Chapter 97 Those Who Did the Work and Those Who Didn't!
Shen Yuanjing and his companions were initially a little seasick, but after eating and drinking their fill, they quickly got used to it.
Half of the constables also collapsed and were all lying in the room.
At noon, Song Niangzi shamelessly went to Liu Yanhui to ask for money.
"Mr. Liu, my elderly relatives and children really can't eat this cornbread. Could you give me some money first so they can have a better meal?"
Song Niangzi was a little unsure, because Liu Yan had said in the morning that she would pay her wages that evening.
"Alright, you're the first one to step forward. I won't deduct the money for renting the fishing net from you yet. Your family caught more than eight catties of fish this morning, so I'll charge you nine catties. We'll make up the difference this afternoon!" He handed the copper coin for the settlement to Madam Song and had her put her fingerprint on it!
Madam Song held the copper coin as if in a dream. Was she really that easy to talk to?
She had some money left over from her previous business dealings, so she decided to treat her family to a nice meal today!
I just don't know if the things sold on the ship are expensive?
She went into the kitchen alone, leaving her husband and children waiting at the door.
"Aunt Wang, how much is a steamed bun?"
If it's expensive, she'll buy half for her child.
"The prices change every day. Today, steamed buns are one cent each, and meat, fish, and vegetables are all one cent per serving!"
Madam Song was shocked. Was she still being chased by the refugees and hallucinating because of hunger and thirst?
Mrs. Wang was also quite puzzled. Grain is so precious, and meat and vegetables are even more precious. Selling at this price is like losing money.
However, Mr. Liu's price was only one copper coin. Now, Mr. Liu was in charge of everything in the kitchen. He said that even if the original price was as high as gold, it would still be sold for one copper coin!
"Are you going to buy it or not?" Wang's mother urged.
"I'll buy six steamed buns and a serving of meat." The meat was the same price as the vegetables, and she wasn't stupid; she'd definitely buy the meat!
Mrs. Wang found a winnowing basket, neatly packed the contents, and said, "When you're done, bring the basket back to me!"
As if in a dream, Madam Song carried the winnowing basket out of the kitchen. The meat, which cost one coin, consisted of three pieces. They weren't small pieces; they were large, square pieces. The three pieces together weighed at least two or three ounces.
It was totally worth it!
"Husband, let's go eat quickly!" Afraid of being seen, Madam Song hurried ahead, carrying the winnowing basket like a thief.
The other prisoners had been waiting to see what was happening since Song Niangzi went in, and they rushed up to her as soon as she came out.
"Get out of here! Did I even show you? If you want to eat, go buy it yourselves! You dare to steal from me? I'll kill you!"
"Tch, so stingy! It's not like we haven't made any money. Can't we just take a look?"
Madam Song shoved the winnowing basket into her husband's hands, put her hands on her hips, and started scolding: "No way, are you trying to pick a fight? Stand up, let's have a go."
Someone tried to break up the fight.
"Forget it, a good man doesn't argue with a woman."
"That woman's ruthless. The last guy she kicked in the groin is still sitting there with his back still aching."
Song Niangzi's eyes darted around, remembering what Wang Mama had just said. She immediately turned to her husband and said, "You take the child to eat first, I'll go in and check on things."
What if prices go up tomorrow? She'll have to buy some more steamed buns to stock up.
The other prisoners went into the kitchen out of curiosity, and when they asked about the prices, they found that everything only cost one coin, and they immediately went crazy wanting to buy it.
"I caught less than a pound of fish today. Three pounds would only earn me one coin."
"I haven't caught enough for three jin either, how about we pool our money?"
"That's a great idea!"
Before long, these people had made up their minds and went to Liu Yan to exchange their money.
"Brother, didn't you catch a fish too? Let's ask them to chip in the money too!" Shen Yuantang urged, watching the departing people with eager eyes.
Shen Yuanjing looked troubled: "Yesterday, I still owed ten taels of silver because I sold medicine for my grandmother."
Shen Yuantang was furious: "I've told you Grandmother is faking it, why won't you believe me?"
Shen Yuanjing only realized his grandmother was faking it after the medicine was brought back. His grandmother had genuinely seemed on the verge of death; as a junior, was he really going to just stand by and watch his elder suffer?
He smiled wryly and said, "Yuantang, although Grandmother is confused, we, as her juniors, cannot be unfilial!"
Shen Yuantang wished he could crack open his brother's head to see what was inside. His brother owed ten taels of silver, which meant their entire branch of the family owed ten taels of silver. No, that was too much money; when would they ever pay it off?
“Brother, Grandmother isn’t just your grandmother. The debt can’t be repaid by you alone. Go talk to your uncles and ask them to help pay it off!” Shen Yuantang thought that this alone wouldn’t be enough.
She continued, "Next time you write an IOU, think of our eldest son's family. If it weren't for this IOU, we could have bought steamed buns for Mother today!"
Thinking of his ailing mother who had been ill all the way, Shen Yuanjing felt a pang of guilt in his eyes.
"I understand, I'll let it go this time. I've already signed the IOU. Next time, if something like this happens again, I definitely won't get involved, okay?"
Shen Yuantang remained silent, sulking.
"Yuantang, give your brother some face." He really couldn't bring himself to go see his uncles right now!
Shen Yuantang's eyes lit up: "Brother, Father is Grandmother's son. Next time Grandmother has something to do, let Father step forward. Look, among the other children in the house, has anyone stepped forward?"
Shen Yuanjing's eyes darkened, and he nodded.
"Okay, I understand!"
"I'm going to find my older brother, do you want to come?"
"go!"
~
The prisoners in the hold, knowing that meals in the kitchen only cost one coin, stopped cursing the Shen family and quickly left the hold to run to the kitchen.
"I want three steamed buns and a meat and vegetable dish!"
Mrs. Wang looked up at the person paying and said coldly, "Not for sale!"
"Why won't you sell it?" the prisoner asked anxiously.
Madam Wang: "Lord Liu said he only sells to those who can work hard. If you have any objections, go talk to Lord Liu!"
Just then, Liu Laohu saw that there were many people here, so he came over by himself.
"What? I heard someone causing trouble here?"
Upon hearing Liu Laohu's voice, the prisoners immediately lowered their heads and shrank back, too frightened to utter a sound!
"You want to eat without putting in any effort? I think you want to be whipped!"
"What are you still standing here for? Get back to your rat hole right now!"
The prisoners didn't dare utter a sound and slunk back to their cabins.
In the afternoon, the boat was packed with people, some casting nets to catch fish, and others fishing with bait.
"Big brother."
Shen Yuanjing arrived with his younger brother and sister.
Shen Lanxi put down her book and glanced at the distant seascape.
Why don't you go fishing?
Shen Yuanjing said embarrassedly, "The fishing rods have all been taken by others!"
Shen Yuanqing was the youngest and the least able to keep a secret.
"Big brother, if we continue practicing martial arts, will we get some pastries?"
Shen Lanxi smiled and beckoned to Shen Yuanqing.
"come over!"
Shen Yuanqing glanced at him suspiciously, then took small, quick steps to get closer.
Shen Lanxi reached out and pinched his cheek: "You've gotten darker and thinner!"
Shen Yuanqing blushed and said, "I'm all grown up now, you can't pinch my cheeks anymore."
Shen Lanxi glanced at him sideways and said, "Others only get pastries when they practice martial arts, but you only give me pastries if I pinch your cheeks. Are you going to let me pinch your cheeks or not?"
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