He Tiantian stared wide-eyed in disbelief; it turned out this old woman was plotting such a terrible idea.
However, she knew that in this era, some things couldn't be explained logically. The best approach was to play the victim.
She was a widow, driven out of her home by her wicked mother-in-law, and left with three children. Her situation was truly tragic.
Thinking of this, He Tiantian sighed heavily, her face darkening with even more gloom.
“Alas, Chief Tao, you have no idea. After my husband died, the imperial court gave me two taels of silver as a pension. But my mother-in-law was wicked; she not only took the pension but also kicked me and my three children out of the house…”
He Tiantian's story was so pitiful that anyone who heard it couldn't help but feel sorry for her.
“My parents came to Changfeng Village because they saw how hard it was for me to raise three children on my own, so they wanted to help me. In this day and age, does helping your children become an excuse not to support them in their old age?” He Tiantian looked at everyone present with a pitiful expression.
The three older women turned their faces away, clearly not daring to meet He Tiantian's eyes.
The two elderly women who came with the village head sighed, "Oh dear, it's really a tragedy that our daughter can't find a good husband."
"Chief, if you ask me, Old Six and his wife did the right thing."
Tao Tingzhang nodded, then looked back at Old Lady He.
"Sister-in-law, let's discuss your retirement expenses again. Don't make things difficult for your children."
Old Mrs. He was so embarrassed she could hardly find a place to put her face. This Tao Tingzhang was really biased towards outsiders, not on the side of his own villagers.
"Then we have to support our elderly mother, right? If you ask me, since Lao Liu's family lives far away, they should contribute more each month."
He Dong glanced at He Tiantian, feeling very jealous of his niece.
A widow who had lost her husband, yet she still looked so young. She must have been living a good life.
Unlike her, who toiled every day, her husband was as good as dead, and her life was miserable and tragic.
"Fifth son, you decide how much is appropriate." Old Mrs. He was pulled up from the ground by her two daughters and asked for their opinions.
He Dong thought about the question seriously, and then, as if making up his mind, said, "If you ask me, one hundred coins a month is definitely possible."
"hiss……"
This time, both Tao Tingzhang and the two elderly women from the same village who had just entered gasped in surprise.
This family is clearly making trouble for their own members.
You dare to dream of spending a hundred coins? In the village, an old woman probably wouldn't even earn ten coins a month.
They eat and drink what they grow in the fields, and the rest is just selling some fabric to make clothes, or buying things for the house.
Tao Tingzhang thought of Zhao Tingzhang from Changfeng Village, even though he used to look down on that village.
But last year's severe drought was also thanks to the help of Pavilion Chief Zhao. He borrowed water to survive the drought, which not only saved his life but also kept his position as pavilion chief.
Since people from Changfeng Village have come today, we can't let them be harassed under their noses, out of respect for them.
Tao Tingzhang coughed twice and said very seriously and without any mercy, "Old woman He, your family is too careless."
Upon hearing what Director Tao said, He Dong immediately blushed.
“If you ask me, Sixth Brother,” He Chun and Chen Shi immediately stepped forward to listen, “since you can’t always be in Peach Blossom Village, then give your mother twenty coins a month for her old age.”
Twenty coins, neither too much nor too little.
If this old woman He is sensible, she can live a very good life with the money.
He Tiantian quickly calculated that this would amount to about two hundred coins a year.
This expense is easy and satisfactory for her now.
However, Old Lady He seemed somewhat dissatisfied. Just as she was about to say something more, Director Tao interrupted her, saying, "Sister-in-law, if you use this money properly, it will be more than enough for you."
"The children have it tough too, so please be more understanding of them."
We're all from the same village, and we know each other very well.
Tao Tingzhang naturally knew how He Chun had been in this family since he was a child. When he was a child, his family would give He Chun steamed buns every few days.
He Chun's eyes welled up with tears when he heard what Tao Tingzhang said.
"Chief of the pavilion...you are such a kind person."
Zhao, the pavilion chief, patted He Chun on the shoulder and said, "Sigh, just live your life well from now on."
It was almost noon, and He Chun's family didn't plan to stay for lunch.
Staying in this house for even a moment longer would probably mean being skinned alive.
Fearing that He Chun's family would leave without paying, Old Mrs. He made Chen give her three months' worth of alimony, which amounted to sixty coins.
Chen was so angry she wanted to bite her teeth. Just thinking about the clothes and shoes she had bought for her mother-in-law made her wish she could take them with her when she left.
He Tiantian had the same idea. Although the gifts weren't expensive, it still amounted to a lot of money for so many families.
I will never visit relatives during the Chinese New Year again. I'd rather not have relatives like that who leech off me.
He Shitou went outside and brought the carriage over. The children from the uncles' and aunts' families all acted as if they had never seen a carriage before.
One by one, they couldn't resist climbing up, wanting to experience it for themselves.
He Shitou was so annoyed with them that he naturally didn't have a good attitude.
"Get down, all of you get down! Don't damage the carriage!" He Shitou shouted.
The adults followed, and the three older women were naturally unhappy to see He Shitou scolding their children.
The old woman said sourly, "Oh, I'm talking about Lao Liu's family. I don't know why you're complaining about being poor. You even bought this carriage. Was it worth it?"
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