Chapter 169: The Debts Setteled Between Biological Brothers
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
“It’s not the beginning of the new year, and there are many wild vegetables in the fields. The bamboo shoots in the forest have also sprouted.”
“You have to remove the old roots at the head of the bamboo shoots and do the same with the dried bamboo shoots. I don’t want the dark ones. If you take them away and dry them, they will look milky white. These are just some hard-earned money.”
“Let’s move on to the matter of purchasing firewood. The requirements are simple, they need to be dry and thick. The thinnest firewood will be as thick as a finger.”
“Other than that, I won’t accept them.”
“The price is the same for everyone. If the ones you send will be slightly more expensive by one or two copper, you will also earn one or two copper more, but the requirements for the items will be higher.”
“Let the men settle the requirements. Whenever you send something over, weigh it, and check if there’s no problem. I’ll pay the bill here, and 1 won’t owe you a single copper.”
“Everyone, if you have any opinions or thoughts, you can say it. Our family is close by blood, so say whatever you have to say. “Han Qiao laughed.
Some people even asked Han Qiao to lend them money to buy a mule cart.
“I can lend you money, but I have to write an IOU. I can’t lend you money for nothing.”
Her cousins, sisters-in-law, and brothers-in-law sat up straight.
It was good that she was willing to lend them money.
As for the capital, the family could scrape together some money, but to do business, one needed a handy tool.
They didn’t dare to think about a carriage, but they could get a mule cart. At the very least, they could get a donkey cart.
They didn’t want to build a carriage, so they just wanted to make a handcart.
They had to use a cart to load things.
A donkey was about seven or eight taels of silver, and a mule was about fifteen taels of silver. They could find a carpenter to make a handcart, but the main thing was to buy the mule.
“Brothers and sisters, I’ll lend twenty taels each for a year, and you’ll have to return twenty-two taels after the deadline.”
“Alright.”
The main thing was funds.
For these funds, they had to pay them back even if they couldn’t.
They had worked hard for a year, and their children and grandchildren would only have a good life if they suffered.
Once the matter was settled, Han Qiao asked Shulan to bring the IOU. None of her brothers and sisters could read.
One of her brothers-in-law was literate, but not many.
He had read every single one of them carefully.
Han Qiao was fair. Even her biological brothers received the same treatment.
Twenty taels, two taels of interest.
Just as she said, she treated everyone equally.
Everyone signed their names and Duan Yue handed over the purse that she had prepared earlier.
Each purse was worth twenty taels of silver.
At this moment, the Han family finally understood that their sister was truly different.
After the official business was settled, it was time to chat.
Han Qiao told everyone the things to take note of when harvesting bamboo shoots, firewood, and wild vegetables to prevent them from being cheated when purchasing.
“You have to be careful because when the items reach me, 1 will get someone to check them carefully. If they are damaged and have wounds, 1 definitely won’t buy them at the original price. I won’t even take them.”
“Also, let’s talk about where we should buy from. It’s best to set a price. We shouldn’t set it too high or too low.”
“As for selling them to other families, you should charge them high, don’t be nervous. The business is done by yourself, and the money is your own. Every price that is raised is taken out of your own pocket.”
“You have to eat rice one mouthful at a time, and you have to drink water one mouthful at a time. If you open your mouth wide and can’t pour it in, you will even hurt yourself.”
“The bamboo shoots we bought are still buried in the ground, so the price will be higher. When they sprouted, they will be cheaper. The price of yellow and green bamboo shoots is also different.”
“The yellow-pointed bamboo shoots are sweeter, and the green-pointed ones are a little bit more chewy.”
“If you want to make dried bamboo shoots, you must dry them in the sun.”
“You can also make sour bamboo shoots.”
“There’s no hurry. Let’s get the mule cart ready first.”
One mule cart, two donkey carts.
Everyone had their own plans.
Donkeys could run too, but not as fast as mules.
That was why they wanted to buy a mule.
They continued to discuss whether they should buy mule carts and donkeys.
Who would buy a mule or a donkey?
Their families were big. If they wanted to buy mules all at once, would the price increase?
Therefore, those who bought mules bought mules, and those who bought donkeys bought donkeys. If it really didn’t work, those who had many brothers at home could still use manpower. A living person couldn’t be suffocated to death by urine.
Close relatives could still borrow from each other. This money was difficult to earn, so they had to be calculative about every penny.
They couldn’t spend it without thinking.
The warm room was very lively. Han Qiao was pregnant, so she went to the bathroom more often. Han Xiaohong was also pregnant, so she got up and went with her.
“Sister Qiao, are you starting to vomit?”
Han Qiao shook her head. “Not yet. I’m just a picky eater. I like to eat this dish for some time, then I’ll like to eat that food for another. Today’s meal is considered normal. I’ve only eaten vegetables a few days ago, and I don’t want to eat a single grain of rice.”
She had been pregnant for more than a month, so her reaction was a little different.
However, because of the harmony in his family, Heng Yi loved her dearly, and everything went smoothly, she didn’t feel much pain.
“Sister, why did you decide to adopt a son?”
Han Qiao laughed when she heard that, “Fate. Also, I liked Ah-Chi the moment I lay my eyes on him. He was also bold enough to ask me whether he should call me ‘Madam’ or ‘Mother1.1 let him choose. Since he chose the latter, I’ll acknowledge him.”
“That child won my heart. It’s as if he’s my own son.”
“He’s a little bold, but he’s also really sensible. It’s my blessing to be able to acknowledge him as my son.”
Han Chi was a grateful child.
When he grew up, he would support this family.
Of course, there were some things that Han Qiao would not tell Han Xiaohong.
She only said this for the eavesdropper outside the arch.
She knew that he was smart, bold, and sensitive.
Han Xiaohong smiled, “Maybe you and he were mother and son in your previous life, and you have found each other again in this life.”
“That’s right.”
The sisters went to the washroom and they continued to talk.
Han Chi stood outside the archway and chuckled.
He thought to himself that it must be so. He had been dreaming about his mother for a long time. Otherwise, he would not have looked up so frequently that day.
Compared to the harmonious atmosphere in the warm hall of Heng Manor, the three brothers in the clinic were in a terrible state.
Han Xiang woke up and drank her medicine. She then asked, “Where’s Zhou Anshan?”
After Eldest Brother Han repeated Han Ming’s words, Han Xiang kept crying.
The three brothers took turns to comfort and persuade her, but she was not persuaded.
“What do you want? Are you going to torture us until we’re as alienated from you as you and Third Sister and don’t acknowledge you as our sister anymore?” Han Ming asked coldly.
Han Xiang looked at Han Ming in horror.
“Third Brother-”
“I’ve told you many times to call me Fourth Brother. We have a Third Sister at home. Why didn’t you listen? Or is it that you have never acknowledged your Third Sister in your heart? Is that why you never know how to respect her?” Han Ming asked in a low voice.
Han Xiang mumbled, “I just forgot..”