The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure
Chapter 604 - 602 Is the Silver Note Fake?

Chapter 604: Chapter 602 Is the Silver Note Fake?

On the other side, Wang Yongan and the others had negotiated a price and came out, only to see Wang Laozhu staring blankly at the end of the street. "Dad, what’s wrong?"

Wang Laozhu subconsciously clenched the silver in his palm and shook his head. "It’s nothing, let’s go!"

Song Chongjin saw the guests off to the town and took the opportunity to visit the residence once left by Hunter Qin and Shopkeeper Zhang.

This residence had now become one of his secret contact points.

As soon as he entered the residence, someone came out to greet him.

The dozen or so men from Boss Ma, who had been sent to the private mine by Lady Yu, were in a terrible state by the time Song Chongjin managed to buy their release. Not only had two of them died, but the rest were also seriously injured, with several having either a broken arm or leg.

They were each so thin and frail, hardly resembling human beings anymore.

After being bought out, they rested and recuperated locally for nearly half a month until they were barely able to travel, and then they were covertly escorted back to Shiqiao Town.

Upon arriving in Shiqiao Town, a doctor was called in daily for treatment with medicinal soups, and only now had they barely recovered some vitality.

Seeing Song Chongjin, their savior, Boss Ma and his group had lost all their former unruliness, completely swept away.

Without a second word, they knelt on the ground and thanked Song Chongjin for saving their lives.

Song Chongjin did not feign humility, claiming to have no expectation of repayment for saving everyone.

He simply stated that they should rest well and recover, as there would naturally be use for them later on.

Only then did Boss Ma and his group feel reassured to return to their rooms to rest, as they now lacked any status and had endured the hellish days in the private mine; naturally, they clung to Song Chongjin, their only life-saving straw.

After meeting with Boss Ma and his men, Song Chongjin moved to the day’s main agenda.

The man who had last brought news of Wang Yongan, and who had also escorted Boss Ma and his men back, was now waiting in a side room.

Upon seeing Song Chongjin, the man respectfully approached to greet him and then stood aside, waiting for Song Chongjin’s instructions.

"Set off immediately, and if possible, follow Wang Yongan all the way back to Qi City. Teach his family a lesson along the way—but don’t touch the old man. Once you’re in Qi City, keep a close eye on Wang Yongan. Report back immediately with any news," the cold light in Song Chongjin’s eyes flickered.

Wang Yongan, do you think you can return to Qi City smoothly? Not so easy!

The man said nothing superfluous, simply nodded in agreement, and left quietly.

Song Chongjin also did not linger and left the house.

He strolled around the town and stopped by the Silver Building to order a set of gold jewelry and bought some fresh and lively New Year’s goods before leisurely driving the carriage back home.

Upon returning to the Wang Family, everyone heard that the guests had been sent off and breathed a sigh of relief.

Especially Wang Yongfu, who still harbored resentment over the incident where Wang Yongan’s faux Divine Doctor nearly cost him his life.

Yet, under Wang Yongan’s smooth talking, without any proof, he could only swallow his anger.

Every day he had to watch Wang Yongan parading in front of him; not beating Wang Yongan was already the last bit of brotherly affection he had left.

Now that Wang Yongan and his family had gone, he felt as if a great weight had been lifted off him.

Wang Yonggui’s eyes shone with cunning, "Mom, while Dad’s not here, let’s divvy up the silver Yongping brought back!"

He had been mulling over it for days: two hundred taels of silver was no small sum. Even if it were divided into five parts, that’d still be forty taels each. Add in the principal amount, plus the household expenses divided last time, my, nearly a hundred taels.

With that silver, he could buy himself several jugs of fine wine and swagger into the town’s tavern a few times. The very thought made Wang Yonggui’s heart sizzle with excitement.

So it was, no sooner had Wang Laozhu left, than he eagerly put forth the suggestion.

Upon hearing this proposition, everyone’s eyes lit up—except Wang Yongping, who innocently remarked, "But if Dad’s not home and we just go ahead and split it, wouldn’t that be improper?"

Wang Yonggui was indifferent, "What’s the problem? We’ll just set Dad’s share aside, won’t we?"

Old Granny Zhang exploded upon hearing this, "Nonsense! Keep daydreaming! Why should this silver be split among you? That hard-earned silver Yongzhu brought back is for redeeming our farmland, and don’t forget, it was Yongzhu who paid the silver for redeeming our land originally. Now all that land has been divided among you lot—do you still have the face to claim this silver? That all belongs to my Yongzhu!"

Her words left everyone momentarily stunned—indeed, it seemed she was right.

After the experience of the last time the family assets were divided, Wang Yongping had become very cautious. He immediately took a clear stand in the light of Old Granny Zhang’s words, "Mom’s right! Our farmland and even the horse cart were all purchased with Sister’s silver. Now that we’ve divided the land and still share the use of the cart, we should be content. This silver should go to our little sister!"

Liu Xiaoqiao also hurriedly agreed, "We don’t want the silver."

Wang Yongfu, ignoring Lady Lin tugging at his sleeve, also declared, "We don’t want that silver either! It rightfully belongs to our little sister."

After the family division last time, Jinhoo had taken him aside, father to son, for a lengthy talk.

Jinhoo insisted that the comfortable life they now led, Wang Yongfu being able to stand tall, Lady Lin being well—all of it, every single detail, was inseparable from Wang Yongzhu and Song Chongjin.

During the split, it was Yongzhu who had suggested dividing the family assets evenly and took a loss. Her generosity had been far more than fair and just.

Their family shouldn’t take advantage of Yongzhu’s continuous goodwill and forbearance by pushing their luck.

Without Yongzhu and Chongjin, who knows, they might have ended up destitute and doomed. Where would they be today, living in a new house with silver in hand?

One does not feign ignorance when one knows better, especially when he and his son were both able-bodied men. Besides, they had already laid the foundation for their business—as long as they worked hard, weren’t there better days ahead?

Those words filled Wang Yongfu with shame.

He, the father, was not as clear-minded as his own son.

Even more so, seeing Wang Yongan return and reflecting on those harrowing days, he realized that his very survival might have depended on Yongzhu.

Thus, Wang Yongfu’s stance at this moment was unequivocally clear.

Seeing that his brothers were actually refusing it and noting Old Granny Zhang’s expression, Wang Yonggui, despite feeling regret, quickly changed his tune, "Eldest Brother and Laosi are absolutely right, I was confused! This silver rightfully belongs to our little sister! However, we brothers have never seen Yongping bring back a silver note before. Mom, could you show it to us, so we too can feast our eyes?"

His last remark drew a reluctant smile from Old Granny Zhang.

Fumbling inside her clothes for a moment, she finally drew out the silver note, carefully spreading it on the table, "Look then, but don’t touch!"

Everyone crowded around for a look. Unfamiliar with the rest, they could at least recognize the characters for "Two hundred taels in full."

Lady Lin, eyeing the silver note, seemed as if she’d like nothing better than to hook it straight into her bosom.

Wang Yonggui also took a longer gaze and, without thinking, a comment slipped out, "Speaking of which, could this note be a fake? Would Yongping really be so generous to bring this back?"