Song Anxin didn't expect the old lady to be so fierce and even scratch people. She said with a smile, "The Zhang family has already received the punishment they deserved. I guess they won't dare to come to Linjia Village again. The county didn't have any evidence against Lin Gangzi and couldn't lock him up. Please don't be angry. It's not good for your health. He just came home for a festival. I doubt he would dare to stay in the village any longer."
Lin Gangzi wasn't stupid; he was afraid her family would come after him, so he ran away in a hurry. But he was also quite capable, climbing up to a higher social class so quickly.
Grandma Song stood up and said, "No, my daughter, you are so magnanimous. I can't swallow this insult. I'm going to his house to spit on him right now."
She stormed off in a huff, and Song Anxin watched her mother's retreating figure with a helpless smile. She wasn't worried; her mother was a woman of principle, and she had been very popular in Linjia Village these past few days. Perhaps she had even invited other old ladies along.
She continued to tally the accounts. Her family's assets were now quite substantial. Just from the holiday gift box business of the past ten days, after deducting the cost of goods and labor, as well as the payment for the wooden gift boxes from Brother Lin and Uncle Bai, although Uncle Bai said he didn't want any fees, Song Anxin still paid him, only deducting the cost of his and A Si's food and drink.
Even so, her family still made a net profit of more than 1,300 taels. In addition, with the 800 taels bestowed upon her by the imperial court, she now had a total of more than 2,000 taels of silver. Of course, she did not dare to keep all of this money at home. Instead, she asked Lin Fengshou to deposit it in a money exchange when he went to the county. She only kept a portion at home as working capital.
Meanwhile, at Lin Gangzi's house, Old Mrs. Song and several old women from Linjia Village walked to a spot not far from the gate of his courtyard and began shouting loudly into the yard.
"How can this person be so shameless! At first, they were so arrogant and looked down on everyone, but then they actually tried to steal from others. They couldn't do it themselves, so they encouraged others to do it, and then they tried to absolve themselves of all responsibility. It's disgusting! Ugh, ugh, ugh..."
Old Mrs. Song spat several times before she felt a little better. Her daughter could swallow this insult, but she couldn't. Although she couldn't do anything to him, she had to make him feel disgusted.
"Yes, how can this person have the nerve to come back? He even came back to the village all high and mighty, as if he's afraid people won't know he's back. Doesn't this educated person know the meaning of shame?" said an old woman who had been getting along well with Old Lady Song these past few days.
Another old woman immediately chimed in, "Don't insult scholars! He's only read a few books, don't make him look ridiculous. I don't know if that city girl was blind to have fallen for him; she probably doesn't know that he's all bark and no bite!"
"Ha ha ha ha......"
The old women burst into laughter.
A short while later, hurried footsteps could be heard coming from the courtyard.
Aunt Tie Tou walked to the courtyard gate, hands on her hips, and began to hurl insults: "Which gossipy old woman is spreading rumors in my doorstep! My Gangzi is innocent! The county magistrate has already released him, which proves that it wasn't my Gangzi who did it. It was that shameless Zhang couple who framed my Gangzi! You bunch of clueless old folks..."
However, Old Mrs. Song had already led a group of old women away when they heard footsteps, and there was no one at Aunt Tietou's door.
Aunt Tietou got tired of cursing at the air and soon went back inside. Inside, Lin Gangzi, who had changed into a new robe, was making tea, and even the tea set was new.
When Aunt Tietou returned, she was still quite angry: "These gossipy old women, I think they just can't stand to see you doing well."
Lin Gangzi raised his eyes and said with a disdainful look, "Mother, why are you still arguing with them? Your son has now made connections with a powerful person. Once things are settled on my end, I will take you all to live in the county."
We'll soon be city dwellers, and these country bumpkins can only grumble at me. They'll spend their whole lives in this run-down rural place, and will never be as good as us.
As he spoke, he let out a snort, his face full of disdain. Then he handed the freshly brewed tea to Aunt Tietou: "Mother, come and try the tea I brought. It was a gift from Young Master Zhang, and it's very precious." His face was full of a smug look.
Aunt Tietou knew that her son had climbed up to a powerful figure. She took the document and said helplessly, "Gangzi, this young master Zhang appreciates you. You should work hard for him, but just don't do anything immoral."
"Mother believes you wouldn't steal anything. People in the village believe anything they hear. It's good that you move to the county town. Take Hong'er and the children with you then. Your father and I are used to living in Linjia Village our whole lives; we won't go."
Aunt Tietou truly believed that her son would never do such a thing. Lin Gangzi glanced at his mother, then lowered his eyelids and remained silent.
As always, Liu Hong'er rolled her eyes silently. She thought the old women at the door were right!
As evening approached, there was still about an incense stick's time before the workers at Song Anxin's workshop were supposed to finish work. However, instead of working in the workshop, the workers had all gathered in the workshop courtyard.
In front of them was a huge pile of pork, rich and oily eggs, and braised delicacies. It seemed that Aunt Lin's family called these two dishes by these names. They heard that these were to be given to them, and the workers below stared wide-eyed at the things.
So this is what holiday perks are like!? Aunt Lin's family is so generous, they even have meat and eggs!
I heard that these two things are very expensive in the county town. They come here every day and look at these duck eggs. They also want to taste what these rich and oily eggs taste like and why they are so popular with city people.
But they dared not and did not want to. Aunt Lin had given them the opportunity to work, so how could they take her things? They could not do such a thing.
The pork was bought by Lin Fengshou, who delivered the goods that morning, at Song Anxin's request. The braised pork belly and the "rich eggs" were the family's staples, and they were all quite good.
At this moment, Song Anxin arrived. The workers greeted her warmly, and Song Anxin smiled and responded to them one by one. She walked slowly to the wooden platform in the middle. When she stood on it, the people below immediately fell silent. Song Anxin said to the workers below:
"Everyone, thank you for your hard work for Lin's Duck Egg Workshop during this time. Tomorrow is the Mid-Autumn Festival. On this day of family reunion, our duck egg workshop will be closed for a day so that everyone can have a good holiday!"
Now, please line up and collect your holiday benefits from Manager Song Mei in order. We hope everyone has a wonderful holiday. The Lin Family Workshop also wishes everyone a happy Mid-Autumn Festival and a joyous reunion!
As soon as Song Anxin finished speaking, there was an uproar below.
"My goodness! There really is a holiday?!"
"Not only do I get a holiday, but I still get paid! What incredible luck to have fallen into my lap!"
"Yeah, they're giving out meat and eggs! Hurry up, let's line up, I can smell the meat from far away, it's making my mouth water."
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