The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure-Chapter 40 - The despicable person who stirs up trouble everywhere, get out of here now—
40: Chapter 40: The despicable person who stirs up trouble everywhere, get out of here now—
40 -40: The despicable person who stirs up trouble everywhere, get out of here now—
“`
Otherwise, with her own mother-in-law’s bias, who would think of finding wives for Jindou and his two brothers?
Wang Yongfu heard Lady Lin constantly nagging in his ear and felt that it was time to find a bride for his eldest son.
By bringing a daughter-in-law into the family early, their household labor would increase, and he and his wife could also enjoy the taste of being in-laws.
Previously, he had resisted Lady Lin’s pressure and hadn’t spoken up, because he knew very well that children in the countryside matured early, most getting married around sixteen or seventeen.
He, Laosi, and Laosan all got married at sixteen, but Fourth Brother, at nineteen, still hadn’t brought a bride through the door.
First, because the number of children in the family was increasing, each one opening their mouths for food, and the household burden was not light.
Secondly, in earlier years they supported Laosan’s pursuit of education, for him to become a Scholar, which incurred significant annual expenses.
After Laosan became a Scholar, he took the exams year after year, failing each time, until finally their parents could no longer support him, and he started teaching at the county schoolhouse.
However, over the years, the salary he earned hadn’t been seen at home.
Laosan was able to marry thanks to the fact that he was not much older than Laosan, combined with the years Laosan had become a Scholar, which had its own glory.
There were families willing to pay just to marry into the Wang Family.
Isn’t that why Laosan’s wife’s family thought they could rely on Laosan’s family in the future and therefore brought a considerable dowry?
Thirdly, as their parents grew older, the old mother favored her younger daughter and felt that scrimping on her son’s wedding was fine, but the daughter could not afford to be stingy.
Otherwise, she wouldn’t hold her head high when she entered her husband’s family, so they saved the extra money as a dowry for their younger daughter.
Thus Fourth Brother’s marriage had been delayed until he was nineteen without anyone mentioning it.
Originally, there were idle talks in the village.
This time Little Sister earned some money by selling Yellow Pine Mushrooms, and Fourth Brother also made some money.
As long as the Li Family was not too demanding, the marriage should be handled smoothly.
The Li Family’s Daughter was not young anymore, and dragging it on would make her an old maid.
Once Fourth Brother’s marriage was settled, the dowry that Mother had saved for Little Sister these years should almost be enough.
At that time, it would be appropriate to discuss Jindou’s marriage.
So, no matter how Lady Lin lobbied, he had his own calculations and knew that there was no point in bringing it up now, except to annoy the old mother.
Lady Lin’s eyes were almost twitching, but Wang Yongfu continued to feign death and kept silent.
Finally unable to bear it, she blurted out, “Mother, after we arrange Fourth Brother’s wedding, shouldn’t we start preparing for our Jindou?
He’ll be fifteen next year, and it’s time to look for a well-mannered, diligent, and steady girl.
Jindou is Wang Family’s firstborn grandson; we can’t take his marriage lightly!
Shouldn’t we start preparing for it now, lest when the time comes for the wedding, we’ll need a house for them to live—”
“Ptui!
The Eldest Brother’s family, take your traps back to your Old Lin Family.
My Wang Family can’t afford such a home-wrecker.
Why aren’t you concerned about your younger brother-in-law since he’s nineteen and still unmarried?
But your son, at only fourteen, you’re already jumping at marrying him off?
Heartless home-wrecker, what right do you have?
Does the Wang Family even need your say?
Wicked woman, even worse than a stepmother!
The uncle hasn’t even married yet, and the nephew is already thinking of a wife; no family follows such logic!
If you dare speak such nonsense again, see if I don’t beat you with the sole of my shoe!
Nasty troublemaker, get out of my sight—”
With that, she scolded so fiercely that Lady Lin’s face turned red with embarrassment, and she covered her face and left.
In the courtyard, Jindou looked at his Fourth Uncle awkwardly; it was impossible for a young man not to have thoughts about getting married.
He also knew that it was not yet his turn since his Fourth Uncle hadn’t married.
Moreover, as the firstborn grandson of the Wang Family, as long as his grandparents cared about their reputation and wanted to establish a foothold in Qilidun, after Fourth Uncle’s marriage was arranged, they would naturally start preparing his without any prompting.
But his mother couldn’t see clearly and was rashly pushing the issue at this delicate juncture—wasn’t she just asking to be scolded?
It made him look like he was obsessed with the idea of getting a wife.
Wang Yongping watched his elder sister-in-law Lady Lin rush into the main room with her face covered, and soon after, sobbing could be heard.
“`
The once joyful atmosphere in the courtyard vanished without a trace, and the Little Beans dared not speak.
They looked around cautiously, not even daring to let out a heavy breath.
It was Wang Yongzhu who came out from the main room, casually calling out, “It’s getting late.
Go wash up and head to sleep.”
Only then did the Little Beans scatter like pardoned dreamers.
Wang Yongping was left with a complex expression, looking at his little sister, not knowing what to say.
Wang Yongzhu actually felt very sorry for her Fourth Brother.
His fierce reputation was well-known, and everyone feared him, yet at home, he was just a neglected child.
He had given much to the family but received far too little.
His own parents had their plans, the Eldest Brother and Elder Sister-in-Law Lin had their selfishness, and poor him, he didn’t even have someone to truly care for him.
To make matters worse, as he was about to get married, he was being used as a stepping stone by Elder Sister-in-Law Lin for paving the way for her son.
Seeing Wang Yongping’s tall figure standing in the yard, looking somewhat pitiful, Wang Yongzhu approached and patted his shoulder reassuringly, “Fourth Brother, you’ve also worked hard.
Go back and rest early.
Don’t worry, mother knows what she’s doing.
She won’t mistreat you!”
She had made up her mind; no matter what, she would persuade Old Granny Zhang to take Fourth Brother’s marriage seriously and not to let down his heart.
Wang Yongping felt surprised and somewhat moved.
As an eighteen or nineteen-year-old young man, it was rare for him to receive such care from his family, and his eyes reddened.
Not wanting his little sister to laugh at him, he turned around awkwardly and hurried back to his room in just a few strides.
Wang Yongzhu sighed and was about to return to her room when she remembered the needlework she had helped Lady Jiang sell during the day and turned back towards the kitchen.
In the kitchen, Lady Jiang was boiling hot water, preparing for the evening needs of the family.
Seeing Wang Yongzhu come in, she stood up anxiously, watching her with hopeful eyes.
Wang Yongzhu checked to make sure no one was around and then pulled out a handkerchief from her bosom.
It wrapped the Twenty Large Money she had earned from selling the handkerchiefs and handed it to Lady Jiang, “A total of twenty wen, please count them.”
Lady Jiang’s eyes lit up; she hadn’t expected them to actually sell, let alone for Twenty Large Money, which she dared not even dream of.
She thought that if they could sell for about ten wen, she would be overjoyed!
After wiping her hands repeatedly on her clothes, she carefully received the handkerchief, and as the hefty Copper Coins fell into her hands, she finally felt the reality of the situation.
Tears glistened in her eyes as she whispered excitedly, “Thank you, Little Sister!
You’ve really helped us out a great deal.
Sister-in-Law doesn’t even know how to thank you properly—”
Lady Jiang’s emotional excitement and gratitude were beyond words.
At a nearly hopeless moment, the seemingly small favor from Wang Yongzhu gave her the courage to carry on.
While speaking incoherently, she shakily counted out ten Large Coins to give to Wang Yongzhu as a token of closure.
Wang Yongzhu initially didn’t want to accept it, but considering that she shouldn’t ruin her image, and seeing Lady Jiang like this, she thought that if she didn’t take it, Lady Jiang would probably be worried sick about possible consequences every day.
It might be better to temporarily keep the money to ease her mind, thinking of it as saving it for her, to later find an opportunity to discreetly reimburse the third branch of the family.
