The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure

Who doesn't love to be flattered, man or woman?

Sure enough, Wang Yongfu's anger seemed to have subsided somewhat, "Jinguan is about to turn ten, can't wait another two months? Which child gets to have enough to eat all the time in their childhood? Rural life isn't easy, haven't we all made it through like this? Does it become precious when it's Jinguan's turn?"

Lady Lin challenged again, "Other families are other families, our Old Wang Family is the Old Wang Family, even if we are not the wealthiest in Qilidun, we are still considered well-off, how could we not afford food? I know what Mother is thinking, she wants to save for Eldest Aunt's dowry. The matchmaking gifts sent to the Old Song Family just a few days ago were several pounds of rice and flour, yet when it comes to our own meals, we are scrimping. You always think of your mother, has she ever thought of me? Has she thought of your son?"

...

Cries of children followed, along with the sounds of consolation, and the room was filled with weeping.

Ming Zhu stopped in her tracks. With the atmosphere as it was, if she entered, wouldn't she add fuel to the fire?

What the original host and Old Granny Zhang had done was indeed despicable.

It was no wonder that Lady Lin was complaining to her husband this way.

If it had been her who had been transported into Lady Lin's place, she might have made an even bigger fuss, understand, understand.

She definitely would change in the future, and she must influence Old Granny Zhang to change too...

Could she get an opportunity now to start building a good rapport?

...

In the inner room, Wang Yongfu couldn't stand the onslaught from his wife and children and heaved a long sigh, "I know, you all have suffered with me. Alright, she is my mother, and my sister won't be getting married for a few more years. We just have to endure until this passes."

"Every time it comes up, you say the same thing. We've been enduring for so many years, how much longer? Family Head, I can't live this life anymore, let's divide the household. We will live on our own, I promise to keep the house neat and tidy, our life will be prosperous and lively."

Wang Yongfu immediately raised his voice in opposition, "Divide the household? Impossible! While the parents are alive, we don't divide the household, that's the old rule in Qilidun. Besides, I am the Eldest Brother; even if we were to split, I would still have to take care of our parents. There's no such practice within a hundred miles of us, and people would criticize it fiercely! I am the main labor force in our household, if we divide, how will anyone get by?"

Lady Lin, "Family Head, listen to me, our parents have amassed considerable savings, they have no worries for their old age. Dividing the house doesn't mean we won't care for them, we will provide them with grain and money every year. Eldest Sister will be married off in no time and won't need our care; the second branch is living easy lives of ladies and mistresses in town, not knowing how comfortable it is. Laosi may not be married yet, but he makes more money with his skills than we do..."

"As for the third branch, you don't need to worry. Why do you think your third brother is always acting like a hands-off shopkeeper, gallivanting about? It's because he doesn't need to worry about family matters, his wife and children are supported by the household. If we divide our household, could your worthless brother truly bear to watch his wife and children starve? Perhaps he would take notice and come back, which would actually be a good thing. Your third sister-in-law would be too grateful to us. What could be more delightful than everyone living a prosperously?"

...

Ming Zhu overheard this far, divide the household?

That won't do!

She hadn't even started to build up her friendly relations yet?

And now they were talking about dividing the house?

Could she get a chance, please?

Just as she was about to knock and enter, Jinguan, who was within, spotted her with sharp eyes.

As if discovering a major enemy situation, she panicked, "Dad, Mom, stop talking. Eldest Aunt is eavesdropping outside!!!"

The sound inside came to an abrupt halt.

A silence as of death, eerie and unsettling.

***

In the kitchen, after Ming Zhu truly disappeared without a trace, Lady Jiang even sent her daughter Jinhua to check on Ming Zhu's movements.

Assured that she hadn't gone to the main house to tell on them, that she wasn't deliberately dropping the steamed bun, to play tricks on them, their mother and children.

Only then did Lady Jiang dare to pick up the steamed bun, tearing off a piece and putting it in her mouth.

A face filled with the bliss of contentment.

She was really too hungry.

Even the children had half a bun each, but she had nothing, just a little bit of coarse rice soup, and only half a bowl at that. And the greens in the vegetable bowl were a no-touch zone—if Old Granny Zhang caught her with her chopsticks there, she would be scolded half to death.

She prepared the meals for the entire family and yet she went hungry every single day. It was only when doing the dishes that she could lick the remnants of the vegetable soup from the bowls...

Or, while cooking pig feed, she would secretly nibble some of it.

"Mom, Eldest Aunt went to the main house. I saw her hiding outside the main house door, eavesdropping on their conversation inside. She probably won't bother us for the time being. Mom, you can eat without worries," the little informants Jinhua and Jinpan returned.

Lady Jiang ate a small half of the bun and divided the remaining two small pieces between the two of them.

"You eat. Mom's full."

The two children, one aged eight and the other six, were both skinny and small.

"No, we get buns at every meal, Mom, you eat..."

Lady Jiang insisted, "You're young, you need to eat to grow big and strong. Mom's not hungry. You eat."

The two-year-old tot Jinshao also clapped his hands and laughed, "Sis eats, bro eats, Mommy eats, everyone eats..."

He was so young, half a bun was enough to fill him, so Lady Jiang did not share it with him.

With everyone insisting on modesty, and unable to resist each other's pleas, they finally divided it up: a little for each person, they shared the meal.

Jinhua longingly said, "If only Eldest Aunt threw a tantrum every day, complaining the bun's not tasty, and let us feed it to the dogs or pigs, that would be great."

Lady Jiang also began to feel grateful, noticing that after waking up, Eldest Aunt really seemed a bit different today.

She thanked her and even tried to quell the quarrel between daughters-in-law and wanted to share the bun with her three children...

Even if it was all an act, Lady Jiang still felt grateful in her heart.

Even if she did throw a tantrum today, it was endearing.

"Silly girl, your Eldest Aunt is actually not a bad person; she just gets a bit greedy sometimes. You should still respect your Eldest Aunt. After all, she's your elder. Your grandparents aren't bad either. They're able to keep us and don't drive us out; that in itself is a huge blessing. In any ordinary family, there would be no place for us mother and daughters long ago. Today your Eldest Aunt even thought about sharing egg-drop soup with your brother..."

"Really?"

"Yeah, I was so scared I almost peed my pants!! I ran away at that moment, but now that I think about it, perhaps Eldest Aunt really did want to share the egg-drop soup with me?"

As she spoke, she pursed her lips and said, "Let's not think about it anymore. It's already pretty good that she secretly gives us leftover buns. If we drink the egg-drop soup, grandma will scold me till I puke it back up."

Lady Jiang and the girls were amused by Xiao Jinpan's antics.

***

Ming Zhu was awkwardly standing at the door of the main house.

Wang Yongfu saw Ming Zhu come in and knew that she had overheard their conversation.

To show his innocence, he once again slapped Lady Lin's face.

"Zhuzhu, you mustn't tell Mom. Lady Lin is just talking nonsense. As the Eldest Brother, I would never agree to her twisted reasoning about splitting up the family. I'm not that kind of unfilial and disloyal person."

Lady Lin also panicked, "Eldest Aunt, it was just that I was too angry, venting to your brother..."

Ming Zhu was organizing her words, figuring out how to break through this awkwardness.