The skilled widow is busy farming

Chapter 3 Doubt

Xiu Niang suffered a head injury and took medicine. The medicine had a soothing effect, and she fell asleep in a daze.

When she woke up, she saw her niece Qing'er making a purse beside the bed and watching over her.

"Second Aunt, you're awake, do you want some water?"

Qing'er put down her sewing and poured her a glass of warm water.

Xiu Niang drank some water to moisten her throat before speaking: "You are the only one, everyone else is busy."

"They are discussing things in the main room. My brother and the others have gone to work in the fields. Mom is worried and asked me to keep an eye on you."

"Good boy, bring me a basin of water. I want to wash up."

"Wait, there is hot water on the pot, I will bring it to you."

Qing'er ran away in a hurry.

Xiu Niang looked around the room and saw that there was only a cabinet, a long case, a canopy bed and two stools, which should be the dowry.

After thinking about it, there is still some money in the dowry. The Li family is open-minded and allows women to save private money. Men must pay [-]% of their earnings to the public and [-]% to themselves. After the family is divided, it will all belong to individuals. That is another statement.

Before the family was separated, everything the men earned had to go to the public account. The old man was a scholar and had worked as an accountant for many years. In the clan, he recognized that the clan elder was also in charge of the accounts, so he knew it well.

They live and eat together as a family, and their basic expenses are not much. She is a woman who knows how to live a good life. She can read and write, and is very good at embroidery and weaving. She can make some money just by weaving brocade.

The Li family purchased land one after another after Xiuniang came in, and she also contributed half of the effort. Her husband had been studying and earning some money from copying books. The eldest son was responsible for farming and doing chores, and the family worked together.

The one who paid the most was actually the eldest family, not the Xiuniang couple. The eldest couple took care of the elderly and children, supported the two brothers to study and marry, and they put in a lot of hard work.

She opened the small cabinet on the bedside and took out a makeup box from it. She opened it and divided it into three layers. There were many jewelry made of gold and silver, more of which were silver.

Silver jewelry is relatively cheap, and there are three or five pieces of gold jewelry. There are also two or three gold peanuts and some broken silver, which she and her husband should have saved.

After counting them together, we should have dozens of taels. Looking back at the memory, my husband took most of them away when he left. He wanted to get some raw silk and come back to earn the difference in price and buy a few acres of land for the family.

Li Jing, the eldest son of the eldest brother and sister-in-law, is approaching his age and will get married in a few years.

In order to be fair and have scholars in the family, my grandfather agreed to support all his sons and grandchildren to study in the clan.

Ethnology is taught by the Li family, but it is not free and cannot be afforded. All students have to pay a tuition fee and have a meal.

The second uncle is the current village head and clan leader. All three of his sons are famous. The eldest son was promoted to teach in the clan school, the second son was released by the county magistrate, and the third son failed to be selected to teach in the capital last time and was introduced by Xiuniang. , planning to take the exam again next year.

Because there are many people studying in the family, more money is spent. In order to marry Xiu Niang, he spent all the remaining money at home.

Xiu Niang gave birth to two sons ten years after she entered the family. She was never lazy in embroidery and brocade, helped her family pay off their debts, and filled in several acres of land.

This time, my husband said he was going to the south of the Yangtze River to study. He wanted to buy some things and bring them back. At least he could make a profit and build a big yard for his family so that his eldest nephew, Brother Jing, could get a wife.

Now we still live in the old courtyard. The population has increased and it has become too crowded. The second uncle's family moved out and built a new courtyard because they could no longer live in it.

Unexpectedly, her husband Li Ping never came back, and only two gold ingots were brought back.

Xiu Niang held the handkerchief and thought slowly, is there really only two gold ingots?Could it be a classmate...

Maybe I'm being petty, it's hard to say, but it's useless to talk about it now. You can only accept your fate, and there's nothing you can do if someone doesn't give it to you.

Qing'er brought hot water in.

"Auntie, wash your face."

"it is good."

After Xiu Niang poured hot water, brushed her teeth, rinsed her mouth and washed her face, she felt much refreshed, but her head was still dizzy.

"Are they still discussing?"

"Grandpa asks you if you want to listen."

"it is good."

She changed into plain and filial clothes, combed her hair, and wore a peach wood hairpin.

Qing'er helped her go to the main room.Seeing her coming, all the men in the family greeted her.

"My nephew-in-law is here, sit down quickly."

"Hello, second uncle, this time my husband-in-law has caused you trouble. I haven't been able to relax all the way. I would like to express my gratitude to you."

Xiuniang bows to her elders first when she enters the door.

"This is a family that doesn't say polite words, Xiu Niang. When Brother Ping leaves, you have to be stronger and cheer up for the children. Even if the sky falls, we men will still be here."

Uncle Li looked at her with pity, but there was nothing he could do.

"Yes."

"I heard from dad that you want to buy land with the money brought back by Brother Ping and donate it to the clan school. You are willing to give it up. This is what Brother Ping paid for with his life."

Second Uncle Li looks very similar to his father-in-law. He is tall and majestic, with a majestic and upright demeanor.

"Second uncle, I'm willing to give it up. In the past, in the clan school, the children had to take care of their elders and relatives. I thought it was better to plan for the long term. The tuition fee for the clan school is still quite high now. If there is an ancestral field, It will relieve a lot of pain, and if it is used in the right place, I believe you will be happy."

"Good boy, sit down and talk."

"I wanted to build a yard before, but after thinking about it carefully, I felt that it was not appropriate. It was a bit too ostentatious, and it would make people talk about wasting people's money. It is the right way to stick to the family tradition first and let all the family members, old and young, take advantage of it."

"You are thoughtful, we were talking about this just now."

"Buy land first, buy some good land, split it in half, keep half for the family, and donate the other half to the clan school. You need to print the paperwork with your fingerprint, so you can't do it in vain."

"That is for sure."

"Second uncle, I have a small favor to ask you."

"Niece-in-law, if you need anything, just ask."

The Li family members all have similar tempers, they are straightforward and resolute.

"My husband's money was brought back by a classmate's friend. There are only two gold ingots. Can you help me check his house to see if there is any news or any big expenses? Calculate how much it is?"

"Do you suspect that he swallowed Brother Ping's money?"

The second uncle's eyes flashed, his expression not surprising.

Li Ping is an outstanding son and grandson of the Li family, and he is also one of the most famous. He died inexplicably. How could the Li family not investigate.

"Perhaps my wife is petty. When he left, he took the money from selling the brocade paintings and the money he had saved, a total of 100 taels. This amount does not match up."

Xiu Niang shook her head with a gloomy expression.

Even if it is a robbery by bandits and the thief does not get away with it, he should not get a penny. This part is how to settle the accounts. I am afraid there is a bit of talk here. Money and silk are touching people's hearts.

"If he is indeed greedy, what are you going to do?"

Second Uncle Li gritted his teeth. This was the most outstanding child among the younger generations of the Li family. He could have had another official career, but in the end he was all in disgrace. If someone embezzled his nephew's money, the debt would have to be settled sooner or later.

"What can I do? Don't give it to me. I am a widow and have no evidence. I can't talk nonsense. But misunderstanding people is a disaster. If you don't pursue it, it is for the safety of the children. You must have a clear mind and don't be a fool."

"And now is not the time to pursue him. He has a good reputation for being generous and righteous. If I pursue him at this time, I don't have strong evidence. That is to slander his name. I can't recover the money. I can only appoint him."

After listening to Xiuniang's words, the men of the Li family had ugly expressions, but they were not surprised or surprised. Even the eldest brother and brother-in-law looked suffocated and distressed, obviously they knew what was going on.

"Brother and sister..."

"Brother, I understand that now is not a good time to have an attack."

Xiu Niang sighed helplessly.

"Don't you want to buy land? You go to him and ask him to help you ask. Don't say much else. Just say that I will do all the settling of the family accounts. If he knows the land well, he will help you find a good land and it will be very cheap. "

Xiu Niang's eyes were deep and calm.

The second uncle looked at his father and eldest brother, his eyes full of praise, saying that our daughter-in-law is a woman who can run the family.

(End of this chapter)