Chapter 673: Chapter 673: Simple Tricks
If I join Widow Tong’s weaving workshop as an embroidery girl, why would my son’s marriage be a problem?
Not only will my son’s marriage be secured, but with my own clever tongue, I might even gain favor with Su Qing or Widow Tong. Then, I could even get my own daughter into the workshop to earn money.
My daughter isn’t skilled in weaving or embroidery, but she’s quite articulate. Maybe she could work as a steward under Taohua.
Just like Su Qing, she could also use her authority to rake in more benefits.
The Second Aunt of the Li Family became more tempted to spend fifty taels of silver on buying a position as an embroidery girl.
After all, it’s more cost-effective than marrying a bride from Pingyang County.
Li Mingxiu carefully observed the expression on her Second Aunt’s face, knowing that she had been convinced.
She chatted with her Second Aunt for a while longer, adding fuel to the fire, and only when she heard her First Aunt and Su Qing talking in the courtyard did she start to leave the kitchen.
The Second Aunt wanted to say something more, but Li Mingxiu interrupted her.
"Second Aunt, I’m leaving now, lest Su Qing catches me talking about her profiteering." Li Mingxiu gestured towards the outside.
"Mingxiu, buying an embroidery girl for fifty taels, let me think it over carefully," Li Family’s Second Aunt said, watching her sister-in-law chatting with Su Qing and pulling Li Mingxiu back.
Li Mingxiu glanced outside and whispered, "Second Aunt, you should discuss this carefully with Second Uncle. Fifty taels for an embroidery girl isn’t too expensive, but it’s a lot for you and Second Uncle. After all, how much can you earn from working in the fields for a year? All my money is invested with Taohua and Su Qing for interest. If I had any, I’d lend it to you."
This statement crushed the Second Aunt’s idea of borrowing money.
Second Aunt of the Li Family’s eyes lit up; the money earned at the weaving workshop could be lent out for interest? That would be another significant source of income.
The ungrateful girl earns so much money and doesn’t bring any home.
"I’ll discuss it well with your Second Uncle. Just give me seven days to tell Su Qing," said the Second Aunt of the Li Family.
Seven days was the timeframe the matchmaker from Pingyang County would convey. If the bride from Pingyang County was still hesitant or wanted to increase the bride price after seven days, she would use these fifty taels to bribe Su Qing into getting a position at the weaving workshop.
Li Mingxiu refused, "Seven days? Second Aunt, are you joking? Don’t you know how coveted jobs at the weaving workshop are? I can at most get Su Qing to give you a two-day extension. If you really can’t come up with the money, just let it go. Fifty taels is no small amount; it could get Second Brother two brides."
This infuriated the Second Aunt of the Li Family even more; why should her son have to pay two or three times more to get married?
She had already agreed to pay fifty taels as a dowry to the matchmaker, yet the bride’s side was still being difficult!
"Fine, two days it is. I’ll come to Qinghe Bay to see you in two days."
Seeing that Li Mingxiu was about to step out of the kitchen with her right leg, the Second Aunt of the Li Family grabbed her and made up her mind with a gritted tooth.
Li Mingxiu came into the courtyard and secretly gave Su Qing a knowing look, letting her know that the Second Aunt of the Li Family had taken the bait.
The Second Aunt of the Li Family, wanting to leave a good impression on Su Qing, gave her a box of pastries that she had bought in town during her son’s matchmaking.
Su Qing’s mouth twitched; weren’t these pastries from Taohua Dessert?
"Grandma, take care at home. I’m going back to Qinghe Bay."
Li Mingxiu bid farewell to her grandmother.
Her grandmother, along with her two daughters-in-law, escorted Li Mingxiu and Su Qing to the door.
The First Aunt and Second Aunt of the Li Family watched Li Mingxiu’s back, each with her own thoughts.
When the Second Wife came to discuss marrying off Li Mingxiu to Manager He as a concubine, the First Aunt was opposed. She wanted Li Mingxiu to stay at home for life, unmarried, so her earnings would all go to her grandson.
After all, they were from the eldest branch, and the second branch could not outdo them no matter what.
The Second Aunt had seen through the intentions of the First Aunt and felt that her own family was losing out, which was why she wanted to marry off Li Mingxiu, so they could earn some dowry in return.
Half the matters were settled, but the other half was still left to investigate.
Li Mingxiu and Su Qing avoided their family and took a turn around the village.
"Dayi, I have something to ask you."
Li Mingxiu stopped her First Aunt’s granddaughter.
Dayi was holding one younger brother by the hand and carrying another on her back, looking timidly at Li Mingxiu and Su Qing.
"Dayi, has anyone visited our home recently? For instance, anyone from Pingyang County?" Li Mingxiu inquired.
Dayi pressed her lips tight.
Su Qing opened the pastry box from the Second Aunt of the Li Family and took out a piece of hibiscus cake to hand to Dayi.
Dayi’s eyes sparkled, but the cake was quickly snatched by the brother beside her.
Su Qing took out two more pieces from the box, one for Dayi and one for the brother on her back.
Dayi put down the brother on her back, gobbled up the pastry, and reached out to Su Qing for more.
Su Qing shook her head and said, "Tell me first, and I’ll give you more."
Dayi looked longingly at Li Mingxiu and said, "No one came except Matchmaker Wang."
Li Mingxiu frowned, staring at Dayi, but Dayi clearly wasn’t lying.
Li Mingxiu generally trusted Dayi, as she would occasionally buy her velvet flowers and hair ties, asking her to keep an eye on whether the first or second household were plotting anything against her.
Dayi had always done a good job.
Su Qing tried a different approach and asked, "Has your Second Grandma gone out lately?"
Dayi’s eyes lit up, and she said, "Yes, I heard my grandma say that Second Grandma went to visit relatives in Pingyang County a few days ago. After she came back, she wanted to have Aunt Mingxiu become someone’s concubine. My grandma scolded Second Grandma for having sinister motives."
Su Qing...
The Li Family really didn’t avoid discussing things in front of children.
Pingyang County, Second Grandma’s sister’s family, and having Li Mingxiu become a concubine — it all matched with Manager He.
"Aunt Mingxiu, you can’t become a concubine. My grandma said that Aunt Mingxiu’s money is all going to be mine, and it shouldn’t benefit outsiders," said the slightly older boy beside Dayi, eyeing the pastry in Su Qing’s hand.
Li Mingxiu felt like giving this entitled nephew a slap.
The audacity, thinking her money should go to them.
Su Qing frowned; she had thought Dayi’s grandmother had some good sense, but it turned out she was just as bad, only worried because she wouldn’t benefit from Li Mingxiu becoming a concubine.
No wonder Li Mingxiu had no affection for the Li Family.
"Aunt Mingxiu, your money is all mine."
The entitled nephew reached out to grab the bracelet on Li Mingxiu’s hand. After all, his grandparents and parents said all of Aunt Mingxiu’s things were his, so the bracelet on Aunt Mingxiu’s hand was his too.
He thought there was nothing wrong with taking his bracelet to exchange for sweets in town.
Li Mingxiu pushed the entitled nephew hard, causing him to fall flat on his bottom, and he started crying.
"Don’t even think about taking my things."
Li Mingxiu pulled out a hairpin and made a threatening gesture towards the entitled nephew, scaring him into holding back his tears.
"Dayi, you’ve done well. If anything happens at home and I ask you, just tell me, and I’ll buy you pastries," Li Mingxiu said, taking two pieces from Su Qing’s hand and giving them to Dayi. "Keep it to yourself and don’t let anyone else eat them. Also, don’t tell anyone at home about what you’ve said to me; make sure your brother keeps quiet too."
Dayi took the pastries, nodded vigorously, and said sensibly, "I won’t tell anyone at home."
Having gathered the information they wanted, Li Mingxiu and Su Qing left the village satisfied.
Returning to Qinghe Bay’s Tong Family Weaving Workshop, Tong Huaqiong and Mrs. Hong were waiting for them.
The two shared what had happened at the Li Family with Tong Huaqiong and Mrs. Hong.
Mrs. Hong was so pleased she couldn’t stop smiling.
Tong Huaqiong thought it was like a low-grade scam from her time — you think simple tricks won’t work, but there are always fools who fall for it.
It’s nothing more than pure greed at work.
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