Chapter 72 -72: No Need to Starve
“Mother, don’t worry, Xuexue will make money to support you in the future,” Xuexue said, and seemed to think of something, she got up, and without time to call out, she ran out like flying.
“Eh! This child, always so frantic.”
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Watching Xuexue disappear like the wind, Madam Xie couldn’t help but mutter softly under her breath as she began to clean up the dishes and tidy the table, ready to take some dishes out to wash.
Xuexue returned with a pack, and as soon as she entered, she lifted the bundle in her hands, exclaiming with high spirits, “Mother, this is the money from selling river snails. We haven’t counted it yet. How much is it, I wonder? Come quickly, let’s count it together.”
Madam Xie was stunned for a moment, the girl had rushed out in haste for this.
“Ah! Alright!”
...
Madam Xie stopped and put the dishes aside.
Xuexue sat down on the stool with enthusiasm, placed the bundle on the table, and began to count the coins with Madam Xie.
“One, two, three… Nine hundred, nine hundred and one…”
As they counted, Madam Xie was astonished and couldn’t help but say, “Who would have thought that ordinary river snails could earn us so much Copper Coin in just one day?”
After a while, Xuexue finally finished counting, her face bursting with a smile, “Yes! Exactly twelve hundred Copper Coins, if we go on like this, not only will we not starve, but we’ll even make money.”
“Twelve hundred Copper Coins? Xuexue, are you sure you counted right?” Madam Xie was both astonished and somewhat incredulous as she looked at Xuexue.
“I counted very carefully, no mistake,” Xuexue replied.
“Twelve hundred Copper Coins, that’s one tael and two qian,” Madam Xie murmured, counting on her fingers.
“Right, Mother, we now have one tael and two qian.”
That’s wonderful, Chuner’s sickness can be treated now, with this money, we don’t have to worry anymore,” Madam Xie had always been concerned that after leaving the Mo family, without money for treatment, Chuner’s condition might worsen, but now, the anxiety that hung in her heart was considerably eased.
“Mother, you must hide this money well. Chuner’s treatment depends on it. Now that Madam Ruan and her daughter are driven by greed, they definitely won’t give up easily,” Xuexue repackaged the Copper Coin and handed it over to Madam Xie, all the while reminding her.
Thinking about this morning when Madam Ruan, under the pretext of wanting tea, tricked her and searched the entire room, Madam Xie felt uneasy.
“You keep the money. If I need it, I’ll ask you for it.”
Lately, Xuexue had always been particularly decisive. Keeping the money with her, Madam Ruan surely wouldn’t be able to steal it, which was safer than leaving it with herself, Madam Xie felt reassured.
“Alright.”
Xuexue thought about it, that’s right, her foster mother was too simple and honest, and Madam Ruan was full of cunning schemes; she was no match for her.
“Mother, take care of Chuner. I’ll go to the river to fill the water jar and then head to the creek to collect river snails. We need to sell them at the next market,” Xuexue said as she stood up, holding the bundle, speaking to Madam Xie.
“Hmm! Come back early, don’t be too late.”
Hearing Xuexue talk about going to the river to fetch water, Madam Xie understood; the water for today’s porridge had been borrowed from a neighbor. Borrowing once or twice is fine, but more than that, people would be unhappy.
“Alright!”
After speaking, Xuexue took the bundle and went back to her room.
Having secured the money, Xuexue picked up two wooden buckets and headed to the river.
The river was somewhat far, at the edge of the village. Usually, at the Mo house, these chores were done by Madam Xie. Now that Chuner was sick, and having just been divorced by her husband, Madam Xie really had no mind to attend to these tasks.