Chapter 523: The Peasant Girl’s Splendid Manor
Chapter 523: Dust Settles (4)
The one hundred taels of silver had long been exchanged for cash, already spent on bolstering the engagement ceremony and outfitting Mo Yongxi with jewelry and clothes. Where could the old Mo family find more now?
Even if they could, Mo Hong Shi and the others would never regurgitate what they had already swallowed. That would be suicidal!
Perhaps feeling brazen on her own turf, Mo Hong Shi shamelessly declared the silver was spent. Want money? Fine, go to the city and ask Tie Tou for it; he's the one refusing to sign the marriage contract, it's none of their business!
After receiving the money, Tie Tou was released by Mo Hong Shi the same day and promptly sent to work at the rice mill. After all, delaying even a day meant losing a day's wages, which would all end up in Mo Hong Shi's hands. Naturally, she wouldn't let Tie Tou idle at home for nothing.
"Madam Mo, you borrowed the money, and it was you who put your handprint on the promissory note. Originally, if you had kept your word and delivered the marriage contract within ten days, I wouldn't have troubled you. But now that you've taken the money and done nothing, I'm terribly disappointed! If you can't produce the money today and can't produce the marriage contract, I'll have to take this promissory note to the authorities!"
Liu Qingqing was about eighteen or nineteen years old, with delicate features and a very charming appearance. She seemed elegant and refined, not at all like a fallen woman of the world. However, the sharpness in her words revealed that this young woman was not someone to be trifled with.
The incident where Mo Yongshou was punished and exiled by the authorities had left a deep shadow on Mo Hong Shi. Now, hearing Liu Qingqing's words, she trembled with fear. Seeing Liu Qingqing's genuine demeanor, she realized there was big trouble today. In that moment, she cursed Tie Tou to the bone for stubbornly refusing to sign the marriage contract.
"Qingqing, rest assured. When my grandson returns tonight, I will make sure he signs the marriage contract. Our old Mo family's roots are here; there's no escape. Can you give us some more time?"
Mo Hong Shi's face lost its previous arrogance. She forced a smile at Liu Qingqing, and her loose old skin twitched, looking extremely distorted.
Liu Qingqing also smiled, but her smile didn't reach her eyes. "Madam, don't deceive me. Your grandson simply doesn't want to marry me. Otherwise, the marriage contract would have been signed long ago. Even if I give you ten more days, you probably won't get the marriage contract. I suggest you return the silver to me. For the sake of our acquaintance, I won't charge you interest!"
Mo Hong Shi, seeing Liu Qingqing being so difficult, felt anxious. She had just gone out to flaunt the gold bracelets. Now, if she were to borrow money from the village, even if she offered interest, she doubted anyone would pay her any attention. She couldn't bear to lower her face and go begging like that.
She hesitated and reluctantly revealed the truth, once again pleading with Liu Qingqing for more time. Dragging it out day by day, perhaps one day that blockhead might come to his senses and agree to sign the marriage contract? Then she wouldn't have to return the silver!
After hearing Mo Hong Shi's explanation, Liu Qingqing's smile seemed even more sincere. "Madam, I think your daughter's gold bracelets are worth a lot of money. Convert them for me and bring out the rest of the silver. Wouldn't that be enough?"
Mo Hong Shi widened her eyes and immediately refused without thinking, "Absolutely not! Those are the engagement tokens for my daughter. Even if you report me to the authorities, I won't give you the bracelets!"
Liu Qingqing's smile suddenly turned colder, a hint of mockery in her expression. "One hundred taels of silver may not be much, but if I report this to the authorities, not only will you have to repay the silver, but you won't escape a beating. I heard those beatings are quite severe. If they hit the wrong spot and damage your tendons and bones, it could even kill you or leave you paralyzed. I just wonder if you could survive such a beating at your age..."
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