Chapter 482: Chapter 250 Gathering Money_2
"I don’t have the money," He Laoliu said with his head lowered, "but if we can’t cobble together this sum, some of you will have to join me in jail."
"Old Master, I made myself clear just now. We must take the money with us today. How you lot decide to hash it out amongst yourselves, do so in private.... If this gets taken to the county...In the County Yamen Main Hall, they flog first and ask questions later."
Beating He Laoliu would bring no one in the Lian Family any joy, but the real issue was the insufficient funds; someone from the Lian Family would still have to endure the beating.
"Let’s first get the money together," Old Master Lian said desperately to Lady Zhou.
The house was pledged for a hundred taels of silver; where could the remaining sixty-two taels come from? The household had at most ten or so taels in ready cash; beyond that, there was nothing. Unless they used clothes and jewelry as collateral. Whose clothes and jewelry? Hers and Lian Xiuxiu’s? That was not an option, as that was the dowry she had saved for Lian Xiuxiu; no one was allowed to touch it. The quality clothes of the eldest son’s wife, Lady Gu, were with her; they could cover a portion, but what about the rest?
There were surely valuables in Lady Chiang’s trunks, Lady Gu’s jewelry, and silver. Lady Zhou had been trying to find a way to get to them, but Lady Chiang was watertight. The trunks were nominally Lady Chiang’s, and Lady Zhou could not be seen rummaging through them without causing a scene.
But now was not the time for subtleties.
"I, I will discuss it with the daughters-in-law," Lady Zhou said.
"Go ahead," Old Master Lian nodded.
Lady Zhou then went toward the West Wing Room.
"Master, you’re just going to accept the money without getting anything in writing?" Lian Manman reminded Old Master Lian.
"We do need a written agreement," Old Master Lian said and then addressed the government officer, "We’ll try to scrape together the funds, but He Laoliu must sign an acknowledgement of the debt."
This was an affair between the Lian Family and He Laoliu; naturally, the government officer and the Xu Family’s helpers were indifferent.
"Manman, fetch the paper and ink," Old Master Lian ordered.
Before Lian Manman could respond, Lian Shouren quickly stood up.
"Father, I’ll get the paper and ink," Lian Shouren said, heading to the East Room.
Shortly after, both Lady Zhou and Lian Shouren returned. Lian Shouren held in his hands the writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, while Lady Zhou’s hands were empty.
Old Master Lian laid out the paper and began to draft the written acknowledgement.
Lady Zhou glanced at Lian Shouren and nodded. Lian Shouren stood up, walked over to the Xu Family’s steward, and whispered something to him; then the two of them left in succession, one after the other, and shortly after that, the steward called the two government officers out as well.
By this time, Old Master Lian had finished drafting the written acknowledgement and prompted He Laoliu to affix his seal. He Laoliu was reluctant.
"You see, uncle, what’s the necessity? We’re all family here. My sister bore several sons for your family."
Old Master Lian’s face turned a leaden shade of anger, and both Lian Shouxin and Lian Shouli stepped forward, dragging He Laoliu over and forcing him to stamp the document with his seal. At this moment, Lian Shouren, the Xu Family’s steward, and the two government officers returned; Old Master Lian requested that these individuals also witness and stamp the document.
However, the chest yielded only a meager fifteen taels of silver; the remaining forty-seven taels were still nowhere to be seen.
"You..." Old Master Lian looked at Lady Zhou with confusion.
"This disaster was caused by the second eldest’s household, and Erlang’s wife has money belonging to our family; let them go and retrieve it," Lady Zhou asserted.
Lian Manman blinked, realizing what was happening. Lady Zhou had conspired with the people from the main house; the remaining funds were to be extracted from Zhao Xiue.
"Father, there’s nothing to say about our family’s situation. Those sixty-odd taels were loaned to He Laoliu. Looking at him in his current state, it’s going to be tough to get him to repay. In the end, it’ll be up to Erlang and the others to intervene..." Lian Shouren spoke in a low voice.
Seeing that Old Master Lian remained silent, Lian Shouren hurriedly said to the two government officers, "We really must rush. If we’re late, things might become difficult." He understood Lian Shouyi all too well. Not only had Lian Shouyi hidden himself away, but his sons had not returned either. If they didn’t act quickly, Zhao Xiue might also vanish.
"We’ll take into account the Scholar’s good grace. However, I need to make it clear upfront: if we can’t secure the funds, we will still need to come back, and then, sorting out this mess will become even more troublesome," the Xu Family’s steward declared.
"Of course, of course," Lian Shouren nodded.
"We can’t just simply go, though. Are you going to accompany us, or who from here will follow us?" The steward stood and inquired.
The undertone was clear: they were preparing to ransack the town. Lian Manman’s mind raced, and she immediately grabbed Lian Shouxin’s hand.
"Father, why are you sweating so profusely? Is your chest pain acting up again? What are we to do?" Lian Manman exclaimed anxiously, "Third Uncle, quickly help me move my father to our room."
Lian Shouxin momentarily stunned, but catching Lian Manman’s cues, he grunted in acknowledgement.
"Third Uncle, quick," Lian Manman urged Lian Shouli.
Lian Shouli, clueless about the situation, hurried over and, along with Lian Manman, assisted Lian Shouxin. Lian Manman then swiftly led the two men out of the Upper Room.
Lian Shouren watched them leave, and filled with regret, he mentally kicked himself; he had intended to claim illness, but Lian Manman had beaten him to it. Now, not only had she taken Lian Shouxin away, she had also whisked Lian Shouli along. If it wasn’t him who went, it would have to be Old Master Lian.
Old Master Lian and Lian Shouren exchanged glances.
"Eldest, accompany them this time," Old Master Lian instructed.
In the West Wing Room, Lian Manman saw Lian Shouren rush out with the government officer and the Xu Family’s helpers. He Laoliu, still bound, was also being taken away. Lian Manman let out a sigh of relief and went to the Upper Room to fetch Lian Zhizhi back.
"Whose idea was it to get the money from Zhao Xiue?" Lian Manman asked Lian Zhizhi in a whisper.
"The grandma asked the eldest uncle’s wife and the eldest sister-in-law to raise the money. They both cried, saying they couldn’t. Later the eldest uncle arrived and murmured with the eldest uncle’s wife. It was the eldest uncle who put forward the idea," Lian Zhizhi replied.
Lian Manman nodded, understanding the situation.
In the West Wing Room, Lian Shouli and Lian Shouxin, two brothers, sat on the edge of the kang.
"Old Fourth, do you think Father will agree to divide the family this time?" Lian Shouli asked Lian Shouxin.
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Second update, begging for likes. (To be continued. If you like this work, please come to Qidian to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
