The village where Xiaoxia's family is located is called Yangshugou. Her mother was married from a neighboring village. There is also an uncle from the same family in the neighboring village. Of course, Xiaoxia's grandmother originally lived with her uncle, but the life of her uncle's family was not very good, so she had to live with her uncle.
Because of the difficulty, Xia's mother took the old man to live in Yangshu Gou. During the New Year, his uncle would also "visit" Xiao Xia's home in Yangshu Gou.
My uncle not only came to see my old mother, but his more important purpose was to ask for money!
Xiaoxia's uncle was idle and did not do his job. He only gambled and fought to cause trouble. In the years after Dayu succeeded in controlling the floods, the people of Lu Ze's tribe became increasingly prosperous and everyone's life became better and better. However, his family's life became more and more dilapidated.
His old mother didn't want to support him, so he was taken into his home by Xia's mother.
My ancestors did have some land, but it was almost completely destroyed by my uncle. There were still a few acres of thin farmland left, but they couldn't cultivate it with peace of mind. Even such a man could get married, and his wife was also a lazy person who took care of the house.
Although she didn't have a husband, she was very aggressive outside. After she had a son and a daughter, she often went to her mother and sister to ask for money.
Xiaoxia went back home a few years ago and sent back part of the New Year's gifts she received at the farm. The life in the other courtyard was not as good as that of the rich and powerful, but it was much better than that of ordinary people in the village. Xiaoxia could get some money and pay back during the New Year.
There was a reward. What she sent home this time was cloth and bacon, and she happened to encounter her uncle, aunt and two children coming, clamoring for the goods.
The uncle was very arrogant, and the aunt was very aggressive. She would make trouble if she was not given anything, and would knock over the entire table of food. Xiaoxia felt wronged, angry, and scared. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she just hugged her grandma's arm tightly.
Grandma said that she really couldn't bring out the belongings, but uncle noticed Xiaoxia who had brought back cloth and bacon.
So the uncle changed his tone and said: "Isn't Xiaoxia enjoying the blessings at the Baoming Courtyard? She gets a reward every year, why not use some wealth to support the family?" My aunt also helped, saying that it was just a loan, waiting for the day.
Once it's done, I'll definitely return it.
The cloth and pickled meat that Xiaoxia brought home were taken away by her uncle, but these things were not enough. Her uncle wanted more, and the family had been restless this year. Xiaoxia went back home again a few days ago.
Her parents asked her to discuss it and lend the money to her uncle to stop the quarrel. During this period, Xiaoxia was worried about this.
Things in the world are so intricate that it’s hard to describe them in just one sentence. Xiaojiu shook his head repeatedly. In the eyes of some people, Xiaojiu’s status was embarrassing. He was far away from his hometown at such a young age and came to this place where he had no friends. His life was really not that good.
But compared to Xiaoxia, he already enjoyed it very much, at least he no longer had to worry about these messy things.
What, just asked: "Sister Xiaoxia, what are you going to do?"
Xiaoxia lowered her head and said: "To be honest with you, I have saved some money over the years and have thirty copper noses on hand. This time I plan to give one third, which is ten copper noses, to my parents so that they can
Lend it to your uncle to stop making trouble."
Xiaojiu couldn't help but sigh to herself. The two closest people around her, Tailuo and Xiaoxia, were both very good at saving money! People in the local villages still barter a lot of the time, and they only do business in large markets.
The currency used is called "bi" locally, which is just a dialect.
The most common nose is made of pottery. Only the official body represented by Mr. Bojun is qualified to make it and use a unified model. Anyone who makes a pottery nose privately will be punished by death. Of course, the ones more valuable than pottery noses are gold noses and silver noses.
and a bronze nose, while gold and silver items are often only owned by nobles. It is no longer simple for commoners to hold a bronze nose.
Ten copper noses can buy a healthy cow. Xiaoxia worked as a maid in a courtyard for six years and actually saved thirty! In other words, she has saved all the pocket money and rewards she has received over the years.
As for the extra rewards, some of them were taken back to honor their parents, and the other part was converted into money and saved.
Why is Xiaoxia saving money? On the one hand, she has been used to a hard life since she was a child, and she never spends money randomly. Besides, other hospitals take care of food, clothing, housing, and transportation, so she doesn’t need to spend money. On the other hand, she may be saving a dowry for herself.
For a maid like her who is sent to a wealthy family, when she gets married, the host family will supplement a dowry, but it is often very limited. According to custom, the dowry is the woman's body and property after she gets married, while the betrothal gift goes to the woman's parents.
All in all, Xiaoxia doesn’t know what will happen in the future, so she is saving money for herself in advance.
Seeing this, Xiaoxia raised her eyes pitifully and asked: "Master, shouldn't I do this?"
Xiaojiu asked, "What do you think?"
Xiaoxia lowered her head again and said, "But I can't help it. I can't just watch my family live in peace."
Xiaojiu: "If you take out these ten copper noses, will your family be able to live in peace?"
Xiaoxia: "Of course I have conditions. I will ask my parents to tell my uncle. If he wants to take the money, he must promise not to make any more trouble."
Xiaojiu still asked: "Your uncle wanted to get money from you, and he got the money. Seeing that this plan was feasible, he continued to pursue this idea. What should you do?"
Xiaoxia: "Of course I will also declare that this is all the money I have saved, and I will never ask for it again."
Xiaojiu shook his head and said, "You take it for granted!"
Xiaoxia: "Why do I take it for granted?"
Xiao Jiu looked at Xiao Xia, knowing that her plight was sympathetic, but she was inexplicably angry, and she didn't know who she was angry with. She said excitedly: "Can ten bronze noses really solve your uncle's problem?
?If his habits are not changed, giving him a copper nose will not only be useless, but will only encourage bad habits and make innocent people more hurt. You love your parents and grandma, why would you hurt them?"
Hurt? Where do you start talking about this? Xiaoxia felt that her behavior was very kind, so kind that even she was moved by herself. However, after hearing such comments, she asked aggrievedly: "I am obviously helping them. I would rather
How come you are hurting them when you are wronged?"
Xiaojiu: "Did your uncle do the right thing?"
Xiaoxia: "Of course I did it wrong, but..."
Xiaojiu waved her hand to interrupt her and said: "You know it's wrong, but you still condone his behavior? He asked your parents for property, and you let him ask for success! Through that kind of behavior, he can get so much money, what is he?
What would people think and what would they do? Your parents' house was originally uneasy for a while, but as long as you take these ten bronze noses and let them give them to your uncle, I'm afraid there will be unrest all the time in the future."
Xiao Xia: "No way? We have to agree in advance that after we take the money, we won't make any more trouble. And I will also ask my parents to tell my uncle that if I don't want it anymore, that's all."
Xiaojiu: "Let me ask you, have your parents and your grandmother told him this many times? It's not the first time he has come to ask for property, but he has never gotten ten coppers.
There are just so many noses. Since I have said it many times to no avail, will it be useful this time?"
Xiaoxia: "But this time it's ten bronze noses! And it's really only once. I won't take it again, even if I do my best for my parents."
Xiaojiu couldn't hold it in when he opened his mouth this time: "Ten copper noses may seem like a lot to you, but is it really a lot? It can only buy a cow! In the past, he only got a little money each time, and your family is already in trouble.
His trouble, if he can get ten bronze noses this time, he will only get worse.
This matter is not about the amount of money, but about who he is, and you don’t know it; it’s more about what this is, and whether you should do this, and it’s not that you don’t know.
Ask yourself, should he really ask for your money? Are you really willing to give him money? What's the point of doing something you shouldn't and don't want to do?
If you make trouble for one copper nose, you can make a lot of trouble for ten copper noses. Your parents and grandmother are innocent, but you let your uncle come to the house to succeed, and then the evil attempt becomes more serious. Isn't this harming innocent people?
You gave the wealth you personally saved to your evil-doing uncle so that he could succeed, or you thought you were kind-hearted, is it really a good deed?"
His words were very rude and meant to reprimand. Xiaoxia was already aggrieved. At this moment, even her "good deeds" were denied. Xiaoxia was also a little angry, but she didn't dare to show it. She just asked, "You haven't given birth yet."
How dare you be so sure about this matter? No matter what, I can't see my parents suffering, so I have to do something... Moreover, my parents came to discuss this matter with me. Now I am the only one who can save money in the family.
"
How could the young master seem to have seen everything that happened next at such a young age? Maybe it was not what he said? This was what Xiao Xia was thinking.
Xiaojiu stamped her feet and said: "I don't want to see my parents suffer, but let them suffer even more. If you know this, you still do it?"
Xiao Xia was doubtful and said: "Is this really possible? So, sir, what should I do?"
Xiao Jiu sighed and said: "Although I have never encountered this kind of thing myself, I already remembered it when I was in Baoming Kingdom! My father had hundreds of children, and the concubines and in-laws were fighting with each other. What a mess.
I have never seen anything like this before, otherwise why would I come here voluntarily? Your thing is too simple. I have seen it many times, and I can think of the result with my heels.
If you can see the signs of trouble before it appears, you should eliminate the root cause. Otherwise, it will only become more troublesome, not to mention intensifying its trend. The truth of this matter is simple, so simple that almost everyone understands it.
.If the demands are not obtained, the noise will be useless and will subside; if the evil demands are successful, the noise will become more and more intense.
If you want to cut off the situation, not only can you not bring out these ten pottery noses, but as long as your uncle does not change his habits, you must also dissuade your parents from giving him any more money. He can't succeed with your parents. Although I don't
I’m sure he will not make trouble again, but if you want to live in peace, this is a necessary prerequisite.”
Xiao Xia said hesitantly: "I understand what the young master said, but what should I do if my uncle still comes to make trouble and even takes the property by force?"
Xiao Jiu: "This is a helpless thing. How could such a person exist in the world? We can only try our best to prevent such people from succeeding. Denying their property or taking it by force is a crime of robbery and can be repaid.
The government officials will handle it."
Xiaoxia seemed to be a little frightened and said: "How is that possible! They are all relatives, how can they be sent to the government for punishment? If they are really punished and imprisoned, what will happen to his children?"
Xiao Jiu frowned and said: "If it is an act of taking property by force, it should be dealt with in this way. Shouldn't it be inappropriate if it is your uncle's turn? Other criminals in the world all have parents and family members. Does this mean that they cannot be punished for their crimes?
Have you been punished? As for what happened next, we’ll talk about it later! There is never a perfect plan in this world, so why didn’t we just do it from the beginning?”
He said: "Everyone understands the empty talk, but what's the use? You are not me, and you cannot understand my situation. No matter how well others explain the truth, can you just watch it happen when it happens? You don't need to say it anymore, sir.
I’ll think about it again.”
What should be said has been said over and over again, but Xiaoxia is still hesitant to make a decision. Xiaojiu sighed and walked away with his hands behind his back: "Who said that reason is useless? Knowing but not doing it will lead to empty talk. There is too much helplessness, that's why
As the saying goes... I once heard an expert explain the power of freedom, but today I realize how rare it is."
Xiao Xia sat alone in the room and thought to herself: "Young master, how can you be so hard-hearted at such a young age? Can't you even comfort people a little? Can't you understand the suffering of others? His words are almost ruthless! How can things be so that?
It’s easy to explain, you’ll only know if you meet it yourself…”
Xiao Jiu is only nine years old, and this is her family matter. Xiao Xia didn't expect Xiao Jiu to solve his problems. The reason why she said it was because she felt too wronged and wanted to find someone to talk to and hope someone would praise her.
He is kind-hearted, sympathizes with her experience, and feels sorry for such a good girl to have such a thing happen to her. This is the most important thing and what she wants most!
But what happened? There was not much sympathy, but he scolded her. It seemed that there was no hope. Thinking about it, Xiaoxia couldn't help but cry again.
Of course, Qing Niu was fully aware of what was going on in the other courtyard, and he couldn't help but shake his head slightly, and he didn't know who he was shaking his head for. 8