CHAPTER 325: CHAPTER 317 THICK-SKINNED ASKING PRICE (1)

Tian Dawang was surprised and blinked at her, "Such a shabby thing, selling for fifty liang? Miss Chai is the daughter of the owner’s first wife, we can’t overcharge her like this."

Lady Tian said fiercely, "I don’t care, I just want to sell it for fifty liang."

Tian Dawang looked at his wife as if he didn’t recognize her, astonished and said, "Miss Chai must be willing to buy it; she’s only borrowing it for a bit. But you’re asking for fifty liang, aren’t you going to scare her off?"

Lady Tian gritted her teeth, "I don’t care. Anyway, you have to sell this thing to Miss Chai, not a coin less than fifty liang, and of course, more silver would be better."

Tian Dawang widened his eyes, "Woman, have you gone crazy? Talking nonsense? The cost of this thing, altogether is just a few hundred coins, and it’s been sitting here for a year or two, all worn out, not sure if it can even be used. You’re asking Miss Chai for fifty liang? Aren’t you afraid of being laughed at?"

"She’s rich, she won’t care about fifty liang," Lady Tian said impatiently, "Last time she was in a bad mood, bought little rabbits to play with, and casually gave away ten liang silver. Fifty liang is just five little rabbits for her."

Tian Dawang snorted coldly, "That was her caprice when she was a young lady; now she’s someone else’s wife, she can’t just fool around at her own whim, her husband won’t agree."

"Her husband isn’t even as wealthy as she is, would he dare to control her?" Lady Tian continued, "In any case, fifty liang silver to her is like picking up five lumps of mud for us."

Tian Dawang became impatient, "Stupid woman, you don’t mind losing face, but I do! Old Master Chai treated our family so well back in the day; he even helped build this house, not asking for any labor fee. How come when his daughter Miss Chai came asking for our help, you just ingratefully take money? If you dare take money, I’ll break your leg!"

He grabbed the broom to threaten Lady Tian.

Lady Tian laughed coldly, "You care about face and suffer for it! Do rich people help the poor for returns? They’re giving alms! Miss Chai just gave our child a hundred coins, clearly, she has money and doesn’t care about it. Asking her for fifty liang is like pulling a strand of her hair; she won’t care. Besides, we’re giving her a useful tool."

Tian Dawang was furious, "Have you lost your mind over money? You want to earn money even when you shouldn’t?"

Lady Tian was even angrier, "If you don’t go, I’ll go! I’ll ask her for it."

She glared at her man angrily and turned with big strides into the main room.

Tian Dawang, afraid she’d make a scene and embarrass them, had to throw down the broom and dirty cloth and followed her quickly.

Uncle Tian was talking to Miss Chai about the wheat field, "The family planted some wheat, and the kids went with their mother to play, helping with a day of harvesting."

Chai Eying smiled, "With the harvest from the field, this year’s food supply will be sufficient."

Uncle Tian smiled and said, "Indeed, let’s plant some wheat ourselves next year. The land given by Old Master Chai that year was said to be suitable for wheat. I’ll sow some seeds this winter and see the yield. If it’s good, we can plant it annually, it’s cheaper than buying flour."

Chai Eying smiled, "Absolutely, growing your own is cheaper."

Lady Tian came over and interrupted their conversation, "Miss Chai came asking for the printing mold made by our Dawang, is the family going to do something?"

Suddenly interrupting, Uncle Tian was not pleased, and gave his daughter-in-law a cold look.

But in front of outsiders, he couldn’t show his displeasure.

Chai Eying didn’t mind, smiled, "Yes, my sister-in-law wants to print some booklets. I remembered Brother Dawang made a printing mold years ago, hasn’t been used, so I came to borrow it."

Lady Tian said, "I think Miss Li wouldn’t just do things whimsically; she’d use it long term. Why not buy the tool, then you won’t have to keep borrowing."

Uncle Tian’s face turned colder.

Tian Dawang, who entered the room, also had a rather unpleasant expression.

Li Xingmao was playing with Guoguo, heard Lady Tian’s words, and said to Chai Eying, "E Ying, if Uncle Tian’s printing tool isn’t needed, we can buy it."

Chai Eying nodded, "Alright, I see third sister might use it for long-term needs," she asked Lady Tian, "Sister-in-law Tian, how much is it?"

"Fifty liang silver," Lady Tian said.

Chai Eying was shocked, "Fifty... fifty liang?" It would buy two small farmhouses.

She looked towards the backyard, merely a wooden frame with a bit of copper skin, asking for fifty liang?

"Aunt Tian, isn’t this... too pricey?" Chai Eying said awkwardly, "I didn’t bring that much money."

Lady Tian glanced at her, "We can follow you back to get it."

Chai Eying, "..." she was embarrassed, having come all this way, nearly bullied yet asked for so much in purchasing?

She turned to look at Li Xingmao, who was also frowning in hesitation.

Tian Dawang couldn’t hold back, "Woman, no need for that much money, don’t speak nonsense."

"This is your hard work, why not ask for that much?" Lady Tian shouted, "I remember you spent a month making this tool."

"You stupid woman, the owner gave us a piece of land and also had the house built for us free of charge. Now, for a shabby tool, you want fifty liang from the owner’s daughter?" Tian Dawang was furious, slapped his wife, "Stupid woman, you have no shame, but I do!"

Lady Tian was stunned by the slap.

Chai Eying and Li Xingmao were also shocked.

Chai Eying mediated, "Brother Dawang, don’t hit your wife, talk calmly."

Lady Tian jumped up in tears, sobbing angrily, "Heavens, hitting the wife! If you had money, would I need to shamelessly sell things? Ahh, I don’t want to live, useless husband hitting his wife!"

She stomped a few times, ran to the backyard, plopped down on the ground, crying.

Screaming to the heavens and earth, crying sorrowfully.

Tian Dawang chased after her in fury, pointing at Lady Tian and scolding.

Lady Tian cried even more.

Uncle Tian’s face was extremely awkward and he apologized repeatedly to Chai Eying, "I’m sorry, Miss Chai, I’ll go scold them."

"Uncle Tian," Li Xingmao held Uncle Tian, "Don’t scold Sister-in-law Tian; maybe she’s just temporarily upset."

The whole family was dressed in shabby clothes, faces pale.

The Tian family’s house had four rooms but was dilapidated, with few decent furnishings, crooked tables and chairs all misaligned.

The woman in charge of taking care of the family’s daily life, without any money, even a good-tempered person would become irritable.

His mother, Princess Consort Luling, hardly got angry at the Prince Mansion, but now often argued with his father.

Fortunately, his father was like a dough, no matter how much he’s beaten or scolded, he would turn around as if nothing happened, thick-skinnedly asking his mother, "What are we eating today? I’m hungry." His father’s good temper prevented fights from escalating into domestic strife, keeping the family harmony.

Li Xingmao generously did not hold grudges, but Uncle Tian still felt guilty, "That thing is already so old and worn, she still wants fifty liang, who knows what she’s thinking. Master Li, Miss Chai, you can just take it, no need for money."

"How could that work? We must pay," Chai Eying said.

She had come wanting to see the thing first before talking about money, but now Lady Tian asked for money first; she ultimately had to pay.

Fifty liang was too much, but three to five liang she could afford.

Chai Eying took out a small pouch from the inner layer of her waist pocket, poured all three pieces of broken silver from it onto the table.

She apologized, "Uncle Tian, here’s a bit over three liang silver, you can take it." She asked Li Xingmao, "Husband, do you have any money?"

Li Xingmao said, "I have some." He had brought a few hundred coins, gave a hundred earlier to the Tian family’s child, and placed the remaining six hundred coins on the table.

Uncle Tian refused to accept, waving his hand, "It’s just a shabby gadget; where’s the need for so much money? Don’t, don’t." He wouldn’t accept it, "That thing, only you would want; Dawang left it at home for a year or two, no one else came asking, clearly, it’s worthless scrap."

Chai Eying insisted, "Take it; after all, it’s Dawang’s hard work."

Uncle Tian still refused to accept.

Chai Eying laughed, "Uncle Tian, do you find it too little?"

Uncle Tian was startled, "Miss Chai, how could that be? This... This is clearly too much."