a robbery ahead!" The fourth son pointed ahead with wide eyes. "Run! Let's turn around!"
Just around the bend not far away, several men with knives were seen pulling people off the carriage one by one and taking their belongings.
The people in the carriage were dressed in finery, but they all shrank back and dared not resist.
"Hey, you over there, hand over your valuables and kneel down!"
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