Chapter Thirty-One Who Cares About Money

  Second watch

  Zhang sighed and said, "You're too honest, Third Aunt. If I don't help her out a bit more, it'll be too pitiful."

  "Daughter, aren't you an honest person yourself? Grandma said that you never distinguish between right and wrong." Yet Zhang still says Zhao is too honest.

  "You're still young and don't understand these things. Your mother and your third aunt are different, you see your mother also being bullied by your grandmother, but your mother has both sons and daughters, she's got a strong backbone, your third aunt... only has Ye'er, one daughter."

  Suddenly enlightened.

  She has always ignored this issue. Zhao and Lian Ye'er's presence in the Lian family is very weak, they just silently do their work, when eating, Zhao never eats vegetables, and Lian Ye'er also eats very little. Zhao is even more submissive to Zhou, not daring to say a word, but still gets scolded by Zhou every day. He is a lazy person, her chores are always pushed to others, among whom Zhao is the most exploited.

  "My daughter... I won't say anything else, but it's also too harsh on her third aunt..." Zhang said to Lian Shouxin.

  Lian Shouxin also let out a sigh, but didn't say anything.

  "At that time, you weren't around yet, you don't know how much suffering your Third Aunt endured in the past..."

  When Zhang's family first moved in, Gu and Lian Shouren were already living together in the town. There were only two daughters-in-law at home, He and Zhao. At that time, Zhao had been married for four years but had no children. Every day, she had to accompany Xiao Xin and watch Zhou Shi's face. Zhou Shi was about to divorce Zhao then, and Zhao knelt down in front of Zhou Shi as punishment. In the end, Lian Shouli did not want to, and the Lian family did not have extra money at that time to marry another daughter-in-law for Lian Shouli, so this matter was put on hold.

  Later, Mrs. Zhao finally became pregnant, and Mrs. Zhang was still happy for her, thinking that she would finally be able to hold her head up. Unexpectedly, Mrs. Zhao gave birth to a daughter again, and from then on, there was no more movement in her belly. As a result, Mrs. Zhou treated her even worse, and Mrs. Zhao's head hung even lower, living in constant fear.

  "Your third aunt is a good person, but she's unfortunate to have no son. We should help her as much as we can. As human beings, we must have a conscience and not do things like stepping on others to elevate ourselves. When we encounter those who are poor and weak, we should help them, that's what it means to be human." Zhang said with deep feeling.

  Several children nodded.

  Zhao's experience is indeed pitiful.

  "Mother, I'm not saying you can't help San Bo's wife, but if you help her like this, in the end, it will still be a loss. The only difference is that the person who loses out will change from San Bo's wife to you," said Lian Man Er.

  "What's the big deal? Let her scold you for a couple of sentences, or just do more chores. What's the harm? If I didn't help out and it fell on her instead, it would be even harder for her." Zhang said with a smile.

  Lian Shouxin's eyes sparkled with a smile as he secretly grasped Zhang Shi's hand, but quickly withdrew it in fear of being seen by the children.

  Zhang glanced at Lian Shouxin and a hint of blush appeared on her face.

  Two lovely buns with a very good relationship.

  Lian Man'er let out a sigh.

  "Girl, you said you're fine, but we all have problems. Just like today, we're all starving."

  "It's not your mother's fault." said Zhang Shi immediately.

  "Mother, from now on, can't you think about protecting yourself first before helping others?" Lian Man'er tried to persuade Zhang Shi, "Mother, if you can't let Nai lecture reason and handle things fairly, you should help San Bo's wife, or secretly help her... Of course, it would be even better if you could make Nai handle things reasonably."

  Zhang felt a bit helpless, she also knew that Zhou always looked at her with disapproval, partly because of the fact that she often sided with Zhao. But to get Zhou to see reason was simply impossible.

  "Mother will definitely be careful next time." Zhang said, "Not only did she not let Third Aunt suffer a loss, but Mother also didn't bring trouble upon herself."

  Nothing happened overnight, and on the second day, after getting up early and having breakfast, Lian Shouzhong discussed with Lian Laoyezi.

  "... Autumn harvest is approaching, I think our family's sickles and iron hoes should be taken for repair. Otherwise, when the time comes to use them, they won't feel right in your hands and will delay the harvesting of grains."

  Even Lao Yezi nodded, "You take it to town tomorrow when you go to the market and have it repaired."

  "Dad, there are many people in the village now, and there are also many people repairing things. I'm afraid the blacksmith won't have time for it. I plan to send it over today, he has time and can repair it more carefully." Lian Shou said.

  "Go on, let your mother give you some money." said Lian Laoyezi.

  Zhang was carefully attending to Zhou in front of him, seeing that Zhou's complexion was not bad, and then carefully opened his mouth to Zhou.

  "Mom, I'm free today, I want to go downtown with Dad."

  "Old Three went to the blacksmith's shop, what did you go with him for?"

  "Daughter, there are many things to fix, I'll go and help carry them." said Zhang.

  "With so many things going on at home, you leave and dump everything on me?"

  "Daughter," said Zhao, plucking up her courage beside him, "today is my turn, and Ye Er is at home. Just leave all the household chores to me."

  "You guys seem like you've discussed it beforehand?" Zhou looked at Zhao and said, "No wonder you've been busy flattering me for the past two days."

  This remark wronged Zhang, but Zhang still smiled at Zhou.

  "Mom, I'll be back soon. I don't dare to delay any work. Mom, the shoe soles I gave you to mend, the thread is gone, and I need to go buy some more."

  "I don't care about your shoes, I don't have money for you to waste." Zhou Shi said immediately.

  "Mother, I don't want any money, there's still some left from last time when I sold the hairpin." said Zhang Shi.

  "You're all rich, so bring me two more pairs of shoes, your sister can't even see you once a year, it's up to you if you have the heart." said Zhou Shi.

  Lian Man'er was stunned and her eyes widened in shock.

  "Mother, the money from selling that hairpin was used to buy medicine for you and Man'er, there's hardly any left..." Zhang Shi said with difficulty.

  Zhou's eyes widened immediately.

  "Alright, daughter, I'll buy it for you." Zhang said reluctantly.

  Zhou hummed and stopped talking.

  Zhang had no choice but to stand under the kang and wait.

  After a while, Zhou said: "Your legs are on your own body. If I don't let you go, will you not go?"

  "Mother, then I'll go." Zhang said hurriedly.

  Zhou Shi seemed to have agreed, but what a strange way of speaking. However, Zhou Shi was indeed like that, and even Lian Man Er still found it somewhat unfamiliar.

  Lian Shouxin came to ask Zhou Shi for money, and Zhou Shi counted out a few copper coins from her purse and handed them over to him.

  "Mother, there are four sickles and three iron hoes that need to be repaired. The iron hoes also need to have iron added to them. I'm afraid this money won't be enough." Lian Shouxin said as he looked at the few copper coins.

  "The poor family's road is rich, give Old Fourth a few more dollars." Lao Yezi walked in and said.

  "You speak easily, our family still owes debts, where is the money, can't we save it?" Zhou said so and gave a few more copper coins to Lian Shouxin.

  The whole family came out of the upper house, Lian Shouxin pushed out a flatbed cart, tied up the sickle and iron rake to be repaired with grass rope, put them on the flatbed cart, called Lian Man'er and Xiao Qi to sit in the car, Lian Shouxin pushed the cart, Zhang Shi, Lian Zhier and Wu Lang followed beside, the whole family walked out.

  Zhou's family came out of the upper house and saw them, immediately calling on them to stand down.

  "It's enough for just the two of you to go, but bringing a large group of children, are you going to fight wolves?" said Zhou Shi.

  "Mom, we're going to the field to cut grass and dig wild vegetables." Lian Mian'er then held up her basket for Zhou Shi to see.

  Zhou did not believe it.

  "Lao Si, that money is counted, the rest of it, you all bring back to me. Our family doesn't have money for you to spend lavishly. We're old and at home, you go out in a group to town to stroll around, you should think about your conscience." Zhou Shi scolded Lian Shou Xin.

  Lian Shouxin's face turned red, and Lian Man'er and the others all busied themselves lowering their heads. Zhou Shi treated her own son as a thief.

  "Don't worry, mom, I've never wasted money before. This time, no matter how much I spend, I'll find a witness later." Lian Shouxin was also somewhat annoyed and stopped paying attention to Zhou Shi, pushing the cart away.

  It wasn't until they left the village that the family's mood recovered. Lian Shouxin pushed the cart, not towards the town, but onto a small path, heading towards the back mountain.

  "I watched it that day, and this time I'll definitely make more money." Little Seven said with a smile.

  Today is the day I promised Wang Youheng to send the second batch of bitter gourd girls. Lian Shouxin and Zhang heard about it, and their hearts ached for the few little kids pushing such heavy things to town. Happily, there were farm tools at home that needed repair, so they decided to go together today. Lian Shouxin and Zhang came over to help harvest the bitter gourd girls and then send them to town.

  Walking along the mountain path, I arrived at the destination in a short while. It has been over ten days since the last picking, and large areas of wild strawberries have turned red, looking like a vast red ocean from afar.

  "I really didn't know it had grown so much here," said Lian Shou.

  "It's not just possible, it can also make money!" said Zhang.

  "Dad, mom, come and help." Lian Man'er handed a basket each to Lian Shouxin and Zhang Shi.

  Thanks to the help of Lian Shouxin and Zhang, this time's picking was a bit faster. In less than half an hour, all the ripe bitter melons in this area were picked, except for those that were not good in quality, unripe, or too small, and were packed into burlap sacks. A total of ten large burlap sacks were filled to the brim, and the ground where the flatbed cart had passed left deep ruts.

  "Thanks to Lao Er for coming." Xiao Qi stuck out her tongue.

  Lian Man'er nodded, but it wasn't easy; if there weren't just a few kids this time, they really couldn't pull the cart.

  Lian Shouxin came to pull the cart, and Zhang's family and several children also helped push the cart from behind. The whole family rushed straight to the town.

  Lian Shouxin quickly pushed the cart onto the official road, and in just a moment, they arrived at the town. Lian Shouxin pushed the cart to the entrance of Jisheng Hall and took the sickle and iron hammer to the blacksmith's shop, leaving only Zhang Shi to accompany Lian Man'er and the others.

  "Just in time, you've arrived." Wang the shopkeeper saw Lian Miao and her mother arrive, and while directing his apprentices to move the sacks into the store, he invited them to sit in the back room, "The young master is also here, please take a seat for a moment."

  When he arrived at the backyard, Wang Youheng came out to greet him and saw Zhang Shi, so he hastily paid his respects.

  "Even Fourth Aunt has arrived, quickly invite her into the house."

  Madam Zhang hastily returned the courtesy, "I'm just a country woman, I've troubled Doctor Wang several times, you're our benefactor, but I don't dare accept your gift..."

  Wang Youheng smiled.

  "Fourth Aunt, you're right, after all, we are fellow villagers in the true sense of the word. You're my elder, so it's only proper that I show you respect."

  Everyone went into the house and sat down, with a young servant bringing in tea and snacks.

  Zhang watched as the children sat steadily in their chairs, Wang Youheng waited extremely politely, with a hint of unease in his heart, yet he couldn't say anything, afraid of embarrassing the children.

  "Young Brother Heng, this time we've brought all the mountain girls to you, there are quite a few." Lian Man'er said to Wang Youheng.

  "More would be just right." Wang Youheng said, "The ones you sent last time, I've all sent to the county and prefectural city, they sold extremely well. Many families bought them as novelties, and there's hardly anything left for medicinal use."

  The bitter melon daughter sells well, and even the vines are happy along with her.

  "Right, Young Brother Heng, this bitter melon can be kept until winter to eat." Lian Man'er told Wang Youheng, "Use a thread to string the bitter melons together and hang them under the eaves. By the time winter comes, the outer skin will have dried up, and they'll taste even sweeter then. After eating too much rich food during New Year's, it's just what you need to clear the heat."

  "It's still possible like this, I'll have to remember it." Wang Youheng smiled and said.

  "Man Er, is your wound healed?" Wang Youheng asked when he saw that Lian Man Er didn't have a bandage on her head.

  "They're all better now," said Lian Mian'er.

  "Come here and let me take a look."

  Wang Youheng stood up and walked with Lian Man'er to the bright spot under the window, gently lifting her hair to examine the wound. The wound on Lian Man'er's head was about half an inch long, fortunately, it was covered by her hair, so it wasn't very noticeable from the outside.

  "So I'm at ease now," said Wang Youheng.

  "......Will this scar of Meng'er be gone later?" Zhang asked Wang Youheng.

  Wang Youheng hesitated for a moment, because Lian Man'er's scar was on her scalp. Even with the best medicine to remove scars, it couldn't be used. This scar would probably stay with Lian Man'er for the rest of her life.

  "Meng'er is still young, after a few more years, this scar will naturally disappear on its own." Wang Youheng said.

  "Thank goodness." Zhang's face immediately lit up with joy.

  "It doesn't matter anyway, with hair covering it." Lian Man herself didn't think much of it.

  Wang Zhanggui and Wu Lang watched as they weighed all of Kuai Gu's daughters, then walked into the house.

  "...went to zero head, ten sacks, a total of eight hundred and fifty catties, still calculated at five cents per catty, totaling four thousand two hundred and fifty cents."

  Wang Zhanggui held the money and looked at Zhang Shi, then looked at Lian Man'er.

  "Who is this money for?"