Chapter 374 Extra Chapter: Song Erniang (Sixteen)
When Song Erniang heard that Long Hanshi was going out to escort goods, she was startled.
"Why would you want to go out and work as a镖师 (bodyguard/escort) for no reason? We're doing just fine at home! Are you worried about not having enough money?"
"Didn't I tell you all that?" Song Erniang looked at Long Hanshi with some confusion.
In fact, just two days after their marriage, Long Hanshi said he was going to make a lot of money so that Song Erniang would be dressed in gold and silver.
Thinking about Long Hanshi's past blunder as a killer, Song Erniang was really afraid that Long Hanshi would go and find two rich people again to twist their necks for money...
So they pleaded with Long Hanshi to stay home, and even showed him all the private things they had hidden away.
"If these things were pawned, they could fetch at least a thousand taels of silver. They were all given to me by my eldest sister."
Our family...is not short of money!
Long Hanshi then realized that his wife didn't lack money to dress herself up, but rather that she didn't care about dressing herself up.
Although Long Hanshi knew that Song Erniang had many treasures, he still gave her his opinion.
"Those things... were given to us by others, so we should avoid using them if possible."
Your elder sister gave you these things to protect yourself, so you don't have to use them unless absolutely necessary.
We can support ourselves.
Song Erniang agreed to everything. Originally, she hadn't planned to use those things. Having them would not only put her mind at ease, but also give her something to look forward to.
Now that he has two daughters, Long Hanshi's desire to go out and earn money has resurfaced.
"Honestly, we don't have much money right now, but it's enough! There's really no need for us to go out and work as escorts." Song Erniang was still worried.
Going out to escort goods is too dangerous. Not to mention crossing mountains and valleys, what if you encounter bandits or brigands along the way...
Although Long Hanshi is quite skilled in martial arts, he is an honest man!
What if someone drugged me or I fell into another trap?
I'd better just stay home and farm! At least I'll have people around, that makes me feel more at ease!
If it were in the past, Long Hanshi would have immediately stopped thinking about it after being persuaded by Song Erniang.
How wonderful it is to be by my wife's side! She cooks delicious food and treats me well. No matter how tired I am from working in the fields, there's always a hot meal waiting for me when I get home.
In the past, Long Hanshi would have loved to stay by Song Erniang's side, but now...
He has two daughters, and he needs to think about them...
“My lady, don’t rush. I’ll tell you everything I’m thinking. Think it over carefully, and then tell me if you can go or not,” Long Hanshi said, holding Song Erniang’s hand.
Song Erniang sighed and had no choice but to sit down and listen to what Long Hanshi had to say.
"If it were just the two of us, I definitely wouldn't leave. I'd stay with you. As long as you're by my side, I'd be content."
Seriously, that's what I used to think!
But now we have two daughters, and both of them look like you. They are not only good-looking, but also smart.
They're both so young, they'll learn anything you teach them.
You also said that when they reach a certain age, you will send your two children to school. Schooling is very expensive; you have to pay for pens, ink, paper, and inkstones.
I was even thinking of hiring a better teacher to give my two daughters more instruction!
We'll send both children to academy in the future, but that will cost money.
Also, both daughters will get married in the future!
Although we can't afford the elaborate dowry of a wealthy family, we still need to make the necessary preparations.
A child with a large dowry will have more confidence when she marries into her husband's family.
Two daughters were born into our family, which is a blessing for us. They didn't look down on us parents for being poor, and they still came to be our daughters. This is fate.
How many lifetimes must one cultivate to be family with someone for one lifetime!
So, I want to give them both the best life I can. Don't worry, I'll quit my job once I've earned enough dowries for my two daughters, and come back to be with you.
"We're parents, so shouldn't we think more about our children?" Long Hanshi said softly.
With each word Long Hanshi uttered, Song Erniang's eyes reddened a little more.
When she heard that everything Long Hanshi had done was for his daughter, tears finally fell.
So this is what it feels like to be a parent!
Not all fathers give their daughters away like objects...
“Honest and simple…” Song Erniang didn’t know what to say.
When Long Hanshi saw Song Erniang crying, he was startled. His wife rarely cried, except on their wedding night when he said some things and she cried then.
This is the second time I've seen my wife cry...
"My wife, don't cry! If you really don't want me to go, then I won't go!"
"Really, don't cry! Please don't cry! Did I say something wrong? Why don't you hit me? Come on, hit me!" Long Hanshi said, grabbing Song Erniang's hand and slapping it against his own face.
Song Erniang shook her head as she cried.
Long Hanshi panicked; why was he crying even harder?
What should I do? Should I bring my two daughters with me? In the past, when I made a mistake and my wife was angry, I could always make things right by bringing my two daughters over.
But my two daughters must be sleeping right now. It wouldn't be good to disturb them...
"Wife, hit me! Really, or how about you punish me by making me sleep on the floor?" Long Hanshi was truly at his wit's end.
After crying for a while, Song Erniang suddenly started laughing again.
"Alright! Don't be like this, I'm not angry, I just... couldn't help myself! Really! I'm fine." Song Erniang quickly pulled Long Hanshi, who was about to kneel down, up.
Long Hanshi breathed a sigh of relief.
Thankfully, my wife isn't angry. As for what I just said...
It's alright. It doesn't matter if my wife disagrees now. I can just go find my sister and have a proper talk with her.
My wife and sister always talk for a long time; my sister will surely be able to persuade my wife…
"You really want to go and escort the Ye family's caravan!" Song Erniang looked at Long Hanshi.
Long Hanshi nodded.
"The Ye family pays a lot of money. A trip to the north takes a month and a half and they can give you forty taels of silver. If you go to the southwestern country, you can get at least fifty taels of silver per trip."
Going to Lingnan will cost thirty taels of silver.
I heard that even more people go overseas, and each trip costs at least a hundred taels of silver.
But the trip overseas will take a long time, and... I can't swim, so I'll probably get seasick on the ship..." Long Hanshi's voice grew softer and softer as he spoke.
Song Erniang nodded. "Not bad. It seems she really did make a point of learning about it, and she learned quite a bit..."
"If you want to go, go and give it a try first!"
"Remember this, safety is the most important thing. No amount of money can compare to your safety. What will we, mother and daughter, do if anything happens to you?" Song Erniang said softly, holding Long Hanshi's hand.
Long Hanshi was in a daze. Had his wife agreed?
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