The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure
Chapter 944 - 942 Cao Banjie

Chapter 944: Chapter 942 Cao Banjie

The woman’s face stiffened, and she argued, "Isn’t it because our family is poor and can’t bring out anything decent? Besides, Scholar Song is so compassionate, would he really be missing such a meager token of gratitude from our family? Scholar Master, don’t you agree?"

Song Chongjin’s expression turned cold, and before he could speak, several classmates couldn’t hold back: "I say, lady, you’re being unreasonable! Brother Song saved your child, even though he wasn’t expecting anything in return, but for you to shame him publicly like this, worried he’d use it to extort you, isn’t that quite disgraceful?"

"Exactly, what could your family possibly offer that Brother Song would covet? What a joke!"

The onlookers also started chastising: "I say, lady of the house, you’re shameless! Is this how you deal with things? The Scholar Master rescued your Er Gouzi in such a critical moment. Anyone with a bit of conscience would bow in gratitude today and bring a gift to Scholar Song’s house tomorrow."

"Even if your family’s circumstances are difficult, the gift doesn’t need to be expensive. Even if it’s something homemade, it’s the thought that counts, right? What’s the need to act as if the Scholar Master would demand something from you, rushing to bow just to sever any ties?"

"You must not know their family well, do you? Do you really believe their tales of hardship? Do you know East Main Street? Half of the shops there used to belong to them! Do you know their surname? It’s Cao, just like that Cao Banjie!" someone sneered from the side.

This remark caused an uproar.

Who was Cao Banjie? The older generation in Jing County would definitely know.

The Cao family indeed had a tradition of single heirs for many generations, and their ancestors were shrewd in business, amassing half of the shops on East Main Street. Their days were prosperous once.

Especially in the hope of having more sons, at its peak, the Cao family took in over ten concubines just to increase their chances.

Unfortunately, although many concubines were brought in, none bore fruit, and in the end, it was the original Madam who birthed the only son against all odds.

He was doted on like an apple of the eye, growing up. With so many properties and no lack of silver, they couldn’t bear to let him endure hardship or even step outside. They wished nothing more than to spoil him.

As he grew, he was married off, with plans that when the daughter-in-law bore a son, this grandson would be raised, and eventually carry on the family business, allowing the son to enjoy a carefree life of leisure.

Unexpectedly, fate had other plans. Shortly after the son married, Old Master Cao fell gravely ill and passed away within days.

Old Madam Cao, in her grief, also choked on phlegm that couldn’t be expelled, and followed him.

The son and daughter-in-law, inexperienced in managing affairs, barely handled the funerals. They were then left clueless about how to manage the vast estates.

The Cao family’s son, already indulged, wasted away the mourning period, spending silver like water.

The Wife of the Cao Family, a new bride herself, couldn’t manage it.

In just a few years, nearly half of the Cao family’s properties on the street were squandered. When the son finally woke up upon the birth of his own son, it was too late.

Due to excessive indulgence, his health was depleted. Joy and sorrow met, and in a breath of distress, he departed, leaving behind a widow and orphan.

Fortunately, the Wife of the Cao Family managed to hold up, even though her husband’s lavishness had depleted most of the family fortune. They still had a few shops for rent, a residence, and a countryside estate—all enough to sustain the widow and orphan.

Learning from the fate of her husband, she feared her son would also recklessly squander wealth.

From a young age, she disciplined him strictly, with simple clothes and food. She let go of the servants, keeping only a washerwoman and a gatekeeper couple, doing the rest herself.

With fewer servants, the large courtyard felt empty.

She turned the courtyard into sections, renting them out independently, leaving only the main residence for themselves.

This not only increased household income, but by choosing honest tenants surrounding their home, it spared them from many troubles.

To prevent her son from squandering money, she even named him Cao Jian (thrift).

This Cao Jian was deeply influenced by his mother and was extremely frugal from a young age, wearing clothes patched over and over. Even on the mid-autumn festival, he couldn’t bear to eat a whole salted duck egg, picking out only a few pieces to flavor meals for days.

A single salted duck egg could last him from the Mid-Autumn Festival to the Double Ninth Festival.

His greatest hobby was saving and hoarding money.

When he grew up and got married, he found a partner no less thrifty. Buying a piece of meat, they’d measure the fat with a ruler and wipe the pork for extra grease, boiling it for soup.

The couple, after getting married, were well-known for their thriftiness, a legend on and beyond their street.

Elders who had witnessed the Cao family’s past wealth couldn’t help but sigh, wondering if the Cao ancestors, seeing their amassed wealth leading such lives, would overturn in their graves.

Perhaps it was because Cao Jian was stingy with incense for ancestors that their coffins lay steady.

Nevertheless, the couple was lavish on their son, Cao Ergou, despite their thriftiness. Sparing in their own lives, they were generous with him.

For instance, while the couple and the mother ate porridge, their son was always served a ladle full with more rice.

During meals, he got the fattiest piece of meat.

His clothes had the least patches.

Thus, when people realized it was the Cao family, they understood.

Given the nature of the Cao couple, they’d bow until they bled saving their son’s life, but they wouldn’t part with their savings.

Song Chongjin, unaware of the Cao family history, looked puzzled, until a local scholar briefly explained it.

Suddenly understanding, Song Chongjin looked at the Cao family with a mix of tears and laughter.

He waved his hand: "Enough, there’s no need for all this. As long as the child is fine, that’s all that matters. I don’t expect any long-lasting gratitude. Just take care of the boy and avoid any more incidents! All right, go on your way now!"

The Cao family of three, hearing Song Chongjin’s words, relieved they wouldn’t have to give any gifts, quickly kowtowed a few more times and disappeared into the crowd.

This left everyone amused, but knowing the Cao family’s nature, they could only shake their heads and disperse.