Chapter 32: The Problem of How to Spend Money

  Although Lian Man Er was the first to receive the money, this time Zhang Shi followed. In Wang Zhuang Gui's view, Lian Man Er and the others were still children after all, and the money should be received by adults.

  "Just give me the money." Lian Man'er said bluntly.

  "This money was earned by the children themselves as pocket money." Zhang also smiled and said.

  Wang Zhāngguì handed the money to Lián Màn'er. According to the previous example, four strings of cash were exchanged for four taels of silver, and the remaining three strings of cash were two hundred and fifty coins. Lián Màn'er took the money and carefully put it away, and when she looked up, she saw Wang Yòuhéng smiling at her.

  Wasn't she too anxious when asking for money just now? No, she controlled her emotions very well. Hmm, maybe anyway, so much money was collected by a little girl who hadn't even combed her hair yet, it's strange in the eyes of outsiders. Lian Man'er can't take care of that much, this money is useful to her, and she never thought of handing it over to others.

  This time it's four taels of silver, plus the two taels from last time, that makes six taels, which is enough to buy a good mu of land. Even if it's not as good, you can still buy two mu. Lianpang had read "Dream of Red Mansions" in her previous life, and Liu Laolao in the book lived on just two mu of land. Many people go their whole lives without owning any land, and have to rely on farming others' land for a living. She's determined to live a rich and comfortable life as a landlord, bit by bit.

  "Young Brother Heng, are you free?" asked Lian Man Er to Wang You Heng.

  "What's wrong with Man Er?"

  "Brother Wang Youheng, we want to invite you to dinner." Lian Man'er said. She was able to earn this money thanks to Wang Youheng. She didn't want to touch the six taels of silver, but this time's 250 wen, plus the remaining 200 wen from last time (the other 93 wen, they spent 82 wen in town that day and the remaining 11 wen was spent piecemeal over these days, so only 200 wen was left), made a total of 450 wen. She planned to use this money to invite Wang Youheng to dinner.

  "What does Man Er plan to invite me to eat?" Wang Youheng didn't expect that even Man Er would invite him to dinner, and he immediately asked a question.

  "Hmm, I plan to invite Yōu Héng Gē to eat at two signboard shops. I know that what he usually eats is definitely better than that, but this is our sincere intention. If it were someone else, I wouldn't dare and wouldn't invite them. It's because it's Yōu Héng Gē that I dare to invite him." said Lián Màn ér.

  Above the second in town, they spent thirty-seven cents and ate their fill at Chen's Baozi shop with a sign. Four hundred and fifty cents, although it can't enter a large restaurant, it can also enter a small store with two signs, and eat a decent meal.

  Of course, this specification is a bit low for Wang Youheng. However, Wang Youheng treats them very kindly and doesn't put on airs, being as close as an elder brother, so Lianman had such a proposal.

  Wang Youheng smiled, his two slender eyes shining brightly.

  Several children looked at Wang Youheng with some tension, fearing he wouldn't agree.

  "Alright, I'll go." said Wang Youheng.

  Lian Man'er let out a sigh of relief. Ya Yun Yan Qing.

  "What status is Wang Xiaotai's doctor? They are young children at home and don't know what's important or not. You mustn't take offense." Zhang Shi hastily got up and said.

  "Fourth Aunt, you're being too polite. Others may invite me to eat delicacies from the mountains and seas, but it's not as precious as Man Er inviting me to have a bowl of noodles." Wang Youheng said.

  Zhang was somewhat moved and didn't say anything else, and it's even more unnecessary to mention how happy the children were.

  Everyone got up and walked out, discussing which small shop to eat at, when a young man rushed in hastily.

  "Second Master is here, Village Headman Huai has arrived." The young shop assistant said to Wang Youheng.

  Just then, Wang Zhuang had accompanied a tall young man to come in. The young man was tall and slender, with a white complexion, high nose bridge, and a somewhat similar appearance to Wang Youheng's, but his lips were more plump, and his eyes seemed to be smiling when he looked at people.

  "Young Master," a young man called out to Wang Youheng, his eyes shifting as he saw Zhang and Lian Mian's mother and son standing together with Wang Youheng, "Who are..."

  "Great Master!" Zhang hastily bowed to the young man.

  This man is a distant relative, the young master of Wang Juren's family in Sanliyingzi, named Wang Youhuai. He and Wang Youheng are cousins and also maternal cousins. Because Wang Youheng's mother and Wang Youhuai's mother were biological sisters who married two brothers of the Wang family. Wang Youhuai is two years older than Wang Youheng, seventeen this year, and has also obtained the title of Xiucai.

  "I have something to discuss with you." Wang Youhuai nodded at Zhang and was about to pull Wang Youheng into the house.

  "Seventh Brother, what's up? I have guests here." Wang Youheng didn't move.

  Wang Youhuai looked at Wang Youheng strangely, then turned his head and re-examined Lian Man'er and the others.

  "Oh..." Wang Youhuai drew out his voice and let out a soft "oh", smiled, then lowered his voice to whisper something in Wang Youheng's ear.

  Wang Youheng's eyebrows furrowed slightly.

  "Please, Sixth Brother, go in and sit down. I'll be right there." Wang Youheng had Wang Zhanggui lead Wang Youhuai into the house first. Among the brothers of the same generation in the Wang family, Wang Youhuai was sixth in line, while Wang Youheng was seventh.

  Wang Youheng turned around again and apologized to Lian Man'er, "There's something at home, I'm afraid I won't be able to go with you."

  Lian Man'er had just seen the change in Wang Youheng's expression and guessed that something big might have happened. Moreover, since Wang Youhuai had come to find him, he couldn't bear to abandon Wang Youhuai, so he followed them to eat.

  "You go ahead and attend to your business, Young Master. Let's just put this meal on account for now, and we'll invite you next time." said Lian Man Er.

  "Good, I was afraid that once we passed this village, there would be no more shops like this. I will definitely remember it." Wang Youheng said with a smile.

  Everyone burst out laughing.

  After leaving Wang's family Jisheng Hall, the girls discussed and decided that Lian Shouxin had brought so many farm tools to repair, which would take at least half a day. Since they had time, they might as well stroll around the town.

  Lian Man'er still looked at every store, and almost everything's price was asked by her.

  "Mother, shall we buy some things?" Lian Man'er asked Zhang Shi, and then asked Lian Zhi'er and several others, "Sister, brother, Xiao Qi, what do you want?"

  "Second sister, I want to eat meat buns." Little Seven replied the fastest.

  "Baozi will definitely let you eat, see if you want anything else?" Lian Man'er said with a smile.

  Xiao Qi couldn't answer anymore. He had always lived in a materially impoverished environment and wasn't used to spending money, except for limited food, he really couldn't think of what else he wanted.

  "Take your time, think about it and tell me what you want." said Lian Man Er. She knew that Xiao Qi was very sensible and would never ask for anything expensive.

  The mother and son walked slowly, and soon they saw a crowd of people gathered in front of a shop. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a silk store that was selling leftover scraps of fabric at low prices. Although they were just scraps, they were all good fabrics, suitable for making handkerchiefs or shoe uppers.

  "Just in time to buy shoes for your mother." Zhang went over to pick some out.

  "Shouldn't we add two pairs of socks?" Lian Man'er suddenly remembered and discussed with Lian Zhi'er, "Sister, we should also buy some fine cloth to make two small clothes."

  "Man Er, fabric can be a bit expensive." Lian Zhier said.

  The whole Jin Yang County, extremely few people plant cotton and weave cloth, no one raises silkworms, all the fabrics are purchased from the south, so the price is more expensive than other things.

  "It's expensive but we have to buy it, otherwise what will we wear?" said Lian Man'er as she and Lian Zhi'er also squeezed into the crowd to pick out some clothes.

  Lian Wan'er picked out the fabric while mentally calculating. First, there was the white cotton cloth, which she wanted to buy a bit more of, enough for each person at home to have at least one new outfit and two pairs of socks. Zhang Shi and Lian Wan'er were both skilled at cutting, sewing, and embroidery, so they could just make their own clothes at home after buying the fabric. After thinking about it, she decided to buy twelve feet of cloth first.

  "Wow, these silk fabrics look great! Lianmang picked up two pieces of satin and looked at them. They were just the right size to make a handkerchief."

  "Sister, let's pick a few good ones for scarves." Lian Man'er said to Lian Zhi'er.

  Lian Man'er picked a piece of bean green and a piece of goose yellow fine gauze, and also picked a piece of silver red plain satin. Lian Zhi'er picked a piece of big red fine gauze and a piece of treasure blue plain satin. Lian Man'er thought for a moment, then picked a piece of moon white Lu silk, a piece of indigo Lu silk, and two pieces of light green Lu silk.

  "A bit too much, isn't it, Man Er?" Lian Zhier laughed. She was also used to being frugal, but seeing these colorful fabrics, she couldn't help but like them. "But making a scarf out of this will definitely look good. I can hem the edges and even embroider flowers."

  "Let's go buy some more colored threads later." said Lian Man Er. Currently, she is in the stage of saving money, these are not necessities, but there's no way, she's also a woman, can't resist these temptations. Not having touched those entire skeins yet, she has been very patient, those skeins are even more beautiful.

  At this time, Mrs. Zhang also chose a piece of fabric, she chose two large pieces of dark blue satin and two pieces of silver red satin.

  "Daughter, what are you picking these for?" asked Lian Man Er.

  "These two pieces of blue cloth, I'll make a pair of shoe covers for your mother. The silver red ones are smaller, I'll also make a pair for your aunt. This larger piece should be enough to make an apron, your aunt loves these bright colors." Zhang said, "Man Er, you've also picked out so many fabric scraps?"

  Lian Man'er turned around and handed over the few pieces of goods that Zhang had just picked out to the shopkeeper, asking how much they cost.

  "You have a good eye, these two pieces of Shiqing are carved silk, and this one has a subtle pattern, it's the most expensive material in our store. This fabric is much cheaper, these two pieces will only cost you 60 cents, and these two silver red ones are 40 cents, for a total of 100 cents." The shopkeeper said.

  "Niang, how much money do you have?" Lian Man'er asked Zhang Shi.

  Zhang took out a cloth package from his bosom and opened it, revealing a small piece of silver.

  "This is almost a tael of silver. Last time I pawned the hairpin, bought medicine for you and your grandmother to take, and only this much was left." said Zhang Shi.

  "Daughter, how much did that hairpin cost? My medicine didn't cost that much. Even Doctor Wang didn't charge a consultation fee." said Lian Man Er.

  "The hairpin cost a few taels of silver more, your medicine cost one qian more, and that nourishing pill you wanted, it says it has ginseng in it, so it's a bit more expensive." said Zhang Shi.

  At first, Zhang gave the hairpin to buy medicine for her and Zhou, but Lian'er didn't quite understand. Today was the first time she heard how that money was spent, and suddenly she couldn't help laughing.

  "Yáng Róng Wán? I've never heard of it in our village all my life." said Lian Man Er angrily.

  "Your grandfather used to be a big boss in the county town, and your grandmother followed him, enjoying several years of good fortune. They didn't lack anything," said Zhang Shi.

  Zhang was completely wrong about the key point. Lian Miao felt a bit liver pain. Zhou's that time was not sick, but just pretending to be ill. She didn't want to spend money on buying medicine for Lian Miao, and when she heard Zhang wanted to wear a hairpin, she said she needed to take Ren Shen Yang Rong Wan, which is bullying Zhang and Lian Shou Xing's honesty and filial piety.

  Lian Man'er snatched the small piece of silver from Zhang Shi's hand and grasped it tightly in her own. Zhang Shi was too weak and foolish, she had to confiscate the money.

  "Man Er, what are you doing?" Zhang was shocked.

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