The favor the village chief wanted from Pei Shaorong was simple. He just wanted Pei Shaorong to bring some things to Yueyang City for his daughter who was now the wife of the county magistrate, and to see how his daughter was doing.
The village chief's daughter was called Qin Xiangrong. She was a famous beauty in Linjiang Village with a gentle personality. When she reached the age of 15, the door of the village chief's house was almost broken down by the people who came to propose marriage.
Among the countless kind families who came to propose marriage, Qin Xiangrong finally married her childhood sweetheart, her current husband, the county magistrate of Yueyang City, Cen Ziwen.
Cen Ziwen and Qin Xiangrong are not only childhood sweethearts, but also distant relatives. It is hard to say exactly how distant the relationship is, but the two families have been related for a long time.
The original Cen family was much poorer than the village chief's family and was not wealthy. When Cen Ziwen and Qin Xiangrong got married, Cen Ziwen had not even passed the examination to become a scholar.
Logically speaking, Cen Ziwen's marriage to Qin Xiangrong was definitely too high a price to pay, and many people were not optimistic about it. However, the two had been childhood sweethearts, and the village chief was not a snobbish person, so he agreed to the marriage.
Even most of the money for their wedding was paid out of Village Chief Qin's own pocket, and after Qin Xiangrong got married, the village chief also provided a lot of subsidies.
At that time, many people in the village laughed at the village chief for marrying his daughter off for money, but no one expected that Cen Ziwen would work hard and not only pass the examination to become a scholar, but also get a good ranking in the imperial examination in Beijing, and finally become the county magistrate of Yueyang City.
This big reversal caused quite a stir here at the time. Old Man Mo wanted to sponsor his eldest son-in-law to take the imperial examination, mostly because of the influence of the village chief.
In order to thank the village chief for his timely help, Cen Ziwen took good care of the village chief's family after he became rich.
However, ever since Cen Ziwen became the county magistrate, Qin Xiangrong followed her husband to Yueyang City. The journey was long, and her family had fields and could not leave. Her daughter and son-in-law were also tied up in official business in Yueyang City and could not come back. The village chief had not seen his daughter for a long time.
On ordinary days during the holidays, Qin Xiangrong and Cen Ziwen would send a lot of gifts back to show their filial piety, and would also write letters to the village chief. But it has been almost three years, and the village chief misses his daughter and grandson very much.
However, he wanted to go, but he couldn't leave because of his family. When he heard that Pei Shaorong was going to Yueyang City, he immediately wanted to bring some things for his daughter.
By the way, I'll ask someone to help me check on how my daughter is doing. After all, how can I tell the truth just from letters and gifts? It would be nice to have someone I know to help check.
"Pei family, you don't know, my daughter has been weak since she was young. Although Ziwen treats her well, I haven't seen her for almost three years. I'm worried. You said Ziwen was delayed by official business and didn't come home, so why didn't Xiangrong come back to see her..."
The village chief sounded a little melancholy. He was even more miserable than Old Man Mo. Not only did he not have a son, but he also had only one daughter, Qin Xiangrong. Ever since Qin Xiangrong got married, the village chief's home had been very deserted.
For three years, apart from the filial gifts and letters received from my daughter and son-in-law during the holidays, I haven't seen a single person.
The village chief missed his daughter, felt anxious and a little sad. Could it be that the daughter he had loved since childhood had become rich and looked down on his poor family?
"Mr. Pei, when you see Xiangrong, you must help me pass the things and words to her, and tell this damn girl to find time to bring my grandson back to see me..."
"Don't worry, Village Chief. I will definitely go to the County Magistrate's Mansion to help you deliver your things and messages!"
Pei Shaorong nodded. He borrowed the donkey from the village chief and just helped carry some things and words. It was not a difficult thing.
Not long after he led the donkey out of the village chief's house, the news that he and Mo Xiaobao were going to Yueyang City spread immediately, and the whole Linjiang Village was in an uproar.
In the hearts of the villagers, Yueyang City represents a modern and prosperous metropolis, and everything about it is worth yearning for.
Most people in the village are like Mo Xiaobao. The farthest place they have been to is the small town of Yueyang. Many girls and boys have never even been to the town and have stayed in Linjiang Village all their lives.
As soon as the news came out, everyone came out and gathered together to start talking.
"Did you know that the men of the Pei family are going to Yueyang City to do business?"
"I know. The village chief just said that he has lent them the donkey. I heard that the Pei family man wants to take Abao out to play..."
"Yes, the Pei family really values Abao. It would be great if my boss could take me to Yueyang City. I heard that Yueyang City is much bigger than Yueyang Town..."
"Not only is it big, but everyone in the city eats the finest rice and wears silk and satin. At night, the city is lit up, and it is so beautiful, like the residence of gods..."
"That's a big city, so of course there are a lot of good things there... No, I have to ask my boss for some money to ask Abao to bring me a foot of cloth from Yueyang City. That's something from a big city..."
"Yes, yes, yes. I'll go find Abao to bring some food too. I want the cakes from Yueyang City for my good son!"
"I'm going too. I'm going too..."
It is a rare thing for someone from the village to go to Yueyang City. Everyone has heard a lot about the things in the bustling big city from the merchants who come and go, and they envy the prosperous life in the big city.
Although they can't go now, since Pei Shaorong is going, everyone wants to bring some things back. Those are only available in big cities and are rare!
This is the same reason why modern friends are asked to bring seafood when they go abroad. It feels so superior to have something at home that is not available in the village or town.
When Pei Shaorong and Mo Xiaobao went home to eat lunch and prepare for a nap, someone knocked on their door. People from all ages in the village stood in front of their house to ask for help...
In ancient times, unlike modern times, relationships with neighbors and relatives were the most important. One must not be isolated from others, otherwise life would not be peaceful.
Pei Shaorong smiled, and hurried back to the room to find paper and pen before running out and saying loudly, "Don't worry, everyone. I've written down what you need to bring, but I have to make it clear that I can't bring big things. As for the silver, I can't pay for it due to my family's situation. Everyone needs to give a deposit first..."
"Okay!" Everyone agreed with a smile. Everyone was aware of the Pei family's situation and didn't think there was anything wrong with paying a deposit first.
However, some people didn't quite believe it. They felt uneasy about paying without getting the goods, so they immediately gave up the idea of taking the goods and even muttered to themselves.
Pei Shaorong didn't care when he heard it. It was up to him to take it or not. There was no benefit in making the trip himself, so why should he pay for it in advance? If he didn't write an IOU for the money when he came back, he would be at a loss. Besides, his family was very poor now!
Many villagers came over, but most of them were just there to join in the fun. Pei Shaorong carefully wrote down what everyone wanted to bring, while Mo Xiaobao collected money nearby.
Aunt Qin and Brother Lin also came over. Brother Lin wanted to buy some delicious shortbread, and Aunt Qin wanted to buy a bottle of Daqing wine.
Pei Shaorong could understand that Brother Lin bought shortbread for his two-year-old son, but when he heard that Aunt Qin wanted wine, Pei Shaorong was stunned.
He knew that there was wine here, but it was very expensive. This time when he went to Yueyang City, he also planned to sell a few bottles of wine in his space in exchange for silver.
This kind of thing is usually only enjoyed by wealthy masters, and ordinary people can only sigh in envy. Aunt Qin's family is not particularly wealthy and is usually very frugal. Why did she suddenly think of buying something as precious as wine?
"Brother, here is one or two taels of silver. Take a look and buy as much as you can. When the wine comes back, my Mu Sheng will be married. Come to the wedding then, brother!"
Aunt Qin handed the silver to Pei Shaorong, her face wide open with a smile. A few years ago, Qin Musheng came back and said that his master wanted to marry his daughter to him.
But the carpenter was a man who cared a lot about his reputation, and he demanded that the betrothal gift must be a bottle of wine, just to save his face.
"So that's the case. Congratulations, auntie..." Pei Shaorong nodded and quickly wrote down Aunt Qin's wine.
Then he wrote down the things of several other families, and finally an old woman came up and said, "I want a pound of shortbread, two pounds of candied fruit, and a piece of floral cloth. Only the kind you can find in Yueyang City!"
Pei Shaorong nodded and wrote it down, motioning the old woman to pay, "I estimate it will cost three taels of silver..."
"Well, people from the Pei family, you guys can advance the money to me first, and I'll give it to you later..." The old woman didn't take out the money.
Pei Shaorong was helpless. "Auntie, everyone gives silver first, and you are no exception. Otherwise, how can I explain to other villagers? Besides, you only give three taels of silver, not three cents..."
This floral cloth is not cheap to begin with, and it is a specialty product of Yueyang City. Just now, there was someone who wanted only a few feet and he gave one or two taels of silver first. This old woman wants a whole piece, and it is already very generous to let her give three or two taels of silver first.
"I know it's three taels of silver. It's just three taels. You can pay it for me first. It's not like I won't give it to you..." The old woman was a little unhappy.
"..." Pei Shaorong found it funny. It's just three taels of silver. Why don't you just give it to him when he says it so easily?
The villagers behind also started laughing when they saw the old woman. Old Man Mo, who came rushing over after hearing the news, rushed over when he saw the old woman.
"Mother-in-law Wang, what are you doing? Come on, come on, if you want things from Yueyang City, go there by yourself. Don't ask my brother-in-law to bring them. You even want to pay for them. Do you think my brother-in-law and Xiaobao are young and easy to bully? Do you want to shirk your debt later?"
"You broke off the engagement with my family back then, and now you still have the nerve to ask me, Xiaobao, to bring something to your family and renege on the debt. How dare you..."
Old Man Mo stared at the old woman with an unfriendly look. Pei Shaorong turned around and saw that Mo Xiaobao's face was not very good either. After hearing Old Man Mo scolding him a few times, he immediately understood.
The old woman in front of him who wanted to take things without paying was the mother of the Wang family who broke off Mo Xiaobao's marriage. She was also the mother-in-law of Liu Meihua who had a fight with his family for buying the New Year pig.
After being pointed at and scolded by Old Man Mo, and seeing that the people around her had seen through her thoughts and were making fun of her, Wang Po looked at Old Man Mo and Pei Shaorong and Mo Xiaobao with hatred, then turned around and left, cursing.
After seeing Mrs. Wang leave, Old Man Mo turned around and looked at the two of them and said, "Ah Bao, I'm telling you, don't be polite when you see the Wang family in the future. They bullied my family so badly in the past..."
When he thought about how his family had lost face because of the Wang family's cancellation of the engagement, Old Man Mo was so angry that he took a few breaths to calm himself before speaking.
"Abao, you should also bring two things from Yueyang City to Dad. I want the gold-threaded dry tobacco. Remember, it's the one with the gold thread..."
As Father Mo spoke, he took out a tael of silver and put it on the table. His addiction to smoking dry tobacco was no less than his desire for his son to have a son.
Seeing the silver on the table, not to mention Pei Shaorong and Mo Xiaobao were surprised, the villagers behind were staring at Old Man Mo in horror. When did Old Man Mo become so generous?
Facing the gazes of the people around him, Old Man Mo blushed for a rare moment. He coughed to cover up his embarrassment and pushed the silver on the table forward.
"Ahem, that gold-thread dry tobacco is not cheap, one roll costs one and a half taels of silver. Mr. Abao, if you make money from business, give me some money..."
“…”
Pei Shaorong didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Mo Xiaobao stared at Old Man Mo with an I-know-what look. The villagers behind him also came to their senses and said, "Come on, this is Old Man Mo!"
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