Song Qingyun was extremely happy to receive fifty taels, and sent his father to the entrance of the town with a smile on his face.
They found a bullock cart for him to go back to.
Most of the people on the oxcart going to Beiguan Village were people from several nearby villages. When they saw Song Qingyun filially putting his old father on the oxcart, paying the money, and giving him some serious instructions.
Everyone in the car was so envious.
Old Man Song reached home with his head raised and his pipe in his mouth.
What he didn't know was that as soon as his money was sent over, Song Chen received the news.
"Girl, what should we do now?"
The person who came back with the news was Cong Zhu. As soon as Old Man Song got the money, he sent it to the town immediately. He was so anxious that he clearly made up his mind to help his girl.
"wait."
Song Chen just smiled and said one word.
Congzhu was puzzled, but he didn't ask any more questions. They just listened to what the girl said.
After returning home, Old Man Song was obviously in a much better mood. It was rare that he did not find fault with Song Zhou and even comforted her.
"You don't have to worry about Lao Liu. I've already sent him the money, which is enough for him to spend a while. In the future, we don't have to worry about Lao Liu running out of money to take the exam."
Mrs. Song Zhou felt happy, but she soon thought that the money Lao Liu spent on academic studies was like running water. The paper, books and everything were quite expensive. Where did the old man get so much money and he didn't even need to take the exam?
Worried?
You have to go to Beijing to take the provincial examination, and it costs a lot of money for food and accommodation.
"Old man, where did you get so much money?" Song Zhou couldn't help but ask.
"Given by Song Chen." Old Man Song only said these few words and didn't say anything more.
Mrs. Song Zhou wisely did not ask any more questions, but her heart felt as if it was being scratched by a cat's claws, and she felt uncomfortably itchy.
The weather in October was quite chilly.
Everyone in the village made dinner early and stayed at home without going out. Mrs. Song Li sat in the room for a long time, and finally picked up a bunch of copper coins on the table and went out.
Not long after, she stopped in front of Song Chen's house.
The new house of Song Chen's family is built somewhat like a courtyard house. Unlike most houses here with the yard in the front, her house has the yard in the middle and the gate directly in front.
Mrs. Song Li wrapped her clothes tightly, gritted her teeth and knocked on the door of Song Chen's house.
Different from the past, someone has already moved in to the concierge of Song Chen's house. It was Cong Hai and his friends who suggested it, and the four of them took turns guarding it.
Although the environment in the concierge was not as good as the rooms in the courtyard, they had everything they needed, so Song Chen let them go.
The person on duty today was Cong Hai, and before Mrs. Song Li even knocked on the door, he heard someone coming.
"Who is outside the door?" Cong Hai asked through the door.
Mrs. Song Li was stunned for a moment when she heard this unfamiliar voice. After a while, she remembered that eight servants came to Song Chen's house.
"I, I am Song Li, I have something to do with Song Chen."
Song Li knew this from Hai, so she opened the door and said, "Wait a moment, I'll go ask the girl."
Mrs. Song Li nodded and waited where she was.
After a while, Zuo Hai trotted out, and Song Chen asked him to put the person in.
From the customs gate, he took Song Li to the living room of Song Chen's house.
This was her first time to go inside. Although the walk was not far, it was enough to shock her. She didn't know when she would be able to live in such a good house.
It was also because of seeing this that Song Li's original nervousness turned into cautiousness. When they arrived in the living room of Song Chen's house, Song Chen and his family were all there.
The spacious and bright room does not feel cold at all.
"Chunhua, you're here, sit down quickly." Song Wangshi greeted her warmly.
She was a visitor, and Mrs. Song Wang really greeted her attentively.
Mrs. Song Li looked at the cushioned chairs at Song Chen's house and was embarrassed to sit on them, "Sister-in-law, I won't sit down. I came today to ask you for something."
The word "begging" made everyone in the Song family frown.
"Chunhua, have you encountered any trouble?" Mrs. Song's first reaction was that something had happened to the old Song family.
Mrs. Song Li shook her head, "No, hey, why are you here now and can't say anything?"
"You sit down first, and I'll bring you a cup of sugar water." Mrs. Song Wang didn't ask her any questions, and went to the side to help Mrs. Song Li make a cup of sugar water with warm water.
Mrs. Song Li quickly reached out to pick it up and took a sip. It was sweet.
Song Chen said nothing, waiting for Song Li to speak.
Perhaps because he was too cautious, Song Li put the cup on the table aside and took out the copper plate he brought with him.
"Xiaochen, this is the money Xiaohe gave to Song Ming. You can take it back. We, mother and son, can live a clean life now only because of your help. Your family also takes good care of us on weekdays. Song Ming only helped so much. He can't help us."
Take your money."
Song He glanced at the bunch of copper coins in her hand. They were really the money he gave to Song Ming during the day.
"The money is yours after I gave it to you. There is no need to send it back. Song Ming's help to me this time is not a small favor. His information is very useful. He deserves the money."
Song Chen had no intention of taking it back.
"This won't work, it really won't work. We can't take this money, otherwise I won't be able to live well in the future." Song Li said and walked over to Song Chen and placed the copper coins on the table in her hand.
"It is only natural that you should be paid for helping, and we are willing to help you. One code should be treated as one code, and don't mix it up."
Song Chen glanced at the silver on the table and spoke in a calm voice.
"Fourth Aunt, is this the only thing you came here for today?" After a while, Song Chen raised his head again and looked at Mrs. Song Li.
When she heard Song Chen's question, her expression suddenly changed.
"I, I came here to ask if I can work in your workshop."
The room suddenly became quiet. Song Dashan and Song Wang looked at Song Chen, while Song He looked indifferent.
But in the final analysis, I still have some concerns about the Song Li family.
She returned the money and asked her to work in the workshop. Is this an exchange?
"The workshop will be recruiting workers tomorrow, you can sign up." Song Chen naturally thought the same way.
Mrs. Song Li was a little flustered. Suddenly she saw the copper plates she put on the table and suddenly seemed to understand something.
"No, don't get me wrong. I don't mean what you think. I always thought it was not good to speak like this before, but this matter has been in my mind for a long time. It just so happened that Xiaohe came to give away the money today. I was not at home at that time, otherwise
I won’t accept it, I have no intention of threatening you with Song Ming’s help.”
"I really haven't. I'm afraid that I won't be able to choose tomorrow, but I promise that I will really do a good job. You also know that I have been unable to leave anything behind in the old Song family for so many years, let alone when the family was separated.
Give us something, I want to lead Song Ming to live a good life."
"But right now, our family is running out of food, and we only have one acre of land. I'm afraid we'll starve to death before next autumn's harvest."
Mrs. Song Li started to cry as she spoke.
What she said was true. If she hadn't been desperate, she wouldn't have come and said these words. She didn't want Song Chen and the others to look down on her.
Her words silenced the entire Song family.
It will definitely be unfair when the old Song family is divided, and they all know this.
I gave Song Li a place to stay before, but I didn't think about other issues.
I don't know how long it took before anyone in the quiet room spoke.
"Mom, is Fourth Aunt good at work on weekdays?"
Song Wang and Song Li lived together in an old Song family for more than ten years. Although the other details are not clear, this can still be seen.
"Your fourth aunt is diligent and tidy the house very well."
As long as they are nimble with their hands and feet, the rest depends on their character. She will let them live next to her because they believe in her.
In such a big environment, there is a big difference between not helping and not harming others.
Song Chen nodded, "I can let you work in the workshop, but there is one thing. You must sign a long-term contract with me."
"Long deed..." Mrs. Song Li thought for a while and said, "How many years is the long deed?"
A long-term contract is different from a life-sale contract. After you sign a life-sale contract, you have no control over your life. From the day you sign it until your death, or until your master lets you go voluntarily.
The long-term contract has an additional time limit.
"Five years." Song Chen did not say the time too long.
"Five years!" Mrs. Song Li was shocked, "Long-term contract, doesn't a long-term contract require at least ten years?"
Mrs. Song Wang who was on the side smiled and nudged Mrs. Song Li with her elbow, "If you don't know, hurry up and sign."
Mrs. Song Li suddenly realized that her tears fell unconsciously. Song Chen was helping her and giving her assurance.
Signing this contract means that she will have work to do in the next five years. In these five years, she will be able to save a sum of money and her son will grow up.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Song Li covered her face and cried bitterly.
No one bothered her and let her cry her heart out.
After all, she was still a poor person. Her husband died early and she was living alone with her son. She did not go back to her parents' home with all her strength.
This alone made Song Chen look at her with admiration.
She has this fierceness and resilience, and she will do well when doing things in the future.
Song Chen knew in her heart that her business territory was definitely not limited to the present, but the prerequisite for expanding the territory was that she must have capable people on her hands.
If she finds something that can be cultivated, she will naturally not let it go.
None of them knew that Song Chen had already set his sights on Song Li.
And she was waiting for today.
Ms. Song Li cried for a while and drank a few large gulps of water, feeling a little embarrassed.
Song Chen has already written the contract, and the agreement to work in the workshop is also ready, just waiting for Song Li to come and sign.
Facing these two contracts, Song Li didn't even take a second look and directly pressed her fingerprints.
Before going back, Song Chen asked Song Li to take away the money, but Song Li refused.
If you can’t collect this money, you can’t collect it!