NOVEL WEB Chapter 16: Hatred
Back home.
Put away four hundred pounds of polished rice.
Zhou Shan continued to eat breakfast. He had to eat before he could work.
His breakfast was very rich. In addition to shrimp porridge, he also stewed two old turtles and a chicken.
Zhou Shan was eating breakfast, and with his keen five senses, he heard some movement from his next door neighbor Chen Yong's house.
"Why did I only buy two hundred and twenty kilograms of rice? This is not enough."
A woman's voice came out.
"The price of rice has gone up, and I only have enough money to buy 220 kilograms of rice."
Chen Yong sighed.
"Then what should we do? The money we spent to buy rice is already all our savings, and we still have a hundred catties left. If we can't hand over enough polished rice after ten days, we will be taken to work as a grain collector."
The woman's tone was filled with worry.
"If it really doesn't work, we have no choice but to borrow money. We will get through this difficulty first."
Chen Yong said in a deep voice.
"Who would borrow money at this juncture? Everyone needs money to buy rice, let alone borrowing money from those who specialize in lending money. When the interest is compounded, one month can turn ten taels into fifteen taels."
The woman said very sadly.
"Is Chunmei at home?"
Just then, another woman's voice sounded.
"Wang Po, why are you here?"
Chen Yong and his wife heard the sound and came to the door.
An old lady about sixty years old stood at the door. This person was the Mrs. Wang in the mouth of Chen Yong and his wife.
"Wang Po?"
Zhou Shan frowned slightly.
This Wang Po is not from Guyu Street. She lives on the Liuhua Street side of Ping'an Fang. It is said that she used to be a madam in a brothel on Liuhua Street. Over the years, she has often been in and out of shantytowns, talking to women from shantytowns, and little girls. The girls mingle.
But in fact, they are pimping and seeking benefits.
Some orphans and widowed mothers without men in their families are the targets of Mrs. Wang.
There were also a few people who couldn't survive and sold their girls through Wang Po.
It was said that she was sold to a wealthy family as a slave girl, but someone once saw the girl being sold in a brothel.
Now, it seems that this Wang Po has set her sights on the daughter of Chen Yong's family.
"Ayong is also at home!" Wang Po said softly: "What do you think about what I told you a few days ago? Now the court has begun to collect grain. Considering the situation of our family, we have to hand over three hundred and twenty kilograms." Grain, your family probably doesn’t have enough silver to buy polished rice. If a sufficient amount of grain is not handed over in ten days, Ayong will be dragged to work as a grain keeper, and it is unknown when he will be able to come back.
Why don't you sell your second daughter to the Lin Mansion as a maid? Although she has become a slave, you will not have to worry about food and clothing in the future. You have the silver and you can also make up for the food levy from the court. Besides, there is one less person in the family. You You can also save forty pounds of polished rice.
This can be said to be a double win. "
"this……"
Hearing this, Chen Yong and Chunmei both had hesitation on their faces.
It's not that they are cruel and want to sell their daughter. If it is not a last resort, no one will be willing to sell their child. But if they don't sell, this difficulty will not be overcome, they will lose their backbone, and the result will only be worse.
The fishermen at the bottom have no ability to withstand risks and disasters.
Whenever the court goes to war and adds taxes and grain, or gangs increase the amount of money they provide, or there is a natural disaster, a family will be torn apart.
This is not just true for fishermen, but also for the ‘untouchables’ at the bottom.
"Are you really just working as a maid for the Lin family?" Chunmei said a little worriedly: "I remember that the daughter of the old Li family was also said to be sold to the Liu family's slaves, but some people said that they saw the daughter of the old Li family in a brothel. Wa'er."
"I promise that I entered the Lin Mansion as a maid. The daughter of the old Li family made a mistake in the manor and was sold to a brothel. As long as Erya doesn't make a mistake, the master will not punish her." Wang Po said: " If there is no problem, I will ask the Lin Mansion to come and pick them up later."
"Let's think about it."
Chen Yong and his wife still did not make up their minds in the end.
"What else is there to consider?" Wang Po said softly: "Now that the court is collecting food, not everyone can afford it. Some families who have no money can only sell their sons and daughters. If it's too late, , Lin Mansion won’t accept it.”
Hearing this, Chen Yong and his wife also showed signs of struggle and hesitation on their faces.
"good……"
"Uncle Chen, why didn't you tell me that you were short of food?"
Just when Chen Yong was about to agree, Zhou Shan came out and interrupted.
Chen Yong's family was kind to him. When he still had a fever, Aunt Chunmei would come over to take care of him when she had time. He has not forgotten this kindness and will always remember it.
Therefore, seeing that Mrs. Wang was targeting the daughter of Chen Yong's family, Zhou Shan naturally wanted to help as much as he could. One hundred kilograms of polished rice was nothing to him now.
He bought four hundred kilograms of polished rice. Even if he took out one hundred kilograms, he would still have three hundred kilograms left.
"Uncle Chen, take this hundred pounds of polished rice first."
Zhou Shan walked up to Chen Yong and handed him a hundred kilograms of polished rice in his hand.
"Xiaoshan, thank you very much." Seeing Zhou Shan handing over a hundred kilograms of polished rice, Chen Yong's eyes immediately turned red and he said: "Don't worry, my uncle lent you this hundred kilograms of polished rice. I will pay it back as soon as possible, plus One-tenth interest.
I asked Da Wa to issue you an IOU. "
Chen Yong is an honest fisherman with a simple personality and not good at words.
But it is this simplicity that makes people feel his sincerity.
For Chen Yong, borrowing money must be repaid, and the same is true for borrowing food.
If Zhou Shan hadn't come out in time, he would have really pushed his daughter into the pit of fire.
Everyone knew who Mrs. Wang was, and knew that 90% of what she said could not be believed, but they really had no other choice but to deceive themselves and others.
"Uncle Chen, you are angry when you say these words. When my fever persisted, Aunt Chunmei took care of me and cooked for me. Otherwise, I'm afraid it would be difficult for me to survive." Zhou Shan said: "This is I will always remember the grace of survival.”
"One code equals one code. We are all neighbors and we should look after each other."
Chen Yong said.
"Wang Po, now that we have borrowed the grain, I think it's better to forget about Erya's arrival at the Lin Mansion." At this time, Chunmei said to Wang Po, "After all, our family's Erya does not have this blessing."
"If you don't think about it, if you miss this time, you will have no chance."
Wang Po said somewhat unwillingly.
"Forget it, we won't consider it."
Chen Yong shook his head and rejected Wang Po.
"Okay, if necessary, you can ask Chunmei to come to me at Liuhua Street, Ping'anfang."
Seeing that the persuasion failed, Wang Po also smiled, then turned and left.
"Baby, if you dare to ruin my good deeds, I must teach you a lesson."
When she turned around, Wang Po's eyes immediately turned cold. She was about to succeed, but was disturbed by Zhou Shan at the critical moment. She also held a grudge against Zhou Shan in her heart.
She once worked as a madam in a brothel, so she was naturally not a good person. Although she has left the brothel now, the relationship is still there. Finding someone to teach a fisherman a lesson is just a matter of words.