Ernie and San Yi were so frightened that they let go of each other’s hands and trembled all over.
“But my mother said that Fourth Uncle has studied for so many years and failed the exams several times. He won’t pass in the future!” The youngest, Si Yi, wasn’t scared at all. She even told Old Zhang what her mother had said.
Old Zhang’s face instantly darkened with anger. He glared at her and scolded, “Nonsense! Fourth Lang is so smart! He will definitely pass the examinations! Your mother really has a loose tongue! When we get home, I will make Third Lang discipline his wife properly!”
After being scolded, Si Yi released her grip, fell to the ground, and started crying loudly. Old Zhang wanted to drag them to see the matchmaker, but they were too scared and just wanted to run home. So they resisted directly. San Yi was the first to run away. When Si Yi saw this, she stopped crying and immediately got up from the ground to chase after her. Ernie was stunned for a moment, but then she reacted and saw Old Zhang reaching for her, so she turned and ran.
Old Zhang was so angry that he stomped his feet and ran after them on his old legs.
At his age, how could he possibly catch up with the three children? He could only ask passersby along the way to help find his three granddaughters. He learned that they had even run out of the city! Old Zhang felt both angry and helpless as he slapped his thigh and sat down on the ground.
When he got home tonight, there was bound to be chaos!
San Yi had a good memory; after leaving that day, she kept the route in her mind. No matter how tired or hungry they were, the three sisters had to run home.
As Old Zhang expected, the Zhang family indeed fell into chaos.
The three daughters-in-law, upon learning of the situation, stormed to confront Old Mrs. Zhang.
At first, Old Mrs. Zhang felt guilty, but when she thought of her most beloved youngest son suffering in prison, she became emboldened, her face twisting as she pointed at the three daughters-in-law and scolded, “What’s wrong with selling a few worthless girls! The Zhang family doesn’t have enough food to support them! If they weren’t worth something, I would have drowned them in a water vat! My poor Fourth Lang is still in prison; if he can’t produce twenty taels a day, he won’t be released! The prison is dark, cold, and damp; just thinking about him suffering in there makes me feel awful!”
The eldest daughter-in-law, Wu, was honest and somewhat slow of speech like Zhang Dương. Even though she was very angry inside, she couldn’t find the words to speak up at that moment.
The second daughter-in-law, Liu, was already a gossipy person, especially since her in-laws were plotting to sell her daughter to save Zhang Si Lang. How could she swallow that! She immediately retorted angrily, “I think it’s right that the little uncle deserves it! Our whole family has been tightening our belts to support him in his studies. He didn’t study hard in the academy; instead, he went to brothels and competed with others for the top courtesan! He truly has no shame! It’s no wonder he got locked up!”
The third daughter-in-law, Wang, knew Liu would definitely retort against Old Mrs. Zhang, so she sided with her and echoed, “For these years, we have endured so much to support the little uncle’s studies! Why should we have to sacrifice my daughter to get him out when he got into trouble!”
Old Mrs. Zhang was shaking with anger and her mouth was twisted from rage as she ground her teeth and scolded, “You dare to defy your elders! I will report you to the authorities for being unfilial!”
At that moment, being unfilial was considered a grave sin. The three daughters-in-law were indeed frightened by Old Mrs. Zhang’s words. Even Liu suppressed her anger and did not dare to confront Old Mrs. Zhang any longer.
When Old Zhang returned, the atmosphere in the house had chilled to a freezing point. He said nothing and went directly to call for his three sons.
Zhang Dương and the others already knew about the situation. Their feelings were complicated, and they had no idea what to do. On one hand, their younger brother needed to be saved, while on the other, they were reluctant to part with their own daughters.
So when Old Zhang called them into the room, the three brothers lowered their heads, and no one spoke.
Finally, it was Old Zhang who broke the silence. With a heavy expression, he told his three sons: “Your three sisters have just gathered four taels of silver. The family is poor and cannot support so many people. Dà Yā is thirteen this year, and your mother and I have arranged a marriage for her, planning to marry her to someone from the Water Dà Village and receive five taels of dowry. The other three girls can each be sold for one tael of silver. If we sell some of the land, we can get another tael of silver. With two taels of silver in our hands, that makes a total of fifteen taels. I plan to borrow another five taels, which will total twenty taels to pay back, and Fourth Lang can be released.”
Finally, Zhang Dương and the others understood their father’s plan. They suddenly felt a wave of sadness wash over them.
They looked up at Old Mrs. Zhang, hoping she would say something.
However, Old Mrs. Zhang disappointed them; she said, “Fourth Lang is your own brother; you are his siblings. Now he is suffering in prison; don’t you want him to come out?”
Zhang Erlang felt angry and couldn’t help but say, “Father, Mother! We three brothers are also your children. Why do you only see Fourth Brother? Selling our daughters to save Fourth Brother. As parents, don’t you realize that we are in pain too?”
Old Mrs. Zhang cried and threw a fit: “What can I do! Who told the family to be poor! My Fourth Lang is still in prison, and I need to save him!”
“If the family is poor, then you shouldn’t have supported Fourth Brother in studying! If you hadn’t supported him, would the family be this poor?” Zhang Sanlang was filled with resentment as he spoke, his eyes turning red and moist with tears.
“If Fourth Brother could pass the examinations, he would have already done so! He should not have continued to be supported in his studies after failing the first time! Father, Mother, I’ve wanted to tell you long ago, stop dreaming! What is the situation at home? The whole family is starving to support someone who can’t even pass the exams, what for? Do you really want us all to starve while only Fourth Brother survives? You are too biased towards Fourth Brother! We are all sons, but you only see him!” Zhang Erlang’s voice was loud, as if he were venting years of suppressed resentment.
Zhang Dương, though silent, clenched his fists, his expression pained.
Old Mrs. Zhang was so furious that she stood up and beat Zhang Erlang and Zhang Sanlang, crying and scolding, “Fourth Lang is your brother! You brothers can’t even tolerate him! He has said that once he passes the examinations and obtains a title, he will buy a large compound in the city for the whole family to move into! He is thinking of you brothers, yet you turn a blind eye to him in his time of need! You truly break my heart! How could I have given birth to such ungrateful sons!”.