Chapter 132: Who Is the Most Despicable?

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Some households rejoiced while others fretted. If you do not believe it, look to the other end of town.

At the southern end of Erlang Shoal, every member of the Cheng clan wore a long face and cursed bitterly.

“What? Seven hundred cash per person? Do they think they are tossing coins to beggars?”

“Exactly! In past years, we received at least two ounces of silver. How did it get cut in half, then cut in half again?”

“What else could it be? They cannot sell the liquor anymore. Quite a few old customers have canceled their orders, and not a single new customer has come along. Receiving seven hundred cash is already no small feat.” Some of the clan members worked at the distillery and naturally knew the inside story.

“The head manager is so worried he cannot sleep. In the middle of the night, he just sits in the warehouse, staring blankly at the liquor jars!”

“What good is staring blankly? We want money! Useless! Cheng Chengcheng is utterly useless!”

The clan members showed him not the slightest sympathy, raging to their hearts’ content.

“I just walked over to the northern end. Guess what? The Su family paid out dividends! One ounce of silver per person—more than we got!”

Another man threw fuel on the fire.

“How could that be? Weren’t they buried in debt?”

Many of the clansmen’s notions were still stuck in the past.

“How could it not be? Haven’t you seen how sought-after Erlang Liquor is?” One clansman could not resist rocking his head and chanting, “This year, don’t accept any holiday gifts. If you accept one, accept only Erlang Liquor…”

“We’ve heard that one…”

The clansmen sighed dejectedly. “And there’s that song about drinking Erlang Liquor. Even children who have never left the village can sing it now. What a strange thing. Could they have hired a ritual priest to perform some magic?”

“What ritual priest? The children of the Su family taught it to everyone at the village school!”

Mention of this made many of them furious. “Damn it, the recipe for Erlang Liquor is clearly in the hands of our own people!”

“Ah, whose fault is it that Scholar Cheng refused to act like a decent human being? He stood by and did nothing at this time last year! If he had helped his daughter then, how could things have come to this?”

Some of the clansmen who had gone to the He family compound to collect their debts now laid out the truth.

“As it turned out, Sister Lan made a fortune selling sweet drinks during the first month of the year and turned everything around. When he went back to ask his daughter for this and that, she no longer had any use for him!”

Those creditors had originally thought that with the He brothers dead, their money would never be recovered. Who could have imagined that the proprietress would repay the He family’s debts in full, principal and interest, six months ahead of schedule? How could they not be overjoyed?

They praised the proprietress’s ability and character to the skies, and naturally directed all their resentment at Scholar Cheng. She could have led them all to prosperity, yet her own father had pushed her into the Su family’s arms, allowing them to take over every one of her family’s businesses…

“It is all Scholar Cheng’s fault that we cannot have a proper New Year!”

The Cheng clansmen laid all the blame at Scholar Cheng’s door.

They had grown accustomed to good days and had not yet learned how to live through lean ones. But that was all right. In time, they would get used to it…

~~

By the time the group reached home, dusk had already fallen.

After unremittingly bribing Little Golden Treasure, Eldest Uncle had finally managed to stop the child from making a beeline for “Third Uncle.”

Eldest Uncle proudly spread his arms, ready to catch Su Youjin’s precious darling. But Golden Treasure shot straight past him and flung herself into He Tiantian’s arms instead.

“Sister, I missed you so much!”

“Little sister, you have gotten heavier again…” He Tiantian’s small face twisted painfully.

“She never stops eating. If she is not fat, who is?” Eldest Uncle forcibly took Golden Treasure from her arms and asked, “Where is your mother?”

“She’s inside, bossing around my eldest brother!” Golden Treasure answered.

“What?”

Everyone turned toward the main room. There they saw Eldest Aunt briskly tying bundles and issuing orders without pause.

“Tie up those quilts from the east room and bring them over!”

“And we have to take the chamber pot!”

“Did you collect the Sichuan pepper I left out to dry? Wrap it up and bring it too!”

Poor Chun had been ordered around until he was spinning in circles, a sheen of white sweat covering his forehead despite the bitter winter cold.

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When Su Lu came in, Chun looked at him as though he were a savior and hurriedly called out, “Autumn Brother, you are finally back! Come take over. My mother’s orders are making me dizzy.”

“Wait,” Su Lu said, puzzled. “Auntie, we are going to Little Uncle’s house for the New Year. Do we really have to bring quilts?”

“There are so many of us. What if his quilts are not enough? There is nowhere to buy more during the New Year. We cannot have the old and the young sharing one quilt, can we?” Eldest Aunt declared with perfect confidence.

“Then there is no need to bring the chamber pot, surely. There is always somewhere to use the privy.”

“What if Mother will use only this one? She cannot manage the others!” Eldest Aunt replied, then called to the old lady, who was drinking tea beside the brazier. “Isn’t that right, Mother?”

“Oh, yes, yes.” The old lady had no idea what they were talking about, but nodding was always safe.

Then she looked up and saw the proprietress. Her face lit up.

“Second Son’s wife is here! Come sit with Mother and chat. I say something and none of them understand me…”

As for the old master, he had long since escaped the noise by going out for a stroll.

“What about the Sichuan pepper? Is the pepper in the county town not spicy enough?” Su Lu was still trying to dissuade Eldest Aunt from moving the entire household to the county seat.

“If we have it at home, we bring it along. Saving one expense is still saving an expense!” Eldest Aunt replied as though it were self-evident. Then she warmly greeted the proprietress. “Little Sister, you have arrived? Come have tea with Mother.”

“Sister-in-law, I will help you pack.” The proprietress rolled up her sleeves.

“No, really, there is no need. You will only make more of a mess…”

Her complete lack of tact remained as reliable as ever.

~~

But one thing had nothing to do with another: Eldest Aunt was astonishingly efficient. Despite all that packing, she had not delayed dinner in the slightest.

Naturally, the evening meal was fairly simple. Meat and vegetables were chopped up and stewed together in a hanging pot. They ate the vegetables first, then added noodles to the broth. It was enough to leave the entire family thoroughly satisfied.

During the meal, they naturally discussed their trip to the county town the following day. Nearly the entire family would be going.

The old master and old mistress had never met their youngest grandson and granddaughter, so they would take the opportunity to accompany Su Lu and pay them a visit.

Little Golden Treasure clamored to see her baby brother and sister, while Eldest Aunt was eager to go as well. She still believed she was quite popular with her sister-in-law.

The old master considered that although Eldest Aunt had gone once to offer her congratulations after the birth, in the eyes of the clansmen she had merely been visiting her son. If she did not go this time, people would inevitably gossip about discord between the two sisters-in-law. So he agreed.

Su Tai had worked hard all year and could finally rest during the New Year. Naturally, he wanted to join in the excitement.

Chun, however, had no desire to join the festivities. But as an officially appointed teacher at Erlang Shoal Village School, he had to attend the county’s phonetic-instruction training course.

Magistrate Lu had made up his mind. The notice had gone out long ago: anyone who dared take leave and skip the course would have three months of tuition deducted. Which impoverished teacher would dare be absent?

That left only Su Youjin and Su Youcai at home.

Eldest Uncle still had to remain at his post. Although the stall fees for the twelfth lunar month had already been collected, the year’s end was when business owners expressed their goodwill. He had to give them the opportunity. Thus he would have to remain in town until the twenty-eighth, though he could go to the county seat afterward to celebrate New Year’s Eve with everyone.

As for Youcai, beginning the next day he would accompany the proprietress on visits throughout the area, thanking customers and taking the measure of their intentions for the coming year.

Then, once the New Year arrived, he would have to throw himself into the temple fair during the first month. There was truly no time to spare…

Strictly speaking, if he forced the matter, he could find the time. But during the New Year, how could he leave the proprietress to manage everything alone?

And so the old master decided that they would paste up the New Year couplets early the next morning, lock the door, and leave.

In truth, there was hardly anything worth locking up. All the valuable belongings in the house had already been bundled up and carried away by Eldest Aunt…

~~

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“You are leaving tomorrow?” Su Daji and the old clan head arrived just as dinner was ending.

“Of course. The children have been born—how could we not go see them?” The old master hurried to his feet to greet his old friend, then quickly sent Eldest Aunt away. “Wife of my eldest son, go make some tea.”

“No need. You are all busy. We will sit for a moment and be on our way.” The old clan head sat down beside the old master. “Daji tells me your family intends to refuse the dividend. How can that be allowed? Once the rules are broken, everything will fall into disorder!”

“See? I told you Eldest Brother would never agree.” As he spoke, Su Daji reached into the leather satchel slung across his body and pulled out silver wrapped in red cloth. He complained, “I was given quite a tongue-lashing because of this.”

The old master sighed. “Eldest Brother, you are making it impossible for me to show my face. Our family already holds a full tenth of the shares. How can we also take the clan’s labor shares?”

“One matter has nothing to do with the other. What matters more—your reputation as a man, or the rules?” The old clan head waved a hand, forbidding any further argument.

“Very well.” The old master could only obey.

“That is more like it! If not for your good children, would every branch of the family be receiving money today? When drinking water, do not forget the one who dug the well. No one will begrudge them their share!” The old clan head happily patted Sixth Brother on the shoulder.

“Exactly. As if they could begrudge us anything.” Su Daji grinned, turned over his leather satchel, and poured out two more packets of silver with a clatter.

He first handed the smaller packet to Eldest Aunt, who had come hurrying over at the scent of silver.

“This is your family’s dividend: thirty-nine ounces. Weigh it quickly. If you later claim it is short, I take no responsibility.”

“Good heavens, that much?” Eldest Aunt nearly threw the teapot at his head. She set down the tea tray in excitement, took the silver, and weighed it in her hand. “Not an ounce missing!”

“This is the proprietress’s dividend. I brought it along with the rest.” Su Daji handed the larger packet to the proprietress. He had long since discovered that the more he treated her like one of the family, the happier she became.

Besides, they were all shareholders. She knew how much he received, and he knew how much she received. There was no point in hiding anything.

“The head brewer has worked hard this year.” The proprietress smiled, took out ten ounces of silver, and handed them to him. “Lang will be entering the academy next year. Use it to buy him some writing supplies.”

“Many thanks for the proprietress’s generosity.” Su Daji declined a few times, then accepted the money with a delighted smile.

“Proprietress, you need not feel sorry for him.” Only then did the old clan head laugh. “The head brewer earns twenty ounces a year, with a year-end bonus besides. He receives no less than Sixth Brother’s family.”

“Eldest Brother, I have not taken any bonus!” Su Daji hurriedly protested his innocence. “Until the distillery’s accounts are settled, I will not take a single coin in bonus.”

“I have not taken mine either…” Summer Brother added. The assistant head brewer was entitled to a bonus as well.

“That is a decision for the two of you. If you refuse it, there is nothing I can do.” The old clan head rose with a hearty laugh. “We are heading back. Finish your work and get some rest. I will come see you off tomorrow morning.”

The two men took their leave, and everyone escorted them to the courtyard.

Su Daji lagged behind and quietly asked Su Lu, “I wonder whether Lang will pass tomorrow’s examination.”

“Seventh Granduncle, do not worry. He will have no trouble.” Su Lu smiled reassuringly. “Su Lang’s foundation is already exceptionally solid.”

“Exactly. It depends on who taught him!” Eldest Uncle overheard them and turned back with a grin. “Autumn Brother is going to the county seat to teach the teachers. Teaching your Lang Brother will be a piece of cake!”

“Indeed. Then I can rest easy.” Su Daji finally relaxed. “Once Lang passes, I must properly thank Autumn Brother.”

~~

After they saw their guests off and returned, the proprietress delivered one hundred ounces of silver, along with the fifty ounces given by Captain Ma, into Eldest Aunt’s hands.

Eldest Aunt was so happy she nearly fainted.

The old master shook his head at the sight and sighed inwardly. Silver was a truly wicked thing. When the family had been poor, not a single coin had come their way.

But the wealthier the family became, the more eagerly silver crowded into their home.

What a shameless little hussy.

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