That night, the candles in Lao Mei's house were lit until midnight, and women's cries could be heard from inside.
The above things were only known to Meiberry and his family the next morning.
"Really? Oh my god...you're beating your wife?"
Wei Meili went to the stream early in the morning to wash the fabrics she bought yesterday. It is a modern habit to go through the water first when returning home from shopping.
Aren't the ladies who were also washing clothes and washing vegetables by the stream chatting now?
After all, what happened to Lao Mei's family last night was partly due to his family's contribution, and these melon-eating aunties were naturally happy to share it.
"How can we not fight? My mother-in-law did such a shameful thing..."
Most of the elderly aunts despised what Mrs. Zhang and her daughter-in-law did. As for the few who had other ideas, they had to scold the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law for not being quick in their movements and so on.
"By the way, from Erniu's family, I heard that your brother-in-law is very knowledgeable. He might be a scholar when he takes the exam next year. What do you think, your family is splitting up now~"
While chatting, they turned the topic to Wei Meili's family's separation.
Faced with the looks of some meddlesome women, Wei Meili smiled coquettishly. She had no intention of remaining silent. She could see the gossipy culture in this village.
If she didn't say something, the wind direction in the village might change their family in a few days.
Wei Meili picked up the mallet and smashed the somewhat hard fabric in her hand again and again. She sighed and said, "It's good to be a scholar, but it costs money~"
Just saying "spend money" instantly aroused the curiosity of many people. The few who knew it naturally had something to say, and they could fill in the rest without Wei Meili continuing.
"Oh, who says it's not the case? I was going to the town market with my family that time, and when I passed by the bookstore, I heard something like, "A book on enlightenment costs three hundred thousand, and a book costs eight coins! The ones after that are even more expensive. !”
"Hey, where is so much money? I heard that scholars have to read a lot of books!"
"Yeah, that's all money~"
Wei Meili heard this and followed up: "Right? In addition to buying books, pens, inks, papers and inkstones don't require money? Let alone repairs for the private school teacher!"
After all, there are very few people studying in the village. When I see someone studying, I can only sigh with emotion and say that people can only study if they are talented. However, as long as you understand a little bit, you will understand that this does not mean you can study if you are talented.
It all has to be piled up with money.
"In recent years, our family has been tightening their belts to support my brother-in-law's studies... If it wasn't almost impossible, who wouldn't want to continue to help? But, there is really no way to survive~ Auntie, don't you see our second wife? , as skinny as a stick, if this continues..."
Several aunts around the emotional point were silent as well, most of them listening sympathetically.
Yes, who doesn’t want to achieve enlightenment and ascend to heaven?
But the more factual fact is that one general's success will lead to thousands of bones drying up.
"It doesn't matter. Now that we are separated, let's live a good life~"
Listening to Wei Meimei's serious topic, some aunts stopped to continue with a wink, "With your family being so capable, your family will definitely live a prosperous life in the future~"
"Yes, your brother-in-law spends so much money to study, and you have been able to work hard to support it until now. It shows that you are capable. If you don't have this in the future...work hard, and your life will be good after all!"
The comforter does not mean it, but the listener does...
"Uh? What's Lao Mei's family background?"
Mei Bei helped her father sow vegetable seeds behind the house in the morning. When Wei Meili came back and asked about the family background of the old Mei family in the novel, Mei Bei subconsciously suspected that her mother was infected by her father.
Are you going to cause trouble again?
"Yes, Pei Bao, when the family was separated that day, Lao Mei's family had a total of six acres of paddy fields and twelve acres of dry land, and five taels of silver, ah no, twelve taels. Do you think there is anything wrong with this family's financial situation?"
After Wei Meili finished speaking, without waiting for Mei Li's answer, she added: "Old Mei's family's annual grain harvest...except for the rations left for eating, there is not much left to sell. Even if the family works part-time during the off-season, I Why do you think the money for fourth child’s education is not enough?”
When Wei Meili mentioned this, Mei Bei was also stunned.
Can she tell her mother that reading novels is like Zhu Bajie eating ginseng fruit?
Just as her mother had guessed, Lao Mei's family was considered to be among the best in the village, but if it was for people to study, that might not be the case.
"Just the money for the private school teacher's repairs and pens, ink, paper and inkstones is a big expense. Even if the family lives so tightly, it seems that it is not enough..."
When Mei Mei was reminded by Wei Meili, she immediately realized something was wrong. It wasn't that the two of them were good at arithmetic, it was just the numbers that were on the bright side.
No matter what, the expenditure must be at least more than ten taels of silver a year.
"Maybe... it's the author's BUG?" Mei Bei said this, but she still felt a little conflicted in her heart.
Her grandmother cruelly sold Erya, which shows that she is really short of money.
When the family was separated, old man Mei said that the family still had five taels of silver saved. Even if Mrs. Zhang still sold Erya, it can only be said that the money saved at home was not enough, at least not enough for the fourth child to study.
That's why the sale of the granddaughter happened.
But this is just this year, what about previous years?
In previous years, were there times when there was no money to spare?
***
"Dad, do you mean to buy another acre of land?"
Yesterday, Mei You's deer deer sold for ten taels of silver, but in the end, there were still more than seven taels left. Mei Sanma went to the field where Lao Mei's family was divided early this morning and walked around.
In addition to paddy fields, the other two acres of the three acres of land are not considered fertile. They have been planted with wheat. After paying the tax on the wheat grown, the family may not be able to eat enough.
"Well, we may not be able to buy paddy fields. We can buy dry land and then grow corn or something after a while. At least we will have enough to eat."
Mei Sanma, who has been dealing with land all his life, doesn't know what he can do with extra money. He might as well buy a piece of land.
Meiyou thought she could do some business or something. She thought about it and said so. However, as soon as she finished speaking, her parents disagreed.
"Erya, your father and I don't know much about business. Firstly, we are afraid that good money will be spent and wasted. Secondly... our Dacheng family has not been living a good life these past few years..."
The great achievement that Miao talked about is the title of the country today.
Naturally, the common people do not know the annual plans above, but among the people, what they have seen over the years is basically poverty and suffering.
"We went to the town yesterday, Erya, didn't you think the market was actually not that lively? Those who run small businesses have been at home for many years."
Miao knew that she couldn't explain anything, so she could only tell them what they saw. Mei You had also seen these phenomena, but she didn't feel relieved.
After hearing what they said, I started to think more deeply.
***
"Hey~ What do you think the fourth son's money is for studying?"
Mei Youqian finished working on the vegetable field in the morning. When he went back to the house to rest, he listened to what happened between Mei Mei and Wei Meili. Because he had the memory of his original body, he knew a lot about some things.
"Didn't the fourth child come to the county to study last year? Shu Xiu needs food no more than the private school teacher in the town. The teacher in the county needs both food and money." After saying this, Mei Youqian looked at Wei Meili and said, "Have you and the third child forgotten how his wife entered Lao Mei's house?"
"Ah, remember."
Mei Dahu and Mei Sanma were talking about the Miao family a few days ago, and Wei Meili was still impressed.
Her own experience was similar to that of the Miao family. More than ten years ago, there was a rare severe drought in the south of Dacheng. There were scenes of starvation and cannibalism everywhere.
Both Miao and himself were the worst hit by the disaster in their hometown. The whole family fled all the way north. When they passed here, they were sold by the family in exchange for a few mouthfuls of grain.
At that time, Jinshui Village was naturally affected by drought, but it was not very severe.
The farmers in the village who had to live on the ground tightened their belts and got through that year, but some families in Lihu Town who could only buy grain to eat also suffered a lot that year.
Harvests were poor in many places, food prices were so high that the government was unable to control them.
"After the drought, the fourth child just happened to be studying in a private school. The price of food that year was always very high. Later, many private schools took students from farmers' families and exchanged them for food. Students studying in the town or county The bundle of repairs is silver."
Mei Youqian recounted the memories in his mind: "After that drought, there were locust plagues and floods in the following years, and we never had peace of mind. Therefore, many farmers in the school had nothing to do while studying, doing repairs, and harvesting food." Changed.
On the other hand, the fourth child, after passing the Tongsheng test a few years ago, failed the scholar test twice. The private school teacher in the town suggested that he go to the county to find a better private school, saying that with his intelligence, he would be able to pass the scholar test. of. But, Shu Xiu in this county... they need both food and money. "
Therefore, in the past two years, Lao Mei's family's financial resources have been almost wiped out.
But after listening to what her father said, Mei Bei's thoughts were so far gone that she couldn't help but murmur: "Is this really the end of luck? I've heard that disasters have never happened in more than ten years." …”
