Chapter 47: Repaying Debts

Chapter 47: Repaying Debts

As a prodigal young master, he spent his days in debauchery; how could he possibly care about his servants' monthly wages?

Did he seem like he had nothing better to do?

"For servants doing menial tasks like sweeping and cleaning, the monthly wage is five hundred coins."

"The most esteemed servants earn a full string of coins (a traditional unit of currency)."

The second young master of the Sun family glanced at A Xing, who understood immediately and shouted loudly, his voice very clear.

Lu Mingchao nodded. "Huaiqian and the others handle the menial tasks—feeding chickens, sweeping the yard, cutting grass, collecting eggs, and serving tea. That adds up to one thousand five hundred coins a month."

"How does Qi Pozi plan to pay this wage?"

Qi Pozi's teeth chattered with anger, wishing she could rush forward and strangle Lu Mingchao.

Xie Yan turned to Lu Mingchao, his eyes a storm of surprise, anger, guilt, and regret.

He knew Mingchao wouldn’t make unfounded claims.

So, while he was busy establishing himself, earning a living, and sending winter supplies to the north, Huaiqian and the others were living a life of servitude under someone else's roof.

Qi Pozi!

How dare they!

Xie Yan was furious, the corners of his eyes red, the veins on the back of his hand bulging as he gripped Qi Pozi's shoulder.

Qi Pozi winced in pain, shouting, "Nonsense!"

"I raised Brother Qian and the others very well."

She had come to understand that after Lu Mingchao's words, the villagers' looks towards her were filled with nothing but disgust and hatred. Being driven out of Changxi Village was inevitable, and the savings she had accumulated were her and Rui's lifeline, which she would never give up.

"Back then, you were still a spoiled young lady in the capital, slandering this old woman with your pretty words."

Lu Mingchao's expression remained unchanged, handling the situation with ease.

Just as she was about to speak, a voice came from the crowd, "I can prove it."

Lu Mingchao looked up.

Feng Jinyu?

Remembering the discord between them, Lu Mingchao frowned slightly.

She remembered that Feng Jinyu still wanted to slap her back.

Seeing Feng Jinyu speak, the crowd naturally made way for her.

Aunt Feng thought, "What is her sister-in-law scheming now?"

She also resented Lu Mingchao, but had to admit that hearing Lu Mingchao's words made her feel very comfortable.

She also had a daughter.

Although she valued her son more, her daughter was also her own flesh and blood, so how could she not worry or feel heartache?

Would the young girls and wives of Changxi Village really start carrying kitchen knives at their waists?

You can't stay on guard forever!

Aunt Feng reached out and grabbed Feng Jinyu's sleeve, whispering, "Jinyu, I know you hold a grudge against Lu Mingchao, but let's not get involved in this matter."

"Listen to me."

"Whatever grievances or grudges, discuss them privately."

They are all beneficiaries of today's events, so how can they disrupt Lu Mingchao's business?

Feng Jinyu glanced at her sister-in-law, sighed helplessly, and had to stop in her tracks.

She stopped in her tracks, but her mouth kept going.

"I can prove it!" Feng Jinyu emphasized again.

Aunt Feng was floored.

Getting involved with the Qi family now is like stepping in a pile of trouble, isn't it?

"Prove what?" the old village head asked coldly, leaning on his cane.

On such a cold day, with the wind blowing, even the gaps in the bones felt cold.

In his opinion, one bad apple spoils the whole barrel, so such troublemakers should be driven out.

"I can prove that Lu Mingchao is not lying," Feng Jinyu stated firmly.

Aunt Feng was speechless.

Didn’t she have a beef with Lu Mingchao? Previously, she had gossiped about Lu Mingchao's impurity, and during these days locked at home, she cursed daily about returning that slap.

Now she's actively speaking up to testify for Lu Mingchao?

What’s going on here?

Not only did Aunt Feng find it strange, but no one present was not surprised.

After all, what happened in the Lu family's courtyard that day had already spread like wildfire in Changxi Village, even the details of the incident were vividly described.

Lu Mingchao couldn't help but glance at Feng Jinyu a few more times.

Whether it was an illusion or not, Feng Jinyu seemed to have lost some weight.

Under Lu Mingchao’s clear but confused stare, Feng Jinyu couldn’t help feeling guilty.

"I remember, about two and a half years ago."

"When I went up the mountain to pick mushrooms and dig for wild vegetables, I would pass by Qi Rui's house, and I accidentally saw Qi Rui scolding Qian Ge'er, forcing him to lie down and serve as her horse."

"I even asked a couple of questions at the time, and Qi Rui said it was just play, not to be taken seriously."

"Also, many aunts in the village should have heard children crying when going up and down the mountain, while Qi Rui was leisurely chatting with passersby."

"Sister-in-law, have you also heard of this?"

Feng Jinyu grabbed her sister-in-law's wrist and asked eagerly.

Sister-in-law Feng: Feng Jinyu isn't as favored as her sister-in-law at home, so she has to keep a low profile.

"Perhaps there was such a thing, but it was so long ago, I can't remember clearly," Sister-in-law Feng said vaguely.

Several young wives chimed in, agreeing with Feng Jinyu.

Lu Mingchao raised an eyebrow, sparing herself the hassle of arguing with Old Woman Qi.

"Old village head, you have also heard it."

"Xie Yan originally gave Old Woman Qi money and mountain goods, essentially hiring her to take care of the children."

"Old Woman Qi not only failed to fulfill her duties but also treated the children as servants, freely beating and humiliating them."

"In a wealthy household, Old Woman Qi's actions would be considered a betrayal of trust, punishable by flogging and then being sold off."

The second young master of the Sun family nodded in agreement, "Exactly."

The Sun family, in Changhe County, could barely be considered a wealthy household.

The second young master of the Sun family shamelessly flattered himself, hoping that this formidable couple would go easy on him.

The old village head sighed to himself; Xie Yan's new wife was no ordinary woman.

His wife had said that the Lu family's daughter looked like a fairy from a painting, untouched by worldly affairs.

Is this being untouched by worldly affairs?

This is clearly worldly affairs being unable to touch her.

"Xie Lu, what do you think?"

Lu Mingchao's lips curved into a slight smile, her eyes twinkling, "The money Old Woman Qi has is burning a hole in her pocket. Returning all of it would seem harsh, so let's just return half."

"Also, the matter of Huaiqian and the others being treated like beasts of burden needs to be discussed. Saying that the monthly wages insulted Huaiqian and the others, let's consider it as compensation."

"Not too much, four taels of silver."

Lu Mingchao's tone changed, "Xie Yan, do you recall how much you gave Old Woman Qi back then?"

"Let's not count the mountain goods; consider it a gesture of respect for the elderly and care for the young."

Xie Yan nodded, "In the year I first settled in Changxi Village, in early autumn, I left home and went into the mountains, not returning for several months. I gave Old Woman Qi thirty taels of silver."

"The following year, whenever I went out, I would give Old Woman Qi a few hundred coins each month. Scattered as it was, it definitely amounted to no less than ten taels."

Lu Mingchao's eyes gleamed, "Forty taels, half of that is twenty, plus compensation, making it twenty-four taels in total."

"Old Woman Qi must repay this before she leaves the village."

"Otherwise, I'll raise hell and demand justice."

"Paying debts is a matter of course."

"Ancestral debts being repaid by descendants is also a matter of course."

"Is he interested in his brother-in-law?"