Chapter 22: Despicable
The villagers looked at each other in dismay.
This little girl is really something.
Su Guilan was about to be angered to death, yet she was deliberately stimulating her like this.
“You little brat, it must be your doing…”
Su Guilan lunged toward Su Yaoguang.
Su Yaoguang retreated in fright.
Zhou Wangshu stuck out his leg and kicked hard.
Su Guilan fell headlong into the manure pit.
With a splash, manure water splashed up waves.
“Ugh…” The villagers retreated repeatedly.
Su Guilan was short and thin; once she fell into the manure pit, she sank right down.
“Glug glug…”
The villagers heard the sound and once again crouched nearby, dry heaving.
“Oh my god, that’s too disgusting.”
Su Yaoguang looked worriedly toward Su Guilan’s direction: “Wangshu, Aunt won’t be in trouble, right?”
“She’ll be fine. The manure pit isn’t deep; she can just stand up.”
Su Guilan heard this and struggled to get back up. Sure enough, once she stood, the manure pit only reached her chest.
“Pull me up, quick.” Su Guilan had lost control.
No one made a move.
“Please, pull me up!” Su Guilan pleaded desperately.
“I can’t; I’m sick right now! How about this, Uncle Wang, trouble you to go invite Second Uncle and Second Aunt Su over and let them figure it out.”
Uncle Wang, whom Su Yaoguang had named, heard this and agreed to help her make the trip.
Su Yaoguang followed Uncle Wang to the courtyard and slipped him one copper coin, muttering a few words to him.
Uncle Wang pocketed the money, gained strength underfoot, and ran faster.
“Dabao’s dad, Dabao’s mom, come out quick; something happened at Yaoguang’s home.” Uncle Wang shouted loudly in the courtyard.
To wait for news, Second Uncle Su hadn’t gone to the fields today, and Second Aunt Su hadn’t gone out for a stroll.
Hearing Uncle Wang say this, the two exchanged a glance, their eyes full of the excitement of ‘it’s done.’
Grandpa Su and Grandma Su followed them out.
“What happened to that girl Yaoguang?” Grandma Su put on an expression of knowing nothing.
“You’ll know when you go see. Anyway, it’s a big trouble.” Uncle Wang sighed. “Oh, right, best to bring some money. I feel like this matter can’t be settled without money.”
“Bring money? Could it be about betrothal gifts?” Second Aunt Su muttered to Second Uncle Su.
The other Su family members thought the same.
Of course Grandpa Su, Grandma Su, Second Uncle Su, and his wife didn’t want to give Su Yaoguang and her mother a lot of money for nothing. In fact, what they wanted was the farmland inherited by Su Yaoguang and her mother from the main branch. If they were willing to buy it with money, they could find others to purchase farmland. They didn’t want to spend money; they just wanted to swallow the main branch’s farmland in one gulp.
When the bad news of Old Su head of household dying in battle reached the village back then, Zhang Zhaodi sought death and life, giving the Su family members a huge headache. Originally, the Su family wanted Zhang Zhaodi to remarry, but she refused and made a fuss about dividing the family, saying her man had died for the second son’s family, so now she wanted to divide out in place of her man.
During that time, the village held several funerals, and everyone sympathized with this orphan and widow’s situation. The Clan Leader personally stepped in, making Old Su divide the family among his three sons. The Clan Leader even personally oversaw Old Su’s division; if anything unfair was found, Old Su’s reputation in the clan would be affected.
Left with no choice, Old Su gave the main branch so much farmland. Over time, they of course regretted it more and more. Why should a little girl get a share of the Su family’s farmland? Of course that farmland had to be taken back.
Only by marrying off Su Yaoguang could that farmland be taken back.
Su Yaoguang had bought a son-in-law who lives with the wife’s family, which ruined their scheming.
Now the conspiracy had succeeded; finally, that brat Su Yaoguang could be married off.
“Child’s dad, how much money do you think is appropriate to bring?”
“Take one or two silver taels, and some copper coins. If you don’t part with the silver, you won’t get the farmland.”
The group hurried to Su Yaoguang’s home, prepared with a bunch of persuasive words to urge marriage, but found they weren’t needed at all.
The situation was different from what they had imagined.
“Grandpa, Grandma, you’ve come too. I originally didn’t want to trouble you or have you come over. Since you’re here, quickly say what to do! Cousin Mutou is so childish, sneaking over to steal our family’s manure water. Aunt got too excited and fell in after him. My body is weak; I really can’t help. Quick, pull them up.”
“Dad, Mom, quick pull me and Mutou up.” Su Guilan cried. “Mutou hasn’t reacted at all; don’t know if he’s hurt.”
“How did you end up like this?” Second Aunt Su said with a dark face. “The manure pit isn’t high; can’t you climb out yourself?”
“Too slippery; can’t climb up at all.” Su Guilan broke down crying.
Grandpa Su and Grandma Su covered their noses.
Second Uncle Su and Second Aunt Su also showed no desire to get close.
Second Aunt Su looked at Su Yaoguang: “Yaoguang girl, they fell into the pit at your home; quick pull them out.”
“I don’t know what’s wrong with me today; I have no strength at all. I want to save Aunt and Cousin too, but I don’t have the ability. How about this, there are so many uncles here on site; you spend some money to hire them to pull you up.”
“This… it’s not a money issue.” A middle-aged man said with a dry laugh. “I’ve done too much work today; really no strength left.”
“Five copper coins; I’ll pay five copper coins.” Su Guilan said. “Please pull us up.”
The people on site showed looks of disgust.
“Fifty copper coins, I’ll pull you up. One hundred fifty copper coins, I’ll pull you and your son up.” A woman said with a smile.
“You might as well rob me.” Su Guilan yelled in anger.
“Then forget it; I won’t meddle in trivial matters.”
“Mutou’s mom, your son is so heavy; probably need several people to pull him up. Besides, something this disgusting, we won’t be able to eat for days. Handle it yourself; if you’re not willing, then never mind.”
“One hundred copper coins, one hundred copper coins to pull us up.” Su Guilan had no choice but to yield.
“One hundred copper coins is fine too; who let us watch you grow up! We’ll just take a little loss.” The woman said. “Everyone come help; we’ll split this money together later.”
“Wait…” Su Yaoguang blocked several aunties.
“Su Yaoguang, what are you trying to do now?” Su Guilan had enough and just wanted to leave this disgusting place immediately.
“I said earlier, you spilled so much of our manure water, and Cousin Mutou even swallowed a lot; at least compensate us three hundred copper coins. If not, then stay there!”
“Have you gone mad for money?” Grandma Su cursed. “That’s your own aunt and cousin. They had an accident at your home; it’s good they didn’t come to trouble you, yet you’re asking them for money.”
“Then have them spit out the manure water in their stomachs.” Su Yaoguang said. “Handle it yourselves! We orphan and widow need money for everything in life. Right now, I’m just someone whose eyes light up at the sight of money.”
“Truly gone mad.” Grandpa Su said angrily. “This bit of manure water for three hundred copper coins. How about this, let your aunt fill you up, alright?”
