Chapter 2, Burdened by Debt
Aunt Wang referred to the elder Wang as Wang Lun. Additionally, he holds another identity, that of Zhou Chong's future father-in-law. Zhou Chong and Wang Lun's daughter were betrothed since childhood, and they originally planned to marry this year. Unfortunately, fate had other plans; first, Zhou Chong fell gravely ill, and then the Zhou family faced bankruptcy. Now, Zhou Chong struggles to support his family, let alone think about marriage.
"Aunt, why are you all crying? What about Aunt Zhao?" Zhou Chong asked with some confusion. He had originally thought that, like a few days ago, some local ruffians had come to take advantage of the Zhou family's decline by harassing a few aunts, only to be driven away by Zhou Chong's fists. He did not expect to find such a situation upon entering.
Zhou Chongting thought for a moment after hearing Aunt Wang's words and also found them reasonable. In the end, he had no choice but to take her private savings and said, "Alright, I will use this money for now. When I earn money in the future, I will repay Aunt Wang."
As expected, Zhou Chong had just suggested that they take out their private savings to get through the difficult times, and the three ungrateful women immediately fled with their money. Particularly, the shrewd Aunt Zhao was so heartless that she abandoned even her own daughter. Poor Duo'er, only four years old, was left without parents. This made Zhou Chong feel an additional sense of pity and responsibility for the weeping Duo'er in his arms
The one who entered was the old steward of the Zhou residence. Speaking of this old steward, he is quite pitiable; he was once a scholar but unfortunately never managed to pass even the lowest examination. Now in his thirties, he suffers from poverty and illness, nearly dying on the street. Fortunately, he was rescued by Zhou Chong's father, and later began working at the Zhou residence, where he has served for over a decade. Gradually, he became the steward of the Zhou residence. Since his original surname is Xu, Zhou Chong's father did not require him to change it. Additionally, as he has grown older, everyone in the household refers to him as Xu Bo or Steward Xu.
Butler Xu is now in his fifties, with a very prosperous appearance. He has a round head, a round belly, short arms and legs, and a fair complexion without a beard. If his hair were shaved and he donned a cassock, painted in gold, he would resemble a living Maitreya Buddha.
The Song family?" Zhou Chong was taken aback after hearing this, yet he did not understand the meaning behind Steward Xu's words, and could not help but look at Aunt Wang with some confusion. However, what Zhou Chong did not expect was that Aunt Wang turned pale upon hearing the mention of the Song family, her whole body trembling and unsteady, appearing as if she might fall at any moment
This startled Zhou Chong, who hurriedly stood up to support her. After much effort, he managed to help Aunt Wang sit down on the chair. Only then did Zhou Chong, puzzled, ask: "Aunt, what is the matter? Isn't the Song family just a creditor? Is there something special about it?"
Seeing Zhou Chong still wearing a calm expression, Steward Xu appeared even more anxious. He first glanced at Aunt Wang, and then spoke up: "Young Master, this time the Song family has come to collect a debt, and it is Mr. Song accompanied by the second young master of the Song family who has come to demand payment."
Aunt Wang is just over thirty this year. Originally a maid in the household, she was responsible for taking care of Zhou Chong after he lost his mother at a young age. Later, she became a concubine of Zhou Chong's father and gave birth to Zhuo'er. Aunt Wang is not particularly beautiful, but she has very fair skin; as the saying goes, "a fair complexion can hide three flaws." Coupled with her previously carefree life, she appears younger than her actual age. However, in recent times, the death of Zhou Chong's father and the debts the family owes have caused this young woman great distress, making her look significantly older in just a few days.
Zhou Chong opened the account book and found that there were only three outstanding debts remaining. Among them, the amounts owed were not very large: two debts of two hundred taels each, and one debt of two hundred fifty taels, totaling six hundred fifty taels.
Aunt Wang, who was crying bitterly, saw Zhou Chong enter and immediately felt as if she had found her anchor. She rushed over and grabbed his sleeve, sobbing as she said: "Chong'er, Aunt Zhao and Aunt Han, along with the other two, have taken their private savings and run away. Aunt Zhao didn't even want Dodo. What... what should we do?"
In fact, to speak truly, the house under Zhou Chong's feet does not belong to him; it had long been mortgaged to Wang Lun by his father. Now that the goods are gone, this house should rightfully belong to the Wang family. However, Wang Lun is a scholar, and given the unusual relationship between the two families, he had previously sent someone to inform Zhou Chong's family that they could live there in peace, as he would not reclaim the house.
Oh, if she has run away, then so be it. Duo'er, come here to your elder brother! Unexpectedly, upon hearing this news, Zhou Zhong did not appear surprised; instead, he calmly walked over and embraced the weeping Duo'er, who looked like a little tearful person, while gently comforting her.
Hmm! Aunt Wang wiped her tears and responded with a yes, then turned around to bring over the account book
In fact, as early as when the news of Zhou Chong's cheap old father's shipwreck reached him, he had already anticipated this situation. Aunt Zhao and the two Han aunts were unlike Aunt Wang; they were still young and relatively attractive. Moreover, as they were all concubines, there was no need for them to wait for the Zhou family to meet their demise. In fact, the three of them had been secretly selling off some of their possessions and packing their bags in preparation to leave the Zhou residence, which Zhou Chong was well aware of. The reason he suggested that the aunts sell their gold and silver jewelry was actually to force them to leave sooner.
Observing Zhou Chong's troubled expression, Aunt Wang beside him displayed a moment of hesitation on her face. However, in the end, her gaze sharpened, and she turned to enter the inner room. She quickly emerged with a small package, gently placing it on the table and saying: "Chong'er, this is some private savings I have accumulated over the years. I originally intended it as a dowry for Zhuo'er, but since the family is urgently in need of repaying debts, you may take it and use it for now"
Butler Xu had never married and had no children. Moreover, given the great kindness the Zhou family had shown him, he had long regarded the Zhou residence as his own home. When Zhou Chong previously dismissed the servants from the residence, Butler Xu swore on the spot that he would live as a member of the Zhou family and die as a ghost of the Zhou family. Even if Zhou Chong wielded a club to drive him away, he would not leave. Others praised Butler Xu for his loyalty and righteousness, but Zhou Chong suspected that this plump old man was worried about not having anyone to take care of him once he left, which was why he clung to the residence, as at least he could still have something to eat there.
Seeing that Zhou Zhong still did not understand, Steward Xu could not help but say: "Young Master, is the Song family the future in-laws of the young lady?"
Aunt Wang insisted, "Chong'er, you need not decline any further. I am well aware of the situation at home; there is truly nothing of value left to sell. Moreover, this residence has been mortgaged to Lord Wang. Although, given the relationship between our two families, the Wang family should not reclaim the house, there is always a possibility of unforeseen circumstances. Furthermore, if you were to sell off everything in the house, those items were originally decorations of the residence and should logically be included in the mortgage to the Wang family. If this matter were to reach Lord Wang's ears, it would not reflect well on us."
Zhou Zhong heard the crying in the courtyard, especially the cries of his elder and younger sisters, which startled him. He hurriedly rushed into the small courtyard and pushed open the door to the main hall. Upon looking inside, he found only Aunt Wang, Zhuo'er, and Duo'er in the study, and the three of them were weeping bitterly. As for Aunt Zhao and the two Han aunts, they were nowhere to be seen.
The rockery stones were sold for three hundred and sixty taels, but even so, there was still a shortfall of two hundred and ninety taels. Although Zhou Chong was generally optimistic, he could not help but feel somewhat troubled at this moment. Two hundred and ninety taels may not seem like a lot, but in reality, it is a substantial sum for an ordinary person. It is known that a typical household's annual expenses amount to about three or four taels, yet Zhou Chong's current situation is even worse than that of an ordinary person; apart from an empty large mansion, he possesses almost nothing.
Young Master! Young Master! The debt collectors are here!" At that moment, a breathless voice shouted, followed by a round figure rolling in through the hall door. The chubby face was drenched in sweat, and warm steam was rising from the top of his head, indicating that he had exerted himself considerably on the way.
"Aunt, please bring me the household accounts; I would like to see how much external debt remains unpaid," Zhou Zhong said with a smile. Most of the external debts owed by the family have already been repaid, and only a small amount is left. However, as winter has now arrived, those creditors are eagerly awaiting their payments for the New Year, which is why they are pressing for repayment more urgently.
"Butler Xu, considering your age, the debt collectors have come to the residence more than once or twice. Is it really necessary for you to be this anxious?" Zhou Chong said with a hint of helplessness after recognizing the visitor.
Zhou Chong suddenly remembered upon hearing this. He recalled that the bracelet seemed to have been betrothed to a family with the surname Song, and it was likely that this was the family coming to collect a debt. However, what puzzled him was that although they were relatives, debts still needed to be repaid. If he remembered correctly, it was the first time the Song family had taken the initiative to come and demand repayment, which indicated that the other party still valued familial ties to some extent. Why, then, was Aunt Wang so anxious?
Zhou Chong could guess some of Aunt Wang's thoughts, but he could only smile bitterly in his heart. If he were still the original Zhou Chong, it was indeed very likely that he would, as Aunt Wang hoped, study hard at home for a few years and pass the imperial examination to become a jinshi. However, unfortunately, he was no longer the original Zhou Chong; he had no knowledge of the Four Books and Five Classics. Although he had received more than ten years of education, it was evidently of no use in the context of the imperial examination during the Ming Dynasty.
In our family, Zhong Er has been known as a prodigy since childhood, and he will surely be able to revive the family business. As for whether to supplement or not, there is no need to discuss that. Zhuo Er and Duo Er are both your younger sisters, and as the saying goes, the eldest brother is like a father. When the time comes for them to marry, you won't be able to avoid it, no matter what. Aunt Wang said with a face full of hope. In her view, although Zhou Zhong has become a scholar at such a young age, and despite the family's decline, as long as they grit their teeth and persevere, once Zhou Zhong passes the imperial examination, everything lost will return again.
Aunt Wang spoke as she gently opened the small package, revealing a banknote of fifty taels, a banknote of thirty taels, and some loose silver coins. Altogether, they barely amounted to ninety taels. Although this was merely enough to cover a fraction of the debt, it represented Aunt Wang's entire savings
However, Zhou Chong suddenly stood up and looked at Aunt Wang with some difficulty, saying: "Aunt, since these are the dowries you prepared for the eldest sister, let's not change them. I will think of another way!"
However, a child is still a child, especially little Duo'er, who is only four years old. She may not yet understand what her mother's departure means for her. Therefore, after she cried herself out, and with her sister Zhuo'er coming over to comfort her, the little girl quickly stopped crying and was taken by her sister to play.