"I heard Jinzhao went to Song Chun's house to buy breast milk for the youngest, paying two coins a day. I'm worried the silver they have won't last long."
The summer day was sweltering. Old Man Song was sitting under the eaves, fanning himself with a palm-leaf fan to cool off.
It was hard for grown men to find work in the city, let alone an underage girl.
With only spending and no income, and a fixed daily expense of two coins, how could one tael of silver be enough?
Old Man Song continued, "In a while, when the crops in the field are harvested, Jinzhao and the kids won't be able to eat that much and will surely sell some."
"This year's grain tax can be exempted for three dan, which will also free up quite a bit of silver. If they scrimp and save, they should be able to make it until next autumn's harvest."
Old Lady Song, who was sewing clothes, felt her mood sink.
With Third Son and his wife dead, wouldn't the grain consumption be halved?
Two households away from Song Jinzhao's home, at Song Lahuang's house, a quarrel was happening inside by moonlight.
Song Lahuang's wife said, "If we don't go ask for it now, once they've spent all the money, we won't get a single coin back."
Song Lahuang frowned, unwilling. "Third Son and his wife have only been dead two days. Going to their door to demand repayment now is no different from pushing those children to their death. What would the villagers think of us!"
Song Lahuang's wife raised her voice. "Paying back debts is only right and proper. If we don't go ask, what if after a long time she denies it?"
Song Lahuang pointed at the IOU on the table. "With the IOU here, how could she renege? You can go after the autumn harvest, but absolutely not now."
Song Lahuang's wife clenched her lips, her chest tight with frustration.
Their family only earned three taels of silver a year. When they lent the money, they thought the two families were on good terms. Who knew the borrowers would suddenly die?
She also wondered if Song Jinzhao knew her family owed theirs two taels of silver.
Song Jinzhao had gone into the city early for several consecutive days. Song Lahuang's wife grew increasingly restless and brought up going to ask for the debt again.
"The money can be repaid after the autumn harvest, but we must go remind Jinzhao. Otherwise, she doesn't know and spends money every day going to the city."
Song Lahuang lowered his head, hesitating. He had heard a few bits of village gossip the past couple of days.
They said Song Jinzhao went to the city every morning to eat good food by herself, spent money recklessly, and would sooner or later starve her three younger siblings.
"It's fine to go remind her. Just be polite about it. Don't pressure them to repay."
"Old Man Song is still alive. If the children truly can't repay, they definitely won't stand by and watch them perish."
Song Lahuang's wife muttered quietly, "They're already talking about adopting out a child for a wedding to ward off bad luck and sell them for money. How much affection can be left?"
Song Lahuang was left speechless.
Having gone up the mountain for several days in a row, Song Jinzhao had returned with something every time, more or less.
The seven-day mourning period had passed. Today, she had specially bought spices from a city grocery store to make braised chicken.
Having eaten wild vegetables and winter melon every day, she had long been craving meat.
Just as she was about to boil water to pluck the feathers, Lahuang's wife came in holding a bunch of spinach.
Noticing the chicken in the wooden basin, she suppressed the surge of displeasure in her heart.
Still spending money to buy chicken to eat? Her coming here was the right move.
Seeing her, Song Jinzhao greeted, "Why has Auntie come?"
In her memory, the original host's father and Song Lahuang were on good terms, and the two families usually interacted closely.
Lahuang's wife grinned and said, "The spinach at home just grew. Picked some to bring over for you all to try."
Song Jinzhao said, "Thank you, Auntie."
Song Qiming, hearing his elder sister accept, picked up a basket and stepped forward to take the spinach. "Thank you, Auntie."
Lahuang's wife smoothed her sleeves. "Jinzhao, did your mother leave any instructions when she passed?"
"My mother was in childbirth when I was bitten by a snake and was still unconscious. By the time I woke up, my mother had already passed."
Song Lahuang's heart sank. So that was how it was.
She took out the IOU from her bosom. "It's like this. A few months ago, your mother borrowed two taels of silver from our family. Auntie isn't here today to ask for the money back. I just want you to know about this matter, so you don't forget."
Song Jinzhao took the IOU and opened it. It was the original host's mother's handwriting, written five months ago.
Recalling that the original host's mother had an unstable pregnancy at the time, they called a doctor for a house visit and medicine was prescribed for many days. She hadn't realized the money was borrowed.
Song Qiming stood to the side, at a loss. He didn't know the family was in debt.
The condolence money Old Man had given to his elder sister was only one tael, but their family owed two.
Song Jinzhao stood up. "Auntie, my mother left in a hurry and didn't have time to instruct us. I'll return the silver to you right now."
Seeing her turn to go inside, Lahuang's wife quickly stopped her. "No need, no need. Auntie just came today to tell you about this. The money can be repaid after the autumn harvest."
Song Jinzhao insisted, "I've earned some silver from hunting in the mountains these past couple of days. I didn't know about the debt before, but now that I know, I must repay it. Carrying the debt would make me uneasy."
Seeing her really go inside to get the money, Lahuang's wife glanced at the wild chicken in the basin and looked up, half-believing, to ask Song Qiming, "Did your elder sister catch this wild chicken herself?"
Song Qiming, hearing his elder sister say she had money to repay, completely relaxed. "Yes. Elder Sister said the mourning period was over and she wanted to cook chicken for us. It was originally meant to be sold in the city along with the others."
Song Jinzhao walked out holding one tael of silver and ten strings of copper coins. "Auntie, please count it, see if the amount is correct."
Looking at the copper coins strung together with rope, Lahuang's wife truly believed Song Jinzhao had money.
So she went to the city every day not to spend money on food and drink, but to sell game.
She had misunderstood her.
"No need to count. Auntie believes you. Game in the mountains isn't easy to catch. The deep mountains are dangerous. It's better to go less."
Song Jinzhao took the IOU back and stuffed it into her pocket.
"Scar Uncle taught me hunting when I was little. Mother always said the mountains were dangerous and wouldn't let me go. Given the family's situation now, there's no other way."
The Scar Uncle that Song Jinzhao mentioned was once a soldier. After injuring his leg on the battlefield, he settled in Song Family Village. The original host knew him, but he hadn't taught her hunting. He had passed away years ago. Song Jinzhao had long planned to use him as an excuse, so even if the villagers knew she could hunt, they wouldn't be suspicious.
Lahuang's wife nodded. No wonder she dared to support her younger siblings alone; she had skills.
After she left, Song Qiming asked worriedly, "Elder Sister, is the family out of money now?"
Song Jinzhao tore up the IOU and threw it into the stove to burn. "We still have over seven hundred coins left. I'll go into the mountains first thing tomorrow and try to catch more game."
Fortunately, she had earned over one tael from selling game these past few days, otherwise she wouldn't have been able to repay the debt.
When Song Lahuang returned home, his wife immediately told him what happened.
"I misunderstood Jinzhao. That child is quite capable."
Even hunters might not catch wild chicken every time, but she could go to the city to sell every day. She must have put in a lot of effort.
