Chapter 23: Debts Don't Pass the Year

  Zuo Gui glanced at the money bag in Liang Shi's hand, covering his mouth without making a sound, because from the situation of the money bag, he could guess that the money inside was definitely not enough to pay the full rent.

  Hui Xiang heard the sound and rushed out of the kitchen: "Mother is back? Let me take a look!" She weighed the money bag on the table, blinked her eyes: "It's about two or three thousand wen!"

  "Exactly two thousand seven hundred coins!" Liang said with glee, "I went to several pawnshops and haggled to death, but the highest offer was only two thousand five hundred coins. Then I met Yu Zhuanggui, who runs a jade shop next to the yamen, on the road. He took one look at my bangle and offered two thousand seven hundred coins! Ha ha, isn't that a coincidence?"

  Twenty-seven hundred wen is equivalent to 13,500 yuan in RMB. In the early Tang Dynasty, it was considered not a low value. However, compared with the rent of 9,000 wen, it's still far apart. But thinking that after paying this amount, they should be able to delay the rent payment for some time, the whole family became excited.

  "Otherwise, let's pay the rent first. As long as Aunt San agrees to give us some more time, we can have a happy New Year."

  "Li said: "This is a good idea, but I was thinking, we can't give them all the money, we have to keep some for the New Year. Anyway, even if we pay everything, it's not enough. What do you think, sir?"

  Zuo Gui smiled and said, "Yes, you give San Niang two thousand six hundred coins to pay the rent, and leave one hundred coins for New Year's."

  "Alright. Master, I also think that our bedding is too thin and Zhong'er caught a chill last night. If we give him our bedding, you won't have anything to cover yourself with, which isn't a good solution either. So, I was thinking of buying another quilt for Zhong'er, so he can stay warm and cozy through the winter. What do you think?"

  Zuo Gui nodded: "Alright, a quilt made of hemp and linen is only about 10 cents. I think it's fine. You can decide how to spend the rest of the money."

  "Alright!"

  Mrs. Liang took out a string of cash from her purse and stuffed it into her bosom, then picked up the purse and headed out. Zuo Shaoyang said, "Mother, it's dark outside, I'll accompany you." Mrs. Liang nodded happily. Zuo Shaoyang took over the purse and followed Mrs. Liang out of the door.

  They arrived at Zhao San Niang's home, knocked on the door, and a sturdy little boy ran out to open it. After asking clearly, he ran back in to call someone, and soon Zhao San Niang came out and welcomed them in.

  This is Zhao San Niang's house, just a small courtyard with two doors. The furnishings inside the house are not luxurious, and it seems that they live quite frugally. After inviting me to sit down in the living room, Liang Shi put a money bag on the table: "Today, there was a patient who came for treatment, a pregnant woman whose fetus had died in her womb many days ago. The dead fetus couldn't be delivered, and it was also exhausting her mother, who was almost dying. They went to Hui Min Tang, but even Doctor Nie couldn't cure her. Crying and wailing, they walked home, passing by our Gui Zhi Tang, and came in seeking treatment. Our old master saw how pitiful they were, wrote a prescription, and used it... Ha ha! The dead fetus was actually delivered! Isn't that strange?"

  "Really?" Zhao San Niang widened her eyes, "Zuo Langzhong still has this skill?"

  "Really!" Liang's face was full of happiness, "That family was so grateful, they kowtowed and thanked us repeatedly. They even gave us a bracelet as a gift, which we pawned for 2,600 coins. Our master said that not a single coin should be left behind, all of it should be given to you, Third Madam, as rent. Think about it, you haven't had an easy time either, taking care of us for so many years. If it were someone else, they would have kicked us out long ago. Now that we have some money, even if things are tight and difficult, we must pay the rent first! So, I've brought the money to give to you, count it, 2,600 coins, not a single coin missing, all paid as rent! Hehe!"

  Zhao the Third's eyes gazed at the money bag, and suddenly her eyes sparkled. She hastily stretched out her hand to pull the money bag over, tore open the opening, and took out all the strings of cash. After counting them, it turned out that there were indeed 2,600 coins, not one coin short. Not only did a smile bloom on her face: "I said you people are blessed with good fortune. Even if you encounter difficulties, you will also meet noble people who will help you. Look, Left Gentleman is so capable, saving someone's life! This is the accumulation of great virtue! In the future, your good fortune will definitely not be lacking! Hehe!"

  "Really!" Liang took advantage of Zhao's excitement, leaned in and smiled even more, "If we continue like this, seeing a few more patients, won't your rent be fully paid, hehe? But, Third Sister, look, it's already the 30th of the year, with just these two days' work, even if our master had three heads and six arms, it wouldn't be enough, right? Besides, we've moved out, you can't rent this house out for a while, it'll be empty anyway, let us rent it first, stall for some time, I guarantee we'll pay back the owed rent..."

  Zhao San Niang was delighted to receive the rent, but after hearing Liang Shi's words, her face turned pale again. She glanced at Zuo Shao Yang beside her and said, "Hmm, Zuo Lang Zhong is a skilled person, I know that. Yesterday, he examined me and prescribed medicine, which made my stomach feel much better today. At the time, I said that Zuo Lang Zhong's medical skills are still quite good, but unfortunately, no one appreciates him. However, every family has its own difficulties! And don't say that no one wants to rent this house, Lao Li from Tian Zhuo Xiang had already told me a long time ago that he wanted to rent it to open an oil and salt shop, and he was willing to pay the entire year's rent in advance. I just didn't want him to open an oil and salt shop because it's too dirty, and I also wanted to accumulate good karma by letting you two open a pharmacy and medical clinic, which is a good deed. That's why I haven't agreed to his request yet."

  "Ah, yes, yes," said Liang with a flattering smile, "you are the kindest person, and who among our neighbors doesn't know that?"

  "That's it!" Zhao San Niang curled her lip, thinking that the previous one had been pressed so hard that the first rent had already been paid. It seemed that she couldn't be soft-hearted and had to press hard. So, with a stern face, she said: "Left family, don't say any more. I've already spoken my words. On New Year's Eve, pay the rent on time, and the shop will still be rented to you. If not, leave the medicine behind and get out. These are all things that have been said, and it's not easy for me to take them back."

  Li's family heard her words and still had some leeway, so they accompanied her with a smile, saying good things. Finally, Zhao San Niang patted her thigh and said: "It's like this, it's hard for you to come on such a cold day, and you've asked for it, so I won't give you any more slack. However, the rule of not collecting debts during the New Year is one that must be followed. So here's what we'll do: if you can pay back half of the rent by noon on the 30th, I can let the remaining half slide until the 15th of the first month. That way, it won't be too unreasonable to collect it during the New Year. Is that okay?"

  Zuo Shaoyang asked: "How much is half of the house rent?"

  "Alright, let's just say the total is 6,000 yuan. You've already paid 2,500 yuan, so you still owe 3,500 yuan. I'll come to collect it on New Year's Eve at noon. If I get it then, that's fine. If not, I'll come again on the 15th of the first month. Let's be clear about this: if you can't pay up when the time comes, don't make me have to come after you. It won't look good for either of us. Since you've already paid part of the money, I'll get someone to appraise these medicinal materials. If they're not enough, you'll still owe me the difference and I'll send someone to collect it from you. But if there's any extra, I'll return it to you. I'm not a person who takes advantage of others, but neither am I someone who can be easily talked into something."

  Li family again begged for a little more time, but Zhao San Niang just frowned and refused, so they had no choice but to bid farewell and leave.

  Standing at the door in the cold wind, it started snowing again, one by one, sometimes bright and sometimes dark. But Liang Shao Yang didn't have any mood to appreciate the snowy scene at all, both of them looked very depressed. Liang forced a smile and said: "Zhong Er, let's go buy some quilts."

  "Mother! Don't buy it, Zhao San's wife has already said that this one hundred coins are also prepared to pay the rent when the time comes, otherwise it will really be short of one hundred coins and there will be no place to raise funds."

  "It's not worth the money!" Liang said, forcing a smile in the cold wind. "You have a weak body and one quilt is too thin for you. Don't get sick again! Tonight we can't lend our quilt to you either. Your father is old, if he gets chilled tonight, he might fall ill too. If he collapses, our whole family will be finished!"

  Zuo Shaoyang was very embarrassed: "Last night, I didn't know you were giving me the quilt you covered yourself with, I thought it was extra. If I had known, I would have definitely refused. Mother, don't worry, my body is not that delicate. Last night, I sneaked out to the back alley and walked on the snowy ground, got frozen, came back and took off my clothes to sleep, that's how I caught a cold. Tonight, I won't go out, I'll wear clothes to sleep, absolutely won't catch another chill."

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