Chapter 127: Qin Dazhuang Refuses to Sell So Much Pork

Chapter 127: Qin Dazhuang Refuses to Sell So Much Pork

After breakfast, Qin Xiaoyao supported Song Que as they strolled in the courtyard.

"About that girl's indenture contract, you're not planning to register it at the government office?" After a while, Song Que finally asked in a low voice.

He only learned about this during breakfast.

This woman actually intended to use the purchased person as a long-term laborer.

Qin Xiaoyao glanced at Song Que and replied, "Yes."

"Why?" Song Que frowned.

"I'm not used to it," Qin Xiaoyao answered.

Seeing Song Que's displeasure, he explained, "Not just me, Mother and Yun'er aren't used to it either."

"If we had bought someone directly from outside, it would be fine since we didn't know them before."

"But Xiao Mei was from the same village as us, and she grew up with Yun'er. The two children being called 'Miss' and 'Young Master' by someone who used to be their sister—how could they get used to that?"

Seeing Song Que silent, Qin Xiaoyao continued, "Moreover, no household on our street keeps servants."

"If Xiao Mei lives under the same roof as us, and people find out she's a servant and was from the same village, not only will she be looked down upon, but others might also give us strange looks. I think it's better for our family to keep a low profile."

Hearing this, Song Que was finally moved.

Their family indeed needed to be more discreet; otherwise, they would be easier targets during times of war.

"The Wang family—" Song Que finally relented and added.

Qin Xiaoyao looked at his beautiful husband, understanding his concern.

"I've already talked to Xiao Mei. Our story with the Wang family remains unchanged."

"If Wang Dashan can't pay the ransom, then Wang Xiao Mei will enter servitude. After that, apart from Wang Dashan, she won't be allowed to contact anyone else from the Wang family."

Song Que looked at Qin Xiaoyao.

"Oh, even with Wang Dashan, she should have limited contact," Qin Xiaoyao added.

Wang Xiao Mei did not want to see anyone else from the Wang family.

Therefore, when she proposed this condition, Wang Xiao Mei readily agreed.

However, Wang Dashan held a different significance to Wang Xiao Mei, as the siblings were close.

If she forcibly prevented Wang Xiao Mei from seeing Wang Dashan, it would be too inhumane.

Little did Qin Xiaoyao know that because of her kindness today, Wang Xiao Mei would later repay her generously.

When she went far away to the border to search for Song Que, Wang Xiao Mei helped support the Song family and waited for her return.

That is a story for another time.

After hearing Qin Xiaoyao's words, although Song Que frowned, he still responded, agreeing to the arrangement.

Thus, Wang Xiao Mei became known to the neighbors as a relative staying at the Song residence plus a long-term laborer.

A little later, Li Danni brought Liu Erniu.

Qin Xiaoyao helped Song Que sit down on a stone bench before handling the goods.

Then, she left with Li Danni.

She was delivering goods to the tavern and restaurants, while Li Danni was going to set up a stall in Nan City.

After Qin Xiaoyao left, Song Que called Song Yun and Song Ye into the room to teach them their lessons.

Madam Liu took Wang Xiao Mei to the market.

Her daughter-in-law had cleared the land in the courtyard, so she needed to buy seedlings to plant.

Additionally, while they could keep some of the vegetables sent by Danni, they still needed to buy some from the market.

Furthermore, her daughter-in-law had instructed her to visit her in-laws again.

To order two pigs for smoked meat and two hundred pounds of lard.

Although she thought her daughter-in-law was buying too much, her son agreed, so she did not argue.

After all, her daughter-in-law said there would be a discount for buying in bulk, and it would help her in-laws' business.

In West Market.

When Qin Dazhuang heard Madam Liu's request, he was stunned.

"Two pigs and two hundred pounds of lard?!" He stuttered, asking Madam Liu.

"Yes. San Ya and Que both love smoked meat, and rendered lard doesn't spoil, so we can store it for later consumption."

"With Xiao Mei helping me now, I have the time to do these things!"

Now that her daughter-in-law did not need her to make straw shoes and she hadn't taken any embroidery work from the Embroidery Shop, she could focus on household chores.

Besides, with Xiao Mei's help, she felt more motivated.

"But isn't that too much?" Qin Dazhuang thought his daughter must be exaggerating.

Then, Lady Liu, as the mother-in-law, not only didn't stop her but even let her act recklessly.

But he, as the father, couldn't just watch his daughter cause trouble for the Song family.

"Yes, it's a bit much. So, there's no rush."

As Lady Liu spoke, she took out five taels of silver from her money bag.

"This is the deposit. For the rest, however much is still needed, you can collect it each time you deliver meat to our house." She said.

Qin Dazhuang glanced at the silver in Lady Liu's hand but didn't reach out to take it.

"Oh, forget the deposit! There's no need to rush. When I see that girl San Ya, I'll talk to her about it."

"Your family isn't that big; you don't need to buy so much meat and lard. Fresh meat is always better."

Lady Liu thought about it and felt that Qin Dazhuang had a point.

"Well, let's not rush with the pork, but we still need the lard. I have nothing else to do at home, so I can render the fat and store it. That would be good." As she said this, she offered the silver again.

Her daughter-in-law had asked her to come here, and if she went back without buying anything, what would they think?

Besides, she had free time now, and rendering lard with Xiao Mei would be perfect.

If she rendered more during this time, their family wouldn't need to do it again for a long while.

Qin Dazhuang frowned.

He still pushed the silver away.

"For just two hundred catties of lard, you don't need this much money."

"Forget the deposit. I'll keep the lard for your family for the next few days. Later, I'll bring the oil to your house and collect the payment then." Qin Dazhuang said.

He needed to find his daughter and talk to her.

Things were just starting to get better; how could they live like this?

"Well... alright then." Lady Liu finally agreed.

Then, she bought two pieces of pig liver from Qin Dazhuang before leaving.

On the other side, Qin Xiaoyao had already delivered the goods, collected the money, and was pushing the cart back.

Lady Liu and Wang Xiaomei had just arrived when Qin Xiaoyao also entered the courtyard.

Upon learning that Lady Liu had bought vegetable seedlings and would plant them with Wang Xiaomei later, Qin Xiaoyao approved.

But hearing that her father refused to sell them so much pork and lard and wanted to see her, Qin Xiaoyao felt a bit frustrated.

"I understand, Mother. I'll go to West Market and talk to Father."

"We need to buy the pork and lard. Since Father won't accept the deposit, you can pay him when he delivers the meat." Qin Xiaoyao said.

She had promised her beautiful husband to buy the pork and lard, so she had to make it happen.

"Alright!" Lady Liu agreed.

Only then did Qin Xiaoyao leave.

And she headed to West Market.

But upon seeing Qin Dazhuang, she received a scolding.

Qin Xiaoyao listened silently for a while without responding.