Chapter 12: It's Not Easy
Han Qiao walked into the government office with her three children. First she found the bailiff and gave him a hundred cash coins. "Sir, I would like to ask. Can a woman obtain a household register?"
The bailiff looked at Han Qiao.
He tilted his eyebrows. "You want to register?"
Han Qiao nodded slightly.
No matter what time period it was, registering with the local authorities meant having an identity. That was better than nothing.
Fully aware that she was willing to bribe him, the bailiff lowered his voice to ask, "You're trying to get a household register to buy land and a home?"
"That's right." Han Qiao nodded.
"Then I'm gonna need one tael of silver for the register. I'm also going to need one tael to cover the office expenses. That'll be two taels total. Have you prepared the silver?"
Han Qiao nodded.
Sure enough, she had two taels ready.
The bailiff moved closer to Han Qiao and whispered, "When we go in later, just say that you're my distant relative. Give me the silver first."
Han Qiao paused for a moment before taking out the silver. When she handed it over, she was a little hesitant.
The unhappy bailiff went on, "I won't take your money. I'm just looking to sell myself to Lord Dian Bo. Don't worry, I'll get the household registration done for you in a while."
"And by the way, my surname is Gu."
Han Qiao followed behind the bailiff with her three children. The four of them were a little nervous.
Fortunately, the bailiff had not lied to Han Qiao. Thanks to him, the household registration process went quite smoothly.
She was Han Qiao, from Ninghe Town, born in the third year of Yongning. She left her thumbprint and palm print on the white paper. When they handed the yellowish paper back to her, it had a massive official seal stamped to it.
She held it in her hand. I'd be lying if I told you she wasn't thrilled.
She took her three daughters with her out of the office and next headed to the broker agent.
"Mother, are we really going to buy a house?" Sun Xiu asked.
Han Qiao nodded lightly. "We have to prepare an escape route for ourselves, just in case."
The house wouldn't be in town. It had to be in the countryside.
Ideally it would be in the mountains somewhere. If all else failed, there at least she could go gather herbs with her children to sell. That way she could eke out a living while avoiding Sun Yiming's family. It would be a pretty good deal.
After entering the broker's office, Han Qiao made some inquiries. They weren't willing to let go of the country houses so easily. Or even the land for that matter. Most had already been bought by the local villagers.
They ended up leaving the broker's office without buying a house.
Han Qiao was not discouraged, though. She and the children went back home to put out the cloth.
She considered going back to the Han family house in Xishan Village tomorrow and testing them a little. Once she parted ways with Sun Yiming, maybe she could bring her daughters back to Xishan Village. Maybe her family would welcome her back and let them settle there.
However, they wouldn't let her go back empty-handed. What the villagers lacked the most was cloth, so Han Qiao bought a few more feet of cloth along with a few other things. She would at least have a pair of clothes for both her mother and father.
For her nephews and nieces, she bought some sweets and pastries.
Two roads led to Xishan Village. One was a mountain road that had to be traveled on foot. The other road could be traveled by horse-drawn carriage and ox-drawn cart.
It wasn't difficult to hire an ox-drawn cart in that town. But a horse-drawn cart had to be booked in advance.
The carriage was faster, though. If they left in the morning, they could get back by the afternoon. If her parents refused to even have a meal with her, they would be back even sooner.
The cloth was not cheap. Just a few sets of clothes cost a whole tael of silver.
On the way, they went to buy groceries on the way and book the carriage ride.
"Mother..." Sun Ke called out in a low voice.
"Tomorrow, you and your sisters are coming with me to Grandma and Grandpa's house."
"Okay." Sun Ke smiled.
They didn't have to go with her, though they were afraid of getting beaten up if they stayed home.
With their mother gone, no one would be able to protect them.
Han Qiao made another trip to the bookstore. She gave the paper and ink to Sun Yiming and told him that she was going to her mother's house the next day.
"..."
Sun Yiming looked up at Han Qiao.
Her clothes were old and her hair was tied up in a simple bun. She exuded a calm and gentle aura.
She looked at him indifferently.
She was only letting him know, not asking for his opinion.
With those clear and gentle eyes staring down on him, Sun Yiming averted his guilty gaze. "Oh, I'll be back as soon as I can."
Quite flustered, he took a piece of paper and spread it out. He used a ruler to hold it down and dipped his brush into the ink.
However, it seemed he had forgotten how to write.
By the time his wits had returned, Han Qiao was gone.
A little while later, while Han Qiao was cutting the cloth, she heard a knock on the door. Sun Ke rushed to open it. "It's Granny Heng."
"Little Ke, is your mother around?" Granny Heng asked. She had already entered the courtyard.
"Yes."
Sun Ke followed closely behind.
Fully aware that Granny Heng had a sharp tongue, Han Qiao didn't like her to begin with.
When Han Qiao came into the courtyard, Granny Heng stepped forward and asked, "Qiao, come over here. I have something to ask you."
"What is it?" Han Qiao asked.
She didn't trust Granny Heng.
"Do you have any unmarried sisters? Preferably with the same temperance that you have."
What she meant was, girls who were good looking, gentle and easy to control.
Girls who didn't make a sound when beaten.
That's the kind of daughter-in-law Granny Heng was looking for. If she gave one to Heng Yi, everyone would forget all about how he used to mistreat him.
"I don't think so. Why don't you go ask Matchmaker Wu."
Of course Granny Heng was aware of Matchmaker Wu.
She just didn't want to pay him.
"Damn, I forgot you came down from the countryside. I came to ask you first."
While saying this, Granny Heng scanned the space. "Are you making clothes? Where is your husband?"
"He's here."
"Did he hit you again?"
Han Qiao pursed her lips and didn't answer. Instead, she asked Granny Heng, "Aunty, what happened to your forehead?"
When Granny Heng heard this, her expression turned rancid.
"I fell down and busted my head. Sigh. I'm done talking with you. I'll go and ask someone else. I have to find that bastard Heng Yi a good wife."
After saying this, Granny Heng did a 180 and walked off.
Han Qiao saw at her plump back and chuckled.
The injury on her head hadn't looked like a simple fall. But that was her business.
"Ke, go close the door."
Han Qiao set off towards the kitchen. There the five catty silver carp she had bought earlier was sitting. She was going to make braised fish.
The fish had to be stewed. It only tastes good in soup.
Han Qiao went to cut up the fish. Her motions were quick, accurate, ruthless. She used the knife to scrape off the scales, while Sun Ke scooped water to help her flush it out.
Sun Xiu and Sun Yi had never eaten fish before, so they were too excited to make clothes. They rushed to the kitchen to wash the pot and help tend the fire. They watched as Han Qiao cut the ginger slices.
They filled the pot with oil. The ginger slices were put in first and fried until they could be smelled. Next the chunks of fish were tossed in and fried until both sides were a golden hue. A dash of white wine got rid of the fish taste. Next they threw in two red peppers along with a little soy sauce. After that came salt. Finally, they poured a large ladle of water, followed by two rolls of twisted green onions. They covered the wooden pot with a lid.
"Mother, it smells so good." Sun Ke sniffed. She then asked, "Mother, will this fish taste good?"
Sun Xiu and Sun Yi looked over at the same time.
Poor child. She had seen fish before, but she'd never had a chance to eat it.
Sun Yiming was always out drinking. He never cared about his wife and children.
"It's delicious. Have some more in a bit.."
Han Qiao's cooking skills were remarkable. And, the taste was enhanced considerably thanks to the huge iron pot.
One pot stewed fish, one pot boiled rice.
When the fish was out of the pot, the rice was ready.
"It's time to eat," Han Qiao said.
The three sisters wiped the table, picked up their chopsticks and scooped up some rice.
Sun Yiming stood at the door of the kitchen salivating. "Did you cook braised fish? It smells good."
Han Qiao looked at him. "Eat."
She urged the three children to eat slower and watch out for fish bones.
And voracious though they were, they still ate with class. They didn't wolf down the food, nor did they struggle holding the fish with their chopsticks. Also, they didn't make a giant stack of bowls.
Their life may not have been great, but at least they had some manners.
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