The two brothers walk with their left shoulder high and the right shoulder slightly lower. When they talk, they blink their eyes rapidly. When others see them, they think they are cunning and they usually make up lies.

In this way, they have not had a good impression on people since they were young. They are said to be naughty and naughty, so they will suffer some losses in everything they do.

As a teacher, Chen Fakang earned ten dollars a month, a decent income, and his family also had more than ten acres of fertile land.

Unfortunately, the family has six sons and not a single girl.

In addition, his wife, Chen Tianhua's fourth aunt, is sickly. As his son grows up, the family burden increases year by year.

In the final analysis, when the sons grow up, they need to start a family and find a wife. The money for betrothal gifts, wedding houses, etc. are all a big pressure.

Chen Fakang and his wife borrowed money from here and there to arrange marriages for their first two sons, wiping out all their money and racking up huge debts.

Now the five eldest sons have gone to other places to make a living, leaving only five old tile-roofed houses and more than ten acres of thin farmland in the family.

There is also a young son who is fifteen or sixteen years old.

When Chen Tianhua and his wife arrived at the door, Chen Fakang was carrying a hoe and his trousers were rolled up to his knees. He looked like he had just come back from the fields and his lips were purple from the cold.

"Third brother!"

"Third father!"

"Oh, it's Awan, Tugen Youjuan, you guys, why are you free to come here today? Come on... come in and sit down."

After opening the door, Chen Tianhua and the other three followed Chen Fakang into the room and sat down.

"Hey, look at Awan. Your third sister-in-law took Xiaohui and the others back to her grandmother's house. She found that the house is in a mess. We can't even boil water. I can't even make tea here."

Chen Fakang spread his hands, blinked his eyes for a moment, and smiled bitterly with some shame and helplessness.

"No need, Third Dad! The three of us have just had dinner and drank tea at my grandma's house. Today, Youjuan and I are here to pay back the money!"

Chen Tianhua stood up and pulled his third father, who was still standing stunned, to sit down.

"Repay the money? Pay back the money you got? Oh...is it some of the money you saved from turning over aquatic products?"

Chen Fakang asked in surprise.

"Yes, Third Brother, I know it has been difficult for your family these past few years, but you still managed to squeeze in some money to help our family. I am very grateful!"

Xue Wanzhen burst into tears again when she mentioned the sore spot. Youjuan took out a handkerchief to help her mother wipe away the tears from her eyes.

"Don't even mention it. It's my unsatisfactory and short-lived brother who has caused your family to suffer for many years. I am also not capable enough and can only help to a limited extent. Now that I have grown up, I can share the family's worries, which is very satisfying.

I am also happy to be an uncle!"

Chen Fakang sighed and comforted.

When parting, Chen Tianhua, in addition to repaying the thirty-five yuan he had borrowed before, insisted on leaving an extra five yuan to buy some supplements for his third aunt.

Family love is the best in the world. Fortunately, when we are in trouble, we can lend a helping hand to each other and give each other a tug.

Chen Tianhua and the others visited seven or eight more houses along the way. They all had sporadic debts, ranging from two to three yuan to five or six yuan. They were finally paid off.

The only thing left is Fan Chenggui's principal of 40 yuan and half-year interest of 15 yuan. According to the current calculation, it is purely usury.

There was still one month before the end of the year, so Chen Tianhua planned to pay back fifty silver dollars in advance with interest, so as not to worry about it in his heart.

The next morning, Chen Tianhua took the money in his arms and rowed the awning boat to pay back the money.

Fan Manor was built in the west of Shuangqi Township, on the edge of Guazi Lake. The scenery there is beautiful, and many wealthy and powerful families bought land to build manors there.

Entering the winter months, the lake looks particularly cold.

Chen Tianhua rowed slowly and arrived at the manor built by the Fan family by the lake around ten o'clock in the morning.

It seems to cover a large area, with towering walls and looming pavilion buildings with white walls and gray tiles.

People who come to Fan's house usually come through two ways.

First, those who come by land usually come on foot. Cars nowadays are just legends and dreams.

In the water towns of Jiangsu and Zhejiang at the end of the Qing Dynasty, few people visiting relatives and friends were riding sedans or riding horses, except occasionally in Shaoxing city.

In the countryside, you either walk or take a boat.

The second is coming by water, usually by private wooden boats with awnings.

At home, there is a wooden boat with an oar and a awning. There are straw mats and a few chairs in the cabin. It is very nice. It is equivalent to a family car in later generations. It shows that your family has status, some power or some wealth.

Money family.

The worst thing is that there is a small rowing boat with a black canopy, which is equivalent to the three-wheeled bread in later generations. It is not bad, and it is more stylish than walking.

Most of the people who come to the Fan family are rich and powerful, and most of them go by water or boat.

Therefore, Fan Mansion has a private dock at its doorstep, on the shore of West Lake, for its own family or customers to park their boats and get on and off the shore.

Building a private dock made of stone strips and paved with bluestone slabs is a symbol of strength and status.

Chen Tianhua's black-topped rowing boat slowly arrived at Fan's wharf. He tied the boat to the special hitch, stepped off the wharf, and walked straight to the gate of Fan's house.

The sunlight above his head slanted down from a forty-five angle, reflecting his extraordinary attire.

His image today is called Gao Fushuai according to the fashion words of later generations.

Imported dark green pure woolen coat, woolen trousers, high-top suede leather boots, and a round leather warm hat on top of his head.

The most fashionable thing is that in the upper left pocket of the coat is a golden pocket watch chain.

He originally wanted to wear the pair of sunglasses he just bought. They were made of lenses ground from natural crystals and were quite expensive.

Later, I thought about it and decided that it would be inappropriate to be too far away in Shuangqi Township.

He came to the Fan Mansion to pay back the money for his father, Chen Shaoan, and he didn't want to look poor and be teased by others.

The large vermilion double-blade wooden door in front of the courtyard wall is the main entrance of Fan Mansion. "Dong dong dong..." He pressed the circular door knocker.

After a while, footsteps approached, and the big wooden door opened with a creaking sound.

A young woman who looked like a maid poked her head out and saw a awning boat swaying with the waves on the pier. The fashionable young man at the door was obviously coming by boat.

She immediately stepped forward with a smile on her face, folded her hands in front of her and bowed to ask:

"Sir, who are you looking for?"

"I...I'm looking for..."

Chen Tianhua really couldn't tell who he was looking for. He couldn't just tell the maid that I was here to pay off the debt.

He squeaked and said: "That's it, my surname is Chen, I mean..."

"Oh...I see. You are Mr. Chen from Dongpu. You are our second uncle who has never been to our house. Hehe...please come in."

Before Chen Tianhua could finish speaking, the maid responded smartly and opened the door to let him in.

After closing the door, before she could wait for Chen Tianhua to explain, she suddenly hurried forward, trotting at a trot while shouting loudly toward the inside:

"Hurry and inform the eldest lady that Master Chen is here!"

Oh my god, what kind of drama is this wearing a crown like?

Chen Tianhua thought to himself, dumbfounded.

The surname Chen is a common surname in Jiangsu and Zhejiang. When Chen Tianhua went to Shaoxing Mansion, he met Chen Qimei and Chen Zongyu. Unexpectedly, when he came to Fan Mansion, he was recognized as Mr. Chen from Dongpu.

Dongpu is Dongpu Township, which, like Shuangqi Township, is a township under the jurisdiction of Shanyin County.
Chapter completed!