The head of the Mu family

Chapter 23: Unhappy, but I have to go out and earn money no matter what.

After a long pause, Shen Huai broke the silence and whispered:

"How could a family like that live in Panlong County?"

I stayed in the mansion for several days, and no one ever mentioned that it was a Marquis's mansion, the Marquis of Dingxi.

Isn't the Marquis of Dingxi stationed at Tongtian Pass, which is further west of us?

"Uncle Gao, before I left, that lady asked me to stay at her residence for a while to treat her and the young master's health."

"It's probably because Panlong Town isn't far from Tongtian Pass; if you're on a fast horse, you can get there in less than two days."

The people in Panlong County were unaware of this, presumably for the safety of the Marquis's family.

Good child, it's a good thing you have this opportunity~

However, those from wealthy and noble families should be careful. If something happens, don't worry about making money; quickly find a way to get to Doctor Qian's house.

You're still young, and you're talented and ambitious. You'll have many opportunities to succeed in the future!

"Yes! I understand, Uncle Gao!"

Shen Huai said seriously, feeling a warmth in his heart.

After returning home, they asked Da Mao to help them deliver the shoes and socks to the village head's house. The village head and his wife were deeply moved.

Grandpa and Grandma's fifth daughter's parents have already been sent over, and it's said they were given a rare kind look.

Wu Ya's mother rendered the fatty meat into lard and stored it away.

When there's no meat left after the New Year, it'll smell delicious when you add a little to anything you cook. I just don't know how many bites the four girls will get.

Da Mao found an opportunity to secretly give Shen Huai the few coins he had saved during Shen Huai's absence.

Shen Huai felt that Da Mao needed to learn how to manage his own money.

So Shen Huai took her to the doctor's house and led her to put the money in the savings box herself.

He told her where to put the box and instructed her to put it away herself in the future, and to take it out if she encountered any difficulties.

At some point, Shen Huai had begun to forget where he came from and had given up hope of going back.

Surviving through hardship can truly wear down a person's mind.

Before the New Year, Shen Huai took the opportunity to tell Wu Ya's parents during a meal that he would be going to Panlong County to make house calls after the New Year.

They only said they would be gone for several days, and that they would entrust someone to give the wages they received to Doctor Gao, who would then give them the wages.

Upon hearing this, Wu Ya's parents' first reaction was concern:

"Will there still be as much as five hundred coins?"

Shen Huai rolled his eyes inwardly and replied:

"We don't know yet, but it's probably about the same."

Wu Ya's parents were still basking in the joy of being overwhelmed by five hundred coins:

Five hundred coins? You can earn five hundred coins a month!

The village chief's family and Liu Dagui's family in the west of the village earn five taels of silver a year, which has made the villagers extremely envious.

If we let this kid out for a year, he'd be worth the whole neighborhood chief's family!

Wu Ya's dad: It was such a wise decision not to sell this child for a high price before!

Suddenly, Wuya slammed the bowl down on the table, startling the whole family.

Shen Huai suddenly put on a stern face and said:

"This opportunity to make money is rare!"

I'm going away for an unknown period of time, possibly several months.

Before I come back, it's best if things are normal at home!

No matter what unexpected changes occur

First, you are not allowed to sell any of the sisters! You can sell whoever else you want, I don't care!

Secondly, I will not allow my eldest sister's marriage to be arranged while I am away! The same applies to my other sisters!

Third, if the older sisters' clothes are torn, they don't have to buy new ones, but they should find cloth to mend them. The older sisters are all grown up, and I've seen Baozhu mend his clothes whenever they're torn.

If these three points cannot be met, I will cut off the household expenses, and my eldest sister's job will also be terminated!

Although I am the youngest among my sisters, I can earn five hundred dollars a month wherever I go.

When they get older, who knows how much they'll earn!

I can go to other places. Do you think you can find me? Do you think I have the ability to do so?

Of course, if things were going well, I might give my family four or five hundred coins every month.

In good times, six or seven hundred coins is possible.

"you..."

Wu Ya's mother felt that she was not like this child's mother.

You little brat!

"We are your parents, how dare you speak to us like that?!"

After a moment of stunned silence, Wu Ya's father slammed down his chopsticks, then suddenly found the key point:

"Sometimes you can have as much as seven hundred coins?"

Shen Huai looked at them and gave a confident yet disdainful "hmm," then continued:

“Look, you and your mother often call your sisters ‘money-losing goods.’”

But even though they're all so angry, none of them have called me a money-losing brat.

What I'm saying might be a little harsh, but everyone understands the situation.

"Just tell me these three points, and you're saying you agree or not?!"

Four girls: That's how most families in the village call their daughters!

"Wu Ya, what kind of people do you think your mother and father are?"

How could we do such a thing?

"Hehe~ If the magistrate of Laiyang County were willing to offer thirty taels of silver to buy your eldest sister, would you sell her?"

Thirty taels? How is that possible!?

"Hmm? Maybe it will sell right!"

"You can't do this kind of thing now? It's not that we can't, it's just that the price isn't right!"

"you!..."

Wu Ya's parents knew their youngest daughter was capable, but they didn't expect her to be this capable. Seeing that she was frozen in place, Wu Ya's mother awkwardly laughed:

"Good child, don't worry, things are going well at home now, and your parents have remembered everything you said~"

We're all family, don't get carried away with small talk. The New Year is almost here, we don't want the villagers to laugh at us.

Shen Huai and Wu Ya's father then said no more.

That night, the four girls hugged Shen Huai and cried for a long time. Shen Huai thought he had to find a way to broaden their horizons.

The most pressing issue is Da Mao, who will be sixteen in a few months.

Most girls in the city start getting engaged around this age, some even as early as fifteen.

Shen Huai thinks that modern people's minds are not fully developed even in their teens, no wonder people in ancient times did not live long and children were prone to dying young.

In the city, the girl's family would prepare a dowry, and the betrothal and gift-giving would take about a year. After the daughter got married, she would still keep in touch with her parents' family.

In most rural areas, such laborers will work for their families for a few more years.

Around the age of twenty, she would ask for two or three taels of silver to make a red wedding dress, and then be taken away in an oxcart or donkey cart.

The woman then worked like a slave at home, and then worked like a slave in another place.

If a daughter marries well, she will still maintain contact with her maternal family and hope to receive some assistance.

If a married daughter is not doing well, a normal family would definitely not take care of her anymore.

Some were even beaten to death by the men, but they could still get two or three taels of silver and send another daughter of marriageable age to the man.

Poverty brings a hundred sorrows!

Shen Huai thought that he would take advantage of these days to teach them more words, so that Da Mao would have the opportunity to take Er Ya with him. He would let Er Ya practice whenever she had free time, and after some time, he would let Er Ya take over Da Mao's job and take Da Mao out to see the world.

A girl's perspective is so important!

I found an opportunity to tell Da Mao, and Da Mao was both nervous and eager:

I never imagined I would be able to go to places outside of Duoshui Town.

Indeed, I never imagined I could be an accountant, nor did I ever imagine I could talk so much with people from other villages.

The village where they run their own accounts, the guy I met at the market last time, he's a pottery apprentice!

Most families in that village were as well-off as the village head and Uncle Da Gui's families, and some were even better off.

That young man's family seemed well-off, and he seemed kind. I noticed her working as an accountant and looked at her several times. I felt both nervous and happy, but also disappointed when I thought about my own family's situation.

The family, especially the sisters, owes a great deal to the fifth sister; otherwise, who knows what would have become of them?

Other families who can't make ends meet sell their daughters. I didn't think much of it before, but if I were to be sold, it would just be my bad luck.

Every family's daughter is expected to earn money for her younger brother to get married, because the family line cannot be broken.

But ever since Wu Ya taught me her skills and I was able to earn money on my own.

Although I still gave the money to my parents, I don't know when, but I started to have some thoughts about myself.

At first, I hoped to marry into a normal family, but now I hope to find a family that is better off.

She has the ability to make money herself. In Wu Ya's words, if she can make money, people will look at her with more respect.

Now that Wuya is taking me outside, I can go out and see the world, in addition to Uncle Gao, the village chief and Wuya. How can I not be excited?

I still remember the young lady who stayed at my house last time; she smelled wonderful and spoke as if she were singing.

I accidentally touched her clothes; the material was so slippery I could barely hold it, and I didn't dare touch it, afraid my rough hands would snag the young lady's clothes.

For many days after the young lady returned to the city, she could still smell a sweet fragrance while sleeping.

He admired his fifth sister very much. Not to brag, but even in that wealthy village where the accountant worked, no one was as successful as his fifth sister.

When Fifth Sister is with those young masters and ladies, she can play with them as naturally as if she were a village child!

My sister is amazing!

My younger sister is earning more and more money; even the strongest person in the village doesn't earn as much as her.

Although I've never been outside, with my fifth sister around, I feel like even a woman like me can go and see the world.

"Don't worry, Fifth Sister, you can go and find a way out. I will do my best to follow your instructions."

Why are you going so far next year? No matter how capable you are, how can someone so young go so far?

You said you earned money and entrusted it to Uncle Gao to give to your family, but Uncle Gao didn't go with you?

Shen Huai thought: This is what family is all about!

Those two nominal parents have never asked why such a young child went so far away.

He silently rolled his eyes at the two of them.

"The customer's family will send a carriage to pick you up, don't worry!"

Da Mao's first thought was: Is the carriage comfortable?

The atmosphere was still not very harmonious during the Chinese New Year, but fortunately everyone ate to their heart's content.