Chapter 21: Layered Margin
“What method?” Madam Wei’s eyes sparkled with anticipation, and the others could barely contain their impatience.
Hua Qinci curled her lips into a faint, enigmatic smile, her gaze sweeping over the crowd, observing their expressions. The more composed she appeared, the more anxious the others became. Their desperation, coupled with the recent rollercoaster of emotions, made it certain they would stop at nothing to get their hands on the silver.
“Hurry up and tell us, Qin family’s daughter-in-law!”
“Yes, tell us! Hurry up!” Even the simple-minded Wei San was so anxious that he could barely think straight—he was counting on his share of the silver to find himself a wife.
“Shut your mouth! Who are you calling daughter-in-law? Is that your place? Daughter-in-law, am I right?” Another man nearby jeered, trying to make a joke at her expense.
“You have some nerve to talk! Who are you calling daughter-in-law?”
At that, his own wife landed a fierce smack on the back of his head; instantly, the couple was chasing each other through the crowd—one begging for mercy, the other brandishing her fists in mock outrage.
Laughter rippled through the crowd at their antics.
Meanwhile, the pain in Hua Qinci’s back grew sharper by the moment. She knew she wouldn’t be able to rest until she resolved this matter.
She quickly suppressed her smile, coughed twice, and raised her voice: “My method is for everyone’s sake. There are simply too many people, and no matter how we divide it, it’s hard to be fair. Besides, when luck falls from the sky, it only lands in the laps of those who are capable and hardworking—not those who sit idly by. So, after much thought, I’ve decided on a deposit-based method for dividing the silver. First, this will allow a few among us to become truly wealthy; second, those unwilling to put down a deposit won’t get a share. That’s fair—for everyone and for the Qin family.”
No sooner had Hua Qinci finished speaking than Madam Wei stepped forward, raising her voice: “Qin family’s daughter-in-law, how much is the deposit? How much silver will be divided? And will it be divided per person?”
“Yes, that’s right! Isn’t this still unfair?”
“Won’t those without silver miss out entirely?”
A fresh round of debate erupted among the crowd.
“Everyone, please calm down and let me finish!” Standing on a stool, Hua Qinci called out, and at once, the crowd fell silent.
“It may seem unfair, but it is absolutely fair to those who are willing to contribute. The more deposit you put down, the greater your share. Since I don’t yet know exactly how much the ginseng will fetch—it depends on the buyer—I’ll set a limit of ten spots, a perfect ten. Now, let me explain the rules for deposits and how the silver will be divided.
“First, for example, if Madam Wei puts down one tael of silver as a deposit, we’ll use a one-to-five ratio, over a period of three days. Starting tomorrow, if the ginseng is sold tomorrow and you come to collect your share, you’ll receive five times your deposit in addition to your original tael—that’s six taels in total. If you put down two taels, you’ll get double that—two times six plus two, which is fourteen taels. And so on. The more you contribute, the more you receive. The more silver you get, the greater your chance to move to the city. There are only ten spots. Once they’re filled, that’s it. You have the time it takes to drink a cup of tea to decide. The counting starts now.”
With that, Hua Qinci asked Doctor Li to serve as the scribe. He sat down without protest—things had already progressed so far, there was no stopping them now. Besides, if Hua Qinci didn’t tend to her injuries soon, she might be left with lasting harm.
“I’ll put down five taels,” Doctor Li said, seeing that no one else was moving. Without hesitation, he placed five gleaming taels on the table, then began writing out the deposit slip. Hua Qinci signed and stamped it, and with a satisfied smile, he tucked the slip safely into his sleeve.