Tao Wanniang and her companions entered Ping'an Town before dark. Looking at the desolate town, Tao Wanniang mourned for her empty stomach, knowing she would have to think of a way to trick people into eating her again.
There were still a few scattered shops open in the town, but Tao Wanniang couldn't help but click her tongue when she saw the prices displayed.
Five coins for an egg! Five coins! Did a golden hen lay these eggs?
Rice costs fifty cents a liter, and it's still yellowish brown rice.
Tao Wanniang and her party walked past the shops in town without buying anything.
"Mother, um...we still have a few coins on us, how about we buy some rice?"
Ling Dahu looked conflicted; it seemed he had been considering this for a long time.
Tao Wanniang's eyes widened immediately, and her voice rose.
"A few coins, really a few coins? Well, you guys, I've been trying to find ways to get you food along the way, and you've been hiding money from me!"
"Mom, isn't it you who manages most of the money in the family?"
Ling Dahu's imposing manner immediately diminished. In fact, the family had no money left. The few coins he had were only saved because his wife had sewn them into his undergarments and his mother had taken them.
"Did I spend your money on myself? When the fields weren't producing anything, didn't I use the money to exchange for eggs and rice with the villagers?"
Tao Wanniang said indignantly, "This has truly chilled my heart! You're still wary of me!"
"Mother, don't blame Gouwa's father, I hid this money."
Seeing her husband being scolded, Wang Hongyu braced herself and stepped forward to speak.
Wang Hongyu had witnessed her mother-in-law taking good care of Gouwa these past few days, and she had to admit that with her mother-in-law around, they had been doing quite well. So now that her mother-in-law was out of food, she thought she should do her part.
"What you hid, ah, isn't it what you hid?"
Tao Wanniang was somewhat disheartened. Although she felt that the Ling family was easy to fool, she had truly been honest and straightforward in everything she had done!
When it comes to his eldest grandson, he takes the little one along in his cart; when they find something to eat, he makes sure the others don't go hungry!
"Mother, it's my fault, it's all my fault. I shouldn't have kept it from you. Mother, please hit me!"
Ling Dahu stopped pushing the cart, let go of it, and knelt down on the ground with a thud.
"Hit you? Ha, wouldn't my hand hurt if I hit you? Get up! A grown man kneeling all the time? You might be embarrassed to do that in public, but I'd be embarrassed to do it myself!"
Tao Wanniang sneered, "Get up right now! If you don't find somewhere to stay, do you want to sleep on the streets?"
"Wang Hongyu, pull your man up! This isn't over. Once we have a place to sleep, I'll settle the score with you all!"
Wang Hongyu was frightened by Tao Wanniang's cold smile. Her mother-in-law used to throw tantrums over the slightest thing, but now, it seemed like she kept everything to herself.
Wang Hongyu quickly pulled up Ling Dahu, who was kneeling on the ground, and whispered, "Dogwa's father, let's push the cart first. We can't let Mom sleep on the street!"
Ling Dahu then got up, drooped his head, and pushed the cart, his face showing a mixture of bitterness and grievance.
Finding a place to stay wasn't difficult; the surrounding villages were in a state of famine, and there were more beggars in the town.
Following the beggars, the Ling family found a dilapidated house in a deep alley, where several beggars lived.
"You must have come from another place fleeing famine. There's not much food left in town, and we're all planning to leave."
The broken bowl in front of an old beggar was so clean it reflected light, and his sitting body looked utterly weak.
Tao Wan's mother was furious, and upon hearing the old beggar's words, she instinctively asked:
"Is there a famine in Ping'an Town too? I see that the shops still have rice and grain for sale."
"The surrounding area is devastated. Ping'an Town is only spared from famine because the imperial court has allocated grain. But there is a water shortage, the fields are not producing grain, and rice is more expensive than oil, making it impossible for people to survive!"
The old beggar said weakly, "Do you have any food? Please have mercy and give me something to eat. I haven't eaten for two days!"
"We're out of food too. The adults can manage, but the children can't. Grandpa, is there anywhere in town that sells steamed buns?"
Tao Wanniang thought for a moment and decided to go buy some steamed buns to prepare, but she didn't know if the steamed bun shops would be closed by now that it was dark.
"Yes, just turn right and then left after you exit this alley, but the steamed buns will cost three coins each."
Three coins, that's three times more expensive!
Tao Wanniang was a little surprised, but luckily she could afford it.
"Go and buy some steamed buns."
"Didn't you secretly hoard money? Then go spend it," Tao Wanniang said, glancing at her son, Ling Dahu.
"Mother, we only have eight coins."
Ling Dahu lowered his head and said in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz, "Steamed buns cost three coins each now, and I can't even afford to buy many."
Tao Wan's mother was ready to teach her son and daughter-in-law a lesson. What kind of time was this to be hiding money from her?
She didn't mean to squeeze every last penny out of her son and daughter-in-law, but it was obvious that they were useless, and she was the one who had to run the household.
"And you too, Ling Dapeng, Zhou Xiaoyun, I don't believe you didn't have something to hide."
The Ling couple, whose names were suddenly called, were both startled.
Of course they hid it; it was incredibly difficult to hide some private money under Tao Wan's watchful eye. But given the circumstances before, they had no choice but to be careful.
"Mother, we...don't!"
Ling Dapeng's eyes flickered. Seeing his elder brother and sister-in-law being scolded, he felt guilty, but he absolutely did not have the courage to admit it.
"That's for the best. You two brothers go and buy some steamed buns. If you find anything else that can fill their stomachs, bring some back too. After all, the children can't go hungry!"
Tao Wanniang said with a sullen face.
"Huh?" Ling Dapeng was stunned. This... is it like this?
"What, you're not listening to your mother anymore? Get up and go!"
Ling Dahu immediately replied, "Go, go right away, brother, let's go together!"
After speaking, Ling Dahu grabbed Ling Dapeng's arm and quickly walked outside.
Without her two sons, Tao Wan's mother gave her two daughters-in-law a sharp look.
Wang Hongyu dared not look at Tao Wanniang, and could only hold her daughter Huani and lower her head.
Zhou Xiaoyun was also holding her son Ergou, not daring to look at her mother-in-law, feeling a little worried. Could it be that Ergou's father had spent all the money on steamed buns?
"You two, there are some things I don't need to explain, right? I understand you want to keep your men under your control. But don't forget, they are my sons!"
Tao Wanniang said calmly yet forcefully, "My son would never forget his mother after getting a wife!"
She didn't want to control her son; rather, she needed to ensure that she was the head of the household before the Ling family truly established itself!
If they really had two sons, they probably wouldn't have made it to the provincial government. Neither their sons nor their daughters-in-law have any long-term plans for them; they only ever see the immediate future.
Wang Hongyu and Zhou Xiaoyun's expressions tightened, but they immediately knew better than to bow their heads to Tao Wanniang.
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