They've all separated, so what does it matter to me if they get poorer and poorer?

Chapter 135 Building a House Ahead of Schedule

Xu Zhichun ignored all of these words.

She's not that magnanimous.

Uncle Liang and the others originally thought that she would come over to make amends after hearing about their dissatisfaction, but to their surprise, she didn't do anything at all, and this time she was really angry.

"Good, good, good! I think she's really got some guts! She's got the ability to never need to ask us for anything in her life!"

"A jinx, an ingrate! It would have been better if she hadn't come at all. Who wants her to come!"

But thinking about the thirty coins a day, even though he was cursing loudly, he still felt a pang of heartache.

Building a house costs money like water. Xu Zhichun estimated that it would probably cost fifty or sixty taels of silver. So, he couldn't stop making money. Xu Zhichun, Aunt Zhu'er, and Zeng Xiaoyan continued to go to the city to set up a stall every day.

The difference is that more and more people are coming to visit, and they always want to find out what they make, how they make it, how much it sells for per kilogram in the city, and whether it sells well.
Xu Zhichun and the others were so annoyed that they simply kept the courtyard gate tightly closed while they were working.

Everyone then awkwardly and tactfully withdrew.

That's true, who would want to tell others about their money-making methods?

Just as Xu Zhichun's family was enjoying the excitement of building their new house, another unexpected event occurred in the village.

While cutting pig feed by a section of the river outside the village, Liang Cuier accidentally fell into the water and was rescued by Lian Laosi from Bakou Village who happened to be passing by.

The two had now become intimate, so Liang Cuier had no choice but to marry Lian Laosi.

Liang Cuier cried, Zhang was also very sad, and everyone in the village sighed.

That fourth brother was a widower in his thirties. It's such a pity Liang Cuier married such a man. It's also bad luck that she fell into the water. But at least she's alive, which is some consolation. Better to be alive than dead.

Some people vaguely felt that something was not right. Lian Lao Si had visited Uncle Liang's house a while ago, and they vaguely heard that Zhang and the others had forced Xu Zhichun to remarry this Lian Lao Si.

They were making baseless accusations and it was none of their business. Even if they had doubts, no one would investigate further. Most people just felt sorry for Liang Cuier.

Xu Zhichun sneered when he found out. Good riddance to the eldest son's family for tearing off their fig leaf!
This matter is now completely unrelated to me.

Because the person had "lost their innocence," the wedding should not be delayed, so it was set for half a month later.

The fourth son couldn't even afford a penny of betrothal gifts, yet he demanded an exorbitant dowry, nearly driving Uncle Liang and his wife to their deaths with anger once again.

The stone you lift will drop heavily on your own foot.

Uncle Liang was concerned about his reputation, so he had to swallow his pride and boast to outsiders that even the fourth brother had given his family five taels of silver as a betrothal gift.

I was hoping to find a good in-law to bring me honor, but now I've ended up with a troublesome family.

On the day of the betrothal, Zhang broke down again, angrily confronting Bai and demanding a tael of silver from her. Otherwise, she threatened to reveal all the things Bai had instigated her to say, and they would all perish together.

Seeing her almost frantic state, Bai was both angry and resentful. Not daring to provoke her any further, she had no choice but to take out one or two taels of silver.

After arguing with Bai, Zhang, still seething with anger, went to Zhu'er's aunt's house and pounded on the door, looking for Xu Zhichun.

"As the cousin's wife, shouldn't you give your cousin a proper dowry when she gets married? You have money to build a new house, but you don't have money for a dowry? You said you're making money from your business every day and can't give too little. Give me three taels of silver!"

Zhang glared venomously at Xu Zhichun: it was all her fault that Cui'er was harmed. If she hadn't refused to remarry, Cui'er wouldn't have suffered like this. Her Cui'er, why was she so unlucky? Asking Xu Zhichun for three taels of silver was already too good for her.

Aunt Zhu couldn't help but say, "Sister-in-law Zhang, even among the closest relatives in our village, the dowry between sisters is only a pair of shoes, two handkerchiefs, and at most a pair or two insoles, or three taels of silver. Isn't that a bit too much?"

Zeng Xiaoyan was much more direct: "That's right, three taels of silver, this dowry is almost as much as the betrothal gifts."

Zhang, enraged, retorted, "What business is it of yours what our family's affairs are? Why are you being so nosy?" Xu Zhichun replied, "This is a joyous occasion, isn't it unlucky for you to start cursing like this, Aunt? What's wrong with Aunt Zhu and Xiao Yan saying a few words out of curiosity? Anyone in the village who hears what you've said will probably gossip about it. I don't have three taels of silver, but I will give you the dowry I'm entitled to. If you're not happy about it, just gossip about me."

If you're not afraid that you'll end up making a laughing stock of yourself.

“Xu Zhichun! Cui’er is so pitiful. She was harmed so badly. You won’t even give her this little bit of money. You’re really heartless.”

"Whatever Auntie says, I can't compare to her in any way."

"you--"

Zhang was so angry that her chest heaved violently. She flung her hand and left, saying, "Just you wait!"

Zeng Xiaoyan pouted: "This is really inexplicable. Sister-in-law Zhichun, just ignore her."

Aunt Zhu felt something was off. "Yes, ignore her. I think she's really angry about this marriage. She's being unreasonable. Zhichun, you should avoid her for a while."

What if she causes trouble?

Xu Zhichun nodded: "Mm."

The new houses are getting more expensive every day, and they're changing every day. As the project nears completion, it's almost the end of the month.

The county school is closed for two days; it's time to pick up Liang Mingxuan.

Xu Zhichun was quite looking forward to his reaction as she brought him back to see how their new house was going.

County school.

The main gate was bustling with activity early in the morning.

Students from this county will mostly go home. Students from Qingyang County and Changshui County will not go home, but they will go to the county town to stroll around or go out to climb mountains and visit lakes to relax.

The dean's wife was going to visit the county magistrate's wife today and asked Lu Xiaoyue to go with her. Liang Mingxuan originally planned to wait until his sister-in-law and the others finished their business at noon before picking him up, but Qin Ning'an warmly invited him to come into the city with her carriage.

“Let’s go together. I’ll take you to find Sister Xu. I ate so much delicious braised meat and chili sauce that Sister Xu gave me, so it’s only right that I give you a ride so that Sister Xu doesn’t have to come all the way here.”

Liang Mingxuan thought about it and agreed; it was on their way, so it wouldn't be a bother. Once they got into town, they would go find his sister-in-law and the others, and they could go home together after they finished their business.

"Thank you very much."

"Hehe, no need! Bring me some chili sauce in a couple of days."

“I’ll help my sister-in-law whenever she has time to cook.”

"Sister Xu loves you so much, she'll definitely have time."

Liang Mingxuan smiled. It was precisely because his sister-in-law doted on him that he wouldn't ask for anything or cause her any trouble. If his sister-in-law was busy, he wouldn't even ask.

The two of them left the county school together to wait for the Qin family to arrive when two boys of similar age suddenly rushed up from behind them, almost pushing Qin Ning'an to the ground.

Haha! We've come to pick you up!

"Haha, Cousin Qin, your reaction is hilarious! Look how scared you are, how can you be such a coward!"

Liang Mingxuan firmly supported Qin Ning'an, whose face was slightly pale from fright, and looked at the two people.

That's a ridiculous joke.

(End of this chapter)