Chapter 19

Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation

Chen Dashu pointed towards the big ship. “They’re unloading the cargo. I’ll go and bring them back to show Father. Why did you all come to the dock today?”

“I came to see you guys and also wanted to tell you that our family has earned a lot of money these past few days. If you can’t handle the workload anymore, we can go back home,” said Old Chen gloomily.

Originally, he only wanted to visit, but now, he couldn’t bear the sight. He was starting to think about bringing his sons back with him.

With just two trips to the town, he managed to save 1,500 wen. Adding the food they exchanged for eggs and cloth, along with the remaining silver at home, they only needed an additional 300 wen.

By selling gold and silver flowers, they could earn 26 wen a day, and before paying taxes, they could make 150 wen. The four sons carrying bags should have earned two or three hundred wen, which covered their summer tax. There was no need for them to suffer here.

Chen Dashu asked in amazement, “How much did you earn?”

Knowing his father’s nature, saying they earned a lot must’ve meant that it was actually a lot.

Old Chen explained how Chen Xiaosang sold honeysuckles, snake eggs, and such, and added, “Honeysuckles provide a stable livelihood, and we’ve earned quite a bit. We have a long-term source of income now, so you don’t need to carry bags anymore.”

Chen Xiaosang nodded vigorously. “That’s right, big brother. Come back home with us. Mother and the two sisters-in-law can earn 26 wen a day just from selling honeysuckles. If you also help, we can earn 50 wen a day. That’s a lot.”

Snake eggs and Tianma relied more on luck, so she refrained from mentioning them to ease her eldest brother’s worries. Although they didn’t earn as much as other herbs, honeysuckles were stable, which her father and eldest brother liked.

Chen Dashu nodded happily and pondered for a moment. The more he thought, the happier he became. Unable to contain his excitement, he pinched Chen Xiaosang’s cheek. “Xiaosang is much better than her brothers. She can earn so much money.”

Chen Xiaosang looked at him, “Will you come back home with us, big brother?”

“I’ve already spent the entrance fee, so I won’t go back,” replied Chen Dashu.

Chen Xiaosang felt disappointed. “I can earn money now. Why doesn’t big brother come back?”

Unlike his usual self, Old Chen didn’t say too much “Go back with your father.”

Chen Dashu shook his head. “Aside from the summer tax, we also need to consider Sanshu’s marriage. He’ll be twenty-one after the new year, and it’s about time he gets married.”

“The four of us can earn 120 wen a day here. After ten days, we’ll have enough to save up one tael of silver. At the end of the year, when we work for another two months, we can save three to five taels of silver and help him find a wife. Sishu is also reaching marriageable age. Having the income from honeysuckles is a good thing. It can provide substantial support.”

Their father was getting older, and they couldn’t burden him all the time. As the eldest, he had to think more about the younger ones.

Old Chen could understand Dashu’s thoughts, but he couldn’t bear to see his son suffer. With a sigh, Old Chen replied, “Then let’s not go back yet.”

Chen Xiaosang counted on her fingers for a while, her brow furrowed.

She had been preoccupied with paying the summer taxes and buying delicious food, without considering finding a wife for her third brother.

But she said, “Big brother, you’re working so hard. Come home with us. Let’s all find Tianma and earn money together.”

Chen Dashu was already exhausted, but hearing Chen Xiaosang emphasize the hardships made him feel rejuvenated. After coaxing Chen Xiaosang a few times, he gave two hundred wen to Old Chen, then went to exchange it for Ershu.

One after another, Chen Xiaosang met her second and third brothers, noticing how thin and tanned they had become, which only intensified her sympathy.

The three elder brothers exchanged a few hurried words before returning to their work. When Sishu arrived, he hugged Chen Xiaosang and tearfully exclaimed, “Xiaosang, Big Brother is so cruel! Every time I take a break, he beats me. I’m going to be beaten to death by him, sob, sob, sob…”

Chen Xiaosang’s nose was filled with the scent of her fourth brother’s sweat, but she couldn’t push him away when he was so distressed. She could only gently pat his back to offer comfort.

“Big brother is doing it all to earn more money. You have to listen to him, alright?”

Chen Sishu looked at Chen Xiaosang with tear-filled eyes. “But I can’t eat enough or sleep well. Whenever I have to work, Big Brother beats me. Second and Third Brother help Big Brother. Xiaosang, won’t you help Fourth Brother too?”

Chen Xiaosang wiped his tears and reassured him, “When we go back, I’ll buy meat for Fourth Brother.”

Chen Sishu happily wiped his nose and extended his pinky. “Promise?”

If anyone else said they couldn’t have meat, Xiaosang’s mother would gladly prepare it if Xiaosang requested.

Chen Xiaosang looked at Chen Sishu’s fingers in distaste. “That’s for kids. I don’t want to play with it.”

Chen Sishu’s heart shattered, and tears welled up in his eyes. “Do you hate your fourth Brother?”

Seeing him on the verge of tears, Chen Xiaosang had no choice but to pinkie swear.

Old Chen, standing nearby, rolled his eyes and cast a cold glance at Sishu. “What a disappointment! You’ve even dirtied your sister’s clothes.”

Chen Sishu suddenly realized that he was dirty. He sat down on the ground and patted the dirt off Xiaosang’s face. Then, he turned her over and patted her back clean.

Old Chen squatted down, puffing on his smoke, and said, “We’ll be going back in a few days. Let’s endure the hardship a little longer.”

Chen Sishu’s eyes turned red again as he spoke about it, “This is even more exhausting than plowing the fields. The bread we brought have gone bad. I’ve had an upset stomach all day. And Big Brother made me carry a bag weighing nearly 200 catties. I’m completely out of energy.”

Before, he used to see his brothers come back with a good amount of money after being away for some time. He thought about coming out to earn money too, but who knew they would have nothing to eat or drink, and no place to stay?

Chen Xiaosang widened her eyes and looked at him, “Why don’t you buy steamed buns to eat?”

“One steamed bun costs two copper coins, and we need to eat three or four to feel full. It costs more than twenty copper coins for one meal,” Chen Sishu replied, feeling aggrieved.

Chen Xiaosang was shocked. What kind of hardships were her four brothers enduring?

Weren’t they risking their lives to earn money?

Chen Xiaosang turned and ran to her father, hugging his neck tightly. She pleaded, “Father, let my brothers go home. I’ll go with them and earn money together. Please, Dad?”

Old Chen’s throat moved as he sighed. He turned his head and saw Sishu looking at him expectantly.

Embracing his daughter, he comforted her gently, “Just hold on a little longer. I’ll bring you fresh pancakes tomorrow.”

Chen Sishu responded with disappointment, but the thought of not having to eat rotten biscuits tomorrow raised his spirits again.

“Dad, please let them go home,” Chen Xiaosang said, feeling sad.

Old Chen knew they couldn’t stay any longer. He stood up, holding Chen Xiaosang in his arms, and waved at Sishu before leaving the dock.

Chen Xiaosang watched as her fourth brother walked towards the boat and soon disappeared into the crowd.

Everyone around them was covered in dirt and dust. She leaned against her father’s shoulder, feeling lost without her brothers. The excitement of coming to the county town had vanished.

After waiting by the roadside for a while, Shen Xingyi returned with an empty ox cart.

Chen Xiaosang sat on the cart, and soon fell asleep leaning against her father.