He was so poor he couldn't find a single copper coin on his person, but of course he wanted silver.
But it's a hot potato; you might lose your life even if you get the money.
Ever since his three brothers were injured, he felt that the way those people looked at him was strange, sinister, and frightening.
Several times I was awakened by nightmares in which my brothers were sending me to the palace, one knife at a time.
That was terrifying!
"And now?"
Huang Shi then took out a two-tael silver coin.
Seeing this, Tie Lao Er's breathing quickened, he swallowed hard, and tentatively asked, "This silver, is it really for me?"
Tie Lao Er had never seen so much silver before.
Of the four brothers, he was the most cowardly and timid. The eldest brother was ruthless, the third brother was domineering, and the youngest brother was better at winning people's favor than him.
Although the Tie brothers occasionally earned extra money, it had little to do with the second brother. At most, he would follow behind them, drinking soup and going out to eat with his brothers.
In addition, with his family spending money recently, his desire for money has become more urgent than ever before.
Now, with his eyes fixed on the gleaming silver, he had long forgotten his previous worries.
"What you want is yours," Huang Shi said with a smirk, continuing to tempt, "and there will be a reward after it's done."
Upon hearing this, Tie Lao Er's breathing immediately quickened, his cheeks flushed, and he gripped Huang Shi's arm tightly, asking, "Is this really true?"
"Do I look like I'm joking?" Huang Shi puffed out his chest. "A man's word is his bond."
"Do you have four taels of money left?" Old Tie rubbed his hands together.
Tie Lao Er was very uneasy when he said this.
"Yes, don't worry, you won't be shortchanged a single cent."
Upon hearing this, Tie Lao Er was overjoyed, then gritted his teeth and uttered, "Ten taels of silver is the minimum, otherwise I won't do it."
"Ten taels of silver? Why don't you just rob someone?" Huang Laisheng said angrily. "Your family is going to do bad things, and you still have to give them silver? Where's your shame?"
"How can you say that?" With money at stake, Tie Lao Er completely abandoned his cowardice and retorted with a flushed face, "I didn't do it. I've said everything I needed to say. Why should I keep an eye on it? Do you think something so dangerous can be done without a running fee?"
"You," Huang Laisheng was so angry at these words that his liver hurt, "you greedy bastard!"
Ten taels of silver? This bastard really dares to ask for that much money—the equivalent of an acre of fertile land.
No, there are still four taels of silver on the table, a full fourteen taels. That's four or five years' worth of income, and all they did was deliver a message. They really dare to ask for money.
“Master,” Tie said, “it is only right that Second Brother should receive some errand fee for running errands.”
"Should?" Huang Laisheng glanced at Tie Shi expressionlessly. "Are your second brother's legs made of gold? Running errands for a few taels of silver? He's clearly trying to take advantage of your misfortune!"
Upon hearing this, Tie's expression faltered slightly, her lips moved as if to speak, but she dared not utter a word of rebuttal.
Even though she unconditionally supported her second brother, she still felt that the amount of money was indeed a little too high.
Fourteen taels of silver—that's more than the old Tie family could earn in two years from grain. When the three older brothers were arrested, they only had to pay ten taels of silver as ransom.
“In the next life, don’t be angry,” Huang Shi patted his brother’s shoulder. “He doesn’t mind the money being too hot to handle, so it’s fine to give it to him.”
As he spoke, he turned to Tie Lao Er and said, "I agree to what you said, but if something goes wrong because you didn't report it in time, this money will be out of your reach."
"I understand, Chief Huang, rest assured, I will definitely gather information carefully and come to report as soon as there is any movement."
"Then that's settled."
"Okay, I'll go home right away. The third brother is hiding in the house. If anything happens, he'll definitely let it slip."
At this moment, in Tie Lao Er's eyes, Tie Lao Da and his two companions were no longer shadows, but rather piles of silver.
As long as you keep an eye on those three people, you can earn ten taels of silver by making a few trips. You can't find such a good deal anywhere else in the world.
No, it's not just ten taels, perhaps twenty or thirty taels...
The thought of the gleaming silver coins beckoning to him filled Tie Lao Er with uncontrollable excitement, making him feel light as a feather.
Just as he reached the door, Huang Laisheng said in a deep voice, "Wait, take your sister with you."
Upon hearing this, not only Tie Lao Er, but also the Tie family was stunned.
"Husband, are you trying to send me away?"
Her eyes were wide open, her gaze towards Huang Laisheng filled with disbelief, her lips trembling slightly, as if she wanted to ask something.
"Surprised? Can't believe it?"
Although Tie didn't speak, she nodded while biting her lip.
Why didn't they send me back last time when I caused such a big problem? Why are they suddenly doing this for no reason today?
She's already married her daughter-in-law, but she's been sent back to her parents' home. How can she set rules for her daughter-in-law after such a shameful thing?
"I can't believe it either," Huang Laisheng said expressionlessly, "Even now, you're still siding with your family, and what do you take the Huang family and me for?"
Last time, the clan wanted to divorce Tie Shi, but Huang Laisheng pleaded with her and gave up many benefits to save her.
He thought that after this incident, even if his wife was stupid, she should know what's good for her and realize that Huangjiakou was her root and that he, Huang Laisheng, was her only support in this life.
Sure enough, a dog can never stop eating shit. It hasn't been that long, and he's already forgotten all the lessons he learned last time.
Why keep someone like that around?
"Brother-in-law," Tie Lao Er was startled, "Why are you suddenly saying this? She's a grandmother, how can you just kick her out like that? Even if you don't care about her, you can't do this for the sake of the children!"
Tie Lao Er tried his best to persuade him.
He absolutely cannot bring a burden home, someone who is old, thin, and unable to work; it would be a complete waste of food.
Besides, if my elder brother finds out I'm taking people back today, he'll definitely beat me to death.
Huang Shi did not interfere in this matter.
To be honest, he really thought that his future wife was out of her mind.
No matter how good her maternal family is, she still has to be buried in the Huang family's ancestral grave after she dies. How can she be so clueless?
It's good that they're divorced. Their good days are yet to come. If this kind of person stays, he'll be a menace sooner or later and will definitely cause more trouble in the future.
"If it weren't for the sake of her children, do you think she would still be alright?" Huang Laisheng had reached his limit. "Your Tie family is doing well, raising a good daughter while the whole Huang family is tightening their belts, living on wild vegetable gruel, and she still sends white rice and white flour back to her parents' home. She stays up half the night every day sewing shoe soles, her eyes are almost blind, just thinking about exchanging money to send to you. When the eldest son got married, he owed so many debts, but I didn't see her take out a single copper coin."
I used to think that everyone has a heart, and that she would eventually feel the kindness the Huang family had shown her.
I've only just realized that some people are just born heartless; no matter how much you do, it's useless.
Huang Laisheng couldn't believe that Tie Shi didn't understand her family's current situation. She was too busy currying favor with the second branch of the family, yet she was only thinking about her brothers and didn't care about her own family's life or death.
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