Chapter 65.2

Translated by Aviana

“Alas——there’s nothing they can do. There are too many powerful people with authority and power. If such people want to make things difficult for you, there’s truly nothing you can do. Fortunately, elder brother knew to give up the wealth in exchange for his life. Otherwise, he would have been falsely charged this time.”

How could Lin Qingwan possibly not understand this reason?

She pouted but didn’t say anything. This wasn’t the question of giving up on the wealth or being reluctant to give up on it. Rather the issue was that the owner was too vicious in his means. If he didn’t want to use the old man, he could have replaced him with his own people. Does he need to be that cruel? The main reason behind forcing Xia Dacheng into pleading guilty wasn’t it to make it utterly impossible for him to step into the business circle in the future? Who would dare to hire an employee who had a record of losing money at his previous employer’s workplace?

Lin Qingwan’s thoughts were far-reaching, while Yang Tiezhu’s worries centered around Xia Dacheng’s family’s current situation and livelihood. Fortunately, his wife was a smart one and was able to see Laweixian. Otherwise, Xia Dacheng, who returned to his hometown in dire straits, would have had to struggle for his livelihood.

Thinking all of this, he hugged Lin Qingwan and said, “Wifey, you are still the smart one. If it weren’t for your Laweixian’s business, eldest gu’s entire family’s livelihood would have posed a great problem.”

*姑 (Gū): father’s oldest sister

Lin Qingwan gave Yang Tiezhu a smile without speaking anything as her heart sank.

At the moment, the situation was indeed good, but this Laweixian was only a seasonal business. That is to say, it could only be sold in the winter season. In her previous life, everyone began making sausages at the beginning of the twelfth lunar month. Of course, in certain areas where the climate is somewhat cold, they could begin making sausages in advance. Nonetheless, they could be done only in one season in a year.

Initially, Lin Qingwan merely thought of selling them in this season, accumulating a bit of silver, and then planning something else later on. But in the light of the current scenario, she found it slightly tricky. Their family’s situation isn’t bad. They still have a bit of silver in their hands. These savings can support themselves for the next few years even without income. But, this wasn’t the case with Yang-shi’s family.

Xia Dacheng was injured and bed-ridden. He needs to regularly take medicine and change the medicine and bandages, which need silver. And there was also the entire family’s livelihood. Although their family owned a few mu of land, the number of people who could go into the fields and work wasn’t many. Indeed, Xia Dacheng was sure in his prime of life, but he hadn’t done such work in the past decade, and it might be slightly difficult for them in the beginning.

*亩 (mǔ): classifier for fields/unit of area equal to one-fifteenth of a hectare

Furthermore, she had observed Xia Dacheng’s expression in the noon. He seemed to have thoughts of having Xia Hongzhi continue his studies. She had also heard from Yang-shi that Hongzhi that child was pretty good at academics. And this is another expense, where silver is very much needed…. How much silver goes in to raise the scholar? Lin Qingwan knew this well, having seen Yang jia’s situation and their depleting wealth….

Of course, Lin Qingwan is not considering all these only for Yang-shi’s family, but also for themselves.

After seeing Xia Dacheng’s situation, she realized how unfair society was. Those who didn’t have money can’t afford to offend wealthy people. While the wealthy dreaded government officials. A county magistrate can destroy a family, while a prefecture governor can exterminate an entire family. Their family, who weren’t even wealthy, not to mention government officials, couldn’t even afford to offend a small landlord.

Isn’t Xia Dacheng’s situation the best example? Just because the rich people above were involved in the power struggle, he almost lost his life.

While at Yang-shi’s place in the morning, Xia Dacheng also described some of his experiences in prison.

Thinking about this, Lin Qingwan felt chill all over. ‘ If a wealthy merchant wished to bully you, you don’t have a choice but take it as that you were unlucky, and can’t even resist a bit. Currently, the only thing that could give them a bit of sense of security was having more silver in their hands.’

Such thoughts hadn’t occurred to Lin Qingwan in the past, for she had never seen the true darkness of reality ever before. After she got married into the Luoxia village, her life revolved around the village itself, and she had never got to experience the so-called world of business. Most importantly, she was pregnant at the moment. Naturally, her thoughts would change. Previously, it was only her and Yang Tiezhu, and the two had sufficient food to eat without starving. However, they were having a child at the moment, and the situation is different from that of the past.

Would she also be in the same situation as Yang-shi? Seeing her son covered all over with cuts and bruises, all she could do was just cry bitterly? A peasant with neither power nor silver would only be trampled upon if something happens!

This sort of feeling was truly horrible!

Lin Qingwan never had any great aspirations. Both in her previous life and this life, she only wished to have a smooth and steady life with days full of peace and prosperity, without any goals. But, now living in this place, she couldn’t help but give birth to other ideas.

Becoming a government official is impossible. Not to mention, Yang Tiezhu was also not suitable for it. Thus, she can only make more money.

Lin Qingwan reclined down and nestled down on the firm arms of her husband reclined behind her. Perhaps, because he had been outdoors for a long time and felt tired, he soon slipped into sleep.

However, Lin Qingwan couldn’t fall asleep. The string of words ‘ be vigilant in times of peace ‘ appeared in her mind for the first time. These words brought several other thoughts within her….

*****

Chapter 66 (Teaser)

The new year was drawing nearer and nearer. They were just ten days away from New year’s day. Though there was a snowfall outside, it couldn’t dampen everyone’s jubilant moods as they waited for the new year.

In Luoxia village, there is a popular piece of doggerel, which tells about the activities carried out by the villagers from the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month. It goes like this, “On the twenty-third day, sacrifices to the kitchen god are offered; On the twenty-fourth day, the house is swept and cleaned; On the twenty-fifth day, soybeans are grounded, and bean curd is made; On the twenty-sixth day……

— on 12th

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