Chapter 12: Uncle Xu Tieshu

"Xu Mo, where did you get these two strings of coins? Don’t tell me you sold your wife’s dowry again?" Xu Hui glanced at Xu Mo as she spoke.

Although these disgraceful deeds were all committed by his former self, Xu Mo still felt uncomfortable hearing them.

"Cousin, I earned this money fair and square; it didn’t come from selling Miao Yi’s dowry," Xu Mo explained.

Not giving Xu Hui a chance to retort, Xu Mo immediately turned to Xu Tieshu, saying, "Uncle, I know your carpentry skills are the best, so I came to you especially for help."

"What do you need me to do?" Xu Tieshu asked.

Xu Mo quickly explained about the soap molds he wanted made.

After Xu Tieshu inquired in detail about the requirements, he nodded right away. "That’s simple enough."

Xu Mo was delighted and immediately stepped forward, offering the two hundred copper coins with both hands.

"It’s just a few molds—no need for so much money," Xu Tieshu shook his head, refusing to accept the full amount.

Unexpectedly, Xu Hui rushed over at that moment, snatched the two strings of coins, and lifted her chin. "Father, you’ve given him so much money in the past to cover his gambling debts. Let this count as him paying you back."

"Huihui, you mustn’t do that. Return the money to your cousin at once," Xu Tieshu protested.

"I won’t! I’m not wrong, am I?" Xu Hui refused, clutching the money tightly in her arms.

"And besides," Xu Hui added, "Father, you have to save up for my brother’s wedding."

Xu Tieshu frowned and took a step forward to retrieve the money.

Xu Mo hurried to stop him. "Uncle, my cousin is right. Let this count as repayment. When I earn more in the future, I’ll pay you back double."

Xu Tieshu glanced at his daughter and, in the end, let the matter rest. It wasn’t that he, as an uncle, was greedy for money, but rather that he figured it was safer for him to keep it than risk having Xu Mo lose it all again.

"You, making money? Just not losing is a blessing," Xu Hui scoffed.

"Enough, Huihui. That’s enough out of you," Xu Tieshu chided, shaking his head.

Though Xu Hui fell silent, she kept muttering under her breath.

Xu Tieshu said, "Xu Mo, sit for a while. I’ll go find a suitable piece of wood out back and make one mold as you described."

With that, he headed to the backyard.

The courtyard was left with only Xu Mo and Xu Hui.

Feeling the awkward silence, Xu Mo tried to strike up a conversation. "By the way, cousin, isn’t Ping’an home today?"

"What would he be doing at home? He can’t earn money by staying in," Xu Hui replied sourly.

Xu Mo was taken aback.

Xu Hui explained, "My brother went out to work. He won’t be back until sunset."

Xu Mo picked up on something and asked, "Cousin, has no one come to ask Uncle for work lately? Why does Ping’an have to work outside?"

At the mention of this, Xu Hui pouted, looking dejected. "Not many, hardly any! Otherwise, why would my father take even your job now?"

After some questioning, Xu Mo learned that half a year ago, his uncle suffered an injury, and since then, people had gradually stopped coming to him for carpentry work, causing the family’s income to drop sharply.

Now, almost all their expenses were covered by Xu Ping’an working outside. Combined with the money they had used to pay off Xu Mo’s gambling debts, life had become much harder for the family.

Suddenly, Xu Hui’s tone changed. "Xu Mo, since you’re here today, there’s something you need to know!"

"What is it?" Xu Mo asked.

Xu Hui grew very serious. "Do you remember the gambling debt of one string of coins you owed to Zhang Black Dog?"

Xu Mo immediately searched his memory.

He did know of Zhang Black Dog—a notorious rascal in Xinzhou—but could not recall owing him any money.

"The day Zhang Black Dog came to your house to collect the debt, no one was home, so he left empty-handed..."

"Later, furious, he came to our place to vent his anger, claiming that if you didn’t pay him soon, he’d break your legs and leave you a cripple for life!"

Xu Hui grew more and more indignant as she spoke, her small fists clenched tightly.

"My father didn’t want you to suffer, so he paid off that string of coins for you and took back the promissory note! Otherwise, could you walk freely to our house today?" Xu Hui’s brow was tightly knit.

"And the promissory note?" Xu Mo asked anxiously.

Xu Hui shot back, "And the money? You think you could get the note back without the cash?"

Without hesitation, Xu Mo replied, "Cousin, wait for me. I’ll go home and get the money right now!"

With that, he turned and ran off.

"Xu Mo, come back!"

Suddenly, Xu Tieshu’s voice rang out behind him.

Xu Mo turned to see his uncle stepping out of the house with a piece of wood in hand. "It’s been over half a year. I burned the promissory note long ago. Let’s not mention it again."

"Father!" Xu Hui protested, stamping her foot in frustration.

She had just said the note was still around, only for her father to contradict her immediately, leaving Xu Hui feeling thoroughly embarrassed.

"Huihui, it’s all in the past. Let it go..." Xu Tieshu said, though he was angry at Xu Mo’s reckless gambling, he was after all the brother of Xu Mo’s father, and in his heart, he still cared for his nephew.

"Father, it’s a whole string of coins! How can you just let it go?" Xu Hui objected, glaring at Xu Mo. "Xu Mo, I’m telling you, you must pay it back! Do you know how hard it is for my father and brother to earn money?"

Xu Mo nodded solemnly. "I’ll pay it back, definitely!"

He was about to leave again when Xu Tieshu called out, "What’s the rush? It’s been over half a year—what’s a little longer? Come back and look at the mold first. Make sure it’s right before you go."

With his uncle’s tone brooking no argument, Xu Mo had no choice but to turn back and discuss the mold.

One had to admit, Xu Tieshu’s carpentry was truly masterful. In less than half a cup of tea’s time, he had carved an oval soap mold.

"Is this all right?" Xu Tieshu handed the mold to Xu Mo.

Xu Mo examined it carefully and ran his fingers along the inside, nodding in approval. "Uncle, your craftsmanship is amazing. The size is perfect—just right!"

Xu Tieshu rolled his eyes. "Enough with the flattery! Does a simple thing like this even require skill? If another carpenter heard you, they’d die laughing!"

Xu Mo chuckled, taking another look at the mold.

"How many do you need in total?" Xu Tieshu asked.

Xu Mo hadn’t considered the quantity for the first batch, but after a moment’s thought, he said, "Uncle, let’s start with three hundred."

"All right. Come by tomorrow afternoon and pick them up," Xu Tieshu replied.

"So soon?" Xu Mo was surprised.

Xu Tieshu’s face darkened. "What, you think your old uncle can’t handle a bit of work anymore?"

"No, no, Uncle, I didn’t mean it that way... All right, I’ll come tomorrow afternoon," Xu Mo said quickly.

"Good. Now, if you have nothing else, you should go. I need to focus on my work," said Xu Tieshu, seeing him out.

Xu Hui accompanied Xu Mo to the gate—not so much to see him off as to remind him once more to repay that string of coins.

Before long, Xu Mo was home.

He found Chen Miaoyi still fanning the pottery stove. When she saw him return, she stood up immediately. "Husband, how did it go? Did Uncle agree?"

Xu Mo walked over, took Chen Miaoyi’s hand, and sat her down. In a serious tone, he said, "Miaoyi, there’s something I’d like to discuss with you—it’s about the soap..."

Chen Miaoyi was taken aback, but then grew anxious. "Husband, you’re not thinking of selling the soap recipe, are you?"