Song Sanniang's Journey to Wealth

She turned to the group and said,

"Everyone, you must be wondering why I asked them about their length of service and wages?

I want to prove that my uncle is an honest man, and what he said is evidence!

His senior brother, who started working with Master Gao two years earlier than him, earned twice as much as him.

His third apprentice brother started working with Master Gao five years later than him, and his salary was twice as much as his.

The junior brother is still an apprentice, so we will ignore him.

Let me ask you, is this bullying?

He was getting the lowest pay for doing the same job. With his skills that he has acquired for more than ten years, how could he not find work?

He could even strike out on his own, so why would he stay here?"

She asked Boss Song again, "Uncle, have you asked about the wages of other fellow apprentices?"

Boss Song shook his head.

Song Sanniang raised her voice and said excitedly, "Everyone, my uncle didn't even ask them about their wages.

He didn't know he was being treated differently, and he trusted his father-in-law.

Because he is too honest, he only knows how to work hard.

Because he believed that his wages were only kept by his father-in-law, as long as he worked hard, he would get his money in due time.

What kind of person would let his son-in-law do the same job day after day for ten years and get minimal wages?

Can we really believe what such a person says?

My uncle has worked here for not one, two, one, two, five, six years, but seventeen years.

Seventeen years of hard work, in return for which I was deceived, exploited, and slandered!"

After saying that, she bowed to the two yamen runners and said firmly, "Please ask the officers to make the decision for my uncle and ask Master Gao to pay back the money!"

The onlookers shouted "Pay back the money, pay back the money, pay back the money"

The inspector asked Gao Daquan, "Do you have anything else to say? Do you still want to insist that you give all your wages to Song Song?"

Gao the blacksmith lowered his head dejectedly, and after a long while he managed to squeeze out a sentence from his throat: "It's my bad luck, I'll pay."

Boss Song was so excited that his eyes were slightly red. He nodded to Song Sanniang and said, "Sanniang, thank you very much. You know uncle."

Song Sanniang calmed down and suddenly started to cry.

Why would her uncle, such a good man, treat him like this?

He worked diligently for more than ten years, and others were paid higher wages than him, but they still slandered him and said he lied. In the end, they even embezzled the dozens of taels of silver. And these were all people he trusted.

Mrs. Song went up to her and wiped her tears. "Why are you crying? It's a good thing that you can get your wages back."

Song Sanniang choked up and said, "I just feel sorry for my uncle. He did so much, but in return he was deceived.

Although the wages owed to him were only a few years, after more than ten years of hard work, was that all he got in return?

He has wasted most of his life here. He could have had a better future.

Why is he so stubborn? Why doesn't he start his own business? Even if he doesn't start his own business, he can always find another store."

Song Sanniang didn't know why, but she was so sad that she couldn't control herself.

There are too many people like this. She was crying for Uncle Song, Second Brother Song, and Second Sister-in-law Song. She was also crying for those who worked hard but did not get the rewards they deserved.

When Boss Song heard what Song Sanniang said, even a grown man couldn't hold back his tears.

He was not crying for his own efforts and hard work, but for his father-in-law's family's neglect, oppression and deception of him, and also for Sanniang's understanding of him and her words for him.

Song Laoer's family all had tears in their eyes, and Si Niang and Wu Niang also started crying.

Everyone present sighed. What was a farce of asking for wages ended up bringing tears to people’s eyes.

After that, word of this spread and the number of people who were owed wages actually decreased a lot.

The door to the backyard creaked open, and Gao Daquan's wife came out, wiping her tears.

Following behind were Uncle Gao and his wife. Mrs. Gao's hair was already gray.

She was wearing rich, fine cotton clothes without a patch, and it was obvious that she lived a well-off life.

She held a bag of silver in her hand. She took Boss Song's hand and put the bag of money on it. She patted his hand.

"Child, we, the Gao family, are sorry for you. Here is sixty taels. You can take the extra money back to buy more pens, ink, paper and inkstone for Dalang and Erlang.

It is our in-laws who are sorry for them. Please tell the children not to blame us. They are confused. They are confused. I just said they shouldn’t do that.

Please tell Lanlan for me to stop blaming her father and brother, as they are both foolish people."

After saying that, she turned around and walked to the backyard without waiting for Boss Song to say anything. Uncle Gao and his wife had no choice but to help the old lady back. Gao Daquan and his son also hid in the backyard.

Song Sanniang had calmed down. She leaned over to whisper something in Song Laoer's ear. Song Laoer nodded, rummaged through his pockets, and came to the two officers.

"Thank you both officers, I am sorry to bother you today."

Then he stretched out his right hand to shake hands with them. He shook hands with the patrol inspector first.

The inspector thought it was strange that two grown men were shaking hands, but he still stretched out his hand. When their hands touched, he felt something stuffed into his hand.

He calmly withdrew his hand and put it in his pocket, then nodded to Song Lao Er.

Song Lao Er did the same thing. Shao Wu usually received food from Song Sanniang, but when he received the silver this time, he was about to refuse it.

But he felt that the occasion was not right, so he accepted it as well. Then he nodded and left together.

The money is not much, just one or two taels per person to buy some drinks. If it is too little, it is not acceptable, and if it is too much, there is no need.

Song Sanniang was there, commanding domineeringly, "Uncle, hurry up and pack your luggage. We are going home. We are quitting this job."

The eldest brother Song said proudly, "Okay, I quit. Wait for me for a moment, I'll go clean up," and the second brother Song followed to clean up.

Song Dazhi nodded approvingly to Song Sanniang, "Sanniang, you are really great."

Song Sanniang chuckled, "Not bad, not bad, just keep a low profile."

After Boss Song and his companions came out with their luggage, Wen Changhai apologized to Boss Song.

"Junior brother, I'm sorry. I wish you better development in the future." After saying that, he patted Boss Song on the shoulder.

Boss Song shook his head and said, "I don't blame you. You have no choice. I appreciate your suggestion. Let's have a drink together when we have time." Wen Changhai nodded and smiled brightly.

Tie Niu stepped forward a little embarrassedly, "Second Brother, I'm sorry, I couldn't help you."

Boss Song smiled and shook his head, "You little brat, what I said is none of your business. You better study hard."

Then, as if he suddenly remembered something, he added, "Don't be like me, Second Senior Brother. You should be smarter."

Tie Niu nodded, not quite understanding, and watched Song Lao Er leave.

Du Jiawen was thinking that now that Boss Song was gone, he would have more work to do, which was not a good thing.

There were some neighbors who had been helped by Boss Song waiting outside the door. When they saw Boss Song coming out with his luggage, they greeted him.

"Going home?"

"You're not coming back?"

"It's okay if you don't want to do this anymore. With your skills, you can open your own shop. Just do it yourself. Let us know when the time comes and we'll come to support you."

"Yes, yes, we will only help you from now on."

Boss Song didn't expect so many people to trust him. He put his luggage on the ox cart and bowed to everyone.

"Dear neighbors, thank you for your honest advice today. No matter what I do for a living in the future, I will come back to visit you all. See you later."

The neighbors responded in droves.

"Let's have tea together then."

"See you soon."

"Remember to come back and chat with us often."

"It's a bright future."

Accompanied by everyone's blessings and farewells, Boss Song and his friends got on the ox cart and headed home.