The Zhou family is an ordinary family in the outer city.
The family works diligently just enough to fill their stomachs. If the year is good, they can buy new clothes for everyone in the family. If the year is bad, it is luck not to be in debt.
That is to say, after Taohua entered He's house and sent her wages back, the family became a little better off. Later, after Taohua became the young master's maid, the family's money was saved quickly.
Twenty taels is really all the family’s savings.
If Luo Dajiang insists on asking them for the remaining thirty taels, he will either let Taohua find a way, or he will have to sell his house or people.
"Where's the silver?"
Even though Zhou's father had already guessed his purpose, he couldn't help but his eyes darkened when he heard this. He held on to the door frame and said with an apologetic smile: "Our family really can't get it..."
"If you can't get it out, hurry up!" Luo Dajiang said bluntly: "I didn't cause the disaster alone, and I can't bear it all by myself."
Zhou's father was unwilling to give in: "You are so good to Taohua, so you can't..."
"My kindness to her is two different things from the fact that you owe me money." Luo Dajiang said plausibly: "The money my parents have worked hard to save for me over the years cannot be used to fill holes for others. Besides, you also saw me that day.
When I went out, I went to borrow money. I still owe the debt. You gave me the money and it was not even paid. Speaking of which, I would take the initiative to raise so much money that day and take care of the matter first. I also watched it.
For the sake of peach blossoms, I am so affectionate and righteous, and I think about you wholeheartedly. Is it okay if you don’t pay back the money after this?"
He said this as if Father Zhou was an ungrateful beast if he didn't pay back the money.
Father Zhou wiped his face: "I really can't take it out."
"Then think of something!" Luo Dajiang reminded: "This is a matter of life and death! If I didn't help that day, would you have to sell your house and sell people to get it together? Now you don't have to ruin your family, I'm just asking you to scrape together the money.
It doesn't make sense that you are in such a difficult situation. I have creditors on my end, and they are forcing me, so I can only force you. If the money is really not paid, and things get serious, the creditors will go to report it to the official, and so will our money.
It’s all for nothing.”
Father Zhou was frightened by these words.
Anyway, we must not make the matter a big deal or affect our daughter's status in Mr. He's heart.
"I try my best."
Luo Dajiang was not satisfied with this answer.
It was Zhou's father who promised to collect the money within three days before sending him away.
If the house is sold, the money will be almost the same. But the ancestral house must not be sold, and it does not say where to live after it is sold. Collecting the ancestral property and selling it is something only a prodigal can do.
Father Zhou went to find his daughter.
After arriving at the side door, after spending some money, the concierge was finally willing to make a trip. This trip lasted a full two-quarters of an hour. During the waiting period, Zhou's father became more and more panicked, always feeling that something was going to happen.
When the concierge came back, he didn't see his daughter and asked hurriedly: "Where is she?"
The He family was not harsh on their maids, and they did not explicitly say that they could not meet their family members at side gates... that was tacit consent. In the past, Zhou's father did not often come to look for his daughter, but he would see her every time, and he never thought about whether her daughter would come.
The porter glanced at him: "There are too many people in the house. I don't have the brain to count, so I can't remember some of them. I forgot to tell you just now that Miss Peach Blossom just received a beating and is currently recovering from her injuries. She won't be able to survive."
of."
"Being beaten?" Zhou's father screamed: "How can you be beaten?"
The concierge looked around, covered his mouth with his hand and whispered mysteriously: "I heard that Miss Peach Blossom was secretly interacting with other men outside. When the young master got angry, he had someone beat her."
Father Zhou's heart skipped a beat.
Taohua does have contact with Luo Dajiang, but it is just a meeting, and there is absolutely no possibility of having those shady relationships. Of course, our young masters always have to be more careful about the feelings of the women around them, and women are not allowed to get too close to other men.
This is just reasonable.
But the key point is that their interactions are very secretive and they rarely see each other a few times a year. Basically, the Zhou family helps spread the news. Under such circumstances, where did Mr. He get the news?
He wanted to know more, whether Mr. He just beat his daughter based on suspicion, or whether he had obtained definite evidence?
I want to find someone to ask, but I have no place to ask.
The porter urged: "Although the master did not stop the servant from meeting his family, he did not say that he could meet his family. We don't want to be too high-profile. You can go back first."
Are the creditors still waiting, waiting for things to get serious before they fill in the whole family?
Zhou's father couldn't get in, and the peach blossom couldn't get out. It was impossible to meet him. He thought for a while: "Then please send a message to my daughter."
The concierge raised his eyelids and didn't answer.
Father Zhou understood immediately and handed over a handful of broken silver: "Can you please make another trip. There is really an emergency at home and we need money urgently. The more the better."
After getting the benefits, the concierge's expression softened: "Just wait!"
When Taohua heard that her family needed money, she immediately frowned. She hired someone to do work before, and Luo Dajiang's willingness to get involved in this matter was already a big help. She couldn't let others spend more money. Therefore, she paid for the money herself.
Almost all her savings were spent.
But recently, her wages have not been paid, and the young master has not received any rewards. In the past two days, she has become even more tired of her. Where can she get money?
"No!" Taohua was irritated. Seeing the concierge turn around and leave, she was afraid that something was really urgent at home... After all, the cruel Pan Jiuniang wanted so much and she couldn't let Luo Dajiang go out alone. So she asked the concierge again
He called back, collected all the valuable jewelry, packed it into a bag and asked to be taken out.
Zhou's father felt relieved when he saw a bundle. He didn't open it in front of the concierge, and carried it for two streets before finding a remote place to open it. The colorful things caught his eye, and his face turned dark.
There are a lot of things here, but they are not worth much. If you take them to a pawn shop, they will be discounted a lot. For a moment, Father Zhou really wanted to go back and look for his daughter, but he quickly gave up the idea.
House maids, who want to work with people, need these jewelry the most. Now that they have even taken out these things, it can be seen that they really have no money.
But it won’t work if it doesn’t!
Luo Dajiang's look showed that there was obviously no room for negotiation. Father Zhou stood there and pondered for a long time, and soon came up with an idea. He found a gentleman who helped people write letters, asked him to write a piece of paper, and returned to
Go to the side door and ask the concierge to help you get it in.
Taohua had never read a book, so she secretly asked a maid who could read to help her, and then she vaguely knew what happened at home. She had to raise money, but she couldn't let the creditor who lent money to Luo Dajiang make things worse.
!
Thinking of what her father said in the letter, Pan Jiuniang now had hundreds of taels of silver... She tried to cheer up and found two women to carry her over.
Chu Yunli thought that peach blossoms would never come again, but when she saw someone appear, she was full of surprise: "You are so thick-skinned."
Now Taohua really wants to turn around and leave, but when you are under the eaves, you have to lower your head. She smiled bitterly and said: "Jiuniang, we have only choked a few words in our relationship for so many years. You are not really angry with me anymore, are you?"
?”
"Of course I won't be angry with you after this little quarrel, but if you find someone to beat me, I can't bear it anymore." Chu Yunli smiled half-heartedly: "You talk about feelings right from the beginning, do you want to ask for something?
Want to borrow money from me?"
One guess and you're right.
Taohua's face turned green and white at first: "I'm really in trouble, so I don't need more, just thirty taels."
Chu Yunli raised his eyebrows: "Are you in a hurry?"
"Yes." Taohua felt that this was a joke: "It's best to bring it to me now."
"As for the money, I do have it. Your father paid me three hundred taels in compensation earlier. Even if my mother-in-law has a dozen people waiting for me to raise her, I can't spend all the money for the time being." Chu Yunli smiled brightly, looking at her
He sneered in his expectant eyes: "I was beaten half to death, and I didn't have the protection of the young master to get this little money. Why should I lend it to you?"
Taohua: "..." If you don't want to borrow it, then I won't. Can't you refuse it directly? You have to say so much, which makes her hopeful but disappointed.
Taohua was not surprised if she was rejected outright. But Pan Jiuniang gave her some hope, but in the end she got nothing, which made her feel particularly uncomfortable and irritable.
"Jiuniang, everyone has difficulties. If you help me this time, I will definitely find an opportunity to repay you later."
Chu Yunli sneered: "Earlier you said you wanted me to look good!" She supported her chin with her hand and said enthusiastically: "If you are not in a hurry, just stay here for a while, I will be locked up in this yard all day.
, and I can’t go out and hang out, it’s really boring.”
Taohua: "..." Stay here to relieve her boredom?
What Pan Jiuniang said was really irritating.
When Taohua left, she couldn't help crying.
As soon as she entered the door, she met Jin Gui. Her eyes lit up immediately: "Sister, do me a favor."
Jin Gui looked confused: "You are so seriously injured, why did you run out? Why are you crying?"
Taohua held her hand: "Lend me some money, I need it urgently."
"How much do you want?" Jin Gui said and took out his sleeves.
Peach blossom eyes stared closely at her hand: "Thirty taels!"
Jin Gui paused and asked in shock: "How much?"
Taohua repeated it.
"No!" Jin Gui withdrew the hand that took the silver and said, "Don't look at me like that, it really doesn't exist. It's not like you don't know that all my wages have been sent home. In the past two years, my family has been building a house. Dad
Mom also helped me build a small yard, and all the money was spent."
Followed by a long list of pan Jiuniang, whose son is a treasure, and whose daughter is a grass, Peach Blossom is from the Zhou family, Jingui's family is particularly good.
Jin Gui sold herself because her grandparents fell ill one after another and she had no choice but to work as a maid in the mansion. In the years that followed, the whole family helped her save money to redeem her life. In fact, when his wife sent him to He Junhai, the Jin family had already saved the money.
Enough money...but if he takes Jin Gui back, the whole family will be completely squeezed out.
Jin Gui made the decision to have a maid in the same room without telling his family. By the time the Jin family found out, she was already He Junhai's roommate.
As a maid, she can be redeemed at any time. The servants of the He family are not harsh and will not force her to stay. But a woman who has become a concubine and a son-in-law cannot leave just when she wants.
Later, Jin Gui's monthly money and silver reward added up to a lot. After she sent it home, the Jin family used it to buy some land and built two houses, one of which was Jin Gui's. It was just completed in the first half of the year and is now rented out.
.
This is also the Jin couple's plan for a rainy day. When they are here, the home is their daughter's home. When they are gone, this is the home of their daughter's brother. Even if the son is willing to take in his sister, his daughter-in-law will definitely be unhappy if he stays there for a long time. Build a home for your daughter.
The house can be used as a home for the usual rent. When the day comes that the owner is disgusted and kicks him out, this is also a place to stay, so that he will not have nowhere to go.
Taohua has known these things for a long time. In the past, she would have been jealous of Jin Gui for having such a good family. Now in a panic, she had no time to think so much: "Sister, give me how much you have first. There is rent for your yard, which is usually half a year."
Or harvest it once a year, your parents will help you save it, and lend it to me first for emergencies."
Jin Gui grew up under the love of her parents. She could not be said to be carefree, but she had never been hurt by anyone. She was a very emotional person. Seeing Tao Hua crying with anxiety, her heart softened and she thought about it for nearly twelve months.
The body has been lent... There is also the rent that was just received two days ago. They paid for it for three years at once, and the Jin family sent it all.
It was also the couple of the Jin family who saw their son marrying a wife, and were afraid that the money left in their hands would make their daughter-in-law think about it. They would definitely not give it to them, but the family would definitely be divided. Let their daughter keep it by herself, and no one would make any decisions.
Nip this budding dispute in the bud.
Just when Jingui was about to agree, Hongdou chased after him: "Miss Jingui, my girl told you not to lend money to Taohua."
Taohua was going crazy: "What does it have to do with her? It's okay if she is cold-hearted and cold-blooded. Why does she have to stop others from helping me? Does she have to be satisfied if I die?"
After a sudden attack, Hongdou was a little frightened and took two steps back: "Miss Jingui, my girl has invited me."
To be honest, it was not easy for Jin Gui to save such a small amount of money. In fact, she didn't want to borrow it. It was just because of the sisterly relationship for several years and seeing Tao Hua cry pitifully that she wanted to borrow it on impulse. However, Hong Dou stopped her and she immediately woke up.
come over.
Even if you want to borrow it, you can't borrow it all. You can give her half at most.
Jin Gui ran away and arrived at the side courtyard. After hearing Chu Yunli explain the cause and effect, he immediately said: "Fortunately, I don't have the words to agree quickly. She is so cruel, but she still has the nerve to cry."
Chu Yunli smiled: "It's your business whether to borrow it or not. We have taken care of each other in the past few years, and we know each other well. I know you are a good person and don't want your money to be wasted, so I remind you that according to the
As far as I know, all the people in the Zhou family stopped working after Taohua sent the silver back. When she saves thirty taels of silver..." It will take at least ten or eight years.
Now that the new wife is about to come in, it is not certain whether they, the maidservants of the first-in-law, can stay. If she is a jealous one, even if the young master keeps them, they will not be able to please him, and they may be kicked out soon.
.If you want to live there for seven or eight years, you have to look at your fate!
Furthermore, if the young master is really angry and beats Taohua like that, only God knows whether he will favor her in the future. If you lend this money, you may not be able to get it back.
Thinking of this, Jin Gui felt frightened.
When she returned to the yard, she faced the crying Taohua, her heart was as hard as a stone. Let alone borrowing money, she didn't even want to talk to Taohua.
Taohua had no choice but to borrow some money from the maids. If she hadn't been beaten, the servants would have borrowed some because of her favor, and it was considered a good relationship.
But after she was beaten, the young master didn’t even look at her, let alone call a doctor, he didn’t even send her medicine. She might be kicked out one day. Only a fool would borrow money under such circumstances.
give her.
Taohua struggled in the house for two days, but she really didn't get a penny.
The Zhou family saw that the three-day period had come, but there was no news from Taohua. Father Zhou had not slept for the past two days, his eyes were black, and he was haggard. He also looked for relatives.
Friends, it's all a waste of time.
When the day came, Luo Dajiang came to visit.
The door of Zhou's house was closed tightly. Luo Dajiang knocked for a long time, but there was no movement at all. He sneered, looked back at the people passing by, and not long after, he walked towards a woman cleaning the alley not far away: "Trouble!
Tell the Zhou family that if you don't see anyone in half an hour, the creditor will go to the Yamen to file a complaint."
The woman's eyes were evasive: "I'm not familiar with the Zhou family, so I can't help you."
"My words have been brought to you. The Zhou family wants to die. I will help them!" After Luo Dajiang finished speaking, he sat on the threshold of the Zhou family.
The woman glanced at him a few times, but saw no sign of a joke, so she didn't dare to delay, so she ran off with her broom.
When Zhou's father came back, his head dropped to his chest: "Dajiang, I really can't take it out." He squatted on the ground and pulled his hair: "The peach blossoms and silver have been spent. She went everywhere to borrow them, but the young master seemed to doubt her and rushed to her.
She took action. The people below have acted according to the prevailing situation and are not willing to lend her any money. Just give her a few days of grace."
"Give me your house." Luo Dajiang had already thought of a countermeasure before he came: "Change the name on the house deed to mine, and the debt will be wiped off."
Father Zhou was not very happy and kept dilly-dallying.
Luo Dajiang's eyes turned: "Uncle, our two families know everything about you. Can I really drive you out?"
After hearing this, Father Zhou's heart moved.
Luo Dajiang would meddle in his daughter's affairs. In the final analysis, he was thinking about her. Otherwise, the Luo family would live a good life. He would be crazy to get involved in such things that would lead to jail. He loves the house and the wu. He doesn't want to annoy his daughter, so he just
I won't push the Zhou family to death. This person who proposes to change the property lease... is showing mercy.
"Okay." Zhou's father finally compromised. Before going to the Yamen, he also emphasized: "Seven or eight members of our family have to live here. You can't force us to move. Otherwise, we will have to sleep on the street. If Taohua knows that you
If you force the Zhou family like this, they will definitely be unhappy."
Luo Dajiang looked helpless: "I will never force you to move. If you don't believe it, I can swear to God."
Seeing that he didn't look like he was lying, Father Zhou finally felt relieved.
The two of them went for a trip and changed the name on the property deed before dark. Zhou's father also took back the IOU he had written earlier. He immediately tore it into pieces and threw them up, and then he laughed.
Luo Dajiang and him took the carriage back to the outer city and went home respectively.
After Zhou's father returned home, he muttered to his wife: "That Luo Dajiang has such a bad heart. He made me anxious for several days. I couldn't eat or sleep. If I had known, I wouldn't have disturbed Taohua."
When the matter was over, the sleepiness accumulated in the previous few days fell like a mountain, and Zhou's father fell asleep, sleeping very soundly.
He was woken up by the arguing outside. He opened his eyes and looked outside in a daze, and saw his wife with her hands on her hips, cursing, and her two daughters-in-law beside her were also supporting her.
"Shrew!" Zhou's father reached for his clothes and went out in a daze: "What happened? If you have something to say, talk to me. Damn it, I told you a long time ago. Speak in a lower voice. Don't make it sound like a quarrel. It's easy.
It’s misleading.”
"I can't be young." Zhou's mother yelled: "You sleep like a dead pig. You don't even know what happened and you think it's my fault. I've never been right with you in all these years."
This is nonsense.
Father Zhou's face darkened, his eyes fell on the people arguing with his family at the door, and he realized that he didn't recognize them.
If someone you don’t know comes to look for trouble, what’s the point of being polite? Just beat him out with a broom!
He frowned: "Who are you?"
It was already past noon, and the sun was a bit strong. Father Zhou didn't want to get close, so he just stood in the shade.
The leader, a middle-aged man, was holding a piece of paper in his hand. He seemed very angry and his hands were shaking: "This is the house I bought this morning. It's this place. The title deed is still there. We moved here from other places and live in a restaurant.
You have to pay for the house. Now that you have bought the house, you have to clean it up and move in. As a result, your family insists that this is a fake! How can the deed signed with the official seal of the Yamen be fake? I said go to the Yamen to get it.
The husband testified, but they refused, so they just kept making noises here... I think you are also a reasonable person. In this world, whoever has the loudest voice is not always reasonable."
The remaining sleepiness of Zhou's father completely disappeared. He drifted over in a daze and took the deed with trembling hands. He couldn't believe his eyes. He was illiterate, but he recognized the official seal of the yamen. When he changed his name yesterday,
He took another look and found that it was indeed exactly the same as this one.
In other words, that bastard Luo Dajiang changed hands and sold this house.
"This thing is fake!" He opened his mouth and ran away: "No, I have to ask."
Luo Dajiang got up early and went back to sleep when he came back. He looked very unhappy when he was woken up.
Father Zhou saw his face, but he didn't care at all, because he was angrier than Luo Dajiang. He handed over the deed with trembling hands and asked, "You said you wouldn't force us to move! What are you doing?"
Luo Dajiang yawned and said plausibly: "I didn't force you to move!" Someone else did.
Father Zhou: "..."
He suddenly realized that he was wrong.
Luo Dajiang was playing rogue with the Zhou family, how could he seem to have feelings for his daughter?