Where Did Arthur Evans Get His Money?

Liu Ru was stunned, then shook her head: "Impossible, he doesn't have much money on him, and he's not capable of much, how could he be living it up?"

"Tsk, why don't you believe me?" Qin Sanniang said mysteriously, "Recently, my Zhang Zhuzi was in the brothel with me and met a man. That man has been staying there for several days, accompanied by the top courtesan, eating the best food, spending one to two taels of silver a day! At that time, I was wondering who this rich man was. Then guess what happened?"

Qin Sanniang spoke excitedly, sitting cross-legged beside Liu Ru: "Later, Zhang Zhuzi ran into that man and recognized him. It turned out to be your husband, Su Shimao, right?"

"That's impossible!" Liu Ru immediately said.

Spending one to two taels of silver a day, living in a brothel, hiring a top courtesan—definitely impossible. Su Shimao has at most a few coins on him, where would he get silver to squander like that?

"Why impossible! My Zhang Zhuzi is from the same village as Su Shimao, he couldn't be mistaken! Doesn't Su Shimao have a mark on his face? I see your father-in-law has one too, that's the man I saw in the brothel! When Su Shimao saw Zhang Zhuzi, he tried to hide, but unfortunately they met on the stairs—no place to hide. He didn't even greet him, just hurried upstairs holding the courtesan." Qin Sanniang sneered, "Your man is throwing money around outside, and you, tsk tsk, poor thing."

Qin Sanniang picked up an empty bowl from the table, glanced at it and said, "Tsk, wild vegetable porridge, made from black wheat flour, and you eat this during your confinement? Oh my dear Ru, you shouldn't do that. Your man really is no good, doesn't care about you and your child's life at all."

Liu Ru's face darkened; she thought to herself that there must be something wrong here.

Liu Ru knew very well how much Su Shimao was worth. Without some extraordinary luck, he couldn't have silver to waste on debauchery.

"Sanniang, thank you for telling me this, otherwise I would still be in the dark," Liu Ru said.

Qin Sanniang held Liu Ru's hand and said, "Alas, we're all unfortunate people. Since we're fellow villagers and will spend the rest of our lives together, better to be sisters than enemies, don't you think?"

Liu Ru nodded and said "Yes," but in her heart thought that once she figured out where Su Shimao's silver came from, she'd pack up and run with the money—probably wouldn't be sisters with her anymore.

Qin Sanniang sat for a while, chatting with Liu Ru. Seeing that it was almost mealtime, Liu Ru asked, "Aren't you going home to cook? I heard your husband Zhang Zhuzi likes to hit his wife. Doesn't he hit you?"

Qin Sanniang chuckled, "He dares try! Hmph, his ugly ex-wife is at home cooking and managing the house, so I just wait for that Tang woman to serve me. And his son Zhang Zhaocai does the heavy work with his mother. My Zhang Zhuzi treasures me and wouldn't let me do any work."

Liu Ru thought of Tang Shi—she used to be so fierce in the village, arguing with many people without fear. Who would have thought she was now being taken care of by Qin Sanniang? Really unexpected.

"Alright, I've told you everything, I should get going. Dinner is ready at home waiting for me," Qin Sanniang said as she stood up.

"Wait, Sanniang. Are you going to the full-month banquet for Zhang Mu's son tomorrow?" Liu Ru asked.

"Of course, I heard Zhang Mu is a wealthy man in the village. His full-month banquet has lots of delicious food. I'll definitely go," Qin Sanniang said.

"Alright, then we'll go together tomorrow. I'll come to your house to find you," Liu Ru said.

Qin Sanniang didn't think much and casually agreed, "Okay, I'll wait for you tomorrow."