Records of the Cattle and Horses of Chang'an

"Grandma, maybe they think we're easy to bully!" Jiang Shangxian thought about this and curled his lips. "If you don't believe me, ask my mother if those people she took money from have no one to rely on at home."

Jiang's mother was stared at by three pairs of eyes, her mind a little confused. She was simply confused by the huge profits. "Okay, it seems to be the case... The He family in our neighborhood, she is the only one left in his family with a little grandson to support..."

The more she spoke, the more sober she became. She slapped her thigh and said, "Oh, it's true. They are all similar to ours!"

Jiang Shangxian felt relieved: "That's right. The poorer the family, the less trouble they will face when something happens. If you are so blind as to provoke a powerful person, hehe~"

In some cases, it is not that bad luck only picks on the unfortunate people, but the more miserable you are, the easier it is for you to be bullied!

If you go to remote rural areas, you will see many examples of this.

Most people like to add icing on the cake, but how many people are willing to help others in times of need?

Xia Zhenying finished washing the dishes, her hands red from the cold. She listened quietly outside the door and waited. When she heard this, she pushed the door open and walked in. "My cousin is right. Why couldn't my grandmother and I make a living in our hometown of Chuzhou? Why did we come all the way to Chang'an to seek refuge with my aunt? It's because my grandmother is old and I am still young, so those people can bully us at will."

She walked over to the hearth and sat down, stretching out her palms and leaning over to warm them. "Grandma didn't intend to bring me to Chang'an to cause trouble for my aunt. She said that life is hard, but if you endure it, it will pass and everything will be fine. After all, it's a lifetime, so there's no need to be afraid."

Although she was still a month away from turning thirteen, her face was still as childish as ever, but her eyes showed a worldly wisdom that surpassed others. "My grandmother and I raised five chickens at home. We thought their eggs were valuable, so we would trade them for money. At the end of the year, we would slaughter the weakest one, the one that laid the fewest eggs, to have a good year. Days passed, and the chickens grew bigger. But who could have known that, overnight, all five chickens would be gone."

She raised her head and looked at Jiang's mother. "Aunt, after my uncle left, you were alone with my cousins. Although it was difficult, we were still living under the emperor's rule, and we had the money my uncle left behind to support us. I'm afraid you don't understand that people in this world are always soft-hearted and afraid of the strong. The more someone struggles in the mud and is on the verge of death, the more those with bad intentions want to step on them."

Jiang's mother's eyes turned red as she listened. She wiped her eyes and said, "Mother, why didn't you tell me about this?"

"What can I say?"

Madam Xia waved her hand. "It's all in the past. We're thousands of miles apart. Do you think I'm going to Chuzhou just for five chickens? I'm old now. Once I leave that sad place, we'll never meet again. When my soul returns to the underworld, remember to send me back to my hometown in Chuzhou to be buried with your father."

As people grow older, they become less willing to care about many things. It’s not because they have become more open-minded, but because they feel there is no need.

Fallen leaves return to their roots, and when she goes back in the future, she will go back sideways.

"Just remember, for a family like us who have no power, no influence, and no one to rely on, if something like this comes our way, nine times out of ten it's a scam."

Old Lady Xia patted her daughter's hand. Educating children is a lifelong practice. "If Nian Nu marries a good family in the future, or Er Lang becomes successful, then if someone comes to visit you again, you will have to ask the two children whether they are here to ask for help or to harm you."

Jiang's mother had roughly understood the matter of making money, but now she understood everything. She wiped her face and said, "Mother, what are you asking about Cui Shaoqing today? Could it be that..."

When it comes to relationships between men and women, her sensitivity has reached the pinnacle. The three little ones also pricked up their ears without noticing, waiting for Madam Xia's answer.

But Old Lady Xia had no intention of discussing this with them. She held her daughter down, waved her hand, and dismissed them all. "Hurry up and wash up, and go to bed. You'll all have to get up early tomorrow morning to make a living. Nian Nu, keep the money box safe. Remember to return it to your mother next spring."

"Yes."

At noon the next day, Cui Bianxu arrived earlier than usual.

As soon as Jiang Shangxian entered the room, he was directed to turn around several times. He only felt relieved after making sure that his hands and feet were in good condition - the New Year's target was finally saved!

congratulations!

"Why did your mother hit you with a stick yesterday?" Cui Bianxu was really curious. Miss Jiang had always been well-behaved, so why did she get so angry?

Jiang Shangxian bit her lower lip. She hesitated a little whether to tell Cui Bian about this matter. Thinking of what Xia Zhenying said yesterday, she finally said, "Shaoqing, do you know that there are many merchants in Chang'an City who travel around for business?"

"So what?" The business of traveling for business has a long history, especially after the current emperor ascended the throne. It can be said that all nations have come to pay tribute. All kinds of Hu merchants have traveled thousands of miles to transport goods to the Central Plains to sell, and then purchased goods from the Central Plains to sell back along the way. The huge profits have attracted many merchants of this dynasty to take risks.

"There's a woman in Yongpingfang named Zhou Sanniang. Her family is from a merchant family, and she has a brother..." Jiang Shangxian explained the situation in detail, concluding, "My mother told me that several families in Yong'anfang alone have invested money. Logically, this should be a very profitable business, but I don't think so."

Cui Bianxu understood after hearing this. He was a little surprised. Miss Jiang usually kept a low profile, but he didn't expect her to be so bold. "Even if she is from a merchant family and has made money safely on two trips, why would she give away such a good business to outsiders?"

Jiang Shangxian nodded. "What you said is exactly what I was thinking. Perhaps it's just me, a commoner. If I had such a lucrative business, even if I didn't earn the profit alone, I would only bring my relatives into the business. Why would I share the profits with outsiders who have nothing to do with me?"

Cui Bianxu nodded, then thought for a moment and said, "You want me to check this out?"

Otherwise, she wouldn't have to specifically mention that several families had already invested money, because the Jiang family was no longer planning to invest money anyway.

"Yes."

Jiang Shangxian thought of what Xia Zhenying had said last night, and said with a reluctant heart, "I know this matter has nothing to do with the Dali Temple, but those families mostly consist of women, children, the elderly, and the young, with no adult males in charge. Even if they haven't spent all their money, I'm afraid they've spent most of it. If it's really as I think, they're bound to suffer serious consequences."

She originally didn't want to meddle in other people's affairs, but after living here for a long time, she saw the neighbors every day. One time when she came home late, the neighbors all looked for her with lanterns. She had to accept this favor.