Song Sanniang's Journey to Wealth

The next day, after selling the sweet soup, Song Laoer took Song Sanniang to find Song Laoda.

When they arrived, the eldest brother Song was busy. His father-in-law, the blacksmith Gao, and his two uncles were also there. The second brother Song greeted them.

Gao the blacksmith is old, with gray hair. Although he is not tall, he is very strong. He is very kind, but his face gives people a shrewd and calculating feeling.

His two sons also had similar builds, but their attitudes were indifferent, and it seemed like they didn't want to pay any attention to Song Lao Er.

When Song Lao Er and Song Lao Da talked about the autumn harvest, Song Lao Da agreed immediately and said that he would finish the work at hand today and go back in the evening.

Uncle Gao coughed hard, and Uncle Gao said sarcastically, "Son-in-law, you haven't finished your work yet, how can you leave it and go home?"

Boss Song was calm when he heard this. "Brother, I can finish the work today. I have to go home every year to help with the autumn harvest. Isn't it always like this? If you want to change it next year, tell me in advance so I can make arrangements early."

Uncle Gao wanted to say something, but Blacksmith Gao gave him a look and he shut up.

Gao the blacksmith laughed and said, "It's not that I don't want you to go back, it's just that there's a lot of work to do these days. I heard that you went out with your second brother two days ago? How about you help finish the work these two days and then go back to help?"

Usually, Boss Song ignored the sarcastic attitude of his two uncles, but this time his younger brother was here, and it has been like this for more than ten years, so why did he suddenly change his mind?

He also got angry and said, "Dad, there are not many people in my family, and only my brother can do the heavy work. How can I not go back? Do I have to let my wife and others do the work of the more than ten acres of land? I am usually in the shop and can't go home once a month. I have to go back for the autumn harvest this time."

Blacksmith Gao was a little surprised, but he suppressed his dissatisfaction and said, "Okay, you can go back. It would be nice to go back and see your children and wife." Upon hearing this, Uncle Gao and the other two went into the backyard together.

"Brother, what's going on between you and dad? Are you just going to let him go back like this?" "Wouldn't it be better to let him go back? Let my little sister talk to him and let Song Lao Er take her with him to do business."

"This Boss Song, his younger brother made money easily, but he didn't know how to let his younger brother help him get rich. He is really stupid. He should have done all the work for him."

"Okay, stop talking, let's just look at Dad."

Song Lao Er and his partner waited in the blacksmith shop for Song Lao Da to finish his work. Song Lao Da packed two sets of clothes and then went to take Song Da Zhi's car.

On the way, Song Lao Da also spent money to buy cakes and candies. Song Lao Er originally wanted to buy more dishes and invite Song Lao Da to dinner, but Song Sanniang told him that Song Lao Da must meet Song Pozi and his family first before returning home, and have dinner with the family. They can eat together on the day of autumn harvest.

Song Laoer thought about it and felt that this was better, so he gave up.

When Boss Song returned home, Mrs. Song looked at her eldest son, who was exhausted from the journey, and tears immediately fell down, which frightened Boss Song.

While wiping her tears, Mrs. Song said to Boss Song, "Boss, tell me, did I do something wrong? Your father is right, I did something wrong. Everyone says I did something wrong. I really did something wrong." She kept saying over and over again that she was wrong.

Mrs. Song was very happy to see Mr. Song coming back, and wanted to make the first move to complain, but when she saw Mrs. Song like this, she just stood aside and was so scared that she dared not speak.

It was up to her to say whatever she wanted to say in private with Boss Song in the room, but if she said anything now and Mrs. Song exposed her or complained to Boss Song, then she would be in real trouble.

However, after crying, Mrs. Song did not continue to talk about what she had just said. She pretended to be happy and asked Mrs. Song and her two daughters to go to the kitchen to cook.

Song Dalang and Song Erlang were sent to a private school by Song Dasao at all costs, but she was reluctant to find a private school that was too expensive, so she found a school that was farther away, which cost five taels per semester, including food and accommodation.

However, writing brushes, ink, paper and inkstones were also a large expense. Before the family split up, the combined income of the eldest and second sons of the Song family was about one or two taels per month.

In the past few years, Mrs. Song's savings were used to buy land and to pay for the tuition of the two brothers. Fortunately, the two brothers had good grades and would take the imperial examination next year.

Mrs. Song was busy in the kitchen, but Song Chunhua and Song Qiushi did not go in to help. They were rummaging through the cakes and candies that Boss Song had brought back, and their mouths were full of crumbs.

Fortunately, the eldest brother Song knew the personalities of his two daughters, so he bought the same things for the second brother Song’s family and for his own family.

Song Chunhua enjoyed the meal, but Song Qiushi complained to the eldest brother Song, "Dad, why do you still buy cakes for the second uncle and the others? When we go to his house to get something, they will ask the clan leader to settle accounts with us. Don't buy anything for them in the future."

"What did you get from your second uncle's house?" Boss Song asked in a deep voice.

Song Qiushi was shocked to realize that she had let the cat out of the bag. She stammered and couldn't speak. Boss Song looked at Song Chunhua and said, "Chunhua, tell me. If you don't tell me, I'll go ask the clan leader."

Song Chunhua had no choice but to tell the story, but she said that it was her grandmother who asked her to do it, and they only did it because of her grandmother's advice.

Boss Song knew everything clearly. He knew it must be his wife who instigated the incident. He took the cakes and candies and walked towards Boss Song's house without saying a word.

Song Lao Er was making bamboo bowls at home. When he saw Song Lao Da, he stopped what he was doing and asked, "Brother, why are you here?"

Boss Song called Si Niang and Wu Niang who were playing nearby and said, "Come, uncle bought some food for you, come and eat."

Although the fourth and fifth mothers were greedy, they would only show this when they were at home. They did not go up directly, but just looked at Song Lao Er.

Song Lao Er said, "Go ahead, thank you uncle."

The two of them stepped forward to take the cakes and thanked Boss Song. They opened the cakes and took a look at them but did not eat them. They ran to the kitchen to find Song Sanniang to eat together.

"I heard that my family came to your house to move things?" Boss Song asked.

"Brother, it's okay. It's all in the past. Let's not mention it." Song Lao Er felt that the matter had been resolved and Song Dasao should not cause any more trouble, so he decided to forget about it.

Boss Song was unwilling to do so. "Just tell me the truth."

The second Song had no choice but to explain the whole thing from beginning to end. After hearing it, the veins on the forehead of the eldest Song were throbbing with anger.

Song Lao Er quickly comforted him, "Brother, it's all over. Sister-in-law won't do it again. Don't quarrel over it. It's a rare opportunity for you to come home."

Boss Song didn't say whether he would find Sister Song to settle the score. "Second brother, your sister-in-law was wrong about this matter. I apologize to you on her behalf. Don't take it to heart. This kind of thing will not happen again in the future."

Song Lao Er nodded indifferently, and Song Lao Da said goodbye to Song Lao Er and went home.