Mrs. Liu busily said: “How can this be done? I already said to Village Chief Li that we will fill the remaining two vacant positions. Village Chief Li said he will come to bring the registration forms tomorrow. After registering, he will give us 20 silver coins.”

The 20 silver coins made the old lady’s heart tight, as if the silvers were already in front of her, but… …

Old Lady Bai looked at Bai Erzhu and asked: “Erzhu, why don’t you think about it again?”

Bai Erzhu said with a bad tone: “Think about it again? I said I will not go. Whoever wants to get the money should go themselves. My family doesn’t need this money. Tomorrow, when Village Chief Li comes, we will separate.” After he finished, he called Mrs. Zhang to get inside their room, leaving Bai Dazhu, Mrs. Liu, and the old lady alone.

Mrs. Liu went close to the old lady and pulled her sleeve: “Niang, we can’t let this happened. This year, we only harvested 2 acres of wheat, we can’t get so much silver with it. It’s not enough for Xiaofeng’s study. If we can’t get those 20 silver coins, you have to take out your money in the box to pay for Xiaofeng’s tuition fee.”

When Old Lady Bai heard Mrs. Liu mentioned her box, she felt a sudden pain in her flesh: “No, no, my box has long been emptied. There is no single penny in there.”

Mrs. Liu hit the iron while it’s still hot: “I see, then we mustn’t let this happened. We must let Erzhu and Fugui join the army so that we can get the 20 silver coins. Otherwise, Xiaofeng will not have money for his tuition fee, right?”

Old Lady Bai was not stupid, so naturally, she knows what on Mrs. Liu’s mind, but she has seen Bai Erzhu’s attitude today. He was also her son, she doesn’t want to force him too much.

When Mrs. Liu saw that the old lady was hesitating, she rushed to add a fire: “Niang, today, you also have seen it. He is not like this before. Zhang definitely provoked him. Erzhu doesn’t dare to fight with her. If Erzhu and Fugui join the army, they will be gone for months, they might come back after a year and a half. By then, don’t we get so much time to clean her up? At that time, you can rule the second branch again. You must let her know who is the head of the family.”

Mrs.Liu gave Bai Dazhu a meaningful look in the eyes.

Bai Dazhu understood what his wife means to say, so he also opened his mouth: “That’s right, niang. Zhang is getting more and more arrogant. She no longer wants to do any work. If you don’t make a move now, she will completely won’t listen to your words anymore.”

Old Lady Bai looked at the closed door of Bai Erzhu and Mrs. Zhang’s room. She fell into deep thoughts. She didn’t say a word about it. She only said she was tired. Then, she went back to her room.

When Bai Dazhu saw that the old lady was not convinced, he was very dissatisfied inside his heart. He looked at the old lady’s room and then also went back to their room.

Mrs. Liu, who was walking behind Bai Dazhu, spit at the door of the old lady. When she walked passed by Bai Erzhu’s room, she also spits on their door and cursed.

*

The next morning, Village Chief Li arrived early in the Bai Family’s house. He was holding the 20 silver coins and the registration form for the military camp.

Bai Dazhu was sitting in the yard with a bowl of porridge, the porridge on his bowl was thick. Bai Erzhu on the side was also eating his porridge, but it can be seen that Bai Dazhu’s porridge was thicker than his.

In regards to the Bai Family, no one in the village doesn’t know that the old lady was eccentric, and Mrs. Liu’s face was thick and selfish. With these two people, he was sure that nobody will give a face to Bai Erzhu.

Village Chief Li entered the yard and walked towards the two brothers: “Dazhu, Erzhu, is the old lady here?”

When Bai Dazhu saw Village Chief Li came, he quickly got up and called the old lady inside by shouting: “Niang, Village Chief Li is here, come out quickly.”

 

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