Chapter 28: Getting a Donkey
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Indeed, what she was worried about happened in the next second.
The village chief said, “Yes, this is also a solution. Madam Ma, if your family can’t fork out so much money at once, use the donkey as compensation to the Zhou family then. Give them two old hens as well.” freewebnove(l)
“What!” Old Madam Ma jumped up from the ground in disbelief. “You want me to give her the donkey and two old hens?”
Because she was too astounded at what she heard, Old Madam Ma’s voice turned sharp.
At this moment, Madam Cui had also forgotten to cry. Her mind was filled with thoughts that they were going to lose her donkey and hens.
The village chief was no longer patient and took on a much harsher tone of voice. “You darn woman, you really don’t know anything! A donkey is worth about 8000 copper coins, and a hen is only worth about 400 copper coins. All of this combined is not even enough to repay the Zhou family’s medical fees!”
“We don’t even know if the Zhou family would be willing to accept this arrangement, and yet you are the first to object!”
Zhou Xiaoli said at the right time, “Uncle Village Chief, everyone is very busy. I don’t want to waste everyone’s time.”
Moreover, we’re from the same village after all and we’ll see each other often. I’m willing to suffer a little loss. I’ll just have the donkey and two hens as compensation.”
Zhou Xiaoli spoke as if she was a righteous person, but Old Madam Ma was so angry that she almost vomited blood.
When the village chief looked at Zhou Xiaoli, his expression became much kinder. When he turned to Old Madam Ma, his expression darkened again. “Listen, listen. She doesn’t even want to argue about it anymore. How old are you? And yet, you’re not even as sensible as a ten-year-old girl!”
“Everyone is very busy and we don’t have time to argue with you! If you don’t want to give it to them, you can go straight to the police then.”
Old Madam Ma originally wanted to make a scene to waive the compensation in a shameless manner.
At this moment, Old Madam Ma’s man, Zheng Guanghu, finally couldn’t sit still and walked out of his house.
When he came out, he first scolded Old Madam Ma with a cold expression. Then, he said to the village chief, “Village Chief, this is indeed that silly woman’s fault. My family is willing to compensate.”
Only then did the village chief nod in satisfaction. “That’s right. As a person, you have to be reasonable.”
Finally, with Old Madam Ma’s and Madam Cui’s cries, Zhou Xiaoli returned home with a donkey lead in her left hand and two chickens in her right.
This farce finally came to an end.
Old Madam Ma and her daughter-in-law, who had been taken on a ride, avoided Zhou Xiaoli like the plague whenever they saw her in the future. They hated her and were afraid of her at the same time.
However, at this moment, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were still making a scene in their courtyard. During this period, they also did not fail to curse Zhou Xiaoli. Their yells could be heard clearly even with the Liu family courtyard in between the two families.
Zhou Xiaoli, on the other hand, did not care at all. She was enjoying her spoils of war.
On her way back home, she was still thinking that it would be good if they had a donkey. Now, the opportunity came knocking on her door and she also got two old hens for nothing.
At this moment, Wei Chiyu suddenly leaned over.
“Happy?”
“Of course.” Zhou Xiaoli patted the donkey and said happily, “With it, it will be much easier to enter the county in the future.”
After a while, she did not hear Wei Chiyu’s voice. Zhou Xiaoli looked up at him and saw him looking at her.
She couldn’t help but raise her eyebrows. “Why? Do you think I went overboard?”
Wei Chiyu shook his head and said seriously, “No, I think you did the right thing. People like them should be taught a lesson. Otherwise, they’ll think that you’re easy to bully and would dare to do it again. If it were me, I would take more than just the donkey.”
Zhou Xiaoli looked at the young man in front of her and laughed unconsciously.
Wei Chiyu was stunned. “What’s wrong? Did I say something wrong?”
“No, no. What you said is just as I thought.” Zhou Xiaoli stopped smiling. “It’s just that this is the first time I’ve seen you say such a long sentence. I thought you didn’t know how to say long sentences.”
After being teased, Wei Chiyu was a little embarrassed. “Yes, is that so? Then I’ll say more in the future?”
Zhou Xiaoli could not help but laugh. “Pfft! I didn’t realize that you were so cute.”
This time, Wei Chiyu’s ears turned red and he kept quiet with a straight face.
Seeing this, Zhou Xiaoli leaned in to look at his expression. “Why? Are you angry?”
Zhou Xiaoli’s sudden approach startled Wei Chiyu and he couldn’t keep a straight face anymore. “Who would praise a grown man cute?” he said as he pursed his lips.
The more he acted like this, the more Zhou Xiaoli wanted to tease him. She could not help but spread out her hands in mock exasperation. “How old are you? You haven’t even reached adulthood. You can only be considered a boy and not a man. Moreover, girls like cute boys.”
Wei Chiyu: “...I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’ll leave first.”
As soon as he finished speaking, he turned around and left. His quick footsteps gave people the feeling that he was actually fleeing from the scene.
Zhou Xiaoli held back her laughter and shouted, “Hey, no, you’re leaving just like that? Aren’t you staying for dinner? You gave me money before, so I won’t return it even if you don’t want to.”
Wei Chiyu’s slightly messy footsteps paused. In the end, he said that he would come back later and left the courtyard.
Due to the conflict with Old Madam Ma, dinner was delayed for a long time. When they finally sat down to eat, the sky was already dark and by the time they finished eating, the sky was completely dark.
Wei Chiyu didn’t stay for long and he left straight after eating.
Zhou Xiaoli lit a kerosene lamp and used the weak light to sort out the messy medicine that was dismantled by the Cui family.
Four packets of medicine were re-packed into three packets.
Zhou Xiaoli did not tell Zhang Lan that it was not ginseng, but codonopsis.
Seeing how she re-packed the medicine made Zhang Lan’s heart ache. “Even if the amount doesn’t add up, the medicine would still have some effect. Don’t throw it away; I can still drink it after it is cooked.”
Zhou Xiaoli said, “It’s alright, Mother. I’ll get more medicine after you have finished it. I still have money and besides, we can always earn more.”
“Look at you, the way you said about earning money, it was as though it is as easy as picking up cabbages.” Zhang Lan teased.
Zhou Xiaoli smiled and took out the money she had on her. “Dang dang dang. Mother, look, we still have more than eight taels left from selling the pigs.”
“Why is there still so much money left!” Zhang Lan’s eyes instantly widened.
She had never seen so much money in her life, especially silver taels.
...
Her hands trembled as she touched the money. The two little fellows ran over and looked at the silver pieces. Their mouths were wide open as they started counting.
At this moment, Zhang Lan suddenly thought of something and could not help but ask curiously, “Hey, something’s not right. Didn’t you say that the pigs were sold for 22 taels today and everything was used to buy stuff?”
Zhou Xiaoli laughed, “Mother, I was lying to them. This is called not revealing your wealth in front of others.”
“Yes, yes, yes. You’re right.” Zhang Lan paused and nodded repeatedly. Her eyes could not help but be filled with pride. “Mother’s Little Li is getting smarter and smarter.”
Zhang Lan did not know how to count and she believed Zhou Xiaoli’s words without a doubt.
Zhou Xiaoli smiled and said, “Mother, that’s not all. Wei Chiyu will be eating at our house from now on. He even gave me five taels of silver for it.”
“Ah?” Zhang Lan was stunned. “That won’t do. Little Wei’s life is also very difficult. How can you ask him for money? You should return it to him tomorrow.”
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