Xiao Yuanhang was naturally unwilling, as were Old Man Xiao and Old Lady Xiao. Before they could speak, Xiao Zhengde spoke first.
"If you don't agree, then you can settle it yourselves. I can't be bothered with your family's mess!"
Old Man Xiao and his companions knew perfectly well that if Xiao Zhengde didn't intervene, they would have no chance of getting the silver out of Xie Yushu, no matter how much they threw a tantrum or tried to seize it by force.
They couldn't even defeat Xie Yushu alone, let alone Qu Xiaodie. They couldn't suppress her with filial piety either, since she had already given them land and money to fulfill her filial duty. They had tried every trick in the book.
For now, we can only agree. Once we have the money, we can deal with the rest later.
Having figured it out, Xiao Yuanhang also spoke up.
"I'll listen to Grandpa!"
Seeing that both sides had relented, Xiao Zhengde sent his five-year-old grandson Xibao, who had come to watch the commotion, home to get paper and pen. He then personally wrote a guarantee, which was signed by Mr. Xiao, Mrs. Xiao, and Xiao Yuanhang.
The content is as follows: Xiao Yi had already given Old Man Xiao and Old Woman Xiao eight mu of land as a filial offering and for their old age. The old man voluntarily gave the land to Xiao Yuanhang, and the group promised that they would never again ask Xiao Yi's family for money under the guise of filial piety or education.
Under extremely difficult circumstances, Xiao Yi and Xie Shi lent Xiao Yuanhang ten taels of silver to help him with his studies, fulfilling their brotherly bond. Xiao Yuanhang is required to repay Xiao Yi the ten taels of silver as soon as he has the money next year.
At the same time, they found Uncle Xiao and Uncle Zhang, who were watching the commotion at the door. One of them was an elder of the Xiao family, and the other was a well-known honest and upright man in the village.
The document was made in triplicate: one copy was kept by Xiao Zhengde, one copy by Xie Yushu, and one copy by Xiao Yuanhang.
The group pressed their fingerprints on the paper. Xie Yushu asked Qu Xiaodie for ten taels of silver to give to Xiao Zhengde, who then gave it to Xiao Yuanhang.
Having received the money, Old Madam Xiao got up, dusted herself off, and led the Xiao family back home.
Of course, Xiao Yan didn't forget to have Xiao Haitang pack eggs and rice for her.
Fortunately, Xiao Haitang was shrewd and only packed five eggs and two bowls of white rice, saying that she hadn't bought much to begin with and this was all she had.
Although Xiao Yan was half-believing and half-doubting, seeing that Xiao Zhengde and a few other onlookers were staring at her, she didn't dare to go to the kitchen to search and instead followed behind the old lady Xiao.
Xie Yushu carefully put away the receipt. With this receipt, the days when these people could take advantage of her were over. Now it was up to her to see how she would collect interest!
Since the written agreement had been written using someone else's pen and ink, and witnesses had been found, it wouldn't be fair to let them help for nothing. Xie Yushu went back to her room and took out a larger piece of cloth and two smaller pieces. The larger piece was about six feet long, which she gave to Xiao Zhengde. The two smaller pieces were about three feet long. She gave them to Second Master Xiao and Fifth Master Zhang, and after some polite refusals, they accepted them.
Actually, this kind of thing is optional, but since Xie Yushu is new here, it's best to give it as a token of goodwill.
He who eats another's food is bound to him; he who takes another's money is bound to him.
Sure enough, once the gift was delivered, Xie Yushu immediately became sensible!
The farce came to a complete end, and Xiao Zhengde said "Let's disperse," and the crowd left in a scattered manner.
The person left, and then it got dark.
After working hard for many days, Xie Yushu boiled a large pot of water and took turns bathing with Qu Xiaodie. She then returned ten taels of silver to Qu Xiaodie.
Qu Xiaodie was quite surprised that Xie Yushu was sleeping in the same room as her and Xiao Haitang, and asked uneasily.
"You and your man are newlyweds, how come you're sleeping in separate rooms?"
Xie Yushu was half asleep and answered...
"That bastard is keeping his chastity for his ex-wife! I'm just someone he paid to work for him."
"By the way, Xiao Jinyu is his eyeball, his lifeblood. He won't let go of her for a moment. Just don't go and take Xiao Jinyu with you alone. The rest is up to you!"
"Go to sleep! I'm exhausted!"
"Tsk tsk! Your status isn't very high! I hope I won't be kicked out after only a few days!"
"Either we kick you out and start our own business, or we go out and make our way in the world! What's there to be afraid of!"
"With you by my side, it's fine!"
"But I think it's fine for you two as you are now, after all, with your small frame, you're not in great shape right now!"
"You're such a worrywart! Go to sleep! Aren't you tired?"
"How can you not be tired? I'm worried about you!"
"Thank you!"
You're welcome! Time to sleep!
Xie Yushu and Qu Xiaodie slept until dawn. When they got up, rubbing their eyes, Xiao Haitang had already prepared breakfast. The three of them were starving and waiting for them!
Qu Xiaodie was a little embarrassed and hurriedly put on her clothes and went out to wash up, while Xie Yushu followed slowly behind.
After a day of rest, the fatigue from the past few days of travel was swept away. At the dinner table, Xie Yushu told Xiao Yi about some things that had happened on the road and that she would have to go to Jinyang City to retrieve the knives in fifteen days. Xiao Yi simply nodded in agreement.
Having not used the silver she brought from home, Xie Yushu returned twenty taels of silver to Xiao Yi after the meal.
"Here you go! You should put the silver back in the stove hole! It's safe there!"
Xiao Yi took out ten taels and gave them to Xie Yushu.
"Didn't you borrow ten taels from Miss Qu? Here, return this to her!"
"I returned it yesterday, you can keep it! I still have some pocket money here! If I run out, I'll ask you for it."
Xiao Yi didn't say anything after hearing this, but he put the money away.
"By the way, I think we should take advantage of the fact that we don't have any work now and expand some tiles to repair the roof. Also, with one more person in the family, there aren't enough rooms, and the woodshed is broken. Why don't we build three more side rooms?"
There are still many things that don't have a place to go. Adding two more side rooms on either side of the main house will make it convenient to store unused items.
What do you think?
"Okay, no problem for me. It's just that the mud and tiles don't last long. If we want to buy new tiles, we don't have enough money right now!"
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