The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure-Chapter 52 - - Indeed a sensible person
52: Chapter 52 – Indeed a sensible person
52 -52 – Indeed a sensible person
Old Granny Zhang finally went back to the room with Wang Laozhu and explained everything clearly.
She then pulled out five taels of shiny silver, passed it before Wang Laozhu’s eyes, and then put it away.
Wang Laozhu had nothing else to say but, “Keep it for now, we’ll use it to find a good girl for the Fourth Child later on.”
Old Granny Zhang nodded, then remembered that she hadn’t seen her eldest son.
“Where’s the Eldest?
Why didn’t I see him?
With such a big issue at home, not to mention asking for his help, why isn’t he at home at this time?”
Wang Laozhu took a puff of his smoke and said, “I sent him to borrow a donkey from the neighbors and go to the He Family to see if he could catch up to Laosi.
If he did, to bring him back.”
Old Granny Zhang frowned slightly, unconvinced, “What’s the use of bringing Laosi back?
The He Family has cuckolded him; shouldn’t he go and beat up that bastard from the He Family to vent his anger?”
“Foolish!
You still don’t know our Fourth Child’s temper?
If he really starts causing trouble, I’m afraid someone might get killed!
Even if the He Family and the Li Family are unscrupulous, if we let Laosi really kill someone, wouldn’t that ruin his life?
For the sake of a woman from the Li Family, would it not be elevating her too much?
If we really want to take revenge, we can find an opportunity once this matter cools down, right?” Wang Laozhu chided in a low voice.
Though Old Granny Zhang was usually the most domineering at home, when Wang Laozhu truly turned stern, she dared not defy him.
She only muttered, “It’s letting off that little bastard from the He Family and that little slut from the Li Family too easy!”
Outside the house, Wang Yongzhu heard the entire conversation clearly and couldn’t help but look up to her usually silent father.
He turned out to be a sensible man with a clear plan in mind!
No wonder the Wang Family could live decently despite Old Granny Zhang’s tyranny.
It seems the contributions of Dad behind the scenes cannot be underestimated!
The Little Beans were only preoccupied with eating rabbit meat, and while the adults were relieved that the issues with the Li Family had been mostly resolved, they were still worried as Wang Yongfu and Wang Yongping hadn’t returned, leaving them feeling unsettled.
Even after dinner, the two had not yet returned.
Old Granny Zhang reserved a small portion of rabbit meat for the two of them, keeping it aside separately.
The rest of the family, except for a few children who ate to their hearts’ content, were somewhat distracted.
It was only after dinner, when everything had been cleared away, that a sound came from the yard gate.
Everyone looked towards the entrance as Wang Yongfu walked in, leading a donkey.
Jindou hurriedly took the donkey, leading it to the cowshed and feeding it a bundle of hay.
Lady Lin, feeling sorry for the man, hurried to the kitchen and brought out the rabbit meat reserved for the two brothers, along with two buns.
Wash Yongfu washed his hands at the well, sat at the table, and looked exhausted but still fairly calm.
Old Granny Zhang asked anxiously, “Eldest, did you catch up with Laosi?
Did he go to the He Family’s place?
No one lost their life, right?”
Wang Laozhu tapped the table, “Let the Eldest eat his meal first, then talk.”
Wang Yongfu was truly famished and devoured the meal hastily, only then feeling revived.
After drinking another bowl of water, he spoke up, “I rode the donkey straight to He Family Dam without delay.
By the time I arrived, it was already dark.
After asking around, I found He Dawei’s house.
There was no one there; they said his daughter had given birth to a grandson and had gone to visit relatives in town.
I asked if anyone had seen Laosi, described him roughly, and they said at dusk, a man resembling Laosi came by, asked whether anyone was at the He’s, stood there a while, then left.
Worried that Dad and Mom would be worried and thinking that Laosi wouldn’t know who the girl had married even if he went to town, he wouldn’t be able to find her, so I came back.”
No matter how much Old Granny Zhang disparaged him verbally, she was still worried at heart, “That little rascal, where could he be dead at?
It’s so late, and he’s still not back?”
“Alright, as long as there’s no trouble for now, that’s good enough.
Everyone can go back to their rooms to rest, we’ll talk more tomorrow morning,” Wang Laozhu declared definitively.
With no other option in the dark and no idea where to look for Laosi, everyone had to wait until tomorrow to continue.
※※※
Song Chongjin glanced at the sky, which had already begun to turn westward.
If he didn’t descend the mountain soon, he feared he would have to spend the night on its slopes.
The sky darkened, thick as ink, with only a crescent moon hanging in the heavens.
In the mountains, it was even darker; borrowing the dim moonlight, he discerned his direction and continued on his way.
Today, because he chased a deer over a mountain ridge and failed to catch it, he had lost track of time.
Now, as he headed home, he had already been delayed, the sky was dark, and he had yet to leave the mountain.
But after determining his bearings just now, the village shouldn’t be far off.
Still, Song Chongjin dared not let his guard down; the mountains at night were exceptionally dangerous.
Especially those large creatures that emerged to hunt at dusk—if he encountered one, it would spell trouble.
After walking a bit further, his keen eyes spotted, not far ahead, what seemed like a fire, with the silhouette of a tall man sitting beside it, head bowed, his face indistinct.
He paused, surprised, as even mountain hunters would not stay in the mountains overnight unless absolutely necessary.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have hurried through the dark.
After pondering for a moment, Song Chongjin pulled out the sharp hunting knife from his waist, watched the direction of any noise with caution, and carefully approached the spot.
In the dead of night, it was better to be safe than sorry, freeωebnovēl.c૦m
He had only taken a few steps when he saw the man pounding the stone beside him with his hands, letting out agonized howls.
The voice sounded somewhat familiar.
Halting his steps, Song Chongjin sheathed his hunting knife and quickened his pace.
Reaching the fire, he looked intently and recognized the figure—wasn’t it Wang Yongping from the Wang Family’s Fourth Child?
What had happened?
In the past, Song Chongjin surely would have pretended not to see, changed direction on his heel, and taken another path down the mountain to return home, knowing well that whatever could make a grown man so frustrated he’d vent in a deserted mountain spot must be a deep sorrow he’d prefer others not see.
Given his way with people, it was best for everyone if they could avoid meeting and spare the awkwardness.
Especially now, with the awkward standing between their families, the further apart the better.
His mind reminded him of this, yet his steps defied orders and carried him toward Wang Yongping.
He even made some noise on purpose, rousing the man absorbed in his own world.
As expected, Wang Yongping heard the sound, looked up, and met Song Chongjin’s calm face.
He was stunned, and a surge of malicious anger quickly rose from the bottom of his heart.
He charged forward aggressively, swinging a fist at Song Chongjin’s face, “Bastard!
Making us break off the engagement!
Tell me, did you hook up with some cheap slut out there, which is why you want to call off the marriage with our family?”
Song Chongjin’s gaze shifted slightly.
He’d been ready to fight back, but instead, he blocked Wang Yongping’s punch.
With Wang Yongping’s fierce momentum and strength, Song Chongjin was pushed back two steps before shaking off the numbness in his arm and looking at him coldly, “Wang Laosi, watch your words!
I called off the engagement due to my own family’s issues.
What do you mean by hooking up with some cheap slut?”
