52: Chapter 52 Compromises in Life (2)_1 52: Chapter 52 Compromises in Life (2)_1 On the following day, Pei Qin got up and cooked a pot of porridge, looking at the yellowing hills she sighed twice, “It seems I have no choice but to fight with them.”
Lady Fang woke with a start, seeing that Pei Qin had already finished the cooking, she called San Ya, Si Ya, and Pei Wendong to get up.
After washing their faces with cold water, they took turns using the bowl to have breakfast.
As Si Ya watched San Ya go to scrub the pot, she asked Pei Qin, who was finished eating and had set aside her bowl, “Are we still going to dig up bamboo shoots?”
“No digging!
Don’t even bring it up!
Just say we bought these things with the money from selling wild persimmons and eggs, and we only have a few pieces of wen money left!” Pei Qin said, glancing at San Ya and Pei Wendong.
“Why leave just a few pieces of wen money!?” Si Ya asked discontentedly.
“Do you want to hand over everything?” Pei Qin gave her a look.
Si Ya pursed her lips and said no more.
After packing up their things, Pei Qin announced she was headed to town to find work and led the way down the mountain.
Lady Fang carried the few pieces of wen money Pei Qin ntioned and also brought so mixed-grain flatbreads for sustenance.
They had just descended the mountain when Pei Wenli and so others appeared from the village, “Auntie!
Sister Daya!”
Pei Qin gave him a glance and ignored him, her pace steadfast as she continued forward.
“Qinqin!
Wait for !” Lady Fang called out to her.
Pei Wenlee rushed over to stop them, “My elder brother has already knelt down for you, what more do you want!?”
“Sister Daya!” Pei Wenli looked at Lady Fang, knowing she had no more issues, and that the key was Pei Qin.
He caught up to persuade her, “Sister Daya!
Since you’ve already forgiven us, why still live up in the mountain?
You might not encounter anything now, but should there really be a savage beast, it’ll be too late for regrets!”
Lady Chen also followed, but she did not speak out to persuade them, her eyes filled with sinister resentnt as she watched Lady Fang and Pei Qin.
She hoped they would be brave enough not to return today.
She wouldn’t go looking for them, would let them be for a few days, letting everyone know that her son had knelt and begged them, and they still refused to co back ho!
It would be best if they truly encountered a wild beast on the mountain and got bitten to death, those cheap lives!
Lady Fang and Si Ya, both dragging and pulling, agreed to return ho.
Pei Qin’s face was dark, her gaze sharp as she looked at Pei Wenli.
Pei Wenli bowed and assured her again and again that he wouldn’t interfere with her marriage matters.
Pei Qin chuckled bitterly, “Go back to Old Pei’s House, what good does it do for us mothers and daughters?
After finishing the housework, we can’t get enough to eat, and we’re treated like servants, bossed and scolded around.
Even if we live on the mountain, at least we can eat our fill and not be enslaved!”
Pei Wenli’s face turned red then purple as he promised, “Sister Daya!
I have discussed this with grandfather, and my mother has said the sa, the housework at ho will be taken in turns by the big and second rooms!
As for eating enough, we will definitely ensure you all do!”
Pei Qin snorted.
“Elder sister!
Things have co to this point, what more do you want?” Si Ya said uneasily, ready to leave.
“Qinqin…” Lady Fang and San Ya both tugged at her, asking her to co back ho.
Only then did Pei Qin reluctantly follow the others back to the village.
Lady Zhu saw them returning and also noticed that they hadn’t brought back any of the many things they took the day before, she opened her mouth to start scolding.
Pei Qin glanced at her sharply, watching Old Pei repeat what had been said before, “If you want to treat our second room like animals, to boss and curse at us, I’d rather live in the mountains!
It’s better than being hungry and not treated like humans!”
Old Pei’s face stiffened as he spoke with tight lips, “The house chores are to be done by both the big and second rooms in turns, that was the case before as well.
Any help you offer is out of kindness.
As for eating enough, no one in the family has truly eaten their fill given our situation!”
“It is not the lack, but the unevenness of distribution, that causes misery.” Pei Qin looked at him.
Old Pei’s face beca rigid, “You can be full with two buns per al, Si Ya and San Lang can never finish theirs.
It’s not that we don’t allow you to eat enough, just don’t waste food!” He seed to compromise.
Lady Zhu, with a drooping face, looked as if soone owed her a fortune in copper money, “Where are those things you took!?” The second room did little work, ate what the big room and the old couple had, and yet dared to make a fuss and not do their share!
“Up in the mountains!
Granny!” Si Ya hurried over to curry favor, “We bought so flour and even so rice!”
“Where did you get the money!?” Lady Zhu imdiately asked with a sharp and an-spirited tone.
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