Eighteen Difficulties

  "Miss, otherwise...otherwise let's go to San Furen's place..."

  Looking at his own daughter's face filled with worry under the candlelight, Qing Tao couldn't help but speak up.

  "Qing Tao, what are you saying? Don't you understand why Aunt Xu had to wait until nightfall to come find the young lady? It's precisely because she didn't want Third Madam to see her."

  But before she could finish, Qing An, who was counting the money in a small purple sandalwood box with gold trim at the window, put down what she was holding and looked up to scold her.

  Qing Tao's face turned red in an instant, but she still argued softly, "What's the matter, I was just casually saying it..."

  "Hmph..." At this time, the usually silent Jiūjiě suddenly laughed and said in a low voice, "Go ahead and say it, stupid Qingtáo. You think that just because I can speak freely in front of Third Madam, you also have the right to do so? That's giving your family's daughter too much credit."

  "Uh..." Qing Tao was taken aback.

  "Qing Tao, if you think that Third Madam has been treating me well during this period of time, then you are greatly mistaken." Jiujie'er spoke again, her face calm and serious, her tone solemn.

  The third madam is not as hypocritical as the first madam, nor as arrogant and proud as the second madam, nor as sharp-tongued and vicious as the fourth madam, but she is not a simple character either.

  She is also a master mother, also a court lady, and equally not lacking in mind and means, which can be seen from her handling of her own cheap old father San Lao Ye.

  It's just that she was well-behaved, gentle and obedient, kept to her place, tried to please everyone, was respectful to the elder brother and humble to the younger sister. Additionally, she provided the colored candle and three cotton cores technique, which made the three madams think she was quite good and had an extra appreciation for her, resulting in this period of harmonious relationship.

  She certainly wouldn't be so arrogant as to forget herself, she has no status, no backing, and is completely dependent on others for survival, so this relationship is naturally the most fragile!

  "Miss, this month's allowance, plus the three taels that Third Madame brought over last time for Third Miss to add to her dowry, and the two taels that Old Mistress gave you girls to buy flowers with, totals nine taels more." After a moment, Qing Xiang's voice rang out, breaking the silence in the room.

  "Nine minus two is seven, two hundred minus one hundred is one hundred, ten minus nine is ninety-one, and two hundred minus one hundred is still one hundred... which means we are still short... still short..." As soon as Qing Xiang finished speaking, Qing Tao immediately started calculating with her fingers.

  "We are still short of 191 taels, what we have is less than one-twentieth of that!" Before she finished speaking, Jiu Si Er had already turned around, frowning.

  Xu Shichang, the only elder brother of Xu Yiniang, and the biological uncle of the protagonist. Honest and simple-minded, with no special skills, he makes a living by farming on a few acres of thin land, which is considered not bad.

  But the other day, I was actually cheated by a friend who borrowed 200 taels of silver to do business with that person, but unexpectedly, that person ran away with the money, and now the creditor is coming to the door to demand debt.

  How much is a few acres of land worth? It's naturally impossible to get in or out, and I thought of this Aunt Xu.

  But where did Xu Niang get this money from? Not only had she long since fallen out of favor, but she was also weak and sickly...

  "What's one of them?" Upon hearing Jiu's words, Qing Tao immediately had a puzzled expression.

  Jiuer was taken aback by Qingtao's question and, in her haste, forgot that mathematical terms had not yet become widespread in this era.

  But at this moment she really didn't have the mood to cover up and explain, so she just perfunctorily said "It's just very different".

  That end Qing Tao still didn't understand, this end Jiu Jie Er had already instructed Qing Xiang, "Bring my cloak over, we're going to sit in the main house with Third Madam!"

  "At this time?" Qing Xing was taken aback and looked out at the dark night in surprise.

  "Go borrow money?" Qing Tao was also stunned, looking at Jiu Jie's face in surprise.

  "Of course!" Ninth Sister didn't pay attention to Qing Tao, but instead looked at Qing Xing.

  Qing An left, and Jiu Si'er instructed Qing Tao again, "Go get that set of 'Miaofa Lianhua Jing' I copied a few days ago!"

  "But... miss, wasn't that prepared for old lady's birthday?"

  Qing Xing had already taken out Jiu Jie's cloak, and upon hearing this, the steady and composed girl rarely raised an objection to Jiu Jie's orders.

  "Take it away! The old lady's birthday is not yet here, let's talk about it later!" Jiuniang closed her eyes.

  Qing Xing wanted to say something more, but looking at Jiu's determined gaze, she ultimately closed her mouth.

  Qingtao quickly brought over those few volumes of scriptures. Jiujie took them in her hands, examining them carefully and stroking them gently for a while.

  But at this time, a faint cry sounded in the house, Jiū jiě ér was startled, turned her head, and only then discovered that Qingying had been crying with tears all over her face.

  "Silly girl, what are you crying about? I'm not reluctant to part with it, we can copy it again. It's just a pity about the effort of these days. Originally, I wanted to save some money, but unexpectedly...” Ninth Sister comforted Qing Xiang.

  "Miss... I'm not crying about this... it's just that I think you're working too hard..." Qing Xiang choked out.

  "Alright, alright... you have to believe in your own daughter, things will be resolved!" Jiū jiě (ninth sister) hastily said, but unknowingly her bright eyes also welled up with two tears.

  "Girls, Qing Xiang sisters, don't be like this, at worst... at worst I'll pawn this thing on my hand, it should be worth a lot!"

  Dazedly watching the two of them for a while, Qing Tao finally came back to herself and couldn't help but redden her eyes as well, using all her might to push down the silver bangle on her hand.

  This is the most valuable thing of Qing Tao, as a family heirloom, it was given to her mother by Old Lady Jiang who made a delicious soup for her when she gave birth, and after her mother's death, it was passed down to her.

  The little girl always wore it on the mountain, and even when bathing, she didn't bear to take it off.

  "This... absolutely cannot be!" Ninth Sister hastily pulled her, then also pulled Qing An's hand, looked at the two of them and said resolutely, "Don't worry, I have a way to handle this!"

  Two little girls looked at her but neither of them said a word.

  "Alright, let's go, or it'll be even later!"

  Arrived at the main house, Third Madame was indeed still awake. Under the bright candlelight, she was enthusiastically playing cards with Old Mother Zhou and Cui Mei Cui Qiao. Wen Tenth Sister sat on the lower bed, embroidering while watching the fun.

  A warm and harmonious atmosphere filled the house, but with the addition of Ninth Sister, it seemed a bit stiff.

  Especially Jiang, although smiling, but the expression on his face that was neither cold nor hot was a sign that this lady was not very happy.

  "Mother, I've been idle lately and copied this to pay respects to you. Please don't dislike it!" Ninth Sister hastily handed over the scripture...

  ……

  Digression

  The ninth sister wants to turn passive into active, can't always be bullied, as for marriage, it's almost here, hehe!