Chapter 26: Distribution of Cotton Land
The sky gradually brightened and the sun climbed up from the foot of the mountain to the treetops.
After breakfast, Xu Miaomiao lazily stretched out in the yard.
Willow catkins had already been floating in the air. Xu Miaomiao grinned. The last batch of cotton was about to be picked today, and this time the whole village would not have to worry about surviving the winter.
After putting on the backpack, Xu Miaomiao went out happily.
Song Wu Shao looked at the woman's departing back. His expression was calm, but his furrowed brows revealed his emotions at a glance. Since he woke up, he felt that Xu Miaomiao was becoming more and more different from before.
"Madam Song is here!"
Wu Zhuang was busy working in the field and waved to Xu Miaomiao, who nodded in response.
"Madam Song, how is the price of cotton going?"
Village Chief Wang walked over to ask, Xu Miaomiao nodded and said, "We have already discussed it with the shops in the market, and they can give us a 10% increase on the original price."
"That's great!"
Village Chief Wang's eyes were filled with hope, and he was so excited that he could hardly stand: "Now, we can have a good New Year."
Xu Miaomiao nodded in response.
"Ms. Song, your distribution of cotton is not appropriate."
Xu Miaomiao heard the voice and looked up, only to see Liu Quezi dragging his sick leg and speaking.
"What's inappropriate?" Xu Miaomiao threw the cotton in her hand into the basket, frowned and looked at the man.
Liu Quezi approached her and said, "I just checked the account book. How can you take up 50% alone? Besides, your husband has only been here a few times."
"Liu Quezi, what you said is not right." Wu Zhuang, who was standing by, heard the voice and defended Xu Miaomiao: "It was agreed with Madam Song that she would take 50%, not to mention that Madam Song paid for the cotton seeds."
Xu Miaomiao remained silent and looked at Wu Zhuang with gratitude.
Liu Quezi's eyes moved. He didn't take the cotton field seriously at first, but when he saw the amount in the account book, he became interested.
The man's eyes changed again, and he spoke in a savage tone: "I am weak, shouldn't my family get more?"
Xu Miaomiao nodded and responded: "It is true that I did not distribute it properly. I should have given more to the elderly and the sick."
"Madam Song..."
Wu Zhuang looked at Xu Miaomiao with some disapproval in his eyes. When Liu Quezi heard this, his mouth almost stretched to his ears. He snorted and looked at Xu Miaomiao: "I knew that Madam Song would be fair."
As he spoke, he did not forget to look at Wu Zhuang proudly.
"Families in need can take two points out of my bank account and give them to them, but you, Liu Quezi, can't."
Xu Miaomiao spoke slowly, looking at the man with a firm gaze.
Liu Quezi was just feeling proud, but his expression suddenly changed. He dragged his lame leg to Xu Miaomiao, wishing he could spit on her face: "Why? I have contributed, and I am also weak. Why don't you give me more!"
Xu Miaomiao took a step back reflexively to distance herself from the man before she spoke: "Everyone has been working hard to pick cotton these days, but you're the only one who doesn't work hard. I thought of giving you some because you have a bad leg. Now that you want fairness, I'll give you as much as you pick."
"Xu Miaomiao, you are deliberately ostracizing me." As he said that, Liu Quezi sat down and started to throw a tantrum: "My life is so miserable. You all bully me because I am pitiful. Now you don't even give me what I deserve."
He made so much noise that people around him came over out of curiosity.
Seeing Liu Quezi's pity and thinking that Xu Miaomiao got a large share, she spoke up for Liu Quezi: "Madam Song, you have the silk and satin business and the cotton land. Since you have so much money, why not give him some?"
"That's right, Madam Song, you are not short of money. This lame Liu is really pitiful. I heard that his wife Wang Xing'er is a little mentally ill."
The women who gathered around him were talking to each other, and each of them was thinking about the man who was throwing a tantrum on the ground.
"That's right, Madam Song, please have pity on me."
Liu Quezi became even more aggressive and crawled on the ground to pull Xu Miaomiao's dress.
Looking at the dirty black hand he stretched out, Xu Miaomiao felt nauseous and took another step back.
Seeing the people being unreasonable, Xu Miaomiao felt cold in her heart. After a long while, she spoke: "If you want to pity him, why not give him some of your share of the family property."
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone's expression changed and they began to bully Xu Miaomiao.
"Madam Song, we didn't get much to begin with, so you can't ask me to share it."
"Yeah yeah."
"So as long as it doesn't harm your own interests, you can forgive them and show your generosity!" Xu Miaomiao's tone was cold, but her calm words carried considerable deterrence.
Everyone fell silent.
"I bought these seeds originally, and we agreed on it at the beginning. It doesn't make sense for you to break the contract now. I was thinking about the sick and weak people in the village, but now I am meddling in their affairs."
"Madam Song, you can't say that." The woman next to her stepped forward and tried to pull Xu Miaomiao, but she dodged.
"As long as the fire doesn't burn on me, I will try to persuade others to forgive and show mercy." Xu Miaomiao took two steps forward and said thoughtfully: "Then don't divide it, just follow the contract. If anyone doesn't want to, they can go to Kaifeng Prefecture to sue me."
After saying this, he was about to turn around and leave, but the corner of his clothes was grabbed by Liu Quezi.
Liu Quezi struggled to get up, holding his injured leg, and said in Xu Miaomiao's ear in a voice that only the two of them could hear: "Xu Miaomiao, you haven't even considered the matter of my wife appearing in the brothel. Do you really want to break up with me?"
Liu Quezi looked at Xu Miaomiao provocatively. Wang Xing'er had already told him that it was Xu Miaomiao who sent her to the brothel, and he wanted to see how Xu Miaomiao would deal with it.
Xu Miaomiao laughed and looked at Liu Quezi and slowly said, "You must be aware of what Wang Xing'er did. If the truth is revealed, do you think people will say that you and your wife slandered me for money, or that I was smart and clever enough to escape from the hands of that vicious woman Wang Xing'er?"
Liu Guizi was frightened by Xu Miaomiao's eyes. He stood there for a long time without saying anything, then dragged his legs and limped away.
"Then does the 20% that Madam Song just said about giving to the elderly still count?"
Everyone looked at Xu Miaomiao expectantly, with a hint of guilt in their eyes.
Xu Miaomiao nodded and responded to the village chief: "Village Chief Wang, I have already said that I will not regret it. If you don't believe me, I can write a written agreement."
"No, no, we naturally trust Madam Song's character."
The person who was talking to Liu Guizi just now suddenly changed his tone and complimented Xu Miaomiao.
Xu Miaomiao shook his head and said nothing. There was nothing wrong with sympathizing with the weak in this world, but one could not stand on the moral high ground and demand that others share the same sympathy as him.
(End of this chapter)
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