Chapter 10 Borrowing Money
"We have an old cow. It's too old. We've reported it to the government. The government has allowed us to slaughter it for the New Year. Then every household here will get some meat. It's divided according to the number of people..."
The implication is that although a head tax had to be paid, it could be made up a little from the distribution of meat.
Arya couldn't help but interrupt when she heard this, saying, "There's only one cow, and so many people sharing it. Each person gets less than a pound of meat. A pound of meat only costs a few coins, and there's a 500-wen head tax..."
Lu Qiniang said hurriedly, "Children should not interrupt when adults are talking. Uncle Wu, thank you for reminding me. I will quickly raise the money and hand it over. When the day comes to slaughter the cattle, I will go early to help."
"The twenty-seventh day of the twelfth lunar month is the day after tomorrow. You must pay the head tax before then, or you won't get any meat, and you won't be able to avoid paying the head tax later. Don't blame me for not reminding you!"
"good."
Lu Qiniang politely sent the person away.
Erya stamped her feet and said, "Now I'm done! Not only are my new clothes gone, but where am I going to get five hundred dollars? I can't even celebrate the New Year!"
"Shut up and go back to sleep." Lu Qiniang said unhappily, "I'll go get the money, you don't have to worry about it."
Daya said, "Mother, I still have twenty-four coins here..."
Sanya: "Mom, I have four!"
Arya: "...I only have thirty."
"Second sister, you are lying. You obviously have a lot. I saw it." San Ya exposed her.
"Nonsense, how could I have so much? I only have fifty-two coins. Can't I pay more than half?"
Lu Qin's mother's headache got worse because of their noise.
"I won't use your money for now. Be good and go back to bed early. Don't waste lamp oil."
After driving her three daughters out, Lu Qiniang began to scratch the door.
A bunch of corns hangs behind the door. The door is mottled with traces of time and is bumpy, as if it is covered with ancient words and quaint paintings.
From Xiao Yan's perspective, she was just scratching the door.
Lu Qiniang scratched the door and sighed.
Xiao Yan finally spoke: "I——"
"It's none of your business." Lu Qiniang interrupted him, "You go to sleep too, I'll find a way. Since I brought you back, I can support you. Don't worry too much, just take good care of yourself."
Xiao Yan shut his mouth.
He was once a commander who commanded thousands of troops, but now he can be suppressed by Lu Qinniang with just one word.
Lu Qiniang scratched the door for a while, then fell asleep with a sigh.
The next morning, Lu Qiniang changed her clothes, dipped a comb in water, and combed her hair until it was neat and tidy.
"Mom, where are you going?" Erya asked.
"Borrow some money."
When Erya asked her where to borrow money, she refused to tell her and only told her three daughters to take good care of the house.
As soon as Lu Qiniang went out, she was startled by the howling north wind.
She didn't stop, but straightened her clothes and strode north.
After crossing the bustling streets, she arrived at the back door of Zhou's mansion.
It's been a while since I last saw you...
The doorman, Old Zhao, recognized her and invited her inside for tea. "Abandoned Mother, why are you here?"
"Uncle Zhao." Lu Qiniang thanked him. "You are still so strong. To be honest, I am here to look for Song Yan. Can you find someone to help me find him?"
Songyan was a servant of the fifth young master of the Zhou family, and was familiar with Lu Qiniang before.
"What are you looking for Songyan for? The Fifth Young Master has already gone to Zhili to become a disciple, preparing for the imperial examination next spring. He won't be back for the New Year..."
Lu Qiniang smiled awkwardly, "Why would I look for the Fifth Young Master, that godlike figure? I'll just look for Song Yan."
Old Zhao seemed relieved and sighed: "Wait a minute, I'll get someone to go in and help you shout."
"Oh, okay, thank you Uncle Zhao." Lu Qiniang said sweetly.
While waiting for the pine smoke to arrive, Old Zhao poured out the money in his pocket, which was as much as seventy or eighty coins.
"Qiniang, take it." He stuffed it into Lu Qiniang's hand without hesitation. "This is what I got today, you take it. That tigress in my family plunders me every day, so this is all I have. Don't think it's too little."
Lu Qiniang quickly declined, "No, Uncle Zhao, no, you're so old, if I spend your money, I'll be punished by heaven!"
"Take it. Just take it if I tell you to. Last year, I suddenly fell ill and my wife was terrified. If you hadn't passed by and carried me to the clinic, I'm not sure if I could have been saved." Old Zhao said, "Besides-"
He tapped his pipe against the wall and said, "I know you, kid. You won't come to the Zhou family again until you're completely broke."
Lu Qiniang turned her face away, "No way, what are you saying? I'm fine!"
Old Zhao stuffed the money into her hand and said, "Girl, live well. Your luck is yet to come. Uncle Zhao has never made a mistake in judging people in his life."
"Okay, I appreciate your kind words. When I'm lucky enough, I'll buy you the best pear blossom white every day!"
She accepted the money.
Old Zhao’s wife is actually a very good person.
It's just that Old Zhao would secretly buy alcohol whenever he had some money. His wife was afraid that he would ruin his health by drinking, so she kept a close eye on him.
As they were talking, Song Yan arrived.
When Song Yan saw Lu Qiniang, she said bluntly, "What are you doing here?"
Lu Qiniang smiled and said, "No one comes to the temple for no reason. Songyan, can you lend me half an ounce of silver?"
"No." Song Yan refused.
He is only eighteen years old this year. He is tall, but still childish. When he is angry, he looks like a puffer fish.
"Just help me out in this emergency, and I'll pay you back when I make money."
Songyan wanted to scold her, but when he saw Old Zhao was there, he swallowed his words in anger.
"Good Songyan, please help me."
"I'm helping you now, can you help me in the future?" Song Yan asked sharply.
Lu Qiniang was silent for a moment, "As long as it's your business, I will definitely help."
"Remember what you said!" Songyan took out a small piece of silver from his waist and threw it to her.
Lu Qiniang weighed it and thought it should be more than one or two taels.
Seeing Songyan about to leave, she hurriedly shouted, "Songyan, wait, let me find a silver scale to weigh it!"
Songyan ignored her and walked away.
Lu Qiniang felt the silver was hot in her hand and secretly thought that she must make money as soon as possible and return it to Songyan.
But the most urgent task is to get through this New Year.
Lu Qiniang thought about it and went to the street to buy fifty kilograms of brown rice, fifty kilograms of noodles, and one kilogram of pork.
There is a sick person at home, and it is Chinese New Year, so we must let the children have a meal of dumplings with meat.
The daughters were very happy to see her come back with the things she bought.
Erya said excitedly: "Mom, did you make money?"
"Not yet, but I borrowed it."
The smile on Erya's face froze immediately. "Who did you borrow it from? You're smiling at them again."
"I borrowed money and not only did I not smile, I also cried in front of others!" Lu Qiniang scolded with a smile, "I bought a pound of pork and hung it up. We will save it for making dumplings during the New Year."
"Mom," Daya took the meat with a smile, "You forgot, we have to divide the beef!"
"I remember, but I have my own plans."
Because they bought rice, flour and meat, the whole family was in high spirits and there was finally some New Year atmosphere.
Xiao Yan didn't know why, but he also felt a little happy in his heart.
Unexpectedly, this joy did not last long.
Lu Qinniang had just paid the head tax at the village head's house with great fanfare, and when she came back she found that there was an uninvited guest at home.
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