Aries's father got on the cart, rubbed his hands, and carefully tried to touch the horse's butt. Aries slapped his hand away with a loud "Pa!" and said, "It'll kick you."
Even though Aries sounded rude, her father felt she was actually caring.
He laughed and turned his head, spotting the cart filled with all kinds of goods—grains, rice, oil, fabrics, dishes, pork, and snacks.
He was so shocked his mouth hung open. Excited, he grabbed Aries's arm. "Aries! Where did this cart come from? And all these good things?"
Not just him, but the people gathered around the cart were all curious.
Dozens of eyes stared at Aries sitting at the front of the cart, waiting for her to explain.
Aries didn't plan to hide it. People would find out anyway.
"I won it at the gambling house," she said.
Hmph! A gambler never changes!
Aries noticed their expressions but didn't care. They were cursing the old Aries, not her. Let them think what they want.
A clan elder, Aries's fourth grandaunt, asked, "Aries, you've got a cart and all these goods. Just how much did you win? Didn't the gambling house give you trouble?"
Aries knew this elder cared, so she explained, "The gambling house is a business. Winning or losing is normal. They wouldn't bother me over just a hundred or so taels of silver."
Everyone gasped again.
Wow. They worked hard all year and barely saved a few taels. Aries made a hundred in one day?
What luck!
Even Aries's father was stunned. He imagined silver flying everywhere and grinned from ear to ear.
"My daughter's got real skills! We're rich now! Hahaha!"
Others who had lent their family money got excited too.
"Aries, remember the 2 taels your third aunt lent you before New Year's? We really need it back. Your uncle needs medicine."
"Yeah, Aries, I also need that half tael I gave you. We haven't had meat in months, and we need to buy food."
Everyone started talking at once, asking Aries to repay debts.
Not all of them were in urgent need. They just wanted their money back now that Aries had silver. If they waited, she might lose it all again.
Aries had already planned to repay her debts. These were local relatives. They helped her before, and now that she had the money, it was only right to return it.
After all, she planned to stay in the village. She'd see these people all the time. Owing them wouldn't be good.
"No way!"
Her father stepped in quickly, frowning, blocking Aries with his body.
"This money is for Aries to find a husband. When we have more money, we'll pay you back. Don't think I don't know you don't really need it right now.
"Hmph! You call yourselves family? You just can't stand seeing us doing well. Aries finally made some money, and you all rush in like you want to bleed us dry!"
Her father's words were so harsh that everyone secretly cursed him in their hearts.
They couldn't do anything about him. He was like a piece of hard, rotten meat—impossible to cut or cook—and smelled worse than a toilet stone.
Since they couldn't deal with him, everyone turned their eyes to Aries, hoping she'd pay out of respect for family.
They knew the chances were low. Her father had never returned a single coin he borrowed.
Still, even a tiny chance was worth trying. After all, money doesn't grow on trees!
One person wasn't scared of him though—her fourth grandaunt. As an elder, even her father didn't dare act up in front of her. The clan elder wouldn't let him get away with it.
The old lady was just about to scold him when Aries pulled her father back.
He still wanted to argue but Aries gave him a sharp look and he immediately backed off, mumbling, "What did I say wrong? I'm doing this for you. If you've got silver, let your dad hold it for your future husband."
Aries ignored him and bowed slightly to her third aunt. "Please help pass the word. Tell everyone to bring their IOUs to my house before sunset. I'll pay them back."
"Really? Aries, you're not tricking us?"
"You promise?"
"Don't joke with us!"
People got excited but also suspicious.
It wasn't that they didn't believe Aries. It was just that she never said she'd repay before. Now that she did, they weren't used to it.
Aries nodded. "It's true. Just come by later."
Behind her, her father ground his teeth in frustration, almost tearing up his sleeve.
"Wasteful girl! Why give it back? You should keep the money!"
He said it quietly, so only Aries heard.
But since she agreed to pay, everyone praised her and didn't notice her father mumbling.
"She really is a child of the Ning family. Knows right from wrong."
"Yeah, Aries is good. Just got spoiled by her lazy father."
"Good thing Aries turned out alright!"
Her father, annoyed by the praise, didn't dare say anything out loud with Aries watching. So he just cursed people in his mind.
He felt like ever since his daughter woke up, she seemed fiercer than before. Especially when she glared—it made him nervous.
Still, since she earned 100 taels, paying some debts wasn't the worst thing.
He looked at the tall horse and the cart full of valuable stuff behind it, feeling rich and proud.
Once things were settled, Aries drove the cart home.
There was still a lot to do!
She wanted to throw out all the old junk before dark and replace it with new things.
Especially her bed—it smelled sour and she couldn't stand it.
She had checked the house earlier. Though worn out, it was at least clean, probably thanks to her little servant.
As for her father, he never cleaned. One look at his filthy clothes said it all.
In Aries's memories, her father had never cleaned the house even once.