Translator: Larbre Studio Editor: Larbre Studio
She looked at the money in her hands and felt that those weren’t copper (wen), so she immediately passed it back to Liu Duo.
“Little Duo, you have given too much. We cannot accept.”
They might be poor, but Aunt Li knew what silver felt like from when she was younger. The feel was different – not as thin or hard as copper, but thicker and softer.
What she had just touched was silver – about one tael of it, she could tell – so she couldn’t accept it. She also knew that the Ye family’s economic condition was similar to their own. They could barely make ends meet. How could they offer so much money? She couldn’t possibly take it.
Other than Liu Duo, the four brothers and Li Wazi all looked at Aunt Li. They wondered why she didn’t want the money.
“Aunt Li, take it, and use it to buy supplements for your daughter-in-law. Take this month to confine and recuperate the body, weak from giving birth. This is a token from us to you. How can you not accept?” Liu Duo thrust the money again into her hands, hoping she would accept.
Aunt Li still felt the money was too much. She shouldn’t take it. What could Liu Duo and the brothers live on after giving so much?
“Aunt Li, our fortune master gave you the money, so you should just take it. Rejecting again and again, we thought the money wasn’t enough for you!” Ye Liu spoke out and advised her on behalf of Liu Duo, but his tone lacked sincerity.
“Aunt Li, just keep it,” Ye Ling too, advised gently. He didn’t know how much Liu Duo had given her, but by the looks of it, it should be quite a handsome sum. Otherwise Aunt Li wouldn’t have refused.
“Aunt Li, it’s for you. Just take it,” Ye Mo said cooly.
“Aunt Li, take it!” Ye Yang, with his stoic face, said to her, as though he was barking orders.
The four brothers had given their advice, yet Aunt Li was still fickle about accepting the sum, and this annoyed Liu Duo to no end.
What was there to consider? She could take the money and buy supplements for her daughter-in-law. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?
“If you don’t want to, then fine. We’ve stayed long enough. It’s time to leave,” Liu Duo got up, ready to walk away.
This was how she had always been. She didn’t like people who couldn’t make decisions, who liked to drag things out, and who constantly beat around the bush.
“Little Duo, please sit down. I’ll accept it.” Aunt Li saw that Liu Duo had gotten angry and wanted to appease her.
“Mother, just take it, since she offered,” Li Wazi came into the room, carrying his son.
Liu Duo quickly went up to look at the newborn baby.
“He’s so cute and quite meaty too,” she remarked.
Ye Yang and the others gathered around to admire the child.
Bright smiles shone on Aunt Li and Li Wazi’s faces.
They stayed for a while longer before heading home. They walked in tacit silence along the way, each occupied with their own thoughts. They also happened to be thinking of the same thing, which was about having a baby!
Ye Yang thought about the right age for Liu Duo to give birth, which would probably be a few years later.
Ye Liu thought about consummating their marriage a few months later when she turned sixteen. That would be a good opportunity to bear a child.
Ye Mo thought about when exactly Liu Duo would be willing to consummate their marriage. He wanted four kids.
Ye Ling thought about letting Duo Er decide whenever she wanted a baby.
Liu Duo thought about delaying childbirth until she was at least twenty, because it would be very risky for young mothers during childbirth – not to mention that she was still on the smaller side, practically a kid!
Back home, Ye Mo asked, “Liu Duo, how much did you give Aunt Li? She didn’t even dare to take it.”
Liu Duo had had to get fired up before Aunt Li reluctantly accepted it.
“Not much. Just one tael of silver.” Liu Duo didn’t think that was a lot.