Yang Peili’s face also turned awkward, and he quickly glared at Yang Anshi before turning to look at Yang Mancang, "Mancang, your aunt is joking, it can’t be that high, let’s stick to the rules."
As soon as Yang Anshi heard this, she immediately became unhappy, but seeing Yang Peili’s angry look, she dared not say anything.
"Since we’re following the rules, then my suggestion is three taels a year..."
"No way," Yang Anshi immediately cried out, "That’s too little, even if not ten taels, it should be at least eight..."
"Shut your mouth." Yang Peili hurriedly raised his hand and slapped Yang Anshi on the forehead. "We’ll settle this when we get back."
"Well then, Yang Peili, Yang Dongzi, you hit me?" Yang Anshi’s temper flared at once, and she even called out the elder Yang’s full name and nickname together, raising her hand to scratch at him, and instantly Yang Peili’s face bore three bloody scratches. "I bore you children, and this is how I’m rewarded, worse than some worthless woman?" With that, she made to sit down on the ground.
Yang Peili had always valued his reputation, but lately, his wife had caused him to lose face repeatedly, which infuriated him. He bellowed, "Make another scene and you’ll go back to your parents’ house!"
Yang Anshi instantly fell silent, looking at Yang Peili in disbelief.
"You are too indulged!" snorted Yang Peili.
Ruxin couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow; the old man was quite imposing when he needed to be. Too bad, she thought, that show of strength came too late—the Yang Family’s foundation had already rotted away.
Yang Mancang really didn’t want to meddle in the Yang Family’s affairs, but he couldn’t just ignore them either; he could only sigh, "Then, uncle, how much do you say per year?"
"Well then..." Yang Peili looked troubled, but he was reluctant to propose a smaller number, "Let’s say five taels a year."
Yang Mancang looked to Ruxin.
"Agreed," Ruxin sneered, "five taels a year for elderly support it is. Let’s put it in writing." Actually, she wouldn’t have minded even if it was ten taels a year, but she wanted everyone to see these people’s true colors and how they had pushed a group of orphans to the edge time after time.
The Gu Family had ink and paper on hand. Yang Mancang personally wrote the agreement: the main branch of the Yang Family would give the old house five taels of silver each year for elderly support. Then there was a provision for giving holiday gifts based on one’s feelings during important festivals such as the Three Yuan Festival, Qingming Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, and Chinese New Year, plus the two elders’ birthdays—days when one must prepare holiday gifts. As for other festivals, it was at one’s discretion.
The Three Yuan Festival refers to three holidays: the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, Ghost Festival on the fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month, and Lower Yuan Festival on the fifteenth day of the tenth lunar month.
Ruxin agreed to each one and called over Xiaofeng to make a handprint, "Don’t worry Mayor, even if we don’t eat or drink, we won’t forget to honor the old house." Then she took out five taels of silver and passed them over.
"Good child," Yang Mancang sighed helplessly. After accepting the silver, he handed the signed agreement for elderly support to Yang Peili, saying, "There you go," before turning to leave.
Although Yang Anshi was still unwilling, she had no choice but to take the opportunity to leave herself, snatching the silver and leaving; the mayor had left, so naturally she didn’t dare to stay any longer, especially with Ruxin still holding a kitchen knife.
"Girl, don’t be sad, it’s important to take care of your own life," Lin Xiaoling came over and patted Ruxin’s shoulder, "This is also good, you owe them nothing now..."