176: Chapter 176: Discussion 176: Chapter 176: Discussion Little Bean and the other children were ecstatic.

In a peasant family, playthings were scarce, limited to running wild in the hills, playing with mud, stones, and tree branches.

Suddenly seeing the small toys that children in the county town played with, which were much more refined than their usual playthings, delighted the children no end.

Even though they weren’t worth much money, they were thrilled.

Everyone received a portion, not a single child was left out.

After thanking Wang Yongan, Wang Yongzhu became even more vigilant.

Unsolicited favors either spelled trickery or theft.

It couldn’t be that this second brother had suddenly had an epiphany in his sleep and decided to turn over a new leaf, could it?

The fabric was of superb cotton quality, far better than what Wang Yongzhu had purchased.

Under the lamp light, it emitted a delicate and gentle luster that made Wang Laozhu unable to resist touching it, finding it soft and smooth.

Thinking back to the matter his second son had discussed with him after returning, Wang Laozhu felt a warmth in his heart.

He coughed to draw everyone’s attention, “This is all the second brother’s thoughtful gesture!

As the saying goes, ‘When brothers unite, their strength can cut through metal!’ This time, Eldest Brother was in trouble, and you brothers and sisters all did well.

Now, there’s hope for Eldest Brother’s leg.

As your parents, we ask for nothing more than for our children to live in harmony.

One day, when your mother and I pass away, we can close our eyes in peace!”

The sudden display of emotion let Wang Yongzhu know that the main act was about to begin.

Sure enough, after expressing his sentiments, Wang Laozhu got to the point.

Wang Yongan had returned home not only to bring the Divine Doctor but also had worked for years to finally make a connection with an Adviser of a County Official who had resigned out of filial piety.

After years of perseverance, he finally caught the eye of the County Official who was about to be reinstated and sent to serve in another region.

Because of his filial mourning period, two Adviser positions in his former retinue had become vacant.

The Adviser had recommended Wang Yongan to the County Official.

However, to secure the position, a token of appreciation in silver would be needed for the Adviser and the County Official.

The Qian Family, having only one daughter in Lady Qian, was to inherit all their assets.

They often dealt with people and knew that an Adviser to a County Official was essentially a trusted aide with no small amount of power.

If done well, it was not impossible to earn over a thousand taels of silver in a year.

The family was supportive, selling their house and land to gather two hundred taels of silver for Wang Yongan’s use.

Now the affair was almost certainly settled, only missing one final installment of silver.

However, the Qian Family simply couldn’t afford any more.

They needed to keep resources for their own expenses and leave enough for the travel and settlement silver.

With no alternative, and not wanting to give up the opportunity, Wang Yongan came back to discuss the situation with Old Wang.

He hoped to allocate some silver from the family to secure the position of Adviser.

Once the position was secured, the invested silver would surely be returned manifold, wouldn’t it?

Moreover, just by taking this step, Wang Yongan would at the very least be connected to officialdom.

If he performed well, being recommended to become a formal Adviser and even serving as a Magistrate wasn’t out of the question.

Therefore, Wang Yongan was very eager and did not want to miss this chance.

Wang Laozhu was swayed by this superb prospect described by Wang Yongan.

Most of all, Wang Yongan conveyed that this was a step into the ranks of officials, and who’s to say that one day, he couldn’t position himself for a formal official’s title.

This single matter alone inflamed Wang Laozhu’s heart with longing.

For peasant families these days, becoming an official was out of reach, an unimaginable dream.

Yet their Wang Family had not only produced a Scholar, but now the Scholar’s son, though his attempts at higher examinations had been unsuccessful, still had a chance to become an official.

In the future, the descendants of the Wang Family would no longer be mere peasants!

They could become city folk!

With this thought, Wang Laozhu grew so excited that, had it not been for the restraint of his second son, he might have dashed to the ancestral grave to report to the ancestors.

At that moment, his mind was filled with fantasies of his second son becoming an official and the Wang Family soaring to great heights.

While Wang Laozhu was brimming with excitement, the words he spoke fell on deaf ears.

The children, not understanding the adults’ conversation, just knew that it involved silver, and they involuntarily stopped their frolicking and laughter.

Lady Jiang had always refrained from voicing any opinions, as if she were invisible.

Wang Yongping could only offer a foolish smile.

Wang Yongzhu had waited long enough for the other shoe to drop, and now it had; how could it be that Wang Yongan returned home so casually without any intent?

As expected.

Ignoring for the moment the veracity of Wang Yongan’s claim, simply seeing Wang Laozhu’s fervent reaction after hearing only a few words from Wang Yongan left Wang Yongzhu with no choice but to hope that Old Granny Zhang, her own mother, would remain level-headed.

She looked towards Old Granny Zhang.

Wang Laozhu waited for a while, but when none of his children or his wife showed any response to his excitement, he felt unbearably stifled.

He also looked towards Old Granny Zhang, “Old woman, let’s see how much silver the family can scrape together for the second son.

This is a big deal, and if we succeed, it will bring glory and honor to our ancestors!”

Old Granny Zhang let out a cold snort, dousing Wang Laozhu’s fiery enthusiasm.

She lifted a corner of the cotton cloth with her finger and peeked underneath before asking, “Second son, how much silver do you want the family to collect for you?”

Wang Yongan was elated to see that Old Granny Zhang did not leap up in opposition,’Mother, currently we’re only short by a hundred taels of silver, and then it’s a sure thing!'”

“Pah!

One hundred taels!

You croak as loudly as a toad yawning!

Open your eyes and take a good look, does this family look like it has one hundred taels of silver?

Is it this house that’s worth a hundred taels, or are these nieces and nephews worth a hundred taels?

Just blurting out without thinking – a hundred taels, do you think silver just gets whisked in by the wind?

Your mother has been scrimping and saving for you since you were young, through to your wedding, the amount of silver spent is beyond measure.

Now your mother can hardly toil anymore, and instead of showing filial piety, you sons think of siphoning your parents’ blood and flesh!” Old Granny Zhang slammed the table and stood up, lambasting him on the spot.

After berating Wang Yongan, she turned to scold Wang Laozhu, “The second son has been bewitched by the idea of an official title, and you’re old now – have you lost your senses too?

What situation is our family in?

The house next door is a money pit; endless silver can be dumped into it, and the fourth son is still unmarried, Zhuzhu hasn’t found a husband, and Jindou and the others are growing up and will need to talk about marriage soon.

With issue after issue, each requiring money, where do you expect your mother to conjure up a hundred taels from?

Duped by a few flattering words, and now you’ve lost all sense of reality.

You, as the family head, can follow the second son to enjoy the life of an official, or share in the fortune?

You’re so giddy to contribute money, what will you use to pay?”

Wang Laozhu felt humiliated being scolded in front of his sons, daughters-in-law, and grandchildren, and influenced by the alcohol, he also slammed the table with a bang, “I am the head of this family!

What I say goes!

If the Qian Family can collect money, why should our Wang Family shrink back like scared turtles?

My son will not be marrying into a wife’s family; he will be taking a wife!

Don’t worry, second son, your father will get you the money.

It’s just a hundred taels!

If we’re short, we’ll sell the land to make up the difference—”