Fortunate Life of the Rural Beauty
Chapter 393 - 392: Demanding

Chapter 393: Chapter 392: Demanding

Mrs. Hu was utterly dissatisfied with the courtyard, declaiming indignantly, "This place is terrible. After all, we are landowners now, we run a business, and we are even relatives of the Senator. Living here with poor folks, it’s a shame not only for us but also for Mr. Chu."

By midday, the Chen Shi had taken them for a meal at a small restaurant, and then they paid a visit to Chen Ming’s residence.

This house was closer to Houbei Street, and it was just over a quarter of an hour’s walk to Chen Shi’s and Wang Cheng’s homes—it was situated in between their residences. If they bought it, Mrs. Wang would surely be pleased.

The house was relatively new—divided into three parts with a guest room, a screen wall, a main court, wing rooms, and a back-cover room. There was even a rockery in the courtyard...

The asking price was not low either, at 580 taels of silver. After a lot of haggling, they came down to a minimum of 530 taels.

Chen Ming liked it, but the price was indeed hefty.

Doubtful, Mrs. Hu broke into sobs, embarking on a tirade, "Look, dear, you’ve been working hard to support your brothers, and now they are living in such great fortunes. What about us? We can’t even afford a slum... Isn’t it said that good deeds bring good rewards? So why does God turn a blind eye..." Then sobbingly implored Chen Ming and Chen Shi, "Second and Third Uncle, I can’t believe you’ve forgotten how we’ve cared for you. Hast thou pondered thou would not have thine fortunes without thy brother supporting thy education. You guys should take care of your brother as he had you. Afu has bought a big yard for his uncle on a good road, he must also buy one for us..."

Mrs. Chen felt sorry for her eldest son, but she thought Mrs. Hu shouldn’t use Chen Afu as leverage. Having learned her lessons, Mrs. Chen is cognizant of the fact that Afu is not her biological kin and it’s not easy to placate him if he’s upset. Unlike Chen Ming and Chen Shi, they would naturally stick together even in dire straits.

She scolded, "What are you rambling about, aren’t you reaping the rewards? Your brothers have done plenty for you, as has Afu. With the lands you bought and their aid in purchasing a house in the capital city, aren’t they all doing their part?" Also venting frustration at Mrs. Hu, Chen Ye said, "Bitch, if you don’t hold your mouth, go back to the country. Now we have over one hundred acres of farmland, a shop in town, and shares in the wine-shop. For these assets, your brothers and Afu have all played their part."

He then told Chen Ming and Chen Shi, "Don’t listen to your sister-in-law’s nonsense, brother always remembers your goodness."

Then Chen Ming was not willing to buy the house anymore, stating, "The house is nice, but I don’t have that much money. Well, it’s simply unaffordable, let’s go, we’ll buy it when we have saved more money."

When Chen Ye saw that even Chen Ming was not going to purchase a house, he also felt no need to insist on becoming a city dweller. He said, "Well, I’ll wait too, until I’ve saved more money to buy later."

On the way home, Mrs. Chen was mulling over the thought that her second son would be able to afford this house. He was just

frightened by Mrs. Hu’s tantrums and didn’t dare to buy it.

She reckoned that it would not be easy task for her second son to save that 100 taels of private cash and moreover, he indeed had done a lot for the family. It wouldn’t be reasonable to make him contribute even more. After returning home, she would have to ask her third son to cough up more money.

The third son was leading a luxurious life now. He had dividends from the wine-shop and from the Lu Chuan shares. He, as the chief shopkeeper, has to take monthly silver, as did Ayu, the second shopkeeper at the major wine-shop in the Capital City. They were so thriving that they could easily fork out 40 to 50 taels of silver for their elder brother, so he could afford a house in a better location. Once the eldest brother bought one, then the second son could purchase his next.

Then, all her three sons would have properties in the capital city. At that point, not only in Xiangluo Village, but there wouldn’t be a single household like theirs in the entire town.

As the saying goes, ’both palms of the hand are flesh.’ She hoped all her sons would get along and lead a good life. Especially, if the second and third sons were doing well, she cared even more for the eldest, who has contributed the most to the family.

Upon returning home, she called Chen Shi into her room and divulged the fact that Chen Ming had been secretly giving the oldest brother 100 taels of private silver. She went on to say, "You’re having easy time now, can you spare another 40 or 50 taels of silver for your eldest brother, so they can buy a better courtyard in capital city?"

Chen Shi was taken aback as he hadn’t expected his mother to ask him for so much money. He replied, "Mom, it’s true that I earn more than my elder brother, but my expenditures are higher. I am currently on a tight budget, and I couldn’t even afford to take money behind Mrs. Zhang’s back--let alone from our family savings which are less than that amount."

Mrs. Chen wasn’t convinced and grudgingly rebuked, "Being rich make you stingier! When you were poor, you could still afford to help your eldest brother renovate the house, but now having dominated the wine-shop, even 40 or 50 taels of silver is too much to spare.

Mrs. Chen responded, "It’s not that I only care for your elder brother, but it’s that he had a difficult time raising you all, so as your situation improved, you should help him out in return."

Chen Shi was getting annoyed and retorted, "What are you hinting at? Haven’t I given my eldest brother plenty of silver already? It was me who took out a loan for them to renovate the house, last year I contributed seventy more taels. It’s not that my family is better off than my second elder brother’s - they don’t have as many expenses, besides, Afu often supplements them. However, I am in constant need - my son has grown up, my daughter is to be married this year, and I haven’t paid back the debts to my wife’s parental family yet. Aman’s dowry depleted all my savings, and now I don’t even have my treasure box silver - I’m considering borrowing from Afu, and repay him once the wine-shop distributed dividends."

Mrs. Chen was startled and scolded, "What? You’ve spent all your savings on Aman’s dowry? You are a fool! The Yangs have plenty of wealth, they don’t need your dowry! Living within your means! Why have you given everything to Aman for her dowry? It’s unacceptable—this must be the idea of that Mrs. Zhang, and I need to teach her a lesson!"

Chen Shi snapped back, "Easier said than done, ’living within your means.’ In that case, why do you constantly help my older brother ask us younger brothers for money? My second brother and I have given him quite a lot already, moreover, elder brother is not poor either, he’s bought so much land this year. While you are feeling for your son, I feel for my daughter too. If I could take out a loan to construct a house for my elder brother and enable them to become landlords, why can’t I do it for my daughter’s wedding?"

As the conversation spiraled further, Mrs. Chen knew that if she persisted in asking for more money, it would surely affect the harmony among her sons. If the second and third sons got really upset, it was her eldest son who would ultimately suffer the loss.

Hence, she momentarily calmed down and said, "Ok, mother won’t say any further, and you shouldn’t be angry anymore. You indeed helped your eldest brother a lot previously. I understood your kindness; hence, I made the request. Your eldest brother is unaware of this. Let’s forget it, no need to pay anymore, just consider that I didn’t say it."

Then she unsparingly wiped her tears using a handkerchief.

Upon seeing his sobbing mother and hearing the raucous voice of Mrs. Hu from the courtyard, Chen Shi thought for a moment and clenched his teeth, "Mother, I’ll give my eldest brother another 20 taels of silver. We are really tied up for money now, so I have to borrow 20 taels of silver from a wine-shop for the time being, which I will pay back at the end of the year after splitting the profits. Please put a word in with my elder brother and elder sister-in-law, tell them to buy a house on Houxi Street. This money should be enough to fix up the courtyard and buy furniture, and they don’t need to spend a single cent more to become city people. It will be convenient for them to get in and out of the city, and things are much cheaper..."