sjar Chapter 12 Liu San Niang's Third Rescue
Chapter 12 Liu San Niang's Third Rescue
"Give it to us immediately?" Tian Bonian grabbed one of them. "Feng Wuliu, your family still owes the village more than two hundred coins, right? Will you give it to us immediately?"
"And you, you owe more than sixty."
“Your family also owes one hundred coins.”
Some villagers murmured, "We'll be able to fish again in a couple of days. Once we sell the fish, we can pay it back, right?"
From September to November each year, when fish are at their most nutritious and plump, the county school canteen prepares fish for the students every day to nourish their bodies, improve their eyesight and hearing, and strengthen their bones and muscles.
Tian Bonian used to work as a clerk in the county school and knew people in the school's kitchen.
Therefore, the task of supplying fish to the county school fell to Tian Bonian.
Tian Bonian arranged for the villagers to take turns fishing and delivering the catch to the county school's canteen.
We deliver about 100 catties of fish every day, at 10 coins per catty, so we can earn about 1 tael a day.
You can earn ninety taels in three months.
Qingliu Village has a total of more than 80 households, and each household can receive an average of more than one or two ounces.
Every spring, when the county government starts collecting grain tax and other taxes, Tian Bonian would first use the money from selling fish the previous year to pay off the tax, and if that wasn't enough, he would ask each household for the difference.
Some families delay replenishing their supplies, waiting until autumn to fish again to continue resisting...
This is how debts came about.
"Since you can wait, why can't the Lu family wait?" Tian Bonian said with a livid face and an unhappy tone.
The villagers who owed money to the village fell silent.
Wang Yulan persisted, arguing that the Tian family didn't owe the village any money.
Tian Zhicheng was a scholar who passed the imperial examinations and was exempt from taxes and corvée labor.
In the past, Tian Zhiyuan would deliver fish and earn money, and every spring after the county government collected taxes, Tian Bonian would settle the money with them.
“Anyway, I disagree.” Wang Yulan raised her thin eyebrows.
"You have to pay money to stay."
“This is a house in the village. If our family doesn’t agree, they can’t live here.”
"Unless you give me the money now."
Wang Xiuying nodded in agreement, "I disagree too."
Tian Tian was furious, her eyes wide open, but there was nothing she could do.
She currently has forty-seven coins, and about ten catties of wild vegetables under the eaves. If she sells them to the system, one hundred coins will be more than enough.
However, she couldn't take out the money at that moment.
After all, she only severed ties with her family two days ago, and she already has a hundred coins? That's just too unreasonable!
They are also easily targeted by malicious individuals.
Lu Tao and Tian Xiang stared blankly, helpless; they had no money to spare.
The two, who had just been planning how to repair the house and how to fence off the vegetable garden, suddenly had tears in their eyes.
“Grandpa Village Chief,” Tian Tian said, pointing to the dandelions under the eaves, “we’ve already started digging for wild vegetables to sell in the county. Give us a few more days, and we’ll definitely be able to raise a hundred coins.”
She wanted Tian Bonian to come and intimidate Wang Yulan and Wang Xiuying, so that they wouldn't keep coming to cause trouble later.
Unexpectedly, Wang Yulan and Wang Xiuying managed to get the upper hand.
Tian Tian secretly regretted it a little.
Tian Jing nodded, her eyes brimming with tears.
"Isn't that dandelion? In the county, a pound of dried dandelion can only be exchanged for one coin. How long would it take your family to dig up enough to save up a hundred coins?"
"You can only earn a hundred coins after digging for a month."
"We have to go without eating or drinking to collect a hundred coins."
"Sigh, how can this family survive without a man in the house?"
"You pity them? Then help them."
"Although Madam Lu looks a bit old, she still has a good figure."
"Tian Xiang is only eighteen years old, and she's pretty."
"The second son became a widow the moment he entered the house...hehe..."
"A family of three...hehe..."
Tian Tian glared fiercely at the people who spread the false rumors. These people... are truly despicable.
“It’s just a hundred coins, right? I’ll pay for them.” A person stepped out from the crowd.
Tian Tian looked over, somewhat surprised.
It's Liu San Niang again.
Liu San Niang took a purse from her waist and said, "Village chief, here are exactly one hundred copper coins. Please count them."
Tian Bonian took it, weighed it in his hand, then opened it and took out a string of copper coins inside.
He counted silently.
Liu San Niang noticed Tian Tian's gaze and gave her a reassuring smile.
“Exactly one hundred coins.” Tian Bonian finished counting.
Liu Sanniang said, "Village chief, if Lu's monthly rent is insufficient, just tell me and I will pay it for her."
If Liu Sanniang were a man, people would surely accuse him of having ulterior motives, but Liu Sanniang is a woman.
"Liu San Niang, are you stupid?" Wang Yulan could only reluctantly curse, "You're going to pay their rent?"
Liu San Niang sneered, "I just can't stand you bullying orphans and widows."
"Now the Lu family has paid the rent, and the Tian family hasn't found the missing items either."
"If anyone tries to force their way into someone's house again, that's trespassing, and they'll report you to the county authorities."
Tian Bonian concluded, "That's right, it's not just the Lu family, it's the same for other families. If someone forces their way into someone else's home, that's trespassing!"
"From now on, you shouldn't be fishing anymore."
“They don’t take them along when there are other profitable businesses.”
Upon hearing what Tian Bonian said, the other villagers responded with "oh, oh."
Only Wang Yulan and Wang Xiuying remained silent.
But Tian Bonian also had a way of controlling them: "Your Tian family is the same. If there is a next time, Tian Zhicheng can forget about taking the imperial examination."
The imperial examination system has always emphasized not only the candidates' academic knowledge, but also their moral character.
Therefore, local authorities will conduct background checks on candidates to assess their moral character and integrity.
Tian Bonian was the village head and had also worked at the county school...
In fact, unless Tian Zhicheng commits any major misdeeds, there's not much he can do.
But... the Tian family doesn't know that.
Upon hearing Tian Bonian's words, Wang Yulan immediately turned on her toes and said, "Elder sister, let's go."
Tian Bonian turned to the others and said, "You should all go back now, don't bother watching the show."
The villagers left sheepishly...
Tian Bonian also left, leaving Liu San Niang alone.
"Thank you so much, Third Sister," Lu Tao said to Liu Third Sister. "You've helped us twice already... really..."
I don't know how to thank her.
Tian Tian walked over and said, "Mom, this isn't just twice, it's the third time already."
She told Lu Tao about how Liu Xianglan was in a difficult situation when she returned home yesterday, and how Liu San Niang came to her rescue.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you, Third Sister."
Liu San Niang waved her hand, "Oh, it's just a small matter."
"Third Sister, don't worry, we'll pay you back the rent as soon as we deposit it," Lu Tao promised her.
Liu San Niang shook her head, "No rush, you should repair the house first, fence off the vegetable garden, and get through this winter first."
"I'm not in a hurry to use the money."
"It's fine."
Lu Tao rubbed her hands together. "This... I don't know what to say. Third Sister, thank you so much, thank you so much."
Suddenly, Liu San Niang stepped forward and grabbed Lu Tao's hand, "Sister-in-law, don't do this."
"Sister-in-law, don't you remember?"
"When Qin Han was in trouble, if it weren't for you, we wouldn't have even survived the first winter..."