Zhao Yongzhong has been doing odd jobs in Changle Town all the year round, and he is quite familiar with the streets and alleys of the town, and knows that through an alley next to the market, he can take a shortcut to South Street. In order to be in a hurry, Zhao Yongzhong led Zhao Siniang into the alley.

Zhao Siniang saw that there were houses on both sides of this alley, and there was an elm tree in the middle of the alley that two people hugged, and there happened to be no one around the elm tree at this time.

So Zhao Siniang stood under the tree, pulled Zhao Yongzhong and asked in a low voice: "Dad, just now I saw that you almost counted all the copper plates to Uncle Wang, we don't have a few copper plates in our hands, right?" ”

Zhao Yongzhong saw that the little girl was so cautious and cautious, and he unconsciously lowered his voice and said, "Yes, there are only a dozen copper plates left." ”

In fact, Zhao Siniang asked knowingly. She knew very well that she was short of money two days ago, so she didn't buy much white flour and soybeans, and now the white flour at home has run out, and there are not many soybeans left. In the morning, she got a reward of five taels and had plenty of money, so her father brought out all the copper coins in the family, and in addition to going to the butcher shop to pick up the goods, he planned to use them all to buy white noodles and soybeans. But no matter how much copper plates she has, she can't help spending it like this, even if she adds the sixty sweet potato flour money given by Shopkeeper Wang, the butcher shop, the blacksmith shop, and the porcelain stall, all the way down, there will definitely be little left.

"What then? Aren't we going to buy food and sugar? What can you do without money? Zhao Siniang pretended to be anxious.

"Siniang, you don't have to worry. Don't we have ten taels of silver? I'll give you the money later! Ten taels of silver is a lot of money for us, but those big shops should be able to be found! Zhao Yongzhong said with relief.

"Oh, speaking of silver, don't we still have a silver ticket? I remember that there is a money bank on South Street, let's stop by and exchange the silver ticket for silver, right? Compared to a piece of paper, it's still real money that is reassuring! Zhao Siniang went around for a long time, and finally said her true intentions in a very small voice.

Seeing Zhao Yongzhong paying money in Sun Ji's butcher shop, Zhao Siniang began to play with the idea of the one hundred taels of silver. Although she earned the money, if she took it home, it probably wouldn't fall into her pocket. It's better to take advantage of the absence of others to coax Zhao Yongzhong to redeem the silver, take a few percent of it himself, and then use the remaining silver to block the mouths of the family, and they will be embarrassed to let themselves spit out the silver again, right?

Ah! I'm not greedy, just keep thirty taels as private money! Zhao Siniang was thinking about it beautifully, but her dream was shattered by Zhao Yongzhong's words.

"What Siniang said makes sense. But when I just went home, I had already handed over the silver ticket to your mother for safekeeping. ”

When Zhao Siniang boarded, a mouthful of old blood spurted out of her heart, and she almost fell to the ground: God! Thirty taels of silver flew like this! It's okay if this silver ticket falls into the hands of other people in the family, but it falls into the hands of the Jiang family, plus her staunch supporter Zhao Sanniang, let alone thirty taels, even if it's three taels, don't even think about pulling it out.

Seeing that the little girl who was still in good spirits just now suddenly became stunned, Zhao Yongzhong was stunned, thought about it, and suddenly realized: "Siniang, I'm really sorry!" The one hundred taels of silver were all earned by you, and Daddy also wanted you to take a big buck. I didn't plan to give the silver ticket directly to your mother, but when your mother heard that she had earned so much silver, she was afraid that I would lose the silver ticket on the way, so she insisted on leaving the silver ticket at home. ”

Seeing that the little girl's face was getting darker and darker, the honest man Zhao Yongzhong did not hesitate to confess Jiang and Zhao Sanniang in order to clear himself, and said: "Your mother and your second sister also let me keep these ten taels of silver at home!" Your father and I didn't agree to it, so I grabbed it! Although ten taels is not as good as a hundred taels, it is enough to buy a lot of things! Siniang, if you have anything you want to eat and want, Dad will buy it for you! ”

Zhao Siniang, who was in a slump, listened to her father's promise, her spirit lifted slightly, she gritted her teeth, stomped her feet, and decided to turn her grief and anger into strength and go to South Street to sweep the goods.

But before she could take two steps, Zhao Siniang hurriedly retreated, signaled Zhao Yongzhong not to make a sound, and pulled her father and the cart to quietly move behind the elm tree. When she felt that she was safely hidden, she poked her head out slightly, only to see Zhao Yongnian and a young woman in her twenties, leading a girl about ten years old, talking and laughing towards a private house not far in front.

Zhao Siniang looked carefully, and saw that the young woman was of medium stature and quite plump. He wears a well-tailored silk garment, a woman's bun on his head, and a golden hairpin and hosta. Although it is not very beautiful, there is a bit of posture on an apricot face, which is much younger and more beautiful than the second aunt Qiao in memory.

After Zhao Yongnian's "family of three" went in for a long time, Zhao Siniang teased in a low voice: "The second uncle is really a blessing, not only to enjoy the blessings of all people, but also to have such a lovely little daughter." Tsk, there's another big house in town! Dad, aren't you envious? ”

"Envy, envy? What is there to envy? Let's, let's go! Zhao Yongzhong said stunned.

Zhao Siniang snorted and laughed: "It's not that Dad, you were caught doing bad things, why are you so embarrassed?" ”

"Siniang, my father will discuss with you: you didn't tell your mother about this matter yesterday, can you not mention it to your family in the future?" Zhao Yongzhong pleaded.

Zhao Siniang rolled her eyes and agreed: "Okay!" Seeing her father's face full of joy, he hurriedly added: "But I want hush money!" ”

"Hush money? What's that? Zhao Yongzhong said curiously.

"Even if I promise not to make a noise, you have to promise to give me a small amount of money." Zhao Siniang said slyly.

When Zhao Yongzhong heard that the conditions were so simple, he took a long breath and said with a smile: "Didn't you say it just now?" Ten taels of silver, you can buy whatever you want! ”

"Can you really buy anything? Then no matter what I buy later, you won't stop me? Zhao Siniang asked for reconfirmation.

Zhao Yongzhong nodded firmly.

Zhao Siniang smiled with satisfaction, seeing that Zhao Yongzhong was so good at talking, he began to inch in, and the lion opened his mouth and said, "That's not enough." Daddy, you have to promise me that you will use the ten taels of silver to buy things later, and the rest of the money will belong to me. ”

"This ......" Zhao Yongzhong hesitated a little.

Zhao Siniang immediately changed her face, pursed her mouth, and said angrily: "Dad, you don't talk about credit!" Even if it's not used as hush money, you promised to let me take a big head out of it! ”

Zhao Yongzhong saw that the little girl was a little angry, and hurriedly said: "It's not that my father doesn't agree, it's just that I won't take back the ten taels of silver to the last bit for your mother, I'm afraid your mother will not follow!" ”

Zhao Siniang first reasoned with the facts, and said: "These ten taels of silver are the bounty given to me by the distinguished guests because of the balls, although the materials used to make the balls are from the shop, but when you buy sugar, ingredients, and food for the shop, you will deduct from the ten taels of silver." This is offset by two by two, and the shop only makes money and does not lose money, so the remaining money should belong to me! Then he began to pour sweet soup and instigated: "Dad, you are the head of the family, as long as you send a message to give me the rest of the silver, my mother will not dare not agree!" In the end, he decided to take the fierce medicine and threatened: "If I can't get the hush money, I feel uncomfortable, and I will lose my soul, maybe I won't be able to control my own mouth and accidentally tell the secret of the second uncle!" ”

Where is the loyal and honest Zhao Yongzhong the opponent of the treacherous and cunning Zhao Siniang, under this combination of soft and hard, he was immediately defeated, and he had to agree to come down.

The complacent Zhao Siniang took a step forward in her little short legs and continued to march towards South Street.