The Lucky Farmgirl
Chapter 167 - 156: Contribution Money

Chapter 167: Chapter 156: Contribution Money

As expected, after dinner, while it was still light outside, Old Zhou gathered the family for a meeting to formally announce the decision to build a new house and to inform everyone that they planned to construct seven rooms this time.

There were six rooms in their current house, with three large rooms in the center; one was the hall, the sun-facing main room was where Old Zhou and his family lived, and the other side was occupied by Zhou Dalang and his family.

The east and west wings, however, had only two complete rooms in the west wing, while the east wing had only one room because the kitchen was built to the east, extending down from the house.

Old Zhou was not willing to construct the kitchen with brick and stone, so it was made with mud mixed with thatch.

This time, they planned to expand outward to the side, simply by knocking down the wall of the courtyard there.

Originally, Old Zhou wanted to have a small gate installed, but then he thought about the convenience of having a big gate on the other side for entry and exit, which would cost quite a bit of money. So, after consulting with Ms. Qian, he decided to knock down the eastern courtyard wall, making it all one courtyard.

The kitchen and firewood rooms were on this side, and with enough space there, they could directly build seven rooms — three central ones without setting aside a hall, and then two rooms each in the east and west wings, completing the layout.

Old Zhou had a particularly good plan. "With enough space, we can make the rooms larger. That way, when Datou and the others get married, it will be useful and save trouble later."

Zhou Dalang and the others were excited, but still a bit worried. "Dad, do we have enough money?"

Old Zhou answered succinctly, "No."

Everyone: ...If there wasn’t enough, what were they discussing?

"Which is why each family must contribute some money," Old Zhou continued, without shyness. "Your youngest sister Manbao, who’s only six, gave me five hundred wen for the construction just the other day."

Old Zhou left the rest unsaid, but everyone immediately felt like a heavy mountain had suddenly been dropped onto their shoulders.

Zhou Dalang looked around and asked, "Dad, just how much more do we need?"

Old Zhou, smoking his pipe, replied, "Once the house is built, we’ll need to make beds and get bedding ready."

The brothers felt even more pressure. Zhou Dalang calculated the private funds they had for their household and finally clenched his teeth, "Dad, I can take out two ounces of silver."

With Zhou Dalang setting the example, Zhou Erlang and Zhou Sanlang naturally had to follow suit. Though Zhou Erlang should be fine, Zhou Sanlang’s expression became rather bitter. Among the brothers, he made the least; their combined private savings amounted to just over two ounces of silver, and it was only because he took turns with Dalang and the others selling food to the laborers that he had as much as he did.

After paying six-tenths of his earnings as a contribution, he was left to split the rest with another person, but he still managed to save seventy or eighty wen each day.

Zhou Sanlang felt it was difficult, but Zhou Wulang and Zhou Liulang indicated without hesitation that they could also contribute two ounces of silver each.

Then everyone turned their gaze towards the silent Zhou Silang.

Zhou Silang felt like weeping. He stared back at them; he was willing to contribute, but he needed to have the funds first!

Old Zhou coughed lightly and said, "Silang’s contribution isn’t urgent. He can add his share after he has paid off the family debts."

What everyone wanted to express was that it didn’t matter if Silang did not contribute, but since the father had spoken, they let it be.

Zhou Xi said, "Dad, I’ll contribute two ounces as well."

Old Zhou frowned and said, "There’s no need for you to contribute. Your brothers are all here. When Silang is ready to get married, just lend him some money for his wedding, and he can repay you later when he earns it."

Zhou Silang: ...Great, another debt added to my name.

But Zhou Xi insisted, "I live at home too. Manbao has contributed, so it’s unreasonable if I don’t."

Old Zhou blurted out, "You’re not getting married?"

Zhou Xi affirmed, "I’m not."

Old Zhou was so irritated that he knocked his smoking pipe, and the quiet Ms. Qian spoke up, "Alright, just take the money your daughter has given."

To Zhou Xi, Ms. Qian said, "Bring me the money later."

Zhou Xi acknowledged her with a "Hmm."

Old Zhou was somewhat angry. When they returned to their room, he asked Ms. Qian, "Do you really plan to keep the child at home for life?"

It had been nearly a year, and Zhou Xi still wasn’t married. Old Zhou didn’t think it was because his daughter couldn’t find a husband, so it must be his wife who wasn’t trying hard enough.

Ms. Qian replied, "She’ll marry when she’s ready. Haven’t you noticed she’s gained weight and her complexion has brightened this year? I’ve asked, and the doctor said she’s almost fully recuperated. The marriages those matchmakers suggest aren’t satisfactory to me."

Old Zhou’s eyes brightened and he asked, "Can she now have children?"

Ms. Qian confirmed with a "Hmm."

Old Zhou became cheerful, finally relenting. "Okay, let’s take our time to find a better match. A widower is acceptable, but he mustn’t bring children into the house; it’s difficult to be a stepmother."

As soon as he heard his daughter was better, Old Zhou’s requirements rose. "Also, be careful with the elderly in-laws; don’t get into a mess like with the Liu family."

Ms. Qian threw a faceful of thread ends at him, saying, "Manbao is listening."

Old Zhou brushed the thread ends off and turned to meet Manbao’s shining eyes. Patting her head, he said, "Hurry up and go to sleep, you still have school tomorrow."

It seemed they really needed to build a new house, even having a conversation was inconvenient.

Finding a match for Zhou Xi was even more challenging than for Zhou Silang. Old Zhou prepared for a long battle, so he no longer refused her contribution; she was bound to stay at home for a long time.

After collecting the contributions from his sons and daughter, Old Zhou counted it and became joyful. With this money, they now had enough to build the house.

Meanwhile, Zhou Dalang was talking to Junior Ms. Qian, "I wonder how much money Dad and Mom have saved up. Whether it’s enough to build seven rooms."

Junior Ms. Qian, too, was concerned and whispered, "Building these six rooms back then and furnishing them cost forty-two ounces. Now the new side needs beds and all new bedding; I’m afraid even fifty ounces might not be enough."

Zhou Dalang nodded, "Yes, I wonder how much of his debt Silang has paid off. Oh, right, he still owes us money, doesn’t he?"

Junior Ms. Qian then remembered, right, Silang still owed them money.

The couple exchanged glances, and Zhou Dalang said, "Silang doesn’t handle his own finances, so we don’t know how much he has paid back. Tomorrow, find a moment to ask Manbao; the child, when I ask her, refuses to tell me."

Junior Ms. Qian nodded.

Manbao was particularly close to Junior Ms. Qian, almost as much as to Ms. Qian herself. So after Junior Ms. Qian had served the students their meals, she found Manbao and pulled her aside to ask.

Upon asking, Manbao told her everything, completely forgetting her initial refusal to tell her big brother. In Manbao’s heart, her sister-in-law was just like herself; sharing a secret with her certainly didn’t mean sharing it with anyone else.

"I’ve already paid back nine thousand seven hundred ninety-five wen. Last year, Silang earned two thousand three hundred wen from working and doing business, so he owes less than three ounces now."

Junior Ms. Qian blinked. That meant even their share had been repaid. She had a clear picture now; probably her mother-in-law didn’t have enough money and might hold on to the amount Silang owed them. But this meant, at the very least, her mother-in-law had about thirty ounces in hand.

Adding the fourteen ounces they were giving, plus a bit more they could earn in this period...

Calculating this, Junior Ms. Qian brightened and said, "In that case, we have almost enough money to build the house."

If they were still short, they could forgo buying new beds for the time being.

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