Chapter 79: Retribution
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
In the afternoon, Zheng Guixiang pulled Li Qingyu to the side with a happy expression. Her daughter and son-in-law were finally getting better. “Qingyu, I plan to go back.”
Li Qingyu persuaded her mother to stay. “Mother, why don’t you stay for two nights before going back?”
Zheng Guixiang waved her hand. “I’ll come over to stay after you guys finish building the new house.”
Li Qingyu thought about her family’s current conditions. If her mother stayed, Chu Rong would have to sleep in the shed. “Alright. When the time comes, Mother, remember to come and stay for a few more days.”
“Okay.” Zheng Guixiang wanted to say something but hesitated. In the end, she said, “Qingyu, your family has hired so many people now. How about getting your brother and sister-in-law to help?”
Hearing this, Li Qingyu was not surprised. Her mother doted on her daughter, but relatively speaking, she doted on her sons more.
She said awkwardly, “Mother, I can’t make the decision…”
It was not that she could not make the decision, nor was it that she did not want to take care of her two brothers. It was just that her own family in her heart was more important than her parents’ family. She needed to consider her family’s feelings more.
Zheng Guixiang thought about it and felt that it was not appropriate to ask her daughter. What if her son-in-law had a problem with it?
She patted the back of Li Qingyu’s hand. She wanted to help her son find something to do, but she did not want to hurt the relationship between her daughter and son-in-law either. “I’ll talk to Chu Rong.”
Chu Rong was working on the furniture in the courtyard. When the new house was built, the furniture had to be new too. Therefore, his current task was to build furniture for the new house.
Now, he was working on a long table. Ever since there were more children at home, the old table seemed too small.
Zheng Guixiang walked towards Chu Rong. “Chu Rong, 1 want to discuss something with you.”
Chu Rong stopped what he was doing and looked at Zheng Guixiang. “Mother, if there’s anything, just say it. 1’11 definitely do my best.”
Zheng Guixiang asked expectantly, “Chu Rong, do you think you can get your brother-in-law and his wife to come to your house to help?”
Chu Rong looked at Li Qingyu, who stood behind Zheng Guixiang with a worried expression. If word got out that he let outsiders work at home, but he did not let his relatives work for him, they would gossip. None of the children in the family were married. His family’s reputation was very important.
“Mother, what are you talking about? Brother-in-law, nephew, and niece can all come as long as they want.”
Zheng Guixiang smiled and said, “Chu Rong, thank you. I’ll get them to come over tomorrow.”
Since he had already agreed, Chu Rong decided to be more generous. “Alright.”
Li Qinghu, Li Qingwu, and Li Jianheng were watching the villagers make ice cream bars in the shed. They had been here for the entire afternoon, and their eyes were filled with surprise.
Zheng Guixiang’s voice came from behind them. “Qinghu, Qingwu, Jianheng, let’s go.”
Li Qinghu replied, “Mother, coming.”
The three of them walked out together.
Li Qingyu was not a stingy person. She went to the kitchen to pack some meat and took some fabric for Zheng Guixiang. “Mother, this is for you.”
There was no shortage of food and clothing at home now. She knew her parents’ family situation very well. There were many children at home, and their situation was not much better than before.
Zheng Guixiang happily took it. “Qingyu, I’m leaving.”
Li Qingyu said, “Mother, I’ll send you off.”
The four of them walked out together. Granny Chu and Grandpa Chu came out to send them off.
Chu Eighth chased out and stuffed two ice cream bars into Li Jianheng’s hands. These were her snacks. The ice cream bars at home had to be sold for money. She would not give them away. “Third Cousin, eat them on the way.”
Li Jianheng took it happily. “Sister Chu Eighth, thank you.”
Chu Eighth waved her hand. This little girl liked to show off. Now that her vanity was greatly satisfied, she was extremely happy. “You’re welcome.”
The four of them walked further and further away. The Chu family continued to work.
On the way, Li Qinghu said with emotion, “Mother, Second Brother, Qingyu’s family is doing really well now.”
Li Qingwu immediately replied with an envious expression. “That’s right. The big pot of pork ribs and potatoes at noon is really delicious.”
He ate two full bowls. Actually, he could eat four bowls, but he was too embarrassed to ask for more, so he only ate two bowls.
Li Jianheng couldn’t help but say, “Grandma, did you tell Aunt?”
Zheng Guixiang said happily, “1 did. I told your uncle. He agreed and said that our entire family can go to work.”
Li Jianheng was pleasantly surprised. “Really?”
Zheng Guixiang nodded. “Yes.”
Li Jianheng said excitedly, “I’ve asked around. The salary is 1,000 copper coins a day. 1 can earn three taels of silver a month. However, I want to sell ice cream bars myself. 1 heard from Sister Chu Eighth that those who sell ice cream bars can earn more than one tael of silver a day.”
Li Qinghu and Li Qingwu were stunned. “One tael a day?”
Li Jianheng said, “That’s right. Father, Second Uncle, what do you want to do?”
“We…” Li Qinghu hesitated.
Seeing his father’s hesitation, Li Jianheng said, “By the way, Father, isn’t your carpentry good? You can help Uncle make furniture. Sister Chu Eighth said that Uncle might not be able to finish all the furniture in the new house alone.”
Li Qinghu was tempted. “I’ll ask tomorrow.”
The four of them discussed and walked further and further away.
Zhang Village.
Zhang Lin picked up the oranges on the ground one by one and placed them in the basket. These were all ripe and had fallen from the branches.
As he picked it up, he thought, “Why doesn’t Chu Xuhua come to buy oranges anymore? Does his family stop making ice cream bars?”
He had been waiting for Chu Xuhua to come back and give in so that he could sell the oranges at a higher price. In the end, it had been a few days, but there was no sign of him.
That’s not right. I saw vendors on the streets and alleys selling ice cream bars when I went to the county.
That can only mean… that the Chu family did not want his oranges anymore.
As soon as this thought appeared, he immediately panicked.
He looked up at the orange on the branch. If Chu Xuhua didn’t want it, he would definitely suffer a huge loss this year!
No, he had to go to Chu Village to ask.
Coincidentally, just as he reached the entrance of the Chu Village, he saw Chu Xuhua pulling a cart full of pears back. He waved and shouted, “Chu Xuhua, Chu Xuhua…”
Chu Xuhua stopped in his tracks. When he saw who it was, his handsome face immediately turned cold. “What’s the matter?”
Zhang Lin asked humbly, “Don’t you want oranges anymore?”
Chu Xuhua nodded lightly. “Yes, 1 don’t want it anymore. I want pears now.” “Pears?” Zhang Lin looked at the cart filled with fresh pears to the brims. Zhang Lin’s heart sank to the bottom. “You really don’t want oranges anymore?”
“I don’t want it.” Chu Xuhua pulled the reins of the horse and continued to walk home. He couldn’t be bothered with Zhang Lin, who went back on his word and raised the price.
Zhang Lin was dumbfounded. He looked at Chu Xuhua’s back in a daze. If Chu Xuhua didn’t want his oranges anymore, who would he sell his oranges to?
He quickly chased after Chu Xuhua and lowered his attitude even more. “I won’t increase the price now. How about 1 sell it to you at the original price?”
Chu Xuhua refused firmly. “I don’t want it even if you give it to me for free now.”
Seeing that Chu Xuhua was about to leave again, Zhang Lin quickly pulled him back. “Chu Xuhua, think about it.”
“There’s no need to think about it. You can keep it all to yourself.” Chu Xuhua pushed Zhang Lin away and thought to himself. Didn’t you think about the consequences before doing anything?
Zhang Lin looked dejected as he stood on the spot like a beggar.
After a long time, he turned around with difficulty and walked towards the Zhang Village.
After returning to the village, he rushed into Seventh Uncle’s house. Back then, it was Seventh Uncle who urged him to increase the price. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have done it at all.
Seventh Uncle did not expect things to turn out like this. He felt a little guilty, but he did not admit that he was wrong. After all, his intentions were good.
Hence, the two of them quarreled. The more they quarreled, the fiercer they became. The villagers came to mediate. Because of this matter, the two families formed a deep hatred and never interacted again..
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