Goldfield
Chapter 159: Being Intimidated

Doctor Sun smiled and said, “After the spoon worm is cleaned and dried, it will not be too heavy. Tongren Medicine Hall had branches in the capital, the prefectural city, and several cities in the south, so there was a high demand for them. ”

Xiaolian gave five to six catties of sandworms he dug to the staff in charge of weighing, and then carried Xiaocao's bucket forward. Xiaocao was afraid that he would sell everything, so he hurriedly stopped him, “Xiaolian, save a little for me. I'll make a sandworm party for lunch! ”

“What? Sandworms can also be made into food? It looks so disgusting. Who would dare eat it ah ?! ” Zhou Shanhu, who had received his payment, came and wrinkled his nose as he looked at the soft and fleshy sandworm with disdain. He pursed his lips and said.

Yu Xiaocao smiled at him mysteriously and whispered, “If you haven't tried it yet, you won't know. But once you eat it, you won't be able to forget it. Let me tell you, sandworms are not only delicious, but also nutritious. They are not inferior to sea cucumbers and abalone. ”

Doctor Sun asked with interest, “Oh? Do you know how to prepare this sandworm? ”

“You can make soup with it. It can also be steamed, boiled, and fried. Of course, it can also be eaten raw with sauce! ” Yu Xiaocao had a confident smile on her face as she talked about it.

Zhou Shanhu had an even more disgusted expression on his face, “How can it be eaten raw ?! Who could eat that? ”

“West eat raw fish fillet, stay dipped in sambal. Isn't it okay if you don't think about what you're like when you're eating? ” Yu Xiaocao pinched his wrinkled face and laughed.

Physician Sun stroked his beard and smiled faintly, “Although raw fish fillet is a dish handpicked by the current emperor, it is not a common dish for most people. We are used to cooking food. ”

“True, that's right! Raw fish fillets taste bad! ” Zhou Shanhu nodded in agreement.

Xiaolian had also heard that villagers used to eat spoon worms to fill their hunger during the famine years. When there is food to eat, no one actually eats it. However, Xiaolian was still quite confident with her younger sister's culinary skills. He turned his head and asked, “Adik, how much do you want to save for cooking?”

“Save half of it!” Ten catties only cost one tael, which was not much for the current Yu Family.

But Zhou Shanhu became anxious. He stomped his foot and said, “Why are you saving so much? You cannot keep sandworms for a long time. If you don't finish it and the result is bad, isn't it too wasteful? I think you should keep two to three catties. That's enough for lunch. If you want to eat more tomorrow, I will accompany you to dig even more during the tide! ”

For most families in Dongshan Village, one tael of silver was considered a great fortune. It was enough for the whole family to eat for a few months. To nurture sandworms that were worth one tael as a cooking ingredient, that person was either a fool or a wasteful person.

Yu Xiaocao, who had always been self-effacing, noticed the investigating eyes around him and hurriedly said, “Alright, I will listen to Shanhu and only keep two to three catties. This was my first time using sandworms as an ingredient for cooking, so I wanted to save more for training! ”

Meanwhile, the Tongren Medicine Hall workers had already finished weighing the yield. The sisters dug up a total of twenty-eight catties of sandworms, which is far more than most adult workers. Shuanzhu's wife repeatedly praised the sisters for being so capable.

After getting rid of the three catties of sandworms that Xiaocao wanted to nurture, the Tongren Medicine Hall gave the sisters a total of two taels and five mace. Under everyone's envious gazes, Xiaocao and Xiaolian brought their equipment and went home.

Fortunately, they met Madam Zhang on the way home. It had been a long time since they had not seen Madam Zhang. The old woman's hair became much whiter and she looked even thinner. His cheekbones became more prominent, and there was a gloomy expression in his saggy eyes.

He naturally heard the news about the Tongren Medicine Hall buying sandworms. But, Old Yu and Yu Dashan had gone fishing in the sea, and Yu Heizi had gone to the dock even before the sky lit up. The boy became increasingly slippery. After Madam Zhang confiscated more than half of her first income, she did not bring home any more money. Instead, he simply put it into an account and waited until it reached a certain amount before withdrawing it all at once.

The only ones left in the house were Madam Zhang and her daughter, and Lady Li who was lazy and greedy. Madam Zhang was not from a fishing village, so she did not know how to dig for sandworms. Yu Caidie was someone who rarely left home and stayed at home all day, and Madam Li was someone who was even less reliable.

Seeing other people bringing home hundreds if not thousands of copper coins to the house, Madam Zhang felt as if there were twenty-five rats in her heart — hundred claws scratching at her heart. She heard that Xiaolian and her sister also went to the beach, so she deliberately waited on the road that they would definitely pass on the way home.

“You're back?” Madam Zhang asked carefully, “Are you getting a good harvest today? How many taels did you get? ”

“How many taels? Grandma, do you think the spoon worm just blew in the wind? Did you go look at the beach? It took me a long time to dig up one sandworm! Xiaolian and I have slender arms and legs, so it's good enough that we can dig some of them out! ” Yu Xiaocao knew that no good thing would come out from seeing Madam Zhang, so she used ‘tactics of mourning soldiers’ first.

Yu Xiaocao pretended to smile and said, “Grandmother, I am only telling the truth. How can I talk back to you? Or in your eyes, as long as I don't come with you, it is considered to be refuting and disobedient? As the ancients said: ‘A bad mother should not blame her child for being unfilial ..’ What do you think after hearing that? ”

“Based on a fucking boy, a useless person! Didn't you indirectly say that I'm not good? Who talks to an older person like you? You think you're so great now just because I don't discipline you! ” Madame Zhang took off her shoes and prepared to beat her.

Xiaolian quickly came forward and blocked her younger sister. Yu Xiaocao pulled him back a few steps. Suddenly, she covered her chest, breathing heavily, and weakly said, “Grandmother! My health is not very good, so I can't be afraid! If I get sick because you scare me, I have to rely on you. I will eat and stay with you, and you will have to bear my medical expenses. ”.

Madam Zhang was stunned at the speed she changed her face. She was actually shy in heart, but she put on a stern expression and said, “Stop pretending! Don't think that I don't know the trick you're playing. You deceive others by pretending to be sick! Who will believe you ah! Unless you die in front of me, or else. ”.

“Who dares curse my daughter! You want to die?” Madam Zhang was frightened with a rough and thunderous voice and she almost sat on the ground.

Yu Xiaocao turned around and looked at his godfather, Fang Zizhen, and Yu Hai, who were jumping from the donkey wagon behind him. Fang Zizhen's face was filled with fury, and even his beard was curved. He used every ounce of his energy to control the horse in his hand so as not to attack Madam Zhang.

Yu Hai's eyes reddened as he looked at Madam Zhang with a gaze filled with sadness, anger, disappointment, and ignorance. Her stepmother hated her so much that even her children were involved. His daughter, whom he loved dearly, was cruelly cursed by his grandmother to die in front of him. Such hatred, such hatred!

He believed that he had a clear conscience towards the Yu Family and Madam Zhang. It turned out that his tolerance and sacrifice before parting from the nuclear family was done in vain. He could never warm Madam Zhang's ice-cold heart. Yu Hai's heart was like dead ash in an instant, ‘Be that. In the future, I will give them everything I should have given them, not less a penny. But for the things I don't need to give them, I won't even take a single coin. ‘ He won't worry that side of the family anymore just because his family eats and lives better. Because — is not worth it.

Madam Zhang is someone who oppresses the weak and fears the strong. When facing the enraged General Fang, he immediately became listless. He stuttered, “My... My Lord! I ... I don't curse him. I just said it carelessly.. ”.

Fang Zizhen whipped the ship he held in the air several times, and a clear and sharp voice could be heard. Madam Zhang trembled in fear and almost wet the bed.

“Capless comments? Then why didn't you also tell yourself to die? Why don't you tell your own son to die? Our Xiaocao used to be in poor health. It must be because you cursed him! If I hear you curse my daughter again, prepare to go to jail! ”

Fang Zizhen felt that there was a need to scare this foolish woman. Even with his support, he still dared to bully Xiaocao of his family fearlessly. If she is not around, then her beloved daughter will be bullied to death! Why is this word mentioned again? How unfortunate!

Madam Zhang shivered and muttered, “I .. I am older, so it is not considered a crime to scold her ..”

“What kind of parents are you? Which family elders refuse to pay for the medical expenses of their ailing granddaughter and force them to borrow money to treat her illness? What kind of parent would take the three hundred taels their child exchanged for his life, and then force them out of the house with almost nothing? Who would older hate to see their son's family live well and come to cause trouble for them from time to time? Madam Zhang, you are only a stepmother, and you are a cruel and biased stepmother. The law will never tolerate a person like you! ” Fang Zizhen glared at him sharply. Her dignified aura caused Madam Zhang's feet to soften and she knelt down.

Yu Hai turned his face to one side and solemnly said, “Brother Fang, please let him go this time! Madam Zhang, when we split the family, it was clearly written in the contract that I only need to give you two hundred catties of grain each year or turn them into money. In the future, I will not pay a single coin more! Please don't come and bring disgrace upon you again! ”

When facing Yu Hai, Madam Zhang's haughty nature flared up again. He sat his ass on the ground, hit his leg, and shouted, “Langit has no eyes — gives me an unfilial descendant !! How will I live in the future—— ”

Suddenly, his voice stopped suddenly as if someone had strangled his neck. It turned out that he was frightened with Fang Zizhen's angry expression.

Fang Zizhen said impatiently, “Brother Yu has given you food as agreed without missing anything. So how could he not be filial? In my opinion, he is much more filial than your useless son who only knows how to lend a hand and ask for money at home! Daughter, if this wicked old woman bothers you again, tell me! Godfather will avenge you! ”

After he said that, he bowed to hold Xiaocao under his arm. Then he lifted him up on his high horse. He, on the other hand, acted like a very caring father and guided the horse in front.

When Madam Zhang saw Xiaocao being dear to the attendant, her heart was racing, for fear that the attendant would remember all of her past mistreatment of the little girl and retaliate later. In the following days, he became much more reserved and well-behaved.

Under the envious gazes of the villagers, Yu Xiaocao sat on the high horse back. His godfather was really cool today. Finally there was someone who could stop the evil old woman. It should be much more peaceful for his family in the future.

“Godfather, when did you return from the capital? Why didn't you tell me earlier? I could have prepared a party for your return ah! ” Yu Xiaocao laughs happily. He must treat this great ‘god’, who can conquer Madam Zhang, with great care.