Seeing that Chen Zhanshan remained unmoved, and seeing Chen Qingqing pressing closer step by step, Old Mrs. Chen was so frightened that her legs trembled like leaves, and she sat down on the ground with a thud.
She pleaded in a trembling voice, "Qing'er, let's talk this out. Please don't report us to the authorities. We really know we were wrong, and we promise it will never happen again. Please forgive us, this old couple!"
"Yes, please forgive me. Even if someone tries to persuade me again, I won't do this despicable thing." Old Chen also chimed in with kind words.
Before Chen Qingqing could speak, Chen Zhanshan's eyes turned bloodshot. "You must remember what you said today. If there is a next time, not only will Qingqing not forgive you, but I will also never let you off easily."
After saying that, he looked at Chen Qingqing, "Qing'er, for my sake, I'll let them off this time. But if there's a next time, I won't say another word."
"I know this puts you in a difficult position, but I'm begging you this time, please let me fulfill my filial duty one last time, okay?"
"Just give Second Uncle some face too." As soon as he finished speaking, Chen Zhanliang was helped by Madam Sun to come closer. "Qing'er, my parents did wrong and should be sent to the authorities for severe punishment. But who told me that I, their son, am incompetent and can't earn enough money to support them? If you don't care about anything else, just for the sake of me and your Second Aunt, please forgive them this time!"
"Yes, Qing'er, please forgive them this time. Our family can't afford to have anyone go to jail. If word gets out, our descendants will be talked about behind their backs." Madam Sun also pleaded.
Seeing this, Wu Baoan felt somewhat relieved. After all, he didn't want any petty thieves to appear in his jurisdiction. If word got out, people would say he was incompetent in governing the village and would be ridiculed.
He chimed in, "Qing girl, why don't we just leave it at that and not investigate further?"
Chen Qingqing glanced at everyone, then her gaze finally settled on Old Man Chen and his wife. She nodded and said, "Alright, for everyone's sake, I'll let you off this time. I hope you'll use your brains and if you dare to act recklessly again, I will not let you off easily."
"Okay, okay, we've got it. We promise we'll never do such a despicable thing again." Old Chen breathed a sigh of relief.
Old Mrs. Chen was secretly pleased. They were all a bunch of worthless bastards who couldn't resist a few kind words. They hadn't even grown their hair yet, but they dared to fight with me. Just you wait, when my third son passed the imperial examination and became a scholar, I'll make sure you suffer to death.
She was inwardly furious, but outwardly she feigned gratitude. "Don't worry, Qing girl, I will definitely mend my ways this time. If I ever cause you trouble again, may I be left destitute and homeless in my old age."
"Remember what you said, don't go back on your word later." Chen Qingqing scoffed disdainfully, "How did you get those blue bricks back in the house? You should return them to me."
Old Chen quickly agreed, "Yes, yes, yes, my wife and I will stay up all night and make sure it's put back in its original place."
"Okay, but remember this: not a single piece can be missing."
Upon hearing this, Old Man Chen's heart skipped a beat. His wife had exchanged four bricks for sesame seed cakes. What was he going to do?
He glanced at Old Mrs. Chen and said in a low voice, "Look what you've done. Where am I supposed to get four yuan less?"
"You idiot, how would anyone know if you didn't tell me?"
"Don't cause any trouble." Old Man Chen, being timid and afraid of trouble, spoke directly, "Qing'er, your grandma has four bricks to exchange for sesame cakes. In return for the debt, I'll keep watch for you for free, okay?"
Old Mrs. Chen's face turned bright red with embarrassment, and she wished she could bury her head in her crotch.
Chen Qingqing laughed in exasperation, "Fine, but don't get any more ideas. If our people find out you're up to no good, you should know the consequences."
"Don't worry, I guarantee it won't happen."
******
Soon the autumn harvest ended, and construction on the new house began as scheduled, taking shape in just a few days.
Chen Qingqing emphasized the construction of the outhouse, which, apart from lacking running water, was built entirely according to modern public toilet standards, with an independent septic tank and bluestone paving.
Although it was very simple, it was still much better than a latrine made of two planks placed on a pit.
All the houses have tiled floors, and the courtyard is paved with bluestone slabs.
Chen Qingqing spent another fifty taels of silver on these.
Although the sugar shop was busy, it was also well-organized, allowing Chen Qingqing to completely let go.
One day, having nothing to do, she suddenly remembered the ginseng in Wolf Valley and decided to go and dig it up.
Ginseng with six-leaf pods is already extremely rare, while ginseng with seven-leaf pods is even rarer; almost no one has ever seen one.
But the ginseng in Wild Wolf Valley actually had a ninth-grade leaf.
Legend has it that grade nine ginseng can grant immortality and even bring the dead back to life.
Whether the legend is true or not is debatable, but it is an indisputable fact that the higher the grade of ginseng, the more precious it is, and the better its medicinal effects.
Since I've been fortunate enough to see it, it means that fate has intervened, and I must get my hands on it.
Having made up her mind, she made some preparations and then took Xiaoyu into Wolf Valley.
At first, she was a little nervous, after all, she was still shaken by the last encounter with the wolf pack, and kept reminding Xiaoyu to be vigilant.
But the journey was uneventful; they didn't even hear a wolf howl.
Chen Qingqing didn't dare to delay. She led Xiaoyu straight to the hillside where the ginseng grew, handed him the crossbow bolts, and repeatedly gave him instructions.
"Little Fish, stand here. If any wolves or other wild beasts approach, shoot them with this, understand?"
Chen Xiaoyu was somewhat reluctant. "Wife, didn't you just say there was a giant python? I have to protect you. If it dares to come out, I'll go up and smash its head in."
"Don't worry, Xiaoyu, I'm fine. You just stay here and keep watch." Chen Qingqing didn't want Xiaoyu to go up with her. Xiaoyu wasn't very bright, and if she acted foolishly and started fighting the big black python, that would be troublesome.
After all, she had made ample preparations; as long as she scattered the poison in her hand, she could ensure that nothing went wrong.
Chen Xiaoyu could only nod obediently, "Then be careful. If you are in danger, just shout and I will come to save you."
"Okay, don't worry!" Chen Qingqing said, then carefully climbed up the stone wall, clinging to the plants.
Upon reaching the mountaintop, seeing only weeds and shrubs all around, she quickly found a stick and tentatively began to walk forward slowly.
Suddenly, I noticed the ginseng plant in the grass not far away.
Chen Qingqing immediately tensed up. She knew that the large black python was nearby, and if it opened its blood-red mouth and suddenly attacked, she would be swallowed whole.
She was on high alert, carefully observing her surroundings, ready to throw the poison in her hand at any moment.
Suddenly, the grass rustled ahead, and a stench wafted towards them.
Immediately afterwards, the weeds next to the ginseng suddenly parted to both sides, and a large, jet-black python suddenly raised its head.
Chen Qingqing was prepared, but she was still so frightened that her heart pounded. She dared not delay any longer and threw the poison in her hand at the large black python.
As a precaution, they threw over several more packets of poison in succession.
The large green python slowly closed its eyes, standing there motionless as if asleep...
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
