Upon hearing this, Chen Danou looked at Su Tao. "How much money do you want?"
Su Tao quietly clenched her fists. "It has to be at least a hundred yuan," she said.
"How much? A hundred yuan?" Chen Danou’s eyes widened. "In your dreams."
With that, Chen Danou turned and walked away.
"Wait." Su Tao rushed forward to block Chen Danou’s path. "Su Qing has at least five hundred yuan on her. Once your family marries her, you’ll have hit the jackpot. A hundred yuan for isn’t asking too much, is it?"
"Heh, you’ve got a big appetite," Chen Danou said, unable to stop herself from rolling her eyes. "Besides, we haven’t even reached an agreent. A hundred yuan... Do you really think your words are made of gold?"
Su Tao gritted her teeth. "Then how much are you willing to give?"
"Ten yuan." Chen Danou thought for a mont, then said, "If we can co to an agreent on this, I’ll give you ten yuan once it’s done."
"No way, ten yuan is too little." Su Tao quickly did the math. ’If I want to get out of here, ten yuan is definitely not enough. I don’t have any ration tickets or anything, so I’ll probably have to get everything from the black market at first. Ten yuan won’t get anywhere.’
"Hmph," Chen Danou said. "Take it or leave it."
"Aunt Liang, let’s negotiate a bit more," Su Tao said quickly. "After all, what I’m giving you is the key to all this."
Upon hearing this, Chen Danou glanced at Su Tao and said, "Twenty, max."
"No way. Eighty. I can co down a little, but not that much."
"Twenty-five."
"Eighty." Su Tao refused to budge; she was counting on this money to get away. "Auntie, think it through. When the ti cos, if you don’t have the drug I’m giving you, what if you can’t control Su Qing and she screams for help? Who’s going to be the one to lose out in the end?"
In truth, Su Tao wasn’t sure if she could get the money. She was simply gambling on the Liang Family’s determination to marry Su Qing. If her gamble paid off, she’d have the money she needed.
"I can’t give you the money upfront." After haggling with Su Tao for a while, Chen Danou saw that she wouldn’t lower her price any further. Unsure of what her son was thinking, she finally said, "How about this: if I co find you tomorrow, that ans I agree to your plan. I’ll give you five yuan as a deposit. Once it’s done and our family brings Su Qing ho, I’ll give you the rest."
"But..." Su Tao tried to press for more.
"No more ’buts’," Chen Danou said sharply. "You need to understand that if we go through with this, my family is taking a huge risk. We can’t just give you all the money and end up with nothing, can we?"
"F-fine, then. I’ll wait for your word tomorrow." Su Tao had no choice but to nod. She then added, "But the Liang Family had better not go back on your word. If you do, I’ll go straight to your village and tell everyone what you’ve done."
"Don’t worry. Since I’ve agreed, I’ll keep my word," Chen Danou said coldly.
"Good, then it’s settled. I’ll wait for your news tomorrow," Su Tao said quickly. She glanced around nervously before hurrying back toward the Sun family’s ho. ’I can’t let them find out I snuck back here.’
Chen Danou watched Su Tao leave, her brow furrowed. Then she, too, hurried ho.
"Mom, how did it go? What did the Old Su Family say?" Liang Fushan had known that Chen Danou was going to the Old Su Family’s ho to discuss the marriage, and he’d been anxiously waiting at ho. The mont he saw her return, he rushed over to ask, eagerly pouring her a glass of water as he spoke.
Chen Danou was pleased by her son’s attentiveness, but she sighed. "The Old Su Family didn’t agree. And what’s more..."
"What’s more?" Liang Fushan pressed.
"And," Chen Danou looked up at Liang Fushan and said in a low voice, "Fushan, the Old Su Family says that girl, Su Qing, is quick to pull a knife these days. If anything displeases her, she’ll brandish one to get her way. Tell , if a woman like that marries into our Liang Family, won’t she be a complete nace? Who could put up with soone so crazy?"
"Mom," Liang Fushan said quickly, "I’ve already looked into what you’re talking about. The Old Su Family pushed her too far, that’s why Su Qing pulled a knife. ’I’ll just have to sweet-talk her once we’re married,’ I thought. We still need her to help get that job, right? I don’t think it’s a big deal."
"Fushan, you’re still set on this?" Chen Danou looked at Liang Fushan in disbelief. "Sweet-talking her for the sake of a job is one thing. But what about later, when you want to divorce her? What if she refuses? If you make her angry, won’t she pull that knife on you?"
Chen Danou couldn’t help but shiver at the thought.
"Mom, I’ll have a plan for when that ti cos. I’ll make sure none of the bla falls on , don’t you worry," Liang Fushan chuckled softly. He narrowed his eyes. ’Since I’m using Su Qing to get the job, of course I’ve already planned out what cos next.’
Seeing how insistent Liang Fushan was, Chen Danou could only say, "Alright, then."
"So, Mom, will you go talk to the Old Su Family again?" Liang Fushan asked eagerly.
"No need," Chen Danou said. "The Old Su Family definitely won’t get involved in this anymore; that business with the knife terrified them. However, the Su Family’s granddaughter who married out ca to see . She said she has a way for you to marry Su Qing."
With that, Chen Danou recounted the entire conversation she’d had with Su Tao to Liang Fushan.
She finished by saying, "So, I’ll go find Su Tao tomorrow. I promised her eighty yuan. That damn girl absolutely refused to co down on the price. I couldn’t haggle her down, so I just agreed. But I told her she’d get five yuan upfront and the rest after you’ve married Su Qing."
"Deal." Liang Fushan nodded quickly. He’d actually had this idea for a while. ’After all, with won, once you’ve had them the first ti, the rest is easy. Just look at Tan Qingjuan. I forced her the first ti, and didn’t she beco completely obedient after that? The only difference is that Su Qing and I don’t have any feelings for each other, so I was worried things could go wrong. But now, if there’s really a drug involved, things will be much simpler.’
After settling things with Liang Fushan, Chen Danou told her husband about the plan. Although her husband, Liang Mantian, thought it was too risky, Chen Danou had always been the one to call the shots in the family, so he didn’t object.
So, the next afternoon, Chen Danou went to the small grove behind Yuan Shan Village and, just as planned, found Su Tao waiting for her.
Su Tao took out a small paper packet. "Aunt Liang," she said to Chen Danou, "just put this powder on a handkerchief and press it over her mouth and nose. That’s all it takes."
"Got it." Chen Danou nodded and reached for the packet.
As soon as Su Tao saw this, she quickly hid the packet behind her back and held out her other hand to Chen Danou. "Aunt Liang, surely you haven’t forgotten sothing?"
Chen Danou glared at Su Tao. "How could I forget? One hand for the money, the other for the goods."
"Fine."
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