Chapter 18: Pawned for How Much?

Chapter 18: Chapter 18: Pawned for How Much?

After saying this, Li Cuicui deliberately looked at her other daughters-in-law. "Don’t think I’m playing favorites. You all have full control over your own dowries. Look at these things—Jin Qianqian exchanged them for items from her dowry. You wouldn’t want to go after your sister-in-law’s dowry, would you?"

"..."

Everyone was instantly suspicious. They’d never heard of Jin Qianqian bringing a valuable dowry when she married into the family. Wasn’t her family dirt poor back then?

"Her grandmother left her a fallback. We’ve reached the most difficult point now; otherwise, she would never have been willing to part with it." Li Cuicui knew exactly what they were all thinking, but if she didn’t spell things out today, there was no telling how much trouble would crop up later.

"Qianqian, I wonder what kind of treasure your ancestors left for you. Why not let us all have a look? It would save us from always looking like we’ve never seen the world." Wang Caiyue’s tone was probing.

Ancient Wen Heng was not so polite. "Listen to what you’re saying, Second Sister-in-law. I remember when you married in, you put a lock on your own dowry chest. We wanted to have a look back then, but you never gave us the chance."

"..." Wang Caiyue was rendered speechless. After all, she had done exactly that back in the day.

Seeing that Wang Caiyue was ineffectual, Liu Liu stepped in, curiously stroking the bundle in Jin Qianqian’s arms. "Oh, Qianqian, don’t forget, we’re fleeing a disaster right now. Isn’t it a bit too conspicuous for you to be wearing new clothes?

I don’t have much, but I do have a few sets of old clothes. We’re about the same size, how about we trade?"

As she said this, she covered her mouth and giggled. "Of course, I won’t take advantage of you. I’ll trade two of my old outfits for one of your new ones. That way, you’ll have a spare set for washing."

’I’ve never met such a shameless person.’ The phrase suddenly popped into Jin Qianqian’s head. Seeing her other sisters-in-law nodding in agreement, she was so exasperated she had to laugh.

"Well then, I must thank you, Fourth Sister-in-law."

"Don’t mention it. We’re all family, of course I wouldn’t be petty." As she spoke, she reached for the bundle in Jin Qianqian’s hands.

Ancient Wen Heng reached out, pulling Jin Qianqian behind him. "That won’t be necessary, Fourth Sister-in-law. We bought roughspun linen clothes, and we chose gray. They won’t be conspicuous, even standing with everyone else.

I seem to recall you have a few satin outfits. We wouldn’t dare take advantage of you."

"..." Liu Liu cursed inwardly. ’The nerve of this couple! Even if they are my old clothes, I would never trade away my satin ones. My family went to great trouble to procure those for my dowry.’

Seeing that the ones who led the charge had gotten nowhere, the others mostly gave up the idea. But this only made them more curious about the dowry items Jin Qianqian had brought out.

Once everyone had scattered, Ancient Wen Heng and Jin Qianqian took their belongings and cleared a spot to camp not far from Gu Dashishi and the others.

"Looks like our lives are about to get interesting," Jin Qianqian said, shaking her head. She was used to being alone, and she was having a hard time adjusting to being thrust into such a large family.

"Don’t be afraid," Ancient Wen Heng said, feeling incredibly fortunate now. "They are all brothers who have already established their own households. As long as we take good care of our parents, we can consider our filial duty fulfilled on behalf of this body’s original owner. The others can’t meddle in our affairs."

He was worried Jin Qianqian would be at a disadvantage dealing with them in the future, so he went on to brief her on the current laws.

Every dynasty in history has governed through filial piety. As long as you keep the elders happy, nothing else is a major issue.

"Seventh, come over here a minute." Li Cuicui watched the young couple huddled close together again and silently shook her head. ’Seventh is probably placating his wife again. I never noticed they were this close before. They changed so quickly.’

"How much did you pawn that thing for?" Li Cuicui was bursting to ask and finally let the question out.

Ancient Wen Heng had anticipated this. Imitating the gesture the Shopkeeper had used earlier, he held out an open palm.

"Five taels?"

Ancient Wen Heng shook his head.

"500 cents?" Li Cuicui shook her own head as soon as she said it. Seventh had just slipped her two silver coins; that meant it had to be at least two taels.

"Fifty," Ancient Wen Heng said, stating the amount the Shopkeeper had given him. Even so, the number was enough to make Li Cuicui gasp and clamp a hand over her mouth.

"Really? That much?"

"This town is just too small, or the price definitely could have been several times higher. It’s a pity we were both so desperate. Otherwise, I really would have waited for the next, larger Prefecture City to exchange it," Ancient Wen Heng said with a regretful look.

It took a long while for Li Cuicui to come to her senses. "This is already an incredible sum. It’s lucky this place isn’t large. If you had really made it to the Prefecture City, there are many more nobles there; you might not have been able to hold onto the item.

But you, my boy, can’t be so conspicuous. Several people have already come over to probe, asking if I knew what you sold in there."

Ancient Wen Heng had already expected this. "Then just tell them I pawned a mirror. If they’re curious, they can go to the pawnshop and ask the Shopkeeper themselves."

Li Cuicui gave Ancient Wen Heng an odd look. "Why do I feel like you’ve been getting stranger and stranger recently?"

"Have I?" Ancient Wen Heng glanced at his brothers and their wives in the distance. "This journey has finally made me understand: it’s better to rely on yourself than on others. When it really comes down to life and death, even your own brothers might not lend a helping hand."

Li Cuicui was speechless. "..."

Ancient Wen Heng turned to Li Cuicui, his expression serious. "Mom, I’m telling you all this because you are my own mother. I hope you can help me keep it under wraps. I don’t want this to cause a bitter falling out later."

Li Cuicui looked at Ancient Wen Heng with a complicated expression. She understood now. Her seventh son held a grudge against his brothers. If it weren’t for the few wild vegetable buns she had given him before, he wouldn’t be confiding in her like this now.

She sighed. "Forget it. I can’t control you boys anyway. You’ve all established your own households and have your own private thoughts. But I still have to tell you: you are brothers for life. When you can lend a hand, you should."

She had truly been impartial with all her sons, but she couldn’t control what they thought. All she could do was take things one step at a time.

Ancient Wen Heng and Jin Qianqian always trailed at the back of the group, covertly eating to regain their strength.

While they hadn’t fully recovered, their complexions improved day by day. It just wasn’t obvious under the layers of grime.

What unsettled them most was encountering more and more groups of refugees on the road, which made conflicts increasingly common.

Sometimes, just to compete for a small water source, they not only had to argue with locals but might also come to blows with fellow refugees.

One day, as their water supply was running critically low again, the group had to send people out to look for a new source while they rested.

It was Ancient Wen Heng’s turn. He had the dagger Jin Qianqian gave him for self-defense tucked away, and in his hand, he carried the machete that was produced by his space, pretending he had just bought it in town.