Chapter 242: Not Going Well
Chen Laoqi didn’t live for so many years in vain. He saw through Xue Zhuzi with a single glance, “Zhuzi, are you feeling heartache for the money and don’t plan on saving your mother and father? We have taken out our entire family’s fortune. Chen Laoba, look at your good son.”
“I don’t have money. If I had money, I would definitely pay for it!” Xue Zhuzi quickly said.
Of course, Zhang Meili was the first to stand on her son’s side. She scolded, “Chen Laoqi, what do you mean? Are you trying to sow discord between Zhuzi and us? Are you feeling heartache because you have to pay now? Are you waiting for us to fail so that you can kill me and Chen Laoba and then the money can return to your hands? Ah?”
As soon as she said this, Grandpa Chen and Grandma Chen looked at Chen Laoqi unhappily.
So did Chen Laoba.
Chen Laoqi was so angry that he turned and walked out. “I’m going home to get the money too!”
Chen Laoer and the others didn’t say anything. They didn’t want to be like Chen Laoyi and Chen Laoqi, who had paid so much money but were bullied and wronged.
When the 66 silver were gathered, Grandpa Chen said, “You’re all brothers, so why don’t you all go with Chen Laoba? If it’s not enough, we’ll think of another way.”
“I’m not going!” Chen Laoyi immediately said.
“I’m not going!” Chen Laoqi also echoed.
Grandma Chen was immediately enraged. Chen Laoer and the rest knew that Chen Laoyi and Chen Laoqi were in a bad mood. They were afraid that if they really fell out, the villagers would laugh at them even more. “It’s fine if Chen Laoyi and Chen Laoqi don’t want to go. We’ll just go with Chen Laoba. It’s not like we’re going to fight them, so there’s no need for so many people to tag along.”
“Then you guys go and have a good talk with Xue Dagui,” Grandpa Chen said. “Tell him about our family’s situation as well. We really can’t give out more silver.”
“I know, father.”
Therefore, Chen Laoer and the others decided to accompany Chen Laoba and Zhang Meili.
However, Zhang Meili didn’t dare to go. She was afraid that if things didn’t work out, the people of Locust Village would directly take her to see the officials.
Chen Laoer and the others had only saved her in passing. No one was willing to save her, but they had no choice. Seeing her like this, they didn’t care about her and went with Chen Laoba.
The road wasn’t far, and they were afraid of being late, so they walked especially fast. They soon arrived at Locust Village.
In Locust Village, after Jiang Yue and Xue Yan had their lunch, they watched Xue Yifu making things under the shed. He had made quite a number of rotating wheels, but because he was afraid that he wouldn’t make it well and the water workshop would be broken, Xue Yifu made the tables, chairs, and benches in a much more meticulous manner than usual. He also spent a lot of effort polishing them. Sometimes, he would even burn the midnight oil. In any case, the rotating wheels were made very well, and they were very smooth.
Xue Yifu was also very happy. He had never expected to do so well.
Xue Dafu, Xue Erfu, and Xue Sifu had already gone to the village chief’s house. Xue Wufu had gone as well, but he wasn’t following them to report to the officials. Instead, he was only going to watch the show unfold.
However, after a while, Xue Wufu came back jumping like a monkey.
“Wufu, why have you returned?” Xue Yan asked.
Jiang Yue was also looking at him.
“Don’t mention it.” Xue Wufu squatted down beside them. “We haven’t even reached the county yet, and things aren’t going smoothly at all. Tian didn’t go to town today, so we had to borrow his ox cart for a while. However, with so many people going, the ox cart tilted. So, we had to borrow it from the neighboring village. The ox cart from the neighboring village was lent to someone else, but it wasn’t convenient to borrow it from the Chen Village, for obvious reasons, so we went to the Liu Village. I guess they’ll be back in a while. No matter what time they go, they won’t be able to make it back today. It’s such a long journey, and Mother has already given them money so that they won’t be reluctant to eat or drink in the county.”