Sanlang's schooling was unanimously agreed upon by the family, but deciding which school to attend became a challenge.
Jiang Wan suggested, "Perhaps we can ask Aunt Cheng for help in finding out?"
The Cheng family had roots in Yao County and held the position of county magistrate, making it easy for them to find a school.
However, Jiang Pan and Chen Yuezhi were reluctant to trouble them further.
"Wan Wan, the Cheng family are officials, and we are just common folk. If we can avoid troubling them, we should. Otherwise, people might look down on us, thinking we're trying to curry favor. Do you understand?"
Jiang Wan naturally understood, but she felt it was necessary to be cautious when finding a school, and asking the Cheng family for help was not unreasonable.
However, seeing that her parents were unwilling to bother the Cheng family, she didn't press the matter.
She thought it was just an introductory school, which shouldn't be too difficult to find, so Jiang Wan didn't worry about it anymore.
The next day, Chen Yuezhi took the silver and gave it to Su Shi, asking her to deliver it to the Su family.
"You must make it clear to your parents that this is the limit of what our family can provide. If it's not enough, they'll have to find a way themselves."
Su Shi took the silver and nodded, "I understand."
After getting into the carriage, Su Shi felt her pocket. It still contained a few taels of silver, which was the New Year's gift from Chen Yuezhi. She had spent less than one tael in the town they had visited, leaving over nine taels. She kept over four taels for herself and was carrying the remaining five taels, intending to give them all to the Su family.
There was no way around it; the Su family had too many people, and twenty taels of silver would indeed be difficult to manage.
Upon seeing her, the Su family gathered around and asked, "How is it? Did your in-laws agree to let us live with them?"
Su Shi took out the silver and said, "Father, Mother, the Jiang family is the Jiang family, and the Su family is the Su family. There's no reason for us to live together."
Su Shi's mother's face immediately darkened. "Is this your in-laws' idea?"
Su Shi didn't want the Su family to resent the Jiang family, so she said, "This is my idea, Mother—"
Before she could finish, Su Shi's mother slapped her. The force of the blow made her stagger several steps. Da Lang was hitching the carriage and hadn't expected Su Shi's mother to resort to violence. He abandoned the horses in fright and rushed over to support Su Shi.
"Mother-in-law, what are you doing! A'luo is pregnant!"
Su Shi's mother pointed at Su Shi's nose and scolded, "What are you? You dare to defy orders when I ask you to do such a simple thing! Do you really think you've grown wings now that you're married? What a nerve you have!"
Su Shi covered her face, tears streaming down. "Mother, I didn't. I was thinking of the Su family's best interests..."
"Shut up!"
Su Shi's mother yelled sharply, "You're a married woman, a costly mistake. How dare you make decisions for the Su family! I asked you to relay a message, and you dared to act on your own. Who gave you the courage!"
The other three daughters-in-law of the Su family also chimed in with their complaints. "You're really something. How could you make your own decisions? Besides, why do you think the Su family can't live in the same courtyard as the Jiang family? The Jiang family might even be happy about it."
Da Lang couldn't stand listening any longer. He shielded Su Shi and said, "This was my idea. If you have any anger, take it out on me."
Su Shi's mother immediately became displeased. "Jiang family's son, what do you mean? We married our daughter to you, and this is how you repay the Su family? Our Su family is in trouble now, and you're just going to stand by and watch?"
Da Lang, being simple and honest, quickly explained, "Mother-in-law, we are not standing by. We have already discussed this with my parents and received a sum of money from them, which is enough for the Su family to purchase property and settle down."
Su Shi's mother's expression changed immediately. "Then why didn't you say so earlier? A'luo, is your face alright? Mother was just anxious, don't let it get injured."
Su Shi covered her burning cheek, her heart aching.
Seeing that Su Shi wasn't speaking, Su Shi's mother was displeased. However, thinking that the money hadn't arrived yet, she put on a smile and invited Da Lang and Su Shi into their makeshift shelter.
"Come, come, let's talk inside. The sun is quite strong, don't let A'luo get sunburnt."
Su Shi didn't want to go in and stood still.
Tian Shi and the others moved to pull her along.
Da Lang quickly stopped them. "A'luo is pregnant. We appreciate your kind intentions, sisters-in-law."
Knowing that they were after the money, Da Lang took the twenty taels of silver from Su Shi and handed it to Su Shi's mother.
"This twenty taels of silver is what my parents managed to gather. Please take it, Mother-in-law."
Su Shi's mother immediately frowned. "Only twenty taels? Is this to feed beggars?"
Da Lang was very unhappy. "This is the most our family can provide."
Tian Shi snorted. "Your Jiang family is truly not straightforward. Do you really think we'll believe that? Not to mention anything else, just selling one of your three carriages would be worth more than twenty taels."
Da Lang was so angry he was a bit stunned. "Why! That's our Jiang family's property!"
Su Shi stopped Da Lang. "Don't argue with them."
There was no point, and they couldn't win an argument anyway.
Su Shi took the twenty taels of silver and said with a cold face, "This is the most help our Jiang family can offer. If you find it insufficient, we will take it back."
Su Shi's mother exploded. "You wretched creature, how dare you speak to me like that!"
Tian Shi, however, was quite shrewd and snatched the silver.
It was twenty taels of silver! Even if it wasn't quite enough, it was still a considerable sum.
"A'luo, you should go back and ask your in-laws to think of a way to raise more money. Keeping so many horses at home is also a burden. It would be more practical to sell them for silver."
Su Shi felt a deep ache in her heart and didn't want to listen to their nonsense anymore. She pulled Da Lang and left.
Su Shi's mother was furious and wanted to chase after them to scold them.
Tian Shi grabbed Su Shi's mother and shouted towards the couple, "If they are truly reluctant to sell the horses, then send them to our home, and we will help raise them. Just give us some money for fodder each month from now on."
After the carriage left the Su family's temporary residence, Su Shi could no longer hold back her tears and sobbed into the bedding.
When they returned home, Su Shi's eyes were red and swollen, which startled both Chen Yuezhi and Jiang Wan.
"What's wrong?"
Upon seeing Chen Yuezhi, Su Shi buried herself in her arms and burst into tears.
Chen Yuezhi saw that half of her face was red and swollen, and Da Lang had a grim expression. She assumed Da Lang had lost his temper and shouted, "Your father, come quickly!"
Jiang Pan immediately dropped what he was doing and rushed over. "What's going on?"
Chen Yuezhi pointed at Da Lang. "Beat him! This is outrageous, daring to hit his wife!"
Da Lang was startled. "How could I bear to hit A'luo! It was her mother who hit her."
The Jiang family was shocked. "What?!"
Su Shi said tearfully, "Mother, don't hit my husband. It was my mother who did it. Mother, my heart aches so much..."
She had tried her best for the Su family, but in return, she received a resounding slap. Her heart felt as if it had been gouged by a knife.
Chen Yuezhi was furious and cursed, "Even a tiger doesn't eat its cubs. Is your mother insane? She dared to lay hands on you while you're pregnant? What kind of mother is that!"
Su Shi cried even harder.
Chen Yuezhi turned and roared at Da Lang, "Are you dead? When that scoundrel laid hands on your wife, what were you doing!"