Free Web NovelChapter 661: Chapter 661: Pawning the Bracelet
"But, Father, we previously refused the wealthy man from the city. I’ve heard that he’s already taken another girl as a concubine. Can I still get in?" Tong Zhaodi suddenly asked, her face full of worry.
Tong Fusheng took a sip of wine and calmly said, "Wealthy men have plenty of silver and taking another concubine is as easy as keeping a cat or a dog. He currently lacks an heir, so as long as you can bear him a son, he would be willing to take you in."
Tong Zhaodi felt relieved.
While the Wu family was immersed in the sorrow of their future days, they were unaware that Tong Zhaodi, encouraged by Tong Fusheng, already had thoughts of divorce and remarriage.
Tong Zhaodi remembered her parents’ teachings and decided to keep the divorce a secret until after she had the child.
She planned to leave a son for Wu Musheng to carry on the Wu family line, at least fulfilling her duty to them.
Tong Zhaodi held her belly, remembering how people used to say that with her wide hips, she could bear a son, and with the secret childbirth medicine she had been taking, she was sure this child would be a boy.
What is it for Tong Pandi to marry Mr. Su? Once she marries into the city with her physique that easily bears sons, she couldn’t believe her life wouldn’t be better than Tong Pandi’s.
She was determined to surpass Tong Pandi.
To make her aunt regret severing ties with her.
Why should Tong Pandi always outshine her in everything, reckon her favor with Wu Musheng even after the divorce, and even marry a respected teacher?
She couldn’t stand it.
"What sin did the Wu family commit in a past life to be entangled with the Tong family?"
Mrs. Qiao saw Tong Fusheng and his family staying for a long time in Tong Zhaodi’s room, trembling with anger.
The Wu family was utterly unfortunate to be involved with the Tong family.
Tong Pandi caused her son to lose face with the divorce, Tong Huaqiong’s words to County Magistrate Liu led to her husband being dismissed as village chief, and after Tong Zhaodi came in, the delicate girl turned into a big bad wolf stirring unrest in their home...
It seemed likely Tong Zhaodi would try to turn the entire Wu family over to Tong Fusheng and Tong Zhijie.
"Shamelessly squeezing themselves into our family, their faces so thick no arrow could pierce it," Mrs. Qiao cursed.
That large table of dishes pained her even during the Wu family’s prosperous times, let alone during their current plight.
Tong Zhaodi lifted the curtain, hands on hips, and retorted, "The state your Wu family is in now, who else would be willing to marry except me? Without me, your family line would’ve been cut off long ago. I’ve brought such great benefits to your family, what’s wrong with my parents and brothers having a meal? If you curse any more, don’t you think I’ll follow Tong Pandi’s lead and divorce, taking my child with me? It’s not as if the Tong family can’t afford to raise a child."
Having made her decision, Tong Zhaodi no longer felt any attachment to the Wu family and countered Mrs. Qiao boldly and confidently.
Mrs. Qiao, clutching her chest in anger, could only hope Wu Musheng would hurry home and give Tong Zhaodi a harsh beating.
The Tong family trio didn’t care about the Wu family’s turmoil and ate and drank to their fill.
After being well fed at Tong Zhaodi’s, she pulled out the last good fabric from Wu Musheng’s cabinet and handed it to Mrs. Wang, asking her to make a new set of clothes for Tong Zhijie.
Mrs. Wang accepted.
The Tong family trio left the Wu family, eager to immediately pawn the bracelet Tong Zhaodi had given them.
There were no pawnshops at Black Dragon Pond, so they needed to head to Pingchuan.
It was late, so the family set off early the next morning for Pingchuan.
Word had it that Jufula Pawnshop offered high valuations, piquing Mrs. Wang’s interest in pawning there.
Tong Fusheng was reluctant to go because it was his sister Tong Huaqiong’s business.
Ultimately unable to dissuade Mrs. Wang, the family of three went to Jufula Pawnshop.
Seeing the dazzling array at Jufula, Tong Fusheng felt deeply disappointed; if only his sister and he were still united, he wouldn’t have to live such a hard life.
Half of the pawnshop should have been his.
Tong Zhijie enviously remarked, "I was supposed to be the Young Master here."
The clerk, raising his head, frowned. Who was this idiot claiming to be the Young Master here? What a nerve!
He must be out of his mind, having hallucinations.
While thinking this, he still maintained a warm demeanor since after all, a customer is a guest.
Mrs. Wang cursed inwardly but put on a smile as she handed the bracelet to the clerk.
The clerk examined the quality and estimated it at twenty-seven taels of silver.
Mrs. Wang said, "You’re scamming me! My daughter said this bracelet is worth thirty taels."
The clerk frowned and said, "Your daughter isn’t from a pawnshop; this bracelet is only worth twenty-seven taels at most. That’s already our Jufula price. If you go to another pawnshop, they’ll give you at most twenty-five taels."
Tong Fusheng was dissatisfied with the clerk’s attitude.
Didn’t they know he was the brother of their boss? The whole pawnshop bore the Tong name.
Tong Fusheng smiled faintly and said, "Your boss is my sister."
The clerk thought, if he’s really the boss’s brother, then why pawn anything?
Was he here to test his business skills? It didn’t seem like it!
The boss wouldn’t set up such a poor trick, either.
"Even if the boss himself came to pawn something, I’d still estimate this price," the clerk said warmly and firmly.
Tong Fusheng grew angry.
Tong Zhijie, trying to ride on others’ authority, said, "Have the Shopkeeper come out and speak."
Just as he spoke, Liu Yueer walked in with a cold smile.
By coincidence, a clerk from Qinghe Bay who worked for Jufula had recognized Tong Fusheng and quickly informed Liu Yueer about his family’s visit to the pawnshop.
Liu Yueer worried that the Tong family might cause trouble, so she arrived at the pawnshop shortly after them.
"Who gave you the face to demand the Shopkeeper? You’re just pawning a bracelet—nothing that warrants the Shopkeeper’s involvement. If you think Jufula’s appraisal is low, then go elsewhere. Just don’t hinder our business," Liu Yueer angrily dismissed them.
Mrs. Wang cursed inside while smiling outwardly to Liu Yueer, "Dashi’s wife, your uncle and I..."
Liu Yueer interrupted, "What uncle? I don’t know of any such uncle. Stop falsely claiming relations."
Tong Fusheng and Mrs. Wang’s smiles froze on their faces.
Liu Yueer’s sharp tongue showed no mercy.
She left no room for their dignity.
The clerk, seeing Liu Yueer disavow the kinship, surmised the guests were the boss’s odd relatives. Since they weren’t acknowledged, he needn’t be overly cautious. Nonetheless, business was business, so he maintained a professional smile and asked, "Do you still intend to pawn this bracelet? If so, I’ll issue a pawn ticket and give you the silver. If not, feel free to compare prices elsewhere."
Mrs. Wang gritted her teeth and said, "Pawn it."
With Jufula offering twenty-seven taels, it wasn’t feasible to expect as much elsewhere.
"Are you opting for a full pawn or a partial one? The valuation is for a full pawn," the clerk said.
"Full pawn it is," Mrs. Wang replied.
In any case, she didn’t intend to redeem it; once Zhaodi remarried, more bracelets would come her way.
Liu Yueer nodded, and the clerk issued the pawn ticket, handing the silver to Mrs. Wang.
Mrs. Wang accepted the silver, nearly grinding her teeth to dust.
"Now that you’ve taken the silver, it’s time to leave," Liu Yueer began to usher them out.
...
"Dashi’s wife is just a runaway, and she dares to flaunt before me," Mrs. Wang cursed outside the pawnshop’s door, "Dressing so provocatively, clearly here in Pingchuan to seduce men. I bet the grass on Dashi’s head has grown three feet high."
"Gu Dashu hasn’t grown grass on his head but rather on his grave," Tong Zhijie chimed in. "I heard he’s gone missing at the border, caught by Mo Bei people as a spy. Think about it, Mother, would he ever come back alive from their hands?"
Mrs. Wang’s eyes widened.
Tong Fusheng asked, "Where did you hear this?"
Tong Zhijie replied, "I overheard it while drinking at the restaurant before the New Year."
Mrs. Wang slapped her thigh, relieved that justice prevailed.
This was the comeuppance for Tong Dajiao and Liu Yueer.
At that moment, cheers erupted from the crowd.
"We’ve won the war against Mo Bei."
Then a clerk-like person ran towards Jufula, shouting, "Our Young Master distinguished himself in Mo Bei!"
"Our boss made a mark in Mo Bei!"
