The Eldest Daughter of a Rural Family
Chapter 799 - 170: Selling Mother for Money_2

Chapter 799: Chapter 170: Selling Mother for Money_2

Villagers never ceased their gossip, claiming that though Lady Chen was cutting and villainous, her death was truly undeserved. They looked at Pei Wenli with disdain and fear. If one could sell their own mother’s murderer, what else couldn’t they do?

Old Scholar Fang and Fang Li hurried to the county town and collected the compensation of fifty taels of silver.

Even though their household’s income had increased, fifty taels of silver was no small sum, and Fang Li’s gaze kept drifting toward the silver pouch his father held.

Old Scholar Fang discussed with Pei Qin and Mo Heng, "Dalang was initially unharmed, just some superficial skin wounds, so let’s not mention those. As for this silver, let’s not keep it for ourselves; we should compensate the Li family instead!"

Before Pei Qin could speak, Fang Li stood up, "Why should we!? This compensation is for our family, for Dalang. Why should we give it to the Li family!? Dad, have you lost your mind!?"

Old Scholar Fang looked at him as his expression darkened.

Fang Li quickly corrected himself, "No, I mean... Dad, you’re mistaken! The fifty taels of silver are clearly the compensation for our family. Didn’t we already cure Li Baoxiang’s broken arm? We don’t know how much we spent on restorative herbs for them, even acknowledging him as a sworn son and tying our families together with a sworn kinship. And now you want to give these fifty taels to them as well? They’re getting greedy!"

"Fifty taels of silver, and you’re so fixated on them? If I give you five hundred, five thousand taels, would you go as far as to kill your parents for it!?" Old Scholar Fang scolded furiously.

"That’s ridiculous! This is not the same thing at all!" Fang Li hastily replied.

"You don’t know a damned thing!" Old Scholar Fang cursed. He was adamant about giving the silver to the Li family, and not only that, he would make a grand gesture of doing so.

Fang Li still muttered his dissatisfaction, "It’s not like they’re involved in some large business deals, giving away fifty taels of silver just like that. How many pickled bamboo shoots and sweet potato starch would one have to sell to earn that much?"

"The day you become head of the household, our family is done for!" Old Scholar Fang had decided, henceforth, he would only entrust Fang Li with trivial matters, and decision-making was absolutely not to be his responsibility, let alone letting him take over the household.

Pei Qin, though she did not have a high opinion of the Li family, agreed that they could not keep the silver for themselves. Li Baoxiang had suffered the beating alongside Fang Liuming, getting his arm broken, and the matter of their sworn kinship had already stirred a commotion. Since the Government Office had compensated them with the silver, it should be delivered to the Li family.

Pei Qian also felt that the Li family absolutely did not deserve it. Li Baoxiang’s arm was broken because he failed to escape, and after forming the sworn kinship, he dared to approach them with improper thoughts.

At this time, the Li family was already preparing a joyous event. After Li Baoxiang and the Yu family girl Yu Qingxiu were engaged, they immediately set a wedding date. Getting married before the New Year would allow Li Baoxiang to focus on next year’s imperial examination, having someone to look after him, and enjoy the festive season with a new wife.

The fifty taels of silver were ostentatiously sent to Li Baoxiang’s family. Grandma Li and Old Man Li were overjoyed with this unexpected windfall.

The villagers said the Fang family showed great integrity. They were certain that the fifty taels of silver must have been secured by Mo Heng and Pei Qin from the Government Office. The compensation was meant for the Fang family and Fang Liuming, yet they did not keep a single tael, giving it all to Li Baoxiang. The Li family had indeed struck it lucky by forming this sworn kinship!

Grandma Li was originally very happy—the fifty taels of silver were not easily earned! But, hearing how everyone outside was praising the Fang family for their goodness and fortune in forming the sworn kinship, her satisfaction turned to annoyance, "If my son hadn’t broken his arm for that Fang Liuming, he would have earned a title long ago! Why don’t they say how they’ve ruined my son’s chance for honors to this day, and even had his wife dismissed!? All the praise falls to them!"

Old Man Li warned her never to speak such words outside, "This year, once our son is married, let’s seek their advice and ask them to help us out. Next year, let’s strive to help Baoxiang achieve scholarly honors—that’s what’s most important!"

Grandma Li was frustrated and unhappy, "If they were willing to help, Baoxiang would’ve passed long ago!"

"We’ll discuss it again this year—it will be easier to talk! Our son is about to get married, so don’t make a fuss!" Old Man Li was also annoyed, but there was nothing he could do but curse inwardly since they wouldn’t help.

Having vented her anger and realizing her frustration was futile, Grandma Li waited for Yu Qingxiu to enter their family, expecting her to exert influence on her maternal home as well. After all, though not her blood aunt, Lady Yu was her paternal aunt, and they were kin. In the future, she would even have to address her as "sworn mother."

As Pei Qin was growing heavier with child, Pei Qin did not attend Li Baoxiang’s wedding, which was accompanied by light snowfall. Instead, she sent steward Zhang Gengshan to deliver a wedding gift.