Chapter 39.1

Translated by Aviana

Yang laoyezi took a deep breath in, and let himself become cool-headed before he opened his mouth and asked Yang Xuezhang: “This friend of yours, is he certain? After giving the silver, will he surely reveal the questions?”

老 爷子 (lǎoyézi): polite appellation used for an elderly male

At this moment, not even a bit of thought that this kind of method of employing unfair means to qualify to be a xucai is despicable didn’t even arise in the minds of Yang laoyezi, Yang Xuezhang and He-shi.

According to them, just like Yang Xuezhang said, selling and buying examination topics and entering through the back door by using personal connections are all common occurrences. It is just their family didn’t possess such connections to use. But now, finally, they have a way this time… what is there to decide…their hearts couldn’t help but tremble…

Yang laoyezi saying this meant this matter is set in stone. A smile surfaced on He-shi’s face in satisfaction. Yang Xuezhang’s heart also relaxed.

As for what to do next, they would have to discuss the silver required for the topics.

Seeing that Yang laoyezi had given his consent, Wang-shi tugged Yang Tieshuan, hinting him to say something. Yang Tieshuan impatiently pulled her hand away.

Silence enveloped the room once again…

Yang laoyezi had made the final decision; this being the case, now the silver can’t not be given. As for who all will give, who will give more, who will give less, this depends upon each and everyone’s abilities…

Wang-shi quickly made a quick calculation on the narrow abacus in her heart. Yang Tiezhu and Lin Qingwan glanced at each other. Yang Tiegen drooped his head down, feeling downhearted, while Yao-shi had worry across her whole face.

打小算盘 ( dǎ xiǎo suàn pán) : (lit.) to count on a narrow abacus (idiom); petty and scheming selfishly; concerned with petty interests; selfish and uncaring of the interests of others; bean counter

Wang-shi’s abacus calculation was the fastest; thus she took the lead and jumped up.

“Father, me and my husband are also eager for the fourth younger brother to qualify for the exam this time. Once the fourth younger brother qualifies the exam with flying colors, it would also bring a lot of respect for our family. And moreover, we will also be excused from taxes. If the fourth younger brother becomes a teacher, our family’s Dalang, Erlang, and Sanlang can also follow him and bask in his light…. “

Have to say, Wang-shi was quite good at catering others’ moods. Yang laoyezi, He-shi, and Yang Xuezhang all had smiles on their faces as they nodded their heads.

“But—” First sell nicely, cater their moods, flatter them till they are pleased, then immediately lay out one’s woes. “But father and mother are also aware that husband idles around every day, and I have also failed to control time and again. I have asked him to go and find some odd jobs to get some allowance for the family, but he always uses all sorts of excuses to avoid…furthermore there are also so many children…they didn’t even have new clothes for ages now. We are truly helpless… “After narrating her sorrows, Wang-shi broke down and cried; unlike her usual bawls, this time it was the sort of a cry that made the viewers sympathize with her, it was that sort of pathetic whimper accompanied by occasional choking.

At first, Yang Tieshuan felt a bit uncomfortable upon hearing his wife unmasking all of his faults. However, when he thought that his wife doing all of this was for the eldest branch to save money, he immediately shut his mouth and also put on an appearance of great bitterness and deep hatred.

苦大仇深 (kǔ dà chóu shēn): great bitterness, deep hatred (idiom); deeply ingrained long-standing resentment

Yang laoyezi pondered over for a moment, and also felt it was true; eldest branch had so many kids, and his eldest son was also not a good one. His eyes then fell on the second branch beside them.

Yang Tiezhu and Lin Qingwan glanced at each other.

After contemplating for a while, Lin Qingwan cleared her throat and said, “Father, let’s not talk about the rest. You are also aware that when my husband and I married, quite a lot of silver was spent. I have also heard husband say that none of this money came from the family, but was all earned by himself by going into the mountains. As for the silver he earned, it was just enough for our marriage expenses, and there are no leftovers…”

Yang laoyezi’s face at once became red. Regarding his second son’s matter, it was indeed his old wife’s wrongdoing. Which family would not take out silver for their son’s wedding? Now when he heard his daughter-in-law mention this matter again, he felt embarrassed.

“However, since the fourth young brother is going to accomplish great things, as his older brother and older sao, it is impossible for us not to provide him with a bit of support. Let’s do this; we, the second branch, will take out 5 tales of silver. These five tales of silver are not from my husband but are from my dowry. You must also know that at that time when husband sent betrothal gifts, the eldest gu gave the entire betrothal price to me and included it in my dowry. And the silver I am giving now also I am taking out from the bottom of my trunk.” She said all of this for He-shi to hear, lest she uses the betrothal price 8.8 taels Yang Tiezhu gave her as a pretext to grumble.

Sao ( 嫂): older brother’s wife / sister-in-law

姑 (gū): father’s oldest sister / husband’s older sister

He-shi would have nothing to grumble about this time, right? Look, all of the silver is being used to subsidize to help your son take the exam.

Lin Qingwan knew very well that today if they didn’t put out even a bit of silver, it would be absolutely impossible to walk away. Rather than deliberately make things complicated and make a fuss, they might as well openly give them.

Look, we have only this much silver. Yang Tiezhu also recently didn’t go into the mountains, so almost all of the silver is given to you. Do you still dare to make trouble?

Lin Qingwan’s words made Yang laoyezi’s heart go up then down. But when he heard that the second branch was still willing to take out the silver, he nodded his head in satisfaction. In his heart, he thought the second branch’s husband and wife were truly efficient and also did not evade and grumble. This daughter-in-law was also pretty good; she even took out her dowry from the bottom of the trunk.

Next, it was the third branch’s turn.

Yang Tiegen, after dillydallying for half a day, squeezed out few words from his throat, “Father, you also know that I don’t have much silver, even the children and mother are reluctant to eat and have new clothes to save a bit of silver. There must be about 2 taels of silver in savings; we will take two taels of silvers from our side.”

Yao-shi’s distressed face turned pale. Several years have passed since she married Yang Tiezhu, yet she managed to save only less than five taels of silver with difficulty, but now half of it was gone.

Yang laoyezi nodded his head. The third branch is also just like the second branch. Almost all of their savings must have been emptied out.

He turned his head to look at He-shi, “Altogether, we have 7 taels, the remaining amount, can you manage?”

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