The next day, after breakfast, Chen Qingqing took the land deed for the four mu of land on the east side from Lin and planned to go to the village head's house.
I've been so busy these past few days, I'm completely overwhelmed. Today I finally have some time, and I need to give the land deed to Wu Baoan so he can help me with the transfer of ownership at the county government office.
It's been almost a month since we separated our households, and we haven't opened an account yet. I'll ask him to take care of these two things at the same time.
Chen Qingqing took out a key from her cloth bag, unlocked the cabinet, and took out ten eggs, putting them into a basket.
I also spent thirty coins at the wilderness rescue center to buy three bags of compressed biscuits. I opened the packaging, divided them into two portions, and wrapped them in kraft paper.
One portion was placed on top of the eggs, and the other was locked in the cupboard.
After doing all this, I finally left the house.
We arrived at Wu Baoan's house.
Wu Baoan was feeding the chickens in the yard when he saw Chen Qingqing. He quickly put down the chicken bowl and greeted her with a smile, "Qing'er is here."
"Uncle Village Head, isn't my aunt home?"
Before she could finish speaking, the village head's wife walked in from outside the courtyard. "Qing'er, I'm here. I just went to the garden and picked some vegetables. Come in and sit down."
Chen Qingqing took the things out of the basket. "Auntie, I bought some eggs and a bag of pastries in town yesterday. I brought them over for you to try."
The village head's wife smiled and waved her hands repeatedly, "You silly child, you came all this way, why did you bring anything?"
"Auntie, this snack looks quite rare, so I thought I'd let you try it."
"Good, good, what a good child. I don't know what's wrong with that old woman Chen. How could she bear to sell such a good child..." The village head's wife grumbled incessantly.
Wu Baoan couldn't stand it anymore and quickly interrupted, "Alright, stop talking. Qing's family isn't starving, and their lives are getting better every day."
“You’re right, I’m just speaking up for Zhan Shan’s family.” The village head’s wife shut her mouth.
Wu Baoan asked, "Qing girl, is something the matter?"
“Uncle Village Head, I do have something to ask of you.” Chen Qingqing said, taking out the land deed and the family division document. “Uncle Village Head, I need to trouble you to go to the county government office sometime to help us register our household and also to have the official seal affixed to the land deed for these four mu of land.”
Wu Baoan took it, glanced at it, and nodded. "I'm going to Anyang County on business in a couple of days, so I'll take care of these two things for you while I'm there. Don't worry about it."
Chen Qingqing then took out three taels of silver that she had prepared in advance from her cloth bag and handed it to Wu Baoan, saying, "Uncle Village Head, take this money. You should be able to use it at the government office."
Wu Baoan smiled with satisfaction. This girl knew how to get things done and understood the principle that money could make things easier.
“Qing’er, I’ll take the money. I’ll buy two boxes of pastries for the county clerk and give him a red envelope. We can get the land deed and household registration done that day, so we won’t have to run back and forth anymore. After all, it’s not a short journey to Anyang County. Waiting three or five days would be a waste of time.”
“Uncle Village Head, that’s exactly what I meant. I’ll leave these two matters to you.”
******
After leaving the village head's house, Chen Qingqing felt she should go to town to check on the porridge distribution, and while she was there, deliver Fan Tong's medicine and also pick out the few remaining large lice from his belly button.
Having made up his mind, he told Lin and got into Liu Laohan's oxcart and went to town.
From afar, one could see the porridge stall set up by the Fan family, which was already surrounded by people.
She was secretly pleased. It seemed that Fan Tong had really been fooled. However, for a rich and unscrupulous landlord like him, she had to make him bleed.
As I approached, I saw several people huddled together, shaking their heads and sighing.
"Look at this! This watery broth can hardly be called porridge; it's just plain water!"
"This rich man Fan is too stingy. Couldn't he have put out more rice?"
"Exactly! In my opinion, this rich man Fan is just putting on an act, trying to gain a good reputation."
"That's right, this stuff won't fill your stomach, it's better not to give out porridge at all!"
"Alright, alright. In these days, it's good enough if someone gives us porridge and we can at least eat something. At least we're keeping our breath and not starving. We should be content."
......
Upon hearing this, Chen Qingqing frowned. This Fan Tong was truly a leopard that couldn't change its spots; he was utterly stingy. Asked to distribute porridge and do good deeds, he resorted to such deceitful tactics.
Just as I was thinking this, I heard Shi Taishou, who was distributing porridge, start yelling at the top of his lungs.
"What nonsense are you spouting? Even with food, you can't shut your stinking mouths. My master kindly gave us porridge, and you not only don't know how to be grateful, but you even slander my master's character in public. If you want to eat, then eat; if you don't want to eat, then get out of here and stop causing trouble."
Although those people were dissatisfied, they didn't dare to challenge them in public. They lowered their heads and remained silent.
Seeing Shi Taishou's arrogant and disdainful attitude, treating these refugees like dirt, Chen Qingqing was immediately enraged. She strode over to him.
"Steward Shi, what kind of attitude is this? Since your master wants to do charity by distributing porridge, then show some sincerity. But look at this pot, there isn't a single grain of rice in it, it's all just water. Is this what you call doing charity by distributing porridge?"
Shi Taishou was taken aback and was about to get angry when he saw that it was Chen Qingqing. He quickly put on a smiling face and said, "Oh, it's Miss Chen. What brings you here?"
"I just happened to be passing by and didn't expect you to do charity work like this. This is a matter of life and death, how can you be so perfunctory?"
"Yes, yes, Miss Chen is absolutely right. I was just following orders. My master instructed that only fifty catties of grain could be used to make porridge a day. Look at these refugees, how can fifty catties of grain be enough to eat? In order for everyone to have a bite to eat, I had no choice but to add more water and less grain." Shi Taishou frowned, his face full of helplessness.
Chen Qingqing gritted her teeth in anger upon hearing these words. This Fan Tong was truly beyond redemption; she had asked him to do good deeds, and he responded with such indifference. It seemed this man was exceptionally wicked.
"Since your master is so stingy, there's no need for him to put on airs and make a show of force here. Isn't this just fooling people?"
"Yes, Miss Chen, I have also tried to persuade my master, but he simply won't listen. He says that as long as these refugees don't starve to death, he has done a great deed and accumulated great virtue. What can I, as a servant, do? I can only let it be."
After Shi Taishou finished speaking, he sighed deeply, "My master is truly willing to risk his life for money, and he would rather die than give up his wealth. My young master is already in such a state, but he still insists on going his own way. If he really suffers retribution, he might still be able to do something decent."
Chen Qingqing knew that Shi Taishou was probably telling the truth. It seemed that if he wanted Fan Tong to bleed a little and suffer a bit, he wouldn't genuinely do good deeds...
Alright, since you don't believe in superstitions, then I'll grant your wish.
Having made up her mind, she ignored Shi Taishou and walked towards the Fan family's residence...
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