Chapter 17 The energy is exhausted

That night, the candles in Lao Mei's house were lit until midnight, and the sound of women crying could be heard from inside.

The above things were only known to Meiberry and her 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 custom to wash clothes before returning home.

Aren't the ladies who were also washing clothes and 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 aunts 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, etc.

"By the way, from the Erniu 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 in the village might change their family's situation 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 someone saying, "How about a book on enlightenment costing 300,000 yuan? A book costs eight taels of silver! What's behind is 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 listened and followed up: "Right? Apart from buying books, pens, inks, paper and inkstones don't require money for anything? Not to mention paying for 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 tightened 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, you haven't seen our Erya

, as thin as a pony, if this continues..."

The 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, since 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? 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 Lao Mei's 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, 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 food, there is not much left to sell. Even if the family has to do part-time work during the slack period, I

Why do you think there’s not enough money for fourth child’s education?”

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 noticed something was wrong. It wasn't that the two of them were good at arithmetic, but the numbers were clearly there.

No matter how much you spend in a year, you must spend at least more than ten taels of silver.

"Maybe... it's the author's BUG?" Mei Berry 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 all, 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.

Except for 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.

Mei You thought she could do some business or something, and 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 the good money will be wasted. Secondly... our Dacheng family has not been living a good life these past few years..."

The great achievement Miao mentioned is the title of the country today.

Naturally, the common people do not know the annual plans and 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 he couldn't explain anything, so he 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, and when he went back to the house to rest, he listened to what happened between Mei Mei and Wei Meimei. 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 son forgotten how his wife entered Lao Mei's house?"

"Ah, remember."

Mei Dahu and Mei Sanma were talking about the Miao family the other day, and Wei Meili was still impressed.

Her own experience was actually similar to that of the Miao family. More than ten years ago, there was a rare severe drought in the south of Dacheng. Starvation and death were everywhere, and scenes of Yi Zi cannibalism were everywhere.

The Miao family and I were both the hardest hit by the disaster in our hometown. The whole family fled all the way north. When they passed by, they were sold by the family in exchange for a few mouthfuls of food.

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 for food also suffered a lot that year.

Harvests failed 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 hired scholars from peasant families and exchanged food for students. Students studying in towns or counties

The sheaves are made of silver."

Mei Youqian recounted the memories in his mind: "After that drought, locust plagues occurred in the following years. Floods and other disasters have never been peaceful. Therefore, many farmers in the school have been unable to study and harvest food.

Changed.

On the other hand, the fourth child, after passing the Tongsheng test a few years ago, failed to pass 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. Yes. 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 haven't happened in more than ten years. …”

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