pdf-ebookys Chapter 119 Farewell to the Past
Chapter 119 Farewell to the Past
Unexpectedly, the women didn't hesitate at all, "Let's go, we'll go."
Since that was the case, Tian Tian didn't say anything more.
They were only allowed to work at the shop next to Baishi Teahouse on the eighth day of the following year.
Lu Tao and the others looked around the house but couldn't find anything to pack.
"There's nothing in the house, don't bother cleaning," Tian Tian said.
"Go tell the village chief that we're not renting it anymore."
The rent for the past few months has been paid to Tian Bonian regularly, and now that we're not renting it to him anymore, we need to let him know.
The family arrived at Tian Bonian's house and called out twice from the doorway.
Tian Changqing came out from inside the door.
"Sister-in-law..." he called Lu Tao as he had before.
Lu Tao glanced inside. "Where's the village chief?"
Tian Changqing gave an awkward laugh, "My father is sick."
Lu Tao thought of something, but swallowed the words that were about to come out.
"We rented a house at the end of the village... but we won't rent it next year."
Lu Tao took out this month's rent, saying, "This is the rent for this month until the end of the year."
"Please thank the village chief for me."
If it weren't for the village chief taking pity on them, they wouldn't even have a place to stay.
Tian Changqing sighed. He had only learned a few days ago that Tian Bonian had gone with his second uncle to sue the Lu family. He felt angry that his father wouldn't listen to advice, but he couldn't take it out on his ailing father...
"Sister-in-law, don't blame my father. He just feels that as the eldest brother, he has to be responsible for Uncle's family..."
Especially since this matter concerns offspring.
Lu Tao smiled, neither confirming nor denying.
“These past few days, he has been unable to eat or sleep properly, fearing that the county will send a document stripping him of his academic title.”
Tian Changqing continued.
"Tian Tian, did Lord Li really send a letter to the government office?"
Tian Tian nodded; Li Huaiyuan had clearly stated this matter.
Li Huaiyuan also said that he had sent a letter, and the government would almost certainly issue a document to strip Tian Bonian of his official title. He didn't know where Tian Bonian got his confidence from.
Tian Changqing hesitated, "Is there really no room for maneuver?"
Tian Tian shook her head, "This matter depends on the government's decision."
If the government office doesn't think the matter is serious enough to warrant stripping someone of their academic title, it won't issue a formal document.
"My dad was proud for half his life..."
Unexpectedly, he was stripped of his official title at the age of sixty.
"I've been telling him not to get involved in my second uncle's family affairs, but he just won't listen..."
"Sigh, he deserves it!"
Tian Tian could tell that Tian Changqing wanted to plead for Tian Bonian, but he also knew that Tian Bonian was wrong and couldn't bring himself to speak.
"Uncle Changqing, people always have to pay the price for their choices."
Tian Changqing was stunned.
"Yes, Tian Tian is right."
But the price is too high!
That's why his father couldn't take it anymore and had been lying down for so long.
As Lu Tao and her family left Tian Bonian's house, nearby villagers peeked out to look at them.
This scene is all too familiar.
Back when their family was kicked out by the Tian family, they also peeked out and watched like this.
The difference is that last time, their eyes held pity, ridicule, and schadenfreude.
This time, it was envy, jealousy, and a lingering sense of regret.
Zhao Jinhua and others, who were beaten with ten strokes of the cane for going to the county government to testify, vividly described how Lu Tao's family was unfilial and ungrateful after returning to the village.
These actions were predicated on the Lu Tao family earning a large sum of money.
The most profitable teahouse in the county, Baishi Teahouse, belongs to her family!
You can earn several hundred taels a day.
For villagers who had spent their entire lives in the village and had never seen more than a hundred taels of silver, Lu Tao's family was already different from them.
"Lu Tao," someone couldn't hold back any longer, "Is that Baishi Teahouse really yours?"
Lu Tao looked to her right and saw that the person who asked the question was the daughter-in-law of that family.
“It belongs to both me and Liu San Niang.” Lu Tao smiled gently, her smile almost devoid of any threat.
This prompted many villagers to come out of their houses.
"Mrs. Lu, how much silver do you earn each day?"
Lu Tao didn't give the truth. "It's not much. There are so many waiters in the teahouse, and everyone needs to be paid."
"That's true. The bigger the shop, the more employees you need, and the wages can be quite high."
"I heard that teahouse has dozens of people in it."
"Then I doubt we'll make much money!"
"That's right. If we could really make money, we wouldn't be so stingy as to not give any of our retirement money to Master Tian. He's Jinghe's own grandfather."
"If I could earn one or two hundred taels of silver every day, I would give my father five hundred taels of silver every month for his retirement."
Lu Tao had already walked away, and upon hearing these words, she merely curled her lips slightly.
They are hypothetical, she is real.
If Tian Zhongqing doesn't want his own grandson, does he expect his grandson to beg him to take care of him?
Think beautiful!
Over there, Liu San Niang was also pulled away.
"Third Sister, how much does that teahouse earn each day?"
Liu San Niang deliberately said, "It's not that much, only two or three hundred taels a day."
"Income?"
"No, it's the net profit calculated after the bill is settled."
Wow, there are so many!
"There really are that many! Sometimes there are even more."
Liu San Niang laughed so hard she swayed back and forth. "For example, recently, although fewer people are eating in the shop, more people are buying gift boxes. They buy a dozen or twenty boxes at a time, and we're making more money than before."
"The Lunar New Year is coming soon. Business must be slow during the holidays, right?" they asked tentatively, hoping she would nod in agreement.
Liu San Niang wouldn't let them comfort themselves, saying, "We've been making money for so long, it's okay if there's not much business these days, just consider it a rest."
"If we open a shop next year, we'll still make money."
Everyone was speechless.
Liu San Niang grinned and said, "We'll be living in the county from now on. It's rare for us to come back, so you all should live your lives well. We'll meet again someday."
Everyone, "..."
"Youyou, let's go."
Liu San Niang didn't pack anything.
She threw away all the clothes and bedding that she had been reluctant to throw away in her early years, clothes that she had sewed and patched again and again.
They just took some iron utensils from the house, which were still worth some money.
They didn't even take the pot used to make the bean curd sheets.
"Third Sister, are you really not coming back?"
"What if business doesn't go well... this is still home."
Liu San Niang waved her hand nonchalantly, "I'm not coming back."
Pshaw, what do you mean, what if business doesn't go well?
They had no idea how many silver notes she had.
Even if business at Baishi Teahouse really doesn't go well, they won't worry about money.
The two families met on the road in front of Liu San Niang's house.
The carriage, carrying the family, swayed and staggered away from Qingliu Village...
Everything from the past is left behind.
The villagers came out of their houses and followed the carriage all the way to the village entrance, watching it disappear into the distance with envy.
What saddened them even more was that the fortune of the Lu family should have originally belonged to the Tian family, but alas, now the family could only pin their hopes on Tian Zhicheng passing the imperial examination.
However, they have recently heard the Tian family arguing frequently, and Tian Zhicheng's voice is often heard among them.
He said, "You are all a burden to me. I will not take any of you with me after I pass the imperial examination..."