Sixth Aunt was a little unhappy: "What do you mean by making a move? I just want your mother to explain things to me and restore my reputation. Why are you so fierce? Do you think you are so great just because you are a Juren?"
"I'm telling you, if you were really capable, you shouldn't have let your mother work tirelessly to make money for others by selling clothes. And you're still here talking to me nicely. I'm really giving you face."
Wen Shijie's face didn't look good.
People were pointing and talking all around.
"Okay, I'm too lazy to argue with you guys here. The clothes are torn, so you must pay for it. I will give it to the customer as compensation later." said Aunt Liu.
Wen's mother didn't want to make a big deal out of it, so she quickly asked, "Then, how much does it cost?"
"Five taels."
"What? Five taels?"
The people watching at the door gasped: "This tattered clothing is obviously old. Ten or twenty copper coins as compensation is already too much. Sixth Aunt, you are asking for five taels. Why don't you just rob it?"
"That's right. Even if the clothes are made of gold, you can't ask for five taels of gold. Isn't that pure deception?"
"Sixth Aunt, this is really unkind of you. We are all neighbors, why do you have to make things difficult for an orphan and a widow like this?"
“That’s right…”
The neighbors all blamed Aunt Liu.
Sixth Aunt's face darkened and she raised her voice: "What do you know? If you don't know the situation, don't make a fuss here. Do you think I'm raising the price? The price was clearly marked when the clothes were given to me. Oh, and I still have the receipt written by the person..."
Afraid that her reputation would be ruined, Sixth Aunt quickly took out the paper in her arms.
"You are a juren, so you should be able to read. Look at what is written here. It says that if you damage the clothes, you have to pay five taels of silver!" Aunt Liu handed the paper to Wen Shijie.
Wen Shijie glanced at the 'bill'.
It was indeed written on it that if the clothes were damaged, five taels of silver would be required as compensation.
However, it was just an old piece of clothing and a receipt, and it was obvious that something was wrong. If this was not planned by Sixth Aunt, then the other party was targeting Sixth Aunt or his mother.
Wen Shijie's eyes turned cold.
"Look carefully, I'm not lying. If it breaks, you have to pay five taels."
As Sixth Aunt said this, she took the bill in her hand and showed it to the onlookers at the door. In fact, none of the neighbors at the door could recognize the words on it, but seeing Sixth Aunt's well-reasoned appearance, everyone believed it.
"If this is written into a bill, there really is nothing we can do about it."
"Yes, after all, this is five taels, and not everyone can afford to pay it casually."
"Aunt Wen is a little too careless..."
"yes……"
Wen's mother's face turned pale, but she had also seen the receipt. It was useless for her to say that there was no problem when she checked it.
But she and her son lived in poverty.
It's impossible to take out five taels.
"Alright, I'm too lazy to argue with you guys anymore. If word gets out, people will think I'm bullying you. I don't want any other compensation, but you must pay me the five taels."
"Sixth Aunt, we really can't come up with these five taels right now. Can you..."
But Sixth Aunt interrupted her: "Don't talk about whether you can take it out or not. I can't take out these five taels either. You must give me five taels."
Wen's mother could only search her body, but even after emptying all her pockets, she only found a dozen copper coins, five of which were given to her by her sixth aunt this morning.
"Sixth Aunt, look at this..."
Wen's mother wanted to ask if she could wait a while.
Sixth Auntie raised her voice sharply: "Who are you going to give these copper coins to? I tell you, if you can't pay me today, I will have to sue the authorities."
“No, no…”
Wen's mother seemed to be extremely anxious and angry.
Wen Shijie finally spoke: "Sixth Aunt, I have one or three taels of silver now, and I will give you the rest in a few days."
Wen Shijie handed over more than one or two taels of silver.
The sixth aunt took it and counted it immediately. Then a smile appeared on her face and she said, "It's more than one or two taels. Why didn't you tell me earlier? Well, you are a juren, so you must keep your word. Then I will come over in two days, just two days."
After that, Sixth Aunt left this time.
But as he walked out the door, he still stepped over the scroll on the ground and shouted at the neighbors who were watching at the door: "What are you looking at? Go away."
As the onlookers dispersed, they revealed a few young men in elegant clothes standing not far from the door.
When Sixth Aunt saw it, her eyes lit up.
He quickly stepped forward and asked with a smile, "Gentlemen, who are you looking for? I know everyone in this alley. I can show you the way."
Wang Ming raised his eyes proudly, looking down on Sixth Aunt. However, under the watchful eyes of the crowd, he pretended to be polite and said, "No need, Aunt, we are here to see Brother Wen."
"Oh, so you're looking for Mr. Wen!"
When the Sixth Aunt heard this, she immediately understood. She took a look at their clothes and turned around quickly. When she reached the door, she called out, "Aunt Wen, Mr. Wen, someone from a wealthy family is here to see you. Come out and greet them."
Wen Shijie had already seen the people at the door.
He froze for a moment.
But he quickly regained his composure, nodded to them, and squatted down to pick up the scroll and other items on the ground.
Many of the scrolls were stepped on and soiled by Aunt Six.
When Wen Shijie saw the footprints above, a hint of regret flashed in his eyes, but he still gently patted the dust off and picked them up one by one.
Aunt Six, who was standing by, became very anxious.
"You nerd, what are you picking up here? If such a rich friend is coming, you should go out and greet him. What's the point of picking up that broken painting?"
Wen's mother hurried forward to send Sixth Aunt away: "Sixth Aunt, there are guests at home, please leave first."
Sixth Aunt glanced at Wen's limp mother, then at Wen Shijie who was still foolishly picking up paintings on the ground. It was really like the emperor was not anxious, but the eunuch was anxious. Finally, she couldn't help but remind him: "You fools are really not listening. Don't you still owe me more than three taels? Remember to talk to those rich people later. The small change from their tips is enough to make you pay for several sets of clothes. Why are you still working so hard to wash my clothes..."
Wen's mother had no choice but to pull her sixth aunt out of the house.
Seeing Wang Ming and the others at the door, Wen's mother smiled and nodded at them: "You are all here, come in quickly."
The few people who came were all students who had lived in Shanhong Hall.
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