The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure-Chapter 88 Family Law Awaits

Only Wang Laozhu’s expression was exceptionally lucid as he took a puff from his tobacco pipe and knocked on the table, "What’s all this senseless babble? Can’t even a meal shut your mouths? Haven’t you heard the saying, ’A tall tree catches the wind, a big name brings trouble’? Jinshao, you and your brothers listen up, don’t you go spreading rumors, saying that your old auntie is so lucky that she can dig up a patch of yams with just a casual point. Keep it all to yourselves! You hear me?"

Jinshao and his brothers looked at each other in confusion, not understanding Wang Laozhu.

Even Old Granny Zhang looked at her husband with doubt, "Head of the house, have you gone senile? This is a great opportunity to promote our daughter’s reputation. With this reputation, will she ever have to worry about finding a good family to marry into? Why are you stopping this? Not only should Jinshao and the others talk about it, but I was planning to spread the word even more tomorrow."

Having been accused by others of spoiling her daughter over the years, Old Granny Zhang had been holding back her frustration. Now that her daughter had made them proud, why should they not talk about it and boast? Wasn’t it the same as wearing a nice piece of clothing but not being allowed to show it off, instead having to stay cooped up at home in it? What was the fun in that?

Wang Laozhu glared at Old Granny Zhang, "It’s you who’s muddled! Is this kind of reputation something you can just desire casually? You say our Zhuzhu is lucky, and if people take it seriously, they’ll come to her for a share of her fortune in everything they do. If it works out, all’s well, but if it doesn’t, what will they whisper behind her back? What reputation will Zhuzhu have then? Moreover, Qili Slope is only so big, and our entire village, apart from tilling the fields, relies on these mountain goods. The villagers work hard all year, and the mountain goods they gather aren’t even as much as what our Zhuzhu leads people to collect in just one trip. Once or twice might be okay, but if it becomes a habit, who wouldn’t notice? If we gather more, it means others will have less. In the long run, who would be content with that? No matter how many family members we have, if we incur the wrath of the community, forget about the five families with different surnames; even our own relatives will likely not accommodate us. Then, do you think we’ll still have a place in Qilidun? You can’t see past the end of your nose, blinded by the trivial gains right before you! Keep your mouths shut, and once you leave this door, you tell no one, or the family discipline will be enforced!"

As soon as the supreme law of family discipline was mentioned, everyone, except for Wang Yongzhu, couldn’t help but shiver.

In peasant families, what could family discipline be but a beating, with the only difference being the instrument? Using a board about two palms wide, a score of lashes on the back were enough to prevent movement off one’s bed for ten days to half a month before being able to work the fields again.

Seeing that Wang Laozhu was serious and not just jesting, even Old Granny Zhang felt embarrassed, knowing it was unwise to make a nest on a tiger’s head. The room, which had been filled with laughter and merriment, fell silent at once. Little Jinshao, although not quite understanding what grandfather was saying, sensed the change in atmosphere as everyone stopped laughing and talking, and he quietly hid behind Lady Jiang, timidly peeking out.

Old Granny Zhang felt put in her place in front of the children by Wang Laozhu, and although she was slightly disgruntled, upon further reflection, she realized that what the head of the household said was right.

People often resent others for what they themselves lack.

The people of Qilidun rely on Qili Slope for their livelihood. In the past few years, for some reason, the Imperial Court had increased the taxes by another ten percent. After paying taxes, if one could scrape by with what was left from the fields’ yield, it was already considered a good year. freewёbnoνel.com

Their own family was better off because Laosan was a Scholar, exempting them from half the taxes, and with the head of the household’s craft supplementing the family’s income, they managed to live decently.

This had already caused some jealousy.

Should word spread that their daughter was fortunate, never returning from the mountains empty-handed and always hauling good things back by the basketful, resentment would naturally follow, particularly from those who couldn’t even fill their stomachs. There were quite a few of these in Qilidun, typically those with too many children and overwhelming burdens.

Or they were children whose parents were either too sick to care for many offspring or were idle vagabonds beyond parental control.

Such people, driven mad by poverty and dire hunger, were capable of anything.

Contemplating this, even the fierce Old Granny Zhang couldn’t help but shudder.

She couldn’t help feeling retroactive fear, realizing the head of the household was stable and clear-sighted.

Otherwise, if their daughter’s reputation were to spread, at best her name would be completely sullied, and at worst, their entire family might not be spared.

Old Granny Zhang, who had broken out in a cold sweat on her back, regained her composure and immediately issued a strict order: no one in the family was allowed to speak of this matter again if they went out, and she commanded Wang Yongzhu never to go up the mountain again.

Even if she did go up the mountain, she was not allowed to gather as many mountain goods as before, and she warned her grandsons and granddaughters that if they dared to take their old aunt up the mountain, she would break their legs.

Frightened, the Little Beans promised earnestly, nodding their heads again and again.

Wang Yongzhu was both touched and speechless.

She was moved by Wang Laozhu and Old Granny Zhang’s earnest desire to protect her but helpless. "Dad, Mom, it’s not as scary as you think. I guess it’s because I used to go up the mountain so rarely and am unfamiliar with it. Just wandering around, unlike others who know exactly what’s where on the mountain, I happened to come across places they overlooked. It was pure coincidence, nothing mysterious! Don’t worry too much!"

Upon reflection, Wang Laozhu thought it was possible. Wasn’t there a saying about the darkness under the lamp? The villagers were too familiar with Qili Slope. Places presumed unfruitful were generally left unexplored, perhaps that’s where his daughter had a lucky find.

Thinking this, he too felt a sigh of relief but still cautioned his family to keep quiet these days.

The previously warm atmosphere, buoyed by a delicious meal, had now completely chilled due to this incident.

Wang Laozhu said no more. These days, since Laosi had made ten taels of silver from his match-making, everyone was getting a bit carried away.

Without a dose of cold water to bring them back to reality, he feared chaos might ensue.

Quietly clearing up the dishes, everyone retired to their rooms to rest.

Yet, none of the Wang family could sleep at that moment.

In the main house, Lady Lin gathered the three Jinshao brothers and questioned them in great detail about their trip up the mountain. Her eyes lit up.

Once the children had fallen asleep, she nudged Wang Yongfu, who was already asleep: "Head of the household, head of the household, wake up!"

Wang Yongfu was awakened from his slumber: "What’s wrong? What happened?"

Lady Lin’s voice trembled with excitement: "Head of the household, I’ve asked the Jinshao brothers. They said that the patch where they dug wild yams today, based on their experience, is probably only half harvested. They initially planned to go back tomorrow, but on their way home, they ran into the Li Family Brothers and the Song family boy who had gone up the mountain with Laosi. They even gave them a few yams. What if they follow Jinshao brothers’ tracks and find that patch, digging up all the remaining yams?"

Wang Yongfu’s eyes were barely open, groggily: "Then let them dig, it’s not ours to start with. Besides, dad said the kids are not allowed on the mountain anymore."

"You—" Lady Lin kicked Wang Yongfu out of frustration.

"Are you stupid? Dad and mom said the kids can’t go up the mountain, but they didn’t say we couldn’t go. I’ve made up my mind. Tomorrow, I will go out with you. I’ll head to the fields, and you’ll go up the mountain to dig up the rest of the wild yams the Jinshao boys didn’t finish today. We can’t let others profit from it. Do you hear me?"

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