Chapter 3: Hu Zi steals money.
Zong Xiao went down the mountain alone to the nearest Yuanxiang Town before dawn.
There is a restaurant in this town that collects wild game. He usually sends his game here. The owner is an honest man and gives a very fair price.
Zong Xiao put the three taels of silver into his purse and went to the pastry stall next door with the remaining twenty coins.
He usually doesn't like to eat these sweet things, but he can't resist the children at home who like them.
So he would buy some every time he earned money.
As he bought so many, the old man selling pastries also became familiar with him.
Seeing him coming, the old man uttered a cry, "It's really unfortunate today that the three old things are gone. Why don't you take a look at this date cake, it was just out of the pan this morning and is still soft."
As soon as Zong Xiao came over, he smelled the fragrance of dates. Seeing that they were still warm, he bought one for twenty cents.
The date cake was wrapped in oil paper and was still a little hot in his hand. He thought that if he walked faster, it should still be warm by the time he got home.
There was only one way back to the village. He walked quickly on the road and suddenly remembered that he had not checked the traps in the forest for two days. He didn't know if there were any prey in the traps.
If there was, he could just take it home.
Thinking of this, he gave up the main road and turned directly into the woods.
The mountain road was rugged and he had to check every deep pit, so it inevitably took him a lot of time to walk up.
By the time we got home, the sun had already risen.
"Second uncle! You're finally back." Zong Huaixue came up to him and pounced on him.
Zong Xiao's hands were still covered in dirt, and he rubbed them on himself to avoid dirtying the child's clothes.
Seeing that it was clean, he touched her head and asked, "Why are you sitting here alone? Where are your uncle and grandma?"
Zong Huaixue winked at him, "Second Uncle, guess."
Zong Xiao took her hand and walked towards home, following her and saying, "Is your uncle out picking fruit? As for your grandma, I guess she's at home sewing quilts. Right?"
Zong Huaixue shook his head. "Second Uncle, you guessed wrong! My uncle didn't go to pick fruit, and grandma didn't sew bedding. They are discussing the wedding in the courtyard."
Marriage? Zong Xiao understood instantly.
A few days ago, his family arranged a marriage for his younger brother. The girl was from Liu the butcher's family in the next village. Liu the butcher was well-known in their area and his family lived a good life, so the betrothal gift was higher than that of other families.
Hearing his niece say this, Zong Xiao was certain that good things were about to happen to his younger brother.
"Let's go and take a look."
In the courtyard, the grandmother was counting the silver money. A lot of things had happened in the family over the years, and the silver money had come in and out, and now there were only ten taels left.
Ten taels may seem like a lot, but she still has two unmarried sons at home, and they need to build a new house later... When you calculate it this way, the money is really not enough.
"Mom, is my brother's marriage settled?" Zong Xiao walked forward and sat down on the bamboo stool.
The clan mother was counting money so seriously that she didn't even notice him coming in.
This sudden sound scared the grandmother.
She patted her chest and laughed angrily, "You, you, you don't even make any sound when you walk."
Zong Xiao pushed the dried water toward his mother and said, "Have some water. By the way, I just heard from Huai Xue that you guys are discussing my younger brother's marriage. Is it settled?"
"Oh, what about my marriage? It's your marriage, second brother!" Zong Anfu came out of the house holding a plate of fruit and winked at Zong Xiao.
Zong Xiao: "Mine?"
When Zong Xiao was young, his face was scratched by a wolf, and the wolf claw marks on his face are frightening to look at.
In recent years, his family has thought about finding a good marriage for him, but the better-off families are not willing to marry their daughters to him, and the worse-off families ask for a betrothal gift of seven or eight taels.
Over time, Zong Xiao no longer had the idea of getting married, but just because he didn't have the idea didn't mean his mother didn't.
His mother-in-law was troubled by his marriage all day long.
The grandmother smiled and said to him, "I went to the Qiu family in Datun Village a few days ago. Do you still remember that they owed us five taels of silver?"
Zong Xiao naturally remembered this incident, but it had been many years since the five taels of silver were given. Zong's mother had asked for it more than once, but was always evaded.
The grandmother pointed at the table with her finger and said with a smile, "Na Qiu Shitou came to our house today."
"Have you paid back the money?"
The clan mother rolled her eyes at him and said, "It would be great if their family could come up with the money. They said they have a sixteen-year-old daughter who is currently looking for a husband. They asked if I could marry her off and not use the betrothal gift as payment for the debt."
Afraid that Zong Xiao would think she didn't value his marriage, Zong's mother added, "I've made sure everything is clear. The girl is good-looking and considerate."
Zong Xiao naturally didn't believe it. If it was really that good, would Qiu Shitou be willing to send it to pay off the debt?
"Forget it, mother. She's only sixteen."
The clan mother ignored him and continued, "I've also inquired. Qiu Shitou's family can't pay back the debt. If they don't send the child to our family to pay off the debt, Qiu Shitou is thinking of selling the child to Li Quezi."
The Zongmu looked at Zong Xiao and asked, "Tell me, can Li Quezi compare to you? I think that girl would be a good match for us. A family like ours wouldn't let her down."
To be honest, a betrothal gift of five taels of silver is considered a lot in the nearby villages, but it is impossible to expect the Qiu family to pay it back.
Comparing the two, the clan mother really thought it was the better one, otherwise the money would have been wasted.
-
In the Qiu family courtyard.
Qiu Xuan was busy picking beans, with no expression on her face.
She heard everything Lin Cuihua said to Aunt Wang just now. She just didn't expect that such a rotten thing as marrying off a daughter to pay off debts could be boasted about by Lin Cuihua like that.
It was as if Lin Cuihua had begged for this marriage by all means.
But what she didn't expect was that the Zong family would actually agree to Qiu Shitou's unreasonable way of repaying the money.
Qiu Xuan couldn't help but wonder what kind of family this Zong family was. How could they even get away with something like arranging a marriage for their son?
"Cuihua, come inside." Qiu Shitou pushed open the door and shouted towards the yard.
"Why are you yelling in broad daylight?" Lin Cuihua said this, but she walked towards the house.
Qiu Xuan guessed that the two of them were probably talking about her marriage, and as soon as she saw the door closed, she hurried to the window.
I only heard the person in the room say a few words, and then he started choking.
Lin Cuihua pointed at Qiu Shitou and scolded him, "Why didn't you explain this matter clearly as soon as you got back? If I had known earlier that I would have to pay a dowry, I would never have agreed to this marriage."
Qiu Shitou pulled her to sit beside the bed and explained to her, "Don't be angry for now. Think about what you just said to Aunt Wang."
"What? What did I say?" Lin Cuihua's voice was obviously louder.
Qiu Shitou lowered his voice and repeated her words, "The Zong family is well-off. If Daya marries there, she'll be able to help Huzi in the future. Have you forgotten what you just said?"
Lin Cuihua was silent for two seconds, then retorted, "If the Zong family is really that kind, would they come and ask us for the five taels of silver?"
Qiu Xuan was hiding outside the window. When she heard her say that, she couldn't help but roll her eyes.
I have never seen anyone who is so reasonable even though she owes money. She even expects others to give her silver for free. That is five taels of silver. An ordinary family may not be able to use five taels of silver in two years.
Qiu Shitou chuckled and continued, "Think about it, the Zong family is a hunter family after all. Regardless of whether they're rich or not, at least they can eat some meat every year. When Daya comes back to see us, will she come empty-handed? Will she have to bring meat? Li Quezi doesn't have anything."
After these words were spoken, Lin Cuihua's attitude finally softened.
But she still couldn't bear to add an extra dowry.
"Did the Zong family ask for anything else? What should we give as betrothal gifts?" Lin Cuihua didn't want to take money out of her own pocket. She thought that when the time comes, she would take some money out of the betrothal gifts and let Qiu Yun take it with her as a dowry.
Qiu Shitou sighed softly, "We owe them five taels of silver, how can we possibly have any betrothal gifts? But don't be reluctant to part with the dowry. When Daya's mother got married, she brought a silver hairpin with her. That must have been worth at least two taels of silver."
Lin Cuihua reached out and pinched Qiu Shitou's thigh, quite forcefully. "Qiu Shitou, you gave me that silver hairpin. Why, do you want it back now?"
Qiu Shitou grimaced in pain, groaned twice, and slowly pulled his leg back.
"I've given you the silver hairpin, so it's naturally yours. I mean you shouldn't be reluctant to part with those two quilts, they only cost a few dollars."
The silver hairpin of the original mother.
Qiu Xuan recalled for a long time, but couldn't remember having seen such a thing.
But according to Lin Cuihua's flamboyant personality, if she got it, she would definitely bring it out to show off. Could it be that the silver hairpin was gone?
Qiu Shitou's voice continued to be heard from the room. He said, "Besides, didn't you sell that silver hairpin a long time ago? The three taels of silver you took back for your younger brother's wedding was part of it."
"What's wrong with me helping my brother? Don't you want Daya to help Hu Zi in the future?"
Qiu Shitou naturally thought so. He chuckled and said, "I didn't say you did anything wrong. You gave birth to Tiger Cub for our Qiu family. You are a great contributor."
"That's more like it."
Outside the house, Qiu Xuan quietly sat back on the wooden bench.
The amount of information in the conversation just now was too much, and her mind is still confused.
She thought she had gone too far by stealing a few eggs and a handful of rice and flour from home, but she didn't expect Lin Cuihua to actually steal the silver hairpin that belonged to her original mother.
Looking at it this way, she still took too little!
After noon, Lin Cuihua and Qiu Shitou left home together.
From what she said, she seemed to be going back to her parents' home, but Qiu Xuan didn't care what she was going to do there.
Right now, she just wants to find another way to make a living and save more money for her escape.
Just as I was lost in thought, a black shadow flashed past the kitchen, and then the door of the next door creaked, and the black shadow sneaked into the house.
The two people are not at home and the courtyard gate is closed. The only one who can sneak into the house now is that person - Hu Zi!
Qiu Xuan held her breath, slipped out of the kitchen and quietly came to the window.
She was already familiar with eavesdropping, so now she only needed to open the window a little to see clearly what Hu Zi was doing inside.
Qiu Xuan thought so and did so. She opened a small gap and squatted by the window to look inside.
Hu Zi was lying on the ground with his back to her, and his hand was placed into the stove pit under the kang.
Hu Zi had short arms, and it took him a long time to fumble around and pull out an old cloth bag.
Qiu Xuan saw it clearly. Hu Zi rummaged through the money for a long time and picked out the smallest piece of silver and put it in his arms.
It turned out that it was the bag that contained the Qiu family’s silver and money!
Afraid of being caught by Hu Zi, Qiu Yun stopped peeking. She quietly closed the window and returned to the kitchen.
After a while, the squeaking sound was heard again.
Hu Zi walked out of the house and saw that there was no one in the yard. He quickly ran to the gate. His series of skillful movements showed that this was not the first time he had stolen money.
Qiu Xuan's heart was beating like thunder. The method that she hadn't thought of just now was now right in front of her.
All the money in the Qiu family is hidden in that stove pit. If she takes it secretly...
Qiu Xuan didn't dare to imagine what expression would be on Lin Cuihua's face when she found out that the money was lost.
She didn't delay, after all, there were not many such good opportunities at the moment.
If you don't steal now, it will be extremely difficult to steal later.
Qiu Xuan took a deep breath and tiptoed into Lin Cuihua's room.
The silver and money were hidden in the stove pit, and she took them out without much effort.
When it was opened, there was a handful of white silver coins inside, with a few copper coins sandwiched in it.
Qiu Xuan counted carefully and found that there were at least fifteen taels in it.
She was not greedy and only took seven taels. After all, the silver hairpin that belonged to her original mother was only worth two taels.
So the seven taels of silver she took was nothing, as it was all owed by the Qiu family.
The author has something to say:
----------------------
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
