Chapter 534: 534: Asking Tongsanlang for Money
He used to be quite casual about money issues, so much so that he didn’t realize the seriousness of the issue when it came to pricing bean sprouts.
Now he acutely realized how important it was to have silver in hand.
Let alone, Tong Sanlang didn’t give him much either. Every time they went hunting, they could save up a few taels, which would only amount to twenty or thirty taels of silver.
This silver was basically of no use in purchasing betrothal gifts.
Seeing this, Madam Zhang pursed her lips and turned to leave.
She went to ask Tong Sanlang again.
Tong Sanlang had private savings, which was intended for his studies. However, if he were to marry Qiao Xiaomai, they would no longer have to worry about money in the future.
“No, I won’t marry, and she wouldn’t agree to it either. Mother, don’t waste your money,” Tong Sanlang firmly rejected with a cold expression.
“You fool, if not for you, think about the family. Look at the state of our home now. Your father and I are working ourselves to death just to earn a few copper coins. We’ve raised you all these years, is this how you repay us?”
Madam Zhang also retorted coldly.
“I will study hard and try the Imperial Examination. After I pass the examination, you can just enjoy the good life,” Tong Sanlang said firmly.
“And how long would we have to wait for that? Look how hard your father and I have been working these days. We might die from exhaustion before you pass the Imperial Examination. We’ve raised you till this age, it’s time for you to repay us!”
“Hand over the silver!” Madam Zhang commanded sternly, “And, during all those years you’ve been guarding the treasure, didn’t you save up a piece or two?!”
Tong Sanlang’s lips tightened into a thin line, “Miss Qiao won’t agree to your plan.”
“That’s her business. You, give me the silver!”
Tong Sanlang hesitated for a moment, then took a book off the shelf, opened it, and took out a silver note.
“The silver I’ve saved since childhood, is only this much. As for the treasures, I haven’t touched a single one.”
This one hundred taels were his savings from hunting extra preys, just in case.
He didn’t expect it would come in handy now.
Madam Zhang looked at the silver note and snorted, then poked Tong Sanlang’s shoulder, “You fool, when you finally marry Qiao Xiaomai, you’ll realize that I’m doing this for your own good.”
“Just study hard. If you really pass the examination and become a scholar, it would be good for our family.”
Leaving these words behind, Madam Zhang walked away with the silver note.
Tong Sanlang watched her figure, his eyes downcast.
Soon it was deep night. All the households in the village had turned off their lamps. Under the moonlight, the small mountain village was quiet.
Tong Sanlang quietly came out of the house and used his light body technique to appear at Qiao Xiaomai’s house.
Qiao Xiaomai was sitting in the courtyard waiting for him.
There was still half a watermelon on the small table under the willow tree.
Seeing him, Qiao Xiaomai waved her hand immediately, “Come and sit. Try this watermelon, it’s from Yang Ye.”
Though she had watermelons in her space dimension, she had shared it with Tong Sanlang before.
But locally grown watermelon was a rare item. Tong Sanlang had only tried it once. When Yang Ye brought some, she couldn’t wait to let him taste it again.
Tong Sanlang sat down and saw a spoon on the watermelon. He picked up the spoon and scooped out the center.
When he tasted it, it was sweet, with a hint of undetectable sourness.
It couldn’t compare to the watermelons from Qiao Xiaomai’s space, which had been improved countless times.
He nodded, “It’s not bad.”
“Keep the seeds. Mix them with the ones in my space and plant them in the field. We can eat sweet big watermelons next year!” said Qiao Xiaomai.