RWNEFE -Chapter 97 Those Who Worked vs. Those Who Didn’t

Shen Yuanjing and the others had been a little seasick at first, but after eating and drinking, they quickly adjusted.

Even the constables were half down, lying in their rooms.

Around noon, Lady Song, her face still a little pale, ran over to Liu Yanhui asking for money.

“Mr. Liu, the elders and children at home really can’t eat the black cornbread. Could you pay me a bit in advance so I can improve their meals?”

Lady Song felt a little uncertain; Liu Yanhui had said in the morning that wages would be paid in the evening.

“Alright, you’re the first to come forward. I won’t deduct the money for renting the fishing nets yet. Your family caught over eight jins of fish this morning; I’ll count it as nine. Any deficit can be made up this afternoon!” He handed the calculated copper coins to Lady Song and had her press her handprint on them.

Lady Song held the coins in disbelief. Was it really that easy to get paid?

She had some silver left from trading before, so today she could finally let her family eat well! She just didn’t know if things sold on the ship were expensive.

She went into the kitchen alone, leaving her husband and child at the door.

“Nanny Li, how much is a steamed bun?”

If it was expensive, she’d just buy half a bun for the children.

“The price changes every day. Today, steamed buns are one wen each; meat, fish, and vegetables are all one wen per portion!”

Lady Song was shocked. Had she imagined it from hunger and thirst while fleeing with the refugees?

Nanny Li was also puzzled. Grain is expensive, and meat and vegetables are even more so. Selling at this price meant taking a loss.

But the price was set by Mr. Liu. Whatever he said, even if the original price was as high as gold, it had to be sold at one wen.

“Will you buy?” Nanny Li prompted.

“Yes! I’ll take six buns and a portion of meat.” Since meat and vegetables were the same price, she wasn’t foolish—she’d buy the meat!

Nanny Li grabbed a bamboo basket and packed the food efficiently: “Return the basket when you’re done!”

Lady Song carried the basket out of the kitchen like she was dreaming. For one wen, there were three chunks of meat—not tiny pieces, but big square chunks, weighing at least two to three taels combined.

It was an incredible bargain!

“Husband, let’s eat quickly!” Lady Song, afraid of being seen, scurried ahead like a thief, holding the basket.

The other prisoners, waiting to watch, immediately rushed over when they saw her come out.

“Get lost! Do you want to watch? If you want food, go buy it yourself! Dare to take mine, and I’ll kill you!”

“Pfft, how stingy! We weren’t even short of money. What’s wrong with looking?”

Lady Song shoved the basket into her husband’s hands, hands on her hips, scolding: “No way! Are you looking for trouble? Step up, and we’ll settle this!”

Someone tried to mediate: “Forget it, forget it. Good men don’t fight with women.”

“That woman’s dangerous. The last one she kicked in the groin still can’t straighten his back~”

Lady Song’s eyes flicked, remembering what Nanny Li had said earlier. She immediately turned to her husband: “Take the children and start eating. I’ll go back in and check.”

What if the prices go up tomorrow? She needed to buy more buns to stock up.

The other prisoners, curious, went into the kitchen. When they asked the price and heard everything cost only one wen, they went crazy, eager to buy.

“I didn’t catch even a jin of fish today. You need three jins for one wen.”

“I didn’t get three either. Want to pool our catches?”

“Good idea~”

Soon, they all agreed and went to Liu Yanhui to exchange their fish for money.

“Brother, didn’t you catch a fish too? Let’s go pool ours as well.” Shen Yuantang looked at those leaving, urging him.

Shen Yuanjing looked troubled: “Yesterday, to sell medicine for Grandma, I even ended up owing ten taels.”

Shen Yuantang was frustrated: “I told you Grandma was faking! Why didn’t you believe me?”

Shen Yuanjing only realized after retrieving the medicine. Before that, seeing Grandma almost helpless, how could he, as a junior, just watch a senior in trouble?

He forced a wry smile: “Yuantang, even if Grandma is a little confused, as juniors we must be filial.”

Shen Yuantang wished he could knock some sense into his brother’s head. Owing ten taels—that was their eldest branch’s debt, not just his. How could they ever pay it off?

“Brother, Grandma isn’t just your grandmother. The debt shouldn’t fall on you alone. Go tell the uncles to help pay it back!”

He thought that alone wasn’t enough.

“Next time you write an IOU, think of our main branch. If it weren’t for that IOU, today we could have bought buns for Mother!”

Thinking of their sickly mother along the journey, Shen Yuanjing’s eyes flickered with guilt.

“I understand. Let it go this time. I’ve already signed the IOU. Next time something like this happens, I won’t step up. Is that alright?”

Shen Yuantang, still angry, said nothing.

“Yuantang, give your brother some face.” If he went to the uncles now, he really couldn’t bring himself to do it.

Shen Yuantang’s eyes twinkled: “Brother, Father is Grandma’s son. Next time something happens, let Father handle it. Look at the children in the other branches—does anyone stand up?”

Shen Yuanjing’s expression darkened, and he nodded.

“Alright, I understand.”

“I’m going to find Big Brother. Are you coming?”

“Yes!”

~

The prisoners in the lower deck, realizing the kitchen food only cost one wen, stopped blaming the Shens and hurried to the kitchen.

“I want three buns and a portion of meat and vegetables!”

Nanny Li looked up at the payer, her face cold: “Not selling!”

“Why not?” the prisoner asked urgently.

Nanny Li: “Lord Liu said only those who worked get food. If you have an issue, go see Lord Liu!”

Coincidentally, Liu Laohu noticed the crowd and came over himself.

“What’s going on? I heard someone causing trouble here?”

Hearing Liu Laohu, the prisoners immediately cowered and stayed silent.

“Want to eat without working? I think you want a whipping!”

“Still standing here? Back to your mouse holes!”

The prisoners didn’t dare utter a word and slunk back to the cabins.

In the afternoon, both sides of the ship were full of people—some casting nets, others fishing with bait.

“Big Brother.”

Shen Yuanjing brought his younger siblings over.

Shen Lanxi put down her book and glanced at the sea.

“Why aren’t you fishing?”

Shen Yuanjing looked embarrassed: “The rods were taken by others first.”

Shen Yuanqing, the youngest, couldn’t hide her curiosity.

“Big Brother, if we keep training, will we get pastries?”

Shen Lanxi smiled and beckoned her over.

“Come here!”

Shen Yuanqing, suspicious, took small steps to approach.

Shen Lanxi pinched his cheeks: “You’ve gotten darker and thinner!”

Shen Yuanqing blushed: “I’ve grown up! You can’t pinch my face anymore.”

Shen Lanxi gave a sidelong glance: “Others have to train to get pastries. You just let me pinch your face, and you get pastries. Will you let me or not?”