Grandma Xiao vented her anger and went back to her house with her head held high.
Li was slapped by Old Madam Xiao, which made her liver ache with anger. She wished she could take her three children and go back to her parents' home immediately. However, considering the current state of the year and the fact that her parents' home was not wealthy, she knew that if she took the children back, it would undoubtedly cause trouble for her family. So she had no choice but to swallow her anger and go to Xie Yushu.
Xie Yushu and Qu Xiaodie were just about to head up the mountain when they ran into Li Shi at the door. Qu Xiaodie greeted Li Shi and asked...
"Are we going to the fields? I'll go catch the cart!"
"No, I'm not working today. My mother asked me to come and tell my second brother's wife."
I don't know if Miss Qu told you, but when Fourth Brother came back, he proposed a marriage to Auntie. It's with a wealthy family in the next town. The old lady's idea is that Xiao Yan shouldn't be looked down upon, so both our families should contribute some money to buy Auntie a set of clothes and jewelry!
Xie Yushu was speechless. She had never heard of a younger sister-in-law forcing her older sister-in-law to pay for clothes and jewelry when going on a blind date. So she asked Li Shi a question.
"Does the village have this custom?"
"Of course not! Alas! But the old lady has spoken; if I don't see the money by tomorrow morning, she'll kick me out!"
I doubt you'll get better either!
“I remember when you came back from the city, you brought her a piece of cloth. I gave her another piece, and a few days ago I gave her another hundred copper coins. She should have at least three sets of clothes now, all of them newly made. How many more do you want to make?”
She's a country girl; any of these three outfits would be fine for a blind date! Why do she need to buy more?
"Mother said that the family is wealthy, so Xiao Yan should dress well, otherwise they might look down on her."
"Everyone knows the Xiao family are just farmers. Since they're interested in a marriage alliance, they naturally don't care!"
"But the old lady insists on buying it! What do you suggest we do?"
Li said helplessly.
Xie Yushu was truly fed up. Since things were going well and no one in the village could find fault with her, she simply stopped caring and threw down a sentence...
"Then tell the old lady that she has nothing to offer, and she can take it or leave it!"
It's not like we're on a blind date!
Li said meekly
"But aren't you afraid the old lady will make a scene?"
"Let her do as she pleases! She'll always cause trouble anyway. If not this time, then next time. She'll get what she's owed, but she won't get a penny she's not entitled to!"
Upon hearing this, Madam Li sighed.
"Fine, if that's how you put it, then I won't give it to you. This is just Xiao Yan's blind date. Who knows how many more times she'll have to go through this after she gets married, gets pregnant, and has children? I'm not going to put up with it anymore. Do whatever you want!"
"By the way, are you going to gather herbs?"
"Yes! Do you want to come? Anyway, we're not letting you work in the fields anymore, so why don't you come with us to collect herbs? You can sell them in town if you want, or sell them to me if you want. It'll be more income, right?"
Li thought it was a good idea; since she was being scolded at home anyway, she might as well go out and find some peace and quiet. She said...
"Then I'll call the head of the household and the children too."
He then went back to fetch someone.
Seeing that she wasn't beyond saving, Xie Yushu said...
"I remember you had some money left over after you went to town to sell things? You'd better keep it safe! Xiao Yi's money has been searched countless times!"
Li also thought of the way Old Madam Xiao wanted to dig out every rat hole in Xiao Yi's courtyard, and nodded with a grim expression, "Thank you for reminding me, Second Sister-in-law!"
Then they went back.
Soon after, Li brought Xiao Dayong and the three children over. Xie Yushu pointed out a few medicinal herbs to them. After they recognized them, they dispersed to collect the herbs. To ensure safety, they stayed on the nearby mountains, where they could be heard if they shouted. At noon, they each ate a piece of the flatbread that Xie Yushu and Qu Xiaodie had brought to tide them over, and did not go home until dark.
Although it was tiring, the harvest was plentiful. Xiao Dayong and Li Shi felt it was troublesome to go to town, and they were afraid that the old lady would be concerned if they brought the herbs home, so they gave the herbs they had collected to Xie Yushu.
Xie Yushu settled the accounts with them that day at the market price.
They harvested 36 catties of fresh motherwort, one copper coin per catty; 3 catties of carnation, three copper coins per catty; 3 catties of dandelion, two copper coins per catty; and 5 catties of indigo leaves, two copper coins per catty, for a total of 61 copper coins.
Xiao Dayong and his wife were overjoyed to receive the money.
"Second son's wife, are these medicinal herbs really worth this much money?"
We work for the landlord all day, and even then, the laborers toil like donkeys for a whole day, and we only get ten copper coins! Don't try to help us lose money!
"No compensation, that's the price of medicinal herbs in town!"
"That's good, then we'll go again tomorrow!"
"Okay, just pick them and send them over!"
After reaching an agreement, the Li family members returned home.
Grandma Xiao naturally hadn't left them any food, and upon hearing them return, she cursed...
"You wild child, you still know to come back to your death! Remember to bring the money over tomorrow, at least two hundred copper coins, or Li Shi, you can get out of here and go back to your mother's house!"
Li remained silent, and the children watched her nervously. Xiao Dayong whispered something.
"Come inside!"
The group returned to the house, but upon entering, they found that the clothes and bedding had indeed been disturbed. Li Shi, angered, muttered in a low voice...
"Look at your mother, she can't wait to take all our things and give them to the fourth son and Xiao Yan!"
Are you really her biological child? Are these three children really her grandchildren?
Seeing that Song Ge and Bai Ge are already so grown up, can't she think about her two grandsons?
"Thank goodness I put all the money on me first, otherwise the little money we risked our lives to get into the mountains would have all gone to Xiao Yan to buy clothes!"
Xiao Dayong frowned and said
"It's not like our parents have been favoring our fourth brother and younger sister for just a day or two. If you don't want to give it, then don't. As long as I don't give in, she can't divorce you. Right now, our second brother's wife is willing to help. Let's gather some medicinal herbs for a few days to save some money. Next year, when we're better off and have some extra money, we'll buy a place and build another house. If you're not happy about it, then move in!"
"Dad, are you serious? Can we really move out?"
Song Ge's eyes lit up when he heard this, and he couldn't wait to ask.
However, Li was not optimistic.
"Your grandparents are still hoping we'll work like donkeys for your fourth uncle! If we move out, who will do the work for him?"
Besides, when we divided the family property, we agreed that this house and yard would be ours. That's why we paid for the fourth brother to build a brick and tile house next door. That was all the money we brothers had worked hard to save over the years. Now that it's all gone, why should we move out?
I won't give them the money, and I won't move. I'll build another house for the two kids to live in later. I have to protect this land and not let others have it!
The second son's family has moved out, but that hasn't stopped the old lady from causing trouble. Anyway, I've decided that even if I move out, I can't escape her. So, I'm like a dead pig that doesn't fear boiling water—let her do whatever she wants!
Li also became stubborn, secretly competing with Old Madam Xiao.
The next day,
Li secretly cooked a pot of flatbread in the dark, then called Xiao Dayong and the children, and the whole family went up the mountain.
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