TTTQF Chapter 17

The Origin of the Name

Evidence?

Jiang Lao San and his wife think for a long time, and finally remember the piece of paper that the clan leader had asked them to imprint their thumbprints on.

“Where did you put that paper?” Jiang Lao San nudges his wife and whispers, “The one from when we brought Youcai back.”

Furrowing her brows, Jiang Lao San’s wife thinks for a moment before suddenly slapping her thigh, “It’s under the wooden box!” She hands the child in her arms to Jiang Lao San and hurriedly goes into the inner room.

Jiang Miao’s heart sinks. It seems there is indeed such a document.

After a while, Jiang Lao San’s wife comes out with a piece of paper. “Husband, take a look. Is this the one?” Jiang Lao San unfolds it and sees two faint red thumbprints on it. It is indeed the document!

Jiang Miao stares at the paper. Most of the characters are in traditional Chinese, but he manages to decipher them, confirming that it is the witness document written by the clan leader for both families.

“Sanshui, what do you say now? We have evidence of Youcai’s adoption. If we take it to the court, even the magistrate would recognize it, right?” Now it is their turn to feel smug.

Jiang Miao rolls his eyes: “Recognition is one thing, but once you present it, you’ll be admitting your guilt.”

“What nonsense are you talking about?” Jiang Lao San’s wife becomes even more confused by his words. Why wouldn’t presenting this document be an admission of guilt?

“You wrote the adoption documents within the clan but didn’t register it with the government. You also didn’t pay the annual head tax. This is clearly concealing the population and intending to evade taxes! When that comes to light, not only will all your property be confiscated, but you two will also be sent to labor camps!”

Jiang Miao still remembers the large tax evasion cases that occurred in modern times, with amounts totaling billions. The whole country was focused on these matters, and he was no exception. He thought such a significant amount would surely land them in jail, but he later found out they only needed to pay back taxes and fines. Naturally, everyone was somewhat disheartened by this outcome. So, on some forums, people brought up the ancient punishments for tax evasion, saying only this kind of punishment could deter those people. He doesn’t know how tax evasion is punished here, but historically, punishments were harsh, so it probably wouldn’t be much different.

Jiang Lao San and his wife are legally ignorant, as are most of the villagers. Although they are somewhat skeptical of Jiang Miao’s words, their confidence is not as strong as before, and a hint of fear occasionally flashes in their eyes. In their view, Sanshui boy is useless. He never lied since childhood, and never dared to argue with anyone. The fact that he now speaks so confidently must mean he has learned something during his six months away.

Jiang Miao sees that he has them scared, so he knows the timing is right. He says, “Uncle Jiang San, after all, we’re relatives, and you’ve raised Xiao Shitou for a while. I don’t want to take this matter to court. How about this, you let me take Xiao Shitou away, and I’ll calculate the expenses of raising him over the past few years for you. We’ll settle it like that, what do you think?”

“Well… then we want twenty taels!” Jiang Lao San’s wife, seeing his softened attitude, tentatively speaks up.

Jiang Miao’s expression turns cold, and without a word, he walks straight outside.

Seeing the situation isn’t good, Jiang Lao San hurriedly stops him and advises, “Sanshui, nephew, let’s talk slowly! If you think the price is high, we can negotiate.”

“With Auntie Jiang’s imposing manner of speaking, I can’t afford to negotiate. You two should just wait at home for the officials to come and arrest you!” Jiang Miao shifts his gaze to the chubby child Jiang Lao San is holding and continues, “I wonder if there will be any kind souls like you to adopt him after you two are sent to labor camps, so he can enjoy life like Xiao Shitou.”

The couple’s faces change drastically. Jiang Lao San’s wife snatches the child away and hugs him tightly, gritting her teeth, “Ten taels, we’ll settle for ten taels!”

“Marriage dowries don’t even amount to that much. How dare you ask for this amount? If you’re not sincere, forget it. I won’t spend a penny, and I’ll still get Xiao Shitou back.” Jiang Miao looks at them with a smirk, continuing to apply psychological pressure. Negotiating is all about mental toughness; whoever gives up first loses. This was the experience he gained from years of doing business.

“Five taels! We can’t go any lower. He had a serious illness two years ago, and just the medicine cost one and a half taels!” Jiang Lao San’s wife glares fiercely at Xiao Shitou. She had said that she didn’t want this unlucky star, but her husband had insisted on it!

Jiang Miao hears the undertone of her words and knows this is probably her bottom line. So, Xiao Shitou has been with them for six years, and the total expenses didn’t exceed five taels, including medical expenses?

“Okay, five taels is five taels. Give me the documents and I’ll give you the money.”

Jiang Miao has a plan in mind. He started his business on the third day of the first lunar month, and today is the 20th. Over the past 18 days, he only sold goods at the morning market for the first 15 days. He managed to save approximately 100 to 150 coins every day, accumulating more than 2 taels in total. The Budddist Festival lasts for two and a half days, with brisk sales from morning till night. His business flourishes during this time. After deducting various costs, he earned nearly two taels. When everything is tallied up and with a bit of borrowing, he will have enough for five taels.

“You give us the money first!” Jiang Lao San’s wife refuses to give in.

Jiang Miao glances at her and pulls out a heavy money bag from his bundle, slamming it onto the table with a “bang”. Jiang Lao San’s wife hands the child to Jiang Lao San, opens the money bag, and sees it is full of copper coins, immediately smiling happily.

She pours out the copper coins and counts them carefully. After counting, she frowns: “Why is it only two taels? Where are the other three taels!”

Jiang Miao reaches into his chest and pulls out a handful of scattered silver coins from the hidden pocket sewn inside his clothes. He exchanged them with Manager Wang before coming to the Puling Temple. He is going to be away for three days, and he feels uneasy leaving so much money at home. Especially since Uncle Mo’s son is a scoundrel, he might sneak into his house when he sees that no one is around. People’s hearts are unpredictable, so he has to be cautious.

“This is only two taels and five cents, and there’s still five cents of silver?” Jiang Lao San’s wife takes out the scales and weighs the scattered silver coins, finding it isn’t enough.

“I owe you five cents first, and I’ll give it to you next time I come back,” Jiang Miao says.

“Then I can’t give you this document yet!” Jiang Lao San’s wife fears he will refuse to pay later.

Jiang Miao picks up the money bag and silently begins to pack the copper coins and silver inside. Jiang Lao San sees his actions and immediately scolds, “As a married woman, can’t you see Sanshui has made some money outside? Can’t you just let go of this five qian of silver? Hurry up and give him the document!” With that, he holds Jiang Miao’s hand that is putting away the copper. Accumulating five taels of silver in half a year isn’t just making some money, is it?

Reluctantly, Jiang Lao San’s wife hands over the document, and only then does Jiang Miao release the bag and put the document into his pocket.

“The remaining five cents of silver will be given next month.”

“Ha, no rush, no rush,” Jiang Lao San says. “Then when will you come back next month?”

“…Before the fifteenth!”

After saying this, he takes Xiao Shitou and walks out.

Xiao Shitou follows his brother out, and when they reach the courtyard gate, Xiao Shitou can’t help but turn his head back. He doesn’t know why he turns back; he just can’t suppress the tears when he sees his parents only focused on grabbing the silver on the table, without even looking at him. He used to think that no matter how his parents treated him, they still cared for him in their hearts. It’s just that his younger brother was their biological child, so they loved him more. But now it seems that wasn’t the case.

A big hand reaches out and wipes his tears.

“Big brother, I’ll work hard in the future.” Xiao Shitou, who hasn’t spoken all night, suddenly speaks. His brother had spent a lot of money to buy him.

“Working hard is something for when you grow up; for now, you just need to grow up well,” Jiang Miao gently touches his head.

“I can sweep the floor, wash dishes, water plants, weed, feed chickens, and gather firewood now,” Xiao Shitou counts on his fingers, listing his abilities, striving to show how capable he is.

“Hmm… from now on, you can just sweep the floor and wash dishes. I’ll do the rest.” Jiang Miao thinks for a moment; he doesn’t want to deprive Xiao Shitou of a sense of belonging by not letting him do anything. People like to use labor to prove themselves.

“Okay!” Xiao Shitou’s eyes brighten, suddenly filled with hope for the future, although he doesn’t understand what it means yet.

…

“Knock knock!”

The courtyard door is knocked, startling the people eating inside. Wang Xiaochun glances outside in confusion, wondering who could be visiting at this hour.

“Xiaoyu, go and open the door,” she instructs the girl beside her.

A girl of about seventeen or eighteen puts down her chopsticks, nods, and walks towards the door. As soon as she opens it, she sees two figures standing outside.

“Ah, ah!” She exclaims with joy, then gestures for the smaller child to come in quickly.

Xiao Shitou is a bit scared and shrinks back, but the girl doesn’t mind. She continues to smile warmly at them and makes a few “ah ah” noises.

Jiang Miao realizes that this girl seems unable to speak. He immediately matches her with the information he has gathered from Auntie Zhou. This should be his cousin from his uncle’s family, named Jiang Yu.

Since Granduncle passed away early, Jiang Yu has always lived with Grandpa and Grandma. Later, when the family split up, Grandma decided to live with Second Uncle and rely on him for elderly care in the future. Jiang Miao’s father then gave up the old house and moved out with his wife and children.

“Sister Yu,” Jiang Miao calls out, just as Wang Xiaochun and the others come out.

“Xiao Miao, you’re back? And… Xiao Shitou?”

Jiang Miao looks at the woman in front of him and calls her Second Aunt.

Wang Xiaochun glances at their appearance and seems to guess something, so she doesn’t ask further, “Haven’t eaten yet? Come in quickly. Xiaoyu, go and prepare some noodles.”

Going out for dumplings and coming home to noodles, this is the first time Jiang Miao has eaten noodles with such significance since his grandparents passed away.

“… So that is what happened. I gave them the money, and from now on, Xiao Shitou will be living with me,” Jiang Miao briefly explains what happened to them after they finish their noodles.

Wang Xiaochun feels a bit conflicted. Jiang Miao had left impulsively, but who would have thought he would return half a year later, having actually earned money and brought Xiao Shitou back.

“Since you’ve made up your mind, then so be it. If things get really tough in the future, you can always bring him back here. At least he’ll have a meal to eat,” she says.

“Yeah. Where is second uncle? Is he not at home?”

“Your second uncle took Xin ge’er out for a feast today. It’s your grandmother’s birthday, so they were invited,” Wang Xiaochun explains. Feasts aren’t events where you can bring too many people along; every family has their own hardships.

“Second aunt, I still have a stall to attend to on my side, so I’m afraid I’ll have to leave tomorrow. Could you find the household registration documents for me to see? I want to take Xiao Shitou to register when the time comes,” Jiang Miao probes.

“Have you forgotten? Xiao Shitou’s household registration has always been with us,” Wang Xiaochun says, somewhat surprised. She had argued with his second uncle about this before. “Didn’t you always go with your second uncle to pay the household registration tax every year?”

Facing the questioning, Jiang Miao remains calm. “I thought since Xiao Shitou had returned, he would need to register again.””

“That family is used to bullying others. How could the household registration of an adopted child not be transferred? The household registration tax is two hundred wen per year, and in six years, we’ve paid one liang and two qian of silver! Both families raised the child together, but when he grows up, he helps them in their old age!” Wang Xiaochun gets angry talking about this. Normally, she never speaks to the Jiang couple. “But it’s also good this way, so they won’t extort more from us.” With the stingy nature of the Jiang couple, would they spend five taels to raise a child?

“Consider the money as buying peace of mind,” Jiang Miao advises. “Auntie Er, does Xiao Shitou have a proper name? I don’t want to use the name Jiang Youcai that their family has given him.”

Wang Xiaochun recalls and says, “Yes, at the time, your parents consulted a fortune teller from another village. They said you lacked water in your Five Elements, so they named you San Shui Miao. They said Xiao Shitou’s future would be full of obstacles, so they chose a name with three stones…”

“Lei? Jiang Lei?”

“Yes, that’s the one! Later, when Xin’er was born, your second uncle had someone pick out a similar character.” It had been many years since anyone had called him by his full name, and Wang Xiaochun only remembers the part about the three stones and Xiao Shitou’s nickname, but she has forgotten the character.

Jiang Miao can’t help but smile wryly. So, names were decided like this, huh? I wonder if my grandparents also consulted a fortune teller in modern times?

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