The snow is falling quietly, bringing coldness that seeps in.
Hui Niang is at a loss, silent for a long ti.
Wei Shouzhong, honest and sincere, but with ideas, speaks up.
"With Lang in this situation, which good family would be willing to marry their daughter unless we are willing to offer more money for the betrothal? But you know the current situation at ho, how can we afford it?"
"Comparatively, we can still grit our teeth and gather a couple of taels of silver."
Hui Niang furrows her brows tightly: "But the silver we have is ant for Lang’s dical treatnt. Marriage matters can wait, but seeking treatnt can’t."
She is worried that the money is far from enough even throughout the night.
Wei Shouzhong comforts his wife.
"Now that the land has been divided, once spring planting is done and the fields are taken care of, I’ll go to the county wharf to move goods. I might not have any skills, but I do have strength. I heard the west side is recruiting miners again, I’ll inquire around."
Hui Niang imdiately becos anxious upon hearing this: "No, that mine treats people like livestock, didn’t you hear how many died last year?"
"If sothing happens to you, what about and Lang?"
"Just listen to first, isn’t it that I haven’t gone there yet."
He wouldn’t gamble with his life unless in absolute necessity.
Wei Shouzhong: "Last ti, the uncles also said they’d be willing to lend us so silver if we’re short."
"Besides, it’s not like we’re rushing to settle today. We should first see if those girls are good and willing to live sincerely."
These words brought so comfort to Hui Niang, slightly calming her emotions.
"I think it’s more reliable to buy from the baby broker. Not to ntion others, like Wan Niang’s sister-in-law, her family cos to sponge off her constantly, it’s hard to find an understanding family."
But those girls are different.
They are sold by their families, completely cut off from contact.
At this point, Wei Shouzhong sighed heavily.
"There’s sothing I’ve been keeping from you."
"Previously, our stove room leaked, and several tiles fell off the eaves."
They fell to the ground, shattered into pieces.
After cleaning up, they were thrown into the corner.
Wei Shouzhong said heavily: "But Lang picked them up when we weren’t paying attention."
"I saw him personally making a gesture, trying to cut his throat."
The edge of the tile was sharp; if he hadn’t stopped Lang in ti, it could have led to sothing serious!
Wei Shouzhong is afraid!
He replaced the tiles with smooth stones.
Yet Wei Zhao droops his eyelids, with neither joy nor sadness, and his black eyes harbor no vitality. It’s as if even cutting his throat with blood spraying would be trivial.
Moreover... after the tile was taken, Wei Zhao’s emotions remained indifferent.
He wasn’t insistent.
He was careless about everything, including life and death.
But because of this, Wei Shouzhong becos even more anxious, fear rising along with cold sweat seeping through his back.
He can only tremble his voice.
["Lang, you can’t do this."]
But the worried father, seeing Wei Zhao dismiss the stones, could only flatten the sharp end of the tile edges and let Wei Zhao use it as a toy.
However, Wei Zhao wasn’t satisfied, for the stones and tiles were tossed sowhere unknown by him.
Hui Niang’s face turned pale, just listening to Wei Shouzhong made her fearful.
Wei Shouzhong closed his eyes: "Hui Niang, we’re old, how many years can we accompany him? We can’t watch him all the ti."
————
Inside the house.
Yu Tingwan is genuinely upset! After all, she is genuinely poor!
But the young girl doesn’t understand how Wei Shen dares to say such things. He’s dragging his parents down!
Yu Tingwan keeps a stern face, distancing herself from him: "You’re quite presumptuous."
Wei Zhao is indifferent.
For a mont, there is silence, the room is quiet.
When Hui Niang returns, her eyes are slightly red and she’s particularly distracted.
Wei Shouzhong went out for a while. Soon, he brings a group of people in.
Leading them is a shrewd woman, who upon entering the courtyard, glances around. Following her is a group of timid young won, all looking pale and thin, with stains on their clothes.
Yu Tingwan is puzzled but sees Hui Niang walk up to Wei Shen.
"Lang, don’t worry. Your mother will find you a good wife."
Hui Niang gently tells Wei Zhao: "But a wife is for living with you, I’m afraid you won’t like who I choose. Would you like to go out and have a look?"
Seeing Wei Zhao not speaking, Hui Niang has beco accustod to it.
She can only discuss with him softly.
"Then, tell your mother, what kind of girl do you like?"
Yu Tingwan really wants to speak.
She knows.
Wei Shen likes soone fair-skinned!
But she holds it in.
So inappropriate images erge, making the young girl sowhat uneasy.
Wei Zhao has likely heard these kinds of words many tis before.
When Duke Shun was alive, he already said.
["Gui Zhi, you’ve established yourself; it’s ti to settle down."]
The Duchess Shun also said.
["Here in the Capital, mother is most fond of Princess Yong’an. She’s interested in you too; what do you think?"]
["If you’re interested, mother will arrange it for you. If not, mother will keep looking."]
The current Holy Emperor spoke at a banquet, saying that among all the noble daughters in the Capital, Wei Zhao could freely choose.
Wei Zhao, however, devoted himself to the military camp.
Now he doesn’t think about the camp anymore.
After Hui Niang goes out, Yu Tingwan is deep in thought.
She can understand, with Wei Shen’s mouth, it’s worriso if he can find a wife, not just for Hui Niang, but even for her.
The young girl looks at Wei Zhao, particularly confused.
"How are you indifferent to such a joyful event?"
Wei Zhao: ...
He’s not Wei Shen.
What’s it got to do with him?
The couple is outside entertaining guests. Hui Niang moves a stool outside and pours hot water for each of them.
Wei Shouzhong sits at Wei Zhao’s door, able to hear the conversation in the yard and keep an eye on the people inside.
The woman dressed neatly, her expression showing annoyance. She drinks a bit of hot water, finding so relief from the frozen body.
Her eyes are enveloped by a layer of fatigue, the trades she deals in requiring the most skillful eloquence, she speaks to Hui Niang.
"My surna is Chen, and the people around call Granny Chen. When Brother Wei said the family wants to see so girls, I brought them over."
"Rest assured, they all co from proper backgrounds."
"If it wasn’t for being short on money due to so trouble and this damned weather, I wouldn’t be so desperate to sell them. If these girls are raised and sent south, not just a couple of silver taels but even ten would have buyers willing to pay. You’ve truly found a bargain."
"I’m a straightforward person, as long as you pay enough, the girls will stay, and the contract will be handed to you."
After speaking, she harshly orders the girls: "Get over here and let the lady see you!"
On the journey here, the girls appear most afraid of Granny Chen. Hearing this, they tremble and hurry forward.
Hui Niang watches, feeling pity.
"Don’t be afraid, after all, this must be consensual, and if you don’t want it, I won’t force you."
She asks them to sit down again.
"No need for many formalities, don’t be constrained."
"That’s the condition of my family, you can see it. As parents, there’s always selfishness; my Lang is in poor health, I just want soone with a good temperant who can take care of him."
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