Shipin Dalizheng

When the spring grass arrived, a few people were eating melon seeds and chatting.

"What do you think Master Tang wants us to do? No one has come to call us yet."

"Who knows? Who cares? Master Tang said our wages started yesterday. We get paid whether we work or not. We eat well and live comfortably. It's so comfortable. If we can live like this for a long time, we'll be freer than a god."

"You're dreaming, Goudan's mother. I think Master Tang is just not prepared. Who would want to keep workers for free?"

"That's right."

Wang Erpang's wife concluded, "Maybe it's busy today. I just went to the bathroom and saw a lot of people coming in and out. It seems like there are a lot of guests."

Chuncao stepped closer, her face cold, "Ladies, the young master wants to see you."

A few people stood up with a hint of regret, as if they had not had enough free time.

The Third Master was behind them, earnestly admonishing them, "Come on, everyone, be alert and do what the Master tells you to do. Otherwise, you will feel guilty about taking the money."

"I understand, Third Uncle."

Rong Xiu walked a few steps behind them. Rong Jindou's wife, Ma, waited a few steps to talk to her, "Xiu-gu, are you comfortable living in the nunnery? Do you want to work?"

Rong Xiu's face turned pale, Cai Lan glared at Ma angrily, and Chun Cao directly retorted, "Aunt Jindou, if you are curious, why not send you to be a nun and experience for yourself whether it is better or not."

Ma's mouth opened and closed, chattering non-stop, "Why should I become a nun? I'm not unlucky with men. Besides, I'm just asking for fun, I don't mean any harm. And, Chuncao girl, according to seniority, Master Tang should call me clan grandmother, not aunt."

Oh, this is playing with her seniority! Chuncao's face was covered with frost, and she was about to say something unpleasant. The third master scolded first: "You blind thing, who are you playing with seniority? Young Master Tang called you aunt, which is already giving you face. Whoever dares to mention seniority in the future, go back to the village and be a grandmother."

Ma's head shrank, and she immediately apologized with a smile, "Third Uncle, I was just joking, why did you take it so seriously?"

Rong Xiu felt so uncomfortable that she couldn't move if Cai Lan hadn't supported her.

They finally reached the East Flower Hall, where they usually gathered. Rong Tang, supported by Rong Quan and Chang Chun, had already reached the entrance of the flower hall and sat down in an armchair with difficulty.

Chuncao stepped forward and whispered a complaint about the women, especially Ma. Rongtang remained silent, but others didn't know that this was exactly the kind of person he wanted.

Ma seemed to have noticed that Chuncao had said something bad about her, and was afraid of driving her away. She put on a flattering smile and said obsequiously, "Master Tang, just tell us what to do. Even if it means going through fire and water, we can't do it."

Rong Tang said, "Bring stools for the aunts and sisters to sit on. I will tell you what I want you to do next. Those who are capable will stay, and those who are not will be sent away immediately. You will be paid two days' wages."

The other three said in unison, "Master Tang, just give your orders."

I was reluctant to put the melon seeds I was eating into my pocket.

Unexpectedly, Rong Tang said, "You can continue to eat melon seeds, just do whatever you want."

Everyone was very happy. Mr. Tang was really a good person. Such a boss was very satisfactory.

Stools were brought in, and a few people sat down, eating melon seeds and listening eagerly to Rong Tang's instructions.

"The four of you will split into two groups. One group will represent the Rong family, and the other group will represent the Jin family. Start the debate..."

Several women were confused, so Ma asked, "What is a debate?"

Rong Laifu's wife also said, "I am also the daughter-in-law of the Rong family. How can I represent the Jin family?"

The other two also said anxiously: "Yes, yes, although we are not members of the Rong family, our Rong Village is a whole, and we cannot speak for others."

The third master nodded on the side. These lazy women at least knew the principle of sharing weal and woe.

Rong Tang said, "It's just pretending. You can think of it as acting, with two people playing the Rong family and two playing the Jin family. As for the debate, you can think of it as an argument, with reason and evidence. Whoever wins the argument will get a reward."

The four of them looked at each other, "What are we arguing about? There has to be something, right?"

"This is the current situation between our Rong and Jin families. The Jin family has occupied the Rong family's house, fields, shops, and property. The Jin family relies on their official status. Lord Jin is Madam Rong's husband, and Madam Jin is Madam Rong's mother-in-law. They hold on to the property of the Bo Mansion and refuse to return it. If you meet on the road, how will you argue and fight for it?"

Ma and Lai Fu's wife were originally Rong family's wives. They looked at each other and agreed to form a group, while the wives of Li and Wang families formed another group.

Rong Tang looked at them and pointed at Lai Fu's family. "Switch with the person on the opposite side. The two Rong family members will separate. Remember, whichever side you represent, you must speak for that side wholeheartedly and use all your strength to win the argument."

The four of them regrouped, pretending to run into each other by chance, and started arguing. Perhaps because they knew they were from the same village, that they were all family, they couldn't let go.

Rong Tang felt his purse and found a few loose silver coins. He took one out and threw it on the ground.

"Whoever wins the argument gets this silver."

That piece of silver was worth at least one ounce. The four women stared in amazement. Thirty wen a day would take more than a month's work.

Ma rushed over and grabbed it in her hand, exclaiming ecstatically, "It's mine."

The other three were not happy with this and immediately went over to argue, "Why should it be yours? Did you win?"

Ma jumped three feet high, suddenly getting into the mood, "Ah bah! You two shameless people, why do you want to snatch money from me? You are a son-in-law who married into the family, a piece of ass who changed his surname after being beheaded, and you have disgraced your ancestors for eighteen generations. You eat and drink at our uncle's house, and even if you give birth to a son, you want him to be named Rong. Take a piss and look in the mirror. How can you have the face to live? If I were you, I would be ashamed to death."

Goudan's mother, who was in the same group with her, came to her senses, put the silver aside, and jumped up and cursed.

Lai Fu's wife and Er Pang's wife were taken aback for a while. Rong Tang said in a deep voice, "If you want the money, you have to win the argument. Are you afraid that you won't get it back?"

Lai Fu's wife was desperate and wiped her face. "Ah! What's wrong with the Bo's Mansion? Don't they have no sons? What if the son's surname is Rong? He's still our Jin family's bloodline? Your daughter married into our Jin family, so she is a member of the Jin family. No matter how much the dowry is, it belongs to the Jin family. It is her duty to respect her parents-in-law and serve her husband. Her dowry can also be used by her husband and parents-in-law. Who do you think you are? You are seven or eight generations apart, and you still have the audacity to say that you are a family. Do you have any shame? People like you should stay away from the Jin family even if you want to beg for food, so as not to bring shame to the Bo's Mansion."

Lai Fu's wife cursed enthusiastically, she felt good about it, but made the third master very angry.

"Fool, how can you talk like that?"

Lai Fu's wife was startled, and the emotions that had just been brewing subsided.

Rong Tang hurriedly said, "Go on, keep arguing like this."

With Rong Tang's approval, the four of them put down their burdens and racked their brains to curse each other, using all kinds of tricky words and weird excuses. There was nothing they couldn't think of.