After everything was placed, each family began to count their members, pack their belongings, and prepare for departure.
The dozen or so women who had been apprehended had found new families for themselves and their children, officially joining Houxi Village. Once they settled in their new locations, their household registration would be updated.
Initially, some families had reluctantly agreed to take in an extra person. However, most of these women brought their children, some more than one. This was seen as a burden, consuming much-needed grain after they moved in.
But upon seeing the vast amount of goods being transported, and hearing that everything was to be distributed per person regardless of age, those families were more amenable, driven by the prospect of more grain.
Although the grain was allocated to the women and children, it would ultimately be in their hands, and they would decide how much each person ate.
As expected, Madam Qian remained with the group. She and her three daughters followed Er Gouzi's family.
Er Gouzi's household included his two brothers, their wives and children, and their elderly mother.
Many villagers in Houxi Village saw this pairing and privately shook their heads. With a wife like that and his shrewish mother, Er Gouzi's family was bound to have a lot of excitement along the road.
Su Mingfu also returned to his family's area with a grim expression. As soon as he arrived, Madam Su pulled him aside and whispered, "Did that girl really find silver? Several hundred taels?"
Su Mingfu remained silent, merely nodding, feeling extremely dejected. How could this damned girl be so lucky? So many people had been focused on moving the goods, and no one had thought to check the haystack.
Yet she had gone there, fallen, and landed directly on hundreds of taels of silver! How could such bizarre luck exist? Why hadn't he encountered it?
"What about the silver? She's just a young girl, how can she handle hundreds of taels? It should be entrusted to us elders for safekeeping!" Madam Su said, stating it as a matter of fact, completely forgetting that they had severed ties again that very day.
Most peculiarly, all the women in the Su family, except for Su Cuiling and her sister, found Madam Su's words to be quite reasonable. The silver should be managed by them, the elders!
Su Mingfu replied weakly, "The silver has been given to the village chief. The chief said he would discuss it with the other clan elders to see how it would be distributed! We don't even know how much will be allocated."
Upon hearing this, Madam Su immediately exploded, "Why did she give the silver to an outsider for safekeeping? And she wants to divide it? Divide what? This silver was found by us, the Su family, so it all belongs to the Su family. Why should it be shared with others? Was it that wild girl's idea? She's gone too far. When did it become her place to make decisions? Does our Su family have no one?"
"Grandmother, logically speaking, the silver was found by Su Muqing, so it should be handed over to our family's steward. But Muqing has changed now. She no longer considers herself one of the Su family. How could she still think of us? I think who knows if she will even remember to honor you with this silver… Now the silver is in someone else's hands."
Seeing this, Su Cuiling quickly went to support her, fanning the flames with her words. Humph! Su Muqing had caused her to lose so much face; she couldn't let her off so easily. No matter where she went in the future, she would ruin her reputation and make everyone dislike her. If she could die on the road… that would be perfect!
Hearing Su Cuiling's words, Madam Su went into a full-blown rage, declaring she would go and get the silver back. "How dare she! If my son hadn't picked her up and raised her, who knows how many times she would have been reincarnated. She has received such great kindness from my son, and now that she has money, she thinks she can just sever ties? Is there such a good thing in the world? If you want to sever ties, give me the silver, and I'll pretend this person never existed!"
It had to be said that the old lady was a master of feigning ignorance. It was she who had insisted on severing ties, even threatening to die if she couldn't. Even during the argument that day, she was the one who first declared they didn't acknowledge the siblings. Now that Su Muqing had found a large sum of silver, she immediately reversed the cause and effect.
Anyone who didn't know the truth would believe that Su Muqing, having gained wealth, no longer wanted to acknowledge her poor relatives, which was why she demanded to sever ties!
The truth of the matter was crystal clear to everyone in the Su family! However, they not only didn't dissuade Madam Su from restraining herself but were actually happy to see the old lady making a scene.
After all, Madam Su was already in her fifties or sixties. How much longer could she live? Let her throw a tantrum and make a fuss. No matter how much she demanded in goods and silver, it would all eventually belong to them.
Su Mingyuan already had so many possessions, and now that damned girl had found so much money, the more scenes she made, the better. Why should the Su family's possessions be given to an outsider?
Seeing that she had incited enough, Su Cuiling quickly pulled the old lady aside and whispered something in her ear.
Madam Su gradually calmed down. After thinking it over, she felt Su Cuiling's words made sense. Everyone had to travel now, and if she caused a scene and delayed their journey, it would be detrimental to her.
She would just wait and see how the silver was ultimately distributed. If she was unsatisfied, she would not let it go easily! Thus, old Madam Su calmed down with a mysterious confidence, waiting to seek accountability when the silver was distributed.
Su Muqing was unaware of these events. Otherwise, she would have laughed uncontrollably. Where did these people get the confidence to think she would share the silver with them?
By the time everyone was in place, it was around 9 PM. The group resumed their journey. The progress that night was indeed slow, only covering about ten miles.
Looking at the convoy from head to tail, torches illuminated every so often. However, due to the large number of people and limited torches, the lighting effect was minimal, and visibility ahead was not high, slowing their pace even further.
Everyone could only pray in their hearts! Hoping to find a good resting place before the sun came out tomorrow. Otherwise, traveling under the scorching sun would be too torturous.
After taking the little baby from Madam Wang, Su Muqing saw he was already drowsy again. She sat obediently on the ox cart, coaxing him to sleep!
Lin Rongrong excitedly followed by their ox cart. Su Muqing invited her to get on the cart to rest, but she said she wasn't tired at all and wanted to walk more.
Lin Rongrong wasn't being polite. She was doing her best not to trouble Su Muqing. As for walking, she was accustomed to farm work, and this distance was nothing. She didn't want to tire out the ox! After all, the ox still had to carry their luggage for the rest of the journey.