Chen Yiqi clenched his fists, his teeth grinding, but he dared not do anything. He had once thrown a tantrum when his mother took money and things away, but all he got in return was a beating and scolding from her.
Among the Yin family members and their brothers, their mother always sided with them.
"Brother, what should we do?" Chen Erqi was so angry that his teeth itched.
Mother went to the county to collect her allowance. Once she comes back and sees Old Lady Yin, then the money... will definitely be gone!
What will they eat next?!
Chen Da-wa was extremely frustrated, but there was nothing he could do.
His face turned red with anger, but he could only lower his head helplessly. "Let's go, let's dig for wild vegetables."
Although the white rice and meat were really delicious, he might only get to eat them once in his life. After that, he would have to continue eating wild vegetables and begging for food.
"Brother, I want to eat white rice and meat," Chen Erqi said, drooling as he followed behind Da Wa.
The eldest child gritted his teeth, "When your older brother grows up, he will make sure you have plenty to eat, and so will the third child. We will definitely live a very, very good life."
Erwa held his brother's hand and walked step by step into the mountains.
When Old Mrs. Yin entered the house, she scanned every corner and found that there was nothing of value. The most valuable things were three broken bowls and two broken pots. She thought that taking them away might drive her to her death, so she decided to be kind this once. After all, they were her own flesh and blood, and she felt that she had been very good to Yin Lan.
Therefore, she should hand over the allowance voluntarily later. She was also fully confident that this little harlot would dare not hand it over. Then she would not be able to communicate with the scholar. Moreover, if she exposed their relationship, let's see how this little harlot would live!
Holding a handle in her hand, Old Mrs. Yin went to the inner room and lay down on the bed, waiting comfortably.
On the other side.
The oxcart swayed and rattled into the county town.
Unlike in the TV series, the city gate of this county town is not tall or majestic at all. Between two earthen walls that are as tall as a person, there is a wooden door that is two meters wide, which is the city gate.
Two guards at the gate quickly examined the portraits and, after confirming that the person was not a thief or bandit, let them pass.
These days, the east is suffering from drought, the west from floods, and the taxes and levies are heavy. Several militias have already risen up in the affected villages and fled to the mountains.
These people didn't rob or steal food from the poor; instead, they targeted the wealthy merchants, rich men, and officials, so inspections were set up at the city gate.
These things are currently irrelevant to Yin Lan. She and Zhao Dashan parted ways in an alley not far from the market.
"Brother Dashan, you go ahead and do your work. I'll wait for you here after I'm done."
Zhao Dashan still didn't dare to look at people. Didn't everyone say that having a stepmother's wife was a good thing? He seemed very open and confident. It was his first time in the county town, and while others were intimidated, he didn't seem afraid at all. "No need...no need for me to come with you?"
Of course not.
Yin Lan waved and left.
The allowance was collected inside the government office. After entering the first gate, turn right and there is a special entrance that opens once a month, exclusively for the families of those conscripted to collect their allowances.
These days, the harvest is bad, the world is in trouble, and there are wars everywhere. Many able-bodied men from the villages have been conscripted. At first, there were many people coming to claim them, and there was a long queue, but now there are only a handful of people. Most of the guards have never returned.
Yin Lan didn't know how long her cheap husband's allowance would last. She might receive news of his disappearance one day. Anyway, she had never met him and had no feelings for him, so Yin Lan didn't feel anything. It was just that the allowance was gone that was a problem.
It seems she needs to find a way to make money.
"Brother Guan, I've come to collect Chen Yourun's allowance from Tiejian Village last month. Thank you for your help." Yin Lan spoke neither humbly nor arrogantly, her words clear and with a rising tone at the end, giving the impression of being full of energy. She conveyed all the key information in one sentence, unlike other village women who answered questions one by one, some of whom even shrank back in fear.
The person who received the allowance was just a clerk in the county government, who was never as well-regarded as the officials. Now, the term "brother official" really touched his heart, and he couldn't help but look up at him.
Wow!
She turned out to be a bright and beautiful young woman, a stark contrast to the village women queuing behind her.
The official was very impressed. He quickly and efficiently finished the task, and even his tone was different. "Here, take this." He gave her a silver note, which was placed in an envelope.
"Thank you, Brother Guan!"
The sweet, crisp voice really touched his heart. "Be careful, don't lose it."
Yin Lanzheng took it,
"Hey, sister-in-law, what brings you here today?" A clear voice suddenly came from behind.
Yin Langang was relieved that things had gone so smoothly today, but unexpectedly, she still ran into her sister-in-law.
Yin Lan turned her head, a forced smile on her face, "I'm here to collect your older brother's allowance. Didn't I send someone to tell you that I'll collect the allowance myself from now on, so I won't trouble you, Aunt? Aunt, is there anything else you need?"
Chen Youju was stunned for a moment. Looking at Yin Lan's fake smile, she wanted to smile back, but couldn't quite manage it.
My family doesn't know what happened. They heard that my sister-in-law was beaten, but they didn't even go to visit her. Most of my sister-in-law's money and belongings went to support her family. Her allowance is the only thing that can be deducted from her family.
Yes, yesterday Mom sent someone to tell her that her sister-in-law had gone crazy for some reason and sent her eldest son to tell her that she would collect her allowance herself from now on.
That's why Old Master Chen sent someone to the county overnight to inform his daughter to collect her allowance as soon as possible, so that Yin Lan wouldn't get it.
If she finds out there's something wrong with the money, I doubt she'll dare to cause any trouble, but how will I get the money back then?
He never expected that his adopted son would still be alive. When he married Old Mrs. Chen, who had fled famine, she had a half-grown child with her. He only reluctantly accepted this adopted son because she was good-looking.
However, he was never registered in the household registration system. Ironically, this adopted son was far more outstanding than his own son and was even favored by an old scholar in the county, who allowed him to study for free!
The Chen family can produce a scholar, but he cannot be someone else's son!
So he stubbornly refused to go, and later found a镖师 (bodyguard/escort) to throw him there. At a young age, he struggled and risked his life to earn money, but all the money ended up in Old Master Chen's pocket.
Later, when the village was conscripting soldiers, Chen Yourun did not have a household registration, so the eldest son of the Chen family was on the list. Old Master Chen then bribed someone to immediately reissue his household registration and change his name.
They thought their adopted son wouldn't live much longer and that they could receive a pension. But to their surprise, as the village's list of war dead kept coming back, his name was never on it.
That's why Old Master Chen set his sights on his allowance, which was originally quite low, only 500 coins a month.
But to my surprise, the money doubled in just six months, and then doubled several more times.
He sent his daughter, who lived in the county town, to collect the money, but the amount he gave to Yin Lan was always only the initial 500 coins.
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