Chapter 26: Calculations
“If you ever feel hungry and want to eat something, Sister will make food for you! Once we earn enough money, we can send you two to study, there is no need to waste it on the people in the First Branch!”
“We only need to take care of our own Branch, no need to wash clothes and cook for people in the other Branches. The food we grow is also our own, and we can as much of it as we want.”
“The most important point is, that from now on, they can’t beat us anymore!”
Bailian calmly reasoned, brainwashing her two silly brothers, specifically bringing up what had terrorized the Third Branch the most.
“Okay..” Yuyang’s mouth squirmed, the only word coming out.
Even though his expression was blank and stupid-looking, it could not mask the dark look in his eyes. It was a look full of longing and yearning.
“But, Father….will they agree?” Yuhang lowered his head, his face hesitant.
He knew that his Father might not agree, but the most important thing was he knew for certain that the old lady back at home would not agree.
In the Wuming Village, only families whose parents passed away separated from the family. It was considered extremely inauspicious to separate when one’s parents were still alive.
Although Yuhang was still quite young, just a seven-year-old, he still understood family tradition and customs.
In ancient times, you could get married at the age of fifteen!
“There is always someone who will agree.” Bailiam mysteriously smiled, not elaborating any further.
“Third Child! Why did you just come back?! Daring to be lazy?!” While Bailian had been brainwashing her brothers in the Third Branch’s quarters, the sound of Matriarch Wang’s vicious voice traveled into the small room.
Yuhang and Yuyang looked at Bailian unconsciously, their faces showing a hint of nervousness and trepidation.
“It’s alright!” Bailian patted Yuhang and Yuyang on the head and then walked out into the courtyard.
“Matriarch, the Third Child, he is back for dinner!” Grandmother Ciying could only helplessly explain.
“Back to eat?” Matriarch Wang’s jaw clenched angrily, “Bah! What farmer who works in the fields comes home to eat? They usually just eat in the fields, then why is only Third Child so pretentious not to?”
The Third Master awkwardly stood there, taking the brunt of Matriarch Wang’s malicious provocations. To be honest, he also felt that he shouldn’t have come back for dinner.
What a waste of working time!
“Matriarch, what you said just now is too unreasonable!” Bailian coldly snorted at Matriarch Wang, faintly raising her voice, “What family has only one person working in the fields? Usually, every single family member is expected to help out! It’s clear-cut that we only have my father, is he not a human who also gets tired? Then why isn’t my Eldest Uncle, Second Uncle, Fourth Uncle, and Grandfather work in the field?”
“Pei! You little wench! How can your Eldest Uncle compare to the Third Child, he is a natural-born, rare talent! The Second Child is one of the most affluent shopkeepers in the town, the Third Child can’t compare!”
“Oh, that’s right, we have the lowest status among the other branches. I guess I’ll have to ask the Village head and the clan elders what the difference between a Main Wife’s son and a Secondary Equal Wife’s son ah! If that doesn’t work, I can beat the drums and complain to the Magistrate! I can’t believe that this dynasty’s laws are to simply work us to death!” When Bailian spoke, her voice was clear and tone solemn, her strong voice projecting fully into the open courtyard.
When Matriarch Wang heard Bailian contradicting her, she raised her hand and wanted to hit Bailian. However, she hesitated when she thought of that wild aura and look that girl had given her earlier.
Seeing that Matriarch Wang was about to beat Bailian, Grandmother Li Ciying, the Third Master, and Madam Zhao quickly stood in front of Bailian protectively.
She was obviously only a little girl, but her words had been very clear and logical, leaving no room for the First Branch to continue playing dumb.
“Mother, didn’t you recently make some shoes for me? Come and have a look!” The Eldest Master’s voice trickled from the direction of the main hall.
“Mm!” After hearing her Eldest son’s voice, regardless of whether she wanted to teach Bailian a lesson or not, Matriarch Wang merely glared at the Third Branch and then retreated into the main hall of the First Branch’s quarters.
Recently, because autumn was fast approaching, Matriarch Wang had made a lot of new shoes that would be warmer as the family was transitioning into the colder months.
In addition, the Eldest Master’s second round of the imperial examination was taking place in the winter, so Matriarch Wang had been most concerned about making her son’s new shoes.
You can’t have your own son wear shoes that don’t fit during the imperial examination, right?
After Matriarch Wang left, the dark, suppressing atmosphere in the courtyard immediately lightened up.
“Father…should go back to the field after all!” The Third Master looked in the direction of the First Branch’s quarters, and turned to tell Madam Zhao, “Just call for me when it’s time to eat.”
Grandmother Ciying glanced at her son, and without another word, went to dig up ragweed for the pig’s feed.
Madam Zhao lightly sighed, saying nothing before turning around to help Grandmother Ciying help prepared the pig’s feed.
Yuhang pulled Yuyang and quickly ran away, not talking to their Father.
“Fifth…Father..” The Third Master rubbed the back of his neck, feeling extremely guilty.
He really felt that he should head back to finish the work left in the farm fields. If he didn’t weed the fields, it could severely affect the harvest’s output this year.
‘Father, do you really think there is any difference between Yuhang, Yuyang, and Yuwen?” Bailian pointed to her brothers who were helping their grandmother and mother in the distance, “Yuwen should be still studying in town right now!”
The Third Master’s face stiffened. Thinking of something, he opened his mouth but didn’t end up saying anything and closed it. He then headed over to help them cut down the ragweed.
Bailian shook her head helplessly, and headed back to the room she shared with Grandmother Ciying.
“Squeak, Master!” Li Shu, seeing that only Bailian entered, hurriedly scampered onto Bailian’s shoulder.
“What have you found out?” Bailian poked at Li Shu’s soft fur, her eyes filled with a cold light.
Seeing his Master’s cold expression, Li Shu trembled slightly, taking a moment of silence in tribute for that man who would soon face the wrath of his Master’s schemes.
“That Er Gouzi, the Fourth Master and he were discussing that they first kidnap you away to Er Gouzi’s house and serve him. This way, when they sell you, in addition to the ten taels given by that Flower House’s Madam Zhu, he will receive two extra taels from Er Gouzi. After the Master’s mother gives birth, they will then sell the child.” Li Shu naively asked Bailian, “Just what does this “serving” mean?”
Bailian’s fingers clenched up into a tight fist. Li Shu flinched, not daring to peep so much as another word.
“Where is this Landlord Wang’s house? Bailian squinted, her eyes turning into two murderous slits.
“That Er Gouzi went to a place farther away. I trailed after him and got to familiarize myself with the surroundings, it was just the town. Er Gouzi and that Landlord Wang met, but that Landlord Wang hurried Er Gouzi to finish up the job and gave him an additional fifty taels of silver as a deposit. He said the remaining fifty taels will be deposited once he receives the child.” Li Shu quickly answered what he had witnessed.
Bailian was taken aback for a while, she didn’t expect that Er Gozui would actually swindle people! He actually dared to betray his friend and backhandedly cheat forty to fifty taels from the Fourth Master!
“Is there anyone else in Er Gouzi’s family?” Bailian’s eyes slit together dangerously. Her unborn sibling had yet to born. This was the most important thing to keep in mind.
Thinking of Er Gouzi’s perverted and vulgar appearance, Bailian’s stomach turned queasy and she felt a wave of nausea wash over her.
The location was Er Gouzi’s house, who knows, maybe that whole family makes living selling children!
Bailian silently reminded herself that her current body was still just a young child!
“Master, there is an old man in the house, but he’s always locked up in his room, that old man must have seen his son do all those wicked things all this time!” Li Shu’s voice was beginning to get louder as he became angrier the more he explained things to Balian.
Bailian stroked her chin, considering Li Shu’s words. It seemed that this old man was Er Gouzi’s father. Maybe he knew the truth, so he had been locked up.
“Okay, I see.” Bailian’s lips curled up. Since they dare to scheme against her, they would have to bear the price!
After hearing the rest of Li Shu’s report, she sent the little mouse back into her dimensional space. The next step was to carefully plan and think about how to deal with the Fourth Master and that Er Gouzi.
It seemed that this matter must be spread to the rest of the village so that everyone would sympathize with the Third Branch even more.
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