Chen Yang drove the donkey cart, the bells on the cart jingling all the way. Holding the baby, he savored this rare moment of peace.
Yesterday, he had only used half a jin of the meat he bought, and the other half was still hanging in a bucket over the well water. So, Chen Yang didn't buy any meat today.
In this era, a household's well was a natural refrigerator.
He looked at the large watermelon in the donkey cart, and the thought of chilling it in the well when he got home made his mouth water. Slicing it up later, on a hot summer day, a bite would be incredibly refreshing.
This watermelon was bought from a roadside vendor near the alley where he previously bought mushrooms. It cost two fen per jin, so a ten-jin watermelon was only two mao.
He also brought back a bag of pheasant feathers. Tie Niu was an honest and trustworthy person. Today, he had no game for sale, so he specifically brought the pheasant feathers to wait for Chen Yang.
This large bag of pheasant feathers could probably make twenty to thirty shuttlecocks. If it were yesterday, Chen Yang would have been overjoyed. But after seeing the income from selling aquatic products today, these two or three yuan were no longer worth his effort.
He could make a few, though, and give one as a festive gift to someone with children in the future.
In this era, gift-giving wasn't as extravagant as in later times. Some people wouldn't accept expensive gifts, but a small token was more readily accepted.
"Daddy, return cart, go home."
As soon as they reached the village entrance, the little one scrambled with his short legs, eager to get home. The baby had tasted a raisin on the way and was instantly amazed, constantly talking about giving it to Mama.
"Yanyan, let's take the things home first, and then we'll return Grandpa Tu's cart."
Chen Yang stroked his daughter's little head. With so many things on the cart, it would be difficult for him to carry them home without the donkey cart. He had borrowed it for so long anyway, so a few more minutes wouldn't matter.
"Hooray!"
"Ride the cart, Mama eat raisins~"
The little one secretly popped another raisin into his mouth, his eyes narrowing into slits. Clearly, he enjoyed them very much.
But just as the father and daughter arrived at their doorstep, they heard a sharp, ear-piercing sound from inside the house.
"Shen Xue, Shen Xue, good for you! You have money to buy rice and flour, but you don't remember to repay your debts."
"You worthless thing, this is your good niece. She's eating refined grains, while you have to add wild vegetables to your porridge, and you still lent her money."
"I can't go on living! I must go find the old village chief to sort this out. Let's see if this borrowed money should be repaid!"
Following the woman's shrill cries, Chen Yang saw Shen Xue inside, her face extremely pale as she was being pointed at, and her second uncle, who dared not speak, standing beside her.
"Second Aunt, please give me a few more days. I'll return the money as soon as I can gather it."
Shen Xue looked at her second uncle, Shen Guangfu, and her second aunt, Cui Xiufang, biting her lip tightly. To buy Chen Yang a pen earlier, she had borrowed five yuan from her second uncle by begging everywhere.
Second Aunt Cui Xiufang had come to demand the debt many times, but how could she possibly scrape together the money to repay it? Usually, she would just endure the scolding.
But this time, by chance, Cui Xiufang had discovered the large bag of rice and white flour Chen Yang had bought in the rice jar. These things were not cheap. The always sharp-tongued second aunt would certainly not let her off.
"You have money to buy flour and rice, but no money to pay me? Are you trying to fool me? I think you just don't want to repay it."
"Either you repay the money today, or you come with me to see the old village chief. I want to see how thick your skin is. Many people in Shenjiaba Village have lent you money. Let's see if you can still eat our white flour and rice here with our money!"
"Shameless wretch!"
Cui Xiufang gave Shen Xue no chance to refute, unleashing a torrent of abuse while pointing a finger at her.
Hearing her words, Shen Xue's already frail body trembled with anger.
If Cui Xiufang made such a scene, she would never be able to show her face in the village again.
She had truly reached the end of her rope and had to swallow her pride to borrow money. This rice and flour were bought by Chen Yang. If she had known that Chen Yang could earn so much, she would definitely have repaid her debts first.
She, Shen Xue, would rather eat coarse grains and vegetables than leave debts unpaid. She hadn't repaid them before because she had absolutely no money at home. Those two yuan were saved for Chen Yang's education; she couldn't spend them!
"Aunt, please give me a few more days..."
Shen Xue held back tears, truly at her wit's end. She didn't have a single cent at home.
But at this moment, a figure rushed into the house, blocking her path.
"Second Aunt, how much do we owe you? We'll pay it back."
"My Xue'er has never been someone who defaults on her debts. Everyone in Shenjiaba Village knows her character. I hope you apologize to her."
Chen Yang shielded the woman behind him. The little one waved his small hands, trying to wipe Shen Xue's tears.
"Mama, don't cry, Mama, don't cry."
As if seeing Chen Yang's return, Shen Xue, who had been holding back her tears, couldn't help it. Tears immediately streamed down her cheeks.
"Apologize? Why should I apologize?"
"You owe money and you're still being unreasonable?"
"You'll pay it back? With what? Do you really think that just because the old village chief protected you yesterday, you've become someone important? Take a good look at yourself! With your laziness and good-for-nothing attitude, you'll probably never earn five yuan in your entire life!"
Cui Xiufang glanced at Chen Yang, not even bothering to look at him properly. This boy spent all year at home studying for his so-called university. He could barely earn enough work points to cover his own food, let alone have any money to repay.
"Second Aunt, how can you say that about Chen Yang? He's my husband, your niece's husband. It's just a debt, isn't it? I'll definitely repay it. You can't insult him like this."
Shen Xue, who had been gentle and weak, couldn't stand it when Cui Xiufang insulted Chen Yang.
But just as she was about to say more, a large hand firmly held her back.
"Isn't it just five yuan?"
"We'll pay it back!"
"Here's ten yuan, I'll pay you double!"
"Now, you, must apologize to Xue'er!"
Chen Yang pulled a "Da Tuanjie" (a large denomination banknote) from his pocket. He knew Shen Xue had sacrificed too much for this family, but he hadn't realized how much she had endured for others.
Today, he understood!
From now on, he would never let her suffer any injustice, absolutely not!
"You owe money and you're still being unreasonable? Why should I apologize to you!"
Cui Xiufang was stunned when Chen Yang suddenly produced a "Da Tuanjie." It was no small sum.
Her work points for the entire year were only twenty to thirty yuan. This "Da Tuanjie" was equivalent to half a year's worth of her labor.
"Why? As an elder, is this how you treat your relatives? Do you have any semblance of being an elder?"
"And, because I have money. I'll pay you double for an apology, and only five yuan if you don't."
Chen Yang glared at her fiercely. Under his gaze, Cui Xiufang, who had been so aggressive, suddenly felt a pang of guilt.
When she first got married, Shen Xue's father, as the elder brother, had helped their family a lot. He had never come to demand repayment every few days like her. Thinking of this, and looking at Shen Xue, who was crying tearfully, her old face flushed with shame.
Cui Xiufang naturally didn't want to admit her fault, but seeing the "Da Tuanjie" in Chen Yang's hand, she couldn't bear to miss out on five yuan.
"Sorry!"
Finally, greed triumphed over pride.
Cui Xiufang, her face red with embarrassment, lowered her head and apologized to Shen Xue!