Wang Xiufen rolled her eyes: "It's not your child, why are you taking such meticulous care of him? Tell me quickly, which piece of land did you get?"
"What, you want to plant it?" Jiang Bai coaxed Zhao Xile until she stopped sobbing, then looked up at them.
Wang Xiufen waved her hand: "We are an orphan and a widow, how can we have the strength to farm? I was thinking, if the land you were allocated is in a good location, why not sell it? I've found a good family for your brother these past few days, and they want a dowry of fifty taels of silver..."
Fifty taels!
I don't know which family Wang Xiufen chose, but they asked for such an exorbitant amount. Zhao Yi's dowry for her was already known as the most expensive in the surrounding area, but it was only twenty taels.
Jiang Bai clicked his tongue and couldn't help but say, "Why don't we find someone else?" What kind of family dares to ask for fifty taels of betrothal gifts?
“No way,” Wang Xiufen retorted quickly, “that girl already has a child!”
Jiang Bai:?
Although this idea is not feminist, this is ancient times. Pregnancy before marriage is not as easy to deal with as it is in later generations. At best, it will ruin one's reputation; at worst, one might be thrown into a pig cage.
Wang Xiufen felt guilty.
She dared not say that this woman not only had a child, but also nine older brothers.
Nine older brothers, each as strong as a small mountain!
Thinking of this, she couldn't help but glare at her son resentfully: Why did he have to sleep with such a strong-willed man of all women?
If they don't pay up, not only will Jiang Cheng's life be in danger, but she might also be implicated.
She had a lot of grievances but dared not speak them aloud, so she could only stubbornly say, "I don't care, Jiang Cheng likes this one, and I only acknowledge her as my daughter-in-law."
Jiang Bai knew there was something fishy going on, but she was too lazy to ask. She simply said, "Since I married into the Zhao family, I've given you far more than fifty taels of silver. Why don't you just use this money?"
That won't do! Jiang Cheng and his girlfriend have already spent all that money on eating, drinking, and having fun!
Otherwise, how could Jiang Cheng have managed to hook up with a beautiful woman who has nine older brothers?
Jiang Cheng was also feeling guilty. He straightened up, his face fierce but his heart weak: "Stop talking nonsense, just tell me if you're selling the land or not!"
Zhao Ping'an held his breath, watching Jiang Bai's expression. Although he was young, he was very smart and understood the meaning of the conversation.
He knew that if Jiang Bai sold the land, the Zhao family would be left penniless, and he and his sister would be doomed.
Selling the land means that Jiang Bai hasn't changed for the better, and all the changes she's undergone these past few days have been a lie.
Jiang Bai nodded: "Okay, let's sell!"
Zhao Ping'an was stunned.
Ignoring the ecstatic expressions on Wang Xiufen and Jiang Cheng's faces, he stepped forward, intending to snatch his sister Zhao Xile from Jiang Bai's hands.
From that moment on, all of Jiang Bai's previous efforts vanished in his heart; he was worried about his sister being in the hands of this vicious woman.
Jiang Bai did not give away the child in her arms. She dodged Zhao Ping'an's outstretched hand and changed the subject: "But, Mother, if I sell the Zhao family's land without permission, Zhao Yi will definitely divorce me."
"Do you know why he hasn't sent money back this month? He sent word that he'll be back in a few days, and then there'll be no land left at home. What am I supposed to do then?"
"So be it. I'm worried about you being a stepmother at such a young age." Wang Xiufen said indifferently.
She wasn't afraid that Jiang Bai would go back to his parents' home after being divorced. At worst, she could just sell him again and get a second dowry. The money for her son's wedding would also come in, and she was very happy.
She had planned everything in her mind when she heard Jiang Bai say, "But if I get divorced, Zhao Yi will definitely come knocking on your door demanding your money back."
Pay back the money? What kind of money?
Wang Xiufen was stunned for a few seconds, unable to think of any money she needed to repay.
She said blankly, "I've never heard of a daughter being divorced and having to return the bride price. Is she just letting him sleep with her for free?"
“It’s not the bride price,” Jiang Bai said with a smile, “it’s the money Zhao Yi sent back. Didn’t you write an IOU after you borrowed it? Zhao Yi heard about it and wrote back to take all the IOUs with him…”
Wang Xiufen was so anxious she jumped up and down: "Are you stupid? How could you let him take the IOU!"
Jiang Bai spoke timidly, lowering his head to hide the smile in his eyes: "I didn't want to either, but he said that if we didn't give him the IOU, he wouldn't send us the money back."
It's good when my husband isn't home; I can easily shift all the blame onto him.
After thinking for a moment, she said, "Mother, I suspect that Zhao Yi is coming back this time to verify the loan. He has the IOU now, and I'm afraid he'll come after you for the money."
Wang Xiufen was powerless. Money, money, money—everyone wanted to ask her for money. She wanted to shout to God: "I have no money, but you can take my life."
Of course, Jiang Bai knew they couldn't come up with any money right now, and fearing they might resort to desperate measures, he started to soften his tone again: "Mother, when Zhao Yi comes back, I'll stop him. I'm his wife; he can't possibly disobey me, can he?"
The hidden meaning behind this statement is that only if Jiang Bai is his wife can he possibly control Zhao Yi.
If Jiang Bai is indeed divorced, then Zhao Yi and his family will be completely cut off from each other.
No one knew exactly how much money Zhao Yi earned, but based on the money he sent home every month, Wang Xiufen knew he must be making a considerable amount. People who can earn a lot of money are certainly not easily fooled.
Jiang Bai's plan to sell the land failed, and he couldn't sell his daughter again. Thinking of his girlfriend's nine strong and healthy brothers in Jiangcheng, Wang Xiufen felt utterly hopeless for the first time.
Wang Xiufen and Jiang Cheng left the Zhao family dejectedly, even forgetting to take the brown sugar they had found.
Aunt Wang stood at the door, craning her neck to look at the Zhao family's house, ready to rush next door if anything happened.
She knew Wang Cuifen and Jiang Cheng. These two would come to Jiang Bai every few days to freeload, and they would flaunt whatever they got. Many people disliked them.
The reason Jiang Bai was disliked by the villagers was mostly due to the mother and son; after all, no one liked a daughter who was close to her maternal family—it was against the rules. Aunt Wang, putting herself in Jiang Bai's shoes, was often infuriated by the family's antics.
But today was different. When Aunt Wang saw the expressions on Wang Xiufen and her son's faces, she knew that they hadn't gained anything, and she was greatly shocked.
Jiang Bai has actually changed.
When Aunt Wang saw Jiang Bai come out, she carefully observed his expression and hesitated before asking, "Are you alright?"
"It's nothing," Jiang Bai said easily. "My mom and the others just came to see me. They're relieved to know I'm doing well, so they can go back home."
That's blatant lying.
Aunt Wang nodded and said with a smile, "That's true, a mother is bound to worry about her daughter."
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