190 What A Sin!
Back then, she had signed a short contract with the young master in order to prevent something from breaching the contract at the last minute. Seeing that the short contract was about to expire, she was prepared not to renew it.
Of course, if the young master still needed any large prey, it was not impossible for her to hunt for them in the future. After all, even a deer could be sold for more than ten taels of silver, enough for a family of four to live comfortably for a year.
Not long after Mo Ruyue left home, the silence of the Qin Village was broken by a burst of crying.
“Father, if you take my money away, how can I continue to go to school in autumn? Teacher said that I am very good at studies and that I can take the entrance examination in a year’s time. Aren’t you ruining my future?”
Qin Qingyuan’s cries came from the Qin family’s old house, attracting the neighbors to come over and poke their heads in from the gate. They didn’t expect to see Qin Xu walking out angrily, while Qin Qingyuan was hugging his leg tightly and being dragged on the ground.
“You let go! Isn’t this money temporarily borrowed to save your grandma? You just didn’t listen to what I told you yesterday, did you? Now the family owes your aunt dozens of taels of silver, if I don’t go around to collect money, how can I pay back the fine?”
Qin Xu dragged his feet forward while shouting loudly.
“I have to pay grandma’s fine, but I can’t use my money! Didn’t you and grandma agree that you wouldn’t touch this money no matter what?”
Qin Qingyuan hugged his father’s thigh tightly and cried until his face was covered in snot and tears. His voice was so miserable that the surrounding villagers couldn’t bear to see it.
“Second Qin, no matter how badly you want money, you can’t touch the child’s money. If this child gets a scholarly honor in the future, it will bring honor to your old Qin family. You can’t be muddleheaded at this time!”
“That’s right. As for the fine, if you plead with Lady Qin nicely, she will understand. After all, Old Lady Qin has offended her, but the two children are innocent.
“That’s right. Lady Qin is a very reasonable person. She has always been amenable to coaxing but not coercion. Even if your two families have separated, the children’s surname is still Qin. You can’t write two Qin characters in one stroke. In the future, when you’re both gone, the children will help each other!”
Everyone was talking at once. Although it was very lively, everyone knew clearly in their hearts that Mo Ruyue was unmoved by force or persuasion. If Qin Xu really could put down his face and plead for mercy, he would have gone a long time ago. Why would he wait until now?
“Don’t say anymore, we have to admit to the trouble my mother caused. Even if we have to sell everything we have, sell our houses, and land, we have to make up for this money! As for the child’s money, I’ll just borrow it for a while. I’ll think of a way later!”
Qin Xu seemed to be annoyed. He kicked Qin Qingyuan away with his leg and hurried to the door. He pushed the crowd away and left.
“Father! Father! Come back! Father!”
Qin Qingyuan chased after her for a few steps, but he lost his balance and fell to the ground, his face and hands bleeding.
“Aiya, Qingyuan, are you hurt? Quickly get up!”
A neighbor who was the closest to him quickly stepped forward and helped Qin Qingyuan up.
“Where’s your mother? She didn’t even stop your father from taking your money away?”
The neighbor said straightforwardly, but only realized that it was inappropriate after the words left his mouth.
Madam Wang was often abused by Qin Xu. This was no secret in the entire Qin Village. Even if she tried to stop him, how could she?
Hearing that, Qin Qingyuan’s eyes widened in horror. “My mother, my mother has fainted!”
As soon as they heard that Madam Wang had fainted, a few aunts immediately stood up and followed Qin Qingyuan into the house. Sure enough, they saw Madam Wang lying unconscious on the ground with a purple bruise on her forehead.
“Aiya, what’s going on?”
The ladies immediately came forward and helped Madam Wang up. They let her lie on the bed, stroked her chest, and fed her water. After a long time, Madam Wang exhaled and woke up with a violent cough.
“Mother, mother, you scared me to death!”
Qin Qingyuan had been standing at the door the whole time. At this time, he stumbled to Madam Wang’s side and cried loudly.
“Qingyuan, where’s your money? Did you get it?”
The first thing Madam Née Wang asked when she woke up was about the tuition fees.
“Father took it away. I couldn’t stop him.”
Qingyuan lowered his head and said in a choked voice.
“What a sin! That’s money for your studies! If you delay your studies this autumn, how are you going to take the entrance examination next year? Sir clearly said that you can pass the exam!”
Madam Wang immediately burst into tears. A few aunts tried to persuade her, but they couldn’t do anything. They couldn’t interfere in other people’s family affairs.
Although this matter had spread in the village, it did not reach the ears of the five babies in the eldest branch. They were all in their own ‘classroom’ with Mr. Du. Seeing that there was not much time left before the autumn private school opened, they all cherished the remaining time to study with Mr. Du.
After the neighbors had left, Qin Qingyuan took out a handkerchief and wiped the tears and snot off his face. Other than his red and swollen eyes, his expression was very calm.
“Son, do you really want to continue? Mother is really worried. Your aunt went to the mountain early in the morning, who knows when she will come back. You are taking such a risk, what if she can’t make it back in time?”
Madam Née Wang looked at Qin Qingyuan with a face full of worry. When she thought of what he was going to do later, her heart was beating like a drum, and her heart ached.
“Mother, isn’t this for our family? Even though that ten taels of silver is not much, but we can not let Eldest Aunt continue to be so proud. Didn’t we already discuss this? Don’t worry!”
Qin Qingyuan’s face was cold and ruthless. It was not an expression that someone of his age should have.
Mo Ruyue wandered around the mountain for a day. The game she hunted was divided into two parts. One part was sent to the wolf pack in the treasure valley, and the other half was brought down the mountain.
Just as she reached the foot of the mountain, she heard a faint cry. From the direction of the sound, it was coming from her house.
“Why is there no end to this method?”
Mo Ruyue furrowed her brows. An unknown fire rose in her heart, and she became more and more irritated.
She brought a cart of wild game home and saw that the entrance of her house was surrounded again.
“Da Bao, I know you’re very capable. I’m sure Sister-in-law told you how to find her if there’s an emergency. I’m begging you, please find your mother and save my Qingyuan!”
The sound of Madam Wang crying could be heard from the crowd. From her words, she seemed to be saying that something had happened to Qin Qingyuan, so she had come to ask Da Bao to go into the mountain to find her.
“Second Aunt, my mother goes hunting in the mountains every once in a while. The mountains stretch for tens of miles. How would I know where she is? You asked me to go into the mountains, but I couldn’t find her even if I went.”
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