The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure
Chapter 123 Abundance

Chapter 123: Chapter 123 Abundance

Old Granny Zhang just said, "Alright, don’t let the smoke and fire in the kitchen sting your eyes! Go back to your room and stay there. I’ll call you when it’s time to eat!"

As she spoke, she pushed Wang Yongzhu out the door of the kitchen.

At the doorway, Jinguan, Jinpan, and Jinshao were eagerly peeking in, and naturally, they saw Wang Yongzhu being fed a piece of fried dregs.

Jinguan swallowed hard, "Elder cousin, are the fried dregs tasty?"

What could Wang Yongzhu say?

She vowed to herself that she would never do this kind of thing again—it was too embarrassing!

Yet on her face, she had to feign modesty, "Um—tasty—"

Jinguan, along with Jinpan and Jinshao, simultaneously gulped.

Several of the Wang Family clansmen sitting in the courtyard, all sharing the same ancestor, were aware of the Wang Family’s affairs. Upon seeing this scene, those who liked to tease couldn’t help but joke, "Laosi, your aunt is still the same, giving all the tasty stuff to her daughter, leaving even her grandson unable to get a bite!"

This comment was somewhat instigating.

Wang Yongping might have been straightforward, but now he was a doting brother. Upon hearing this, he didn’t think badly of it. On the contrary, he nodded earnestly, "Right, my sister is so good, if there are tasty things, of course, she should get them first! Those little brats are still young; the tasty treats are yet to come. When they grow up, what good things won’t they get to eat? My sister will only be home for a few more years, so of course, she should get the best! My mother said, ’My daughter is so good, born to enjoy life. In the future, whatever I have, my sister will have!’"

Geez! The looks the other clan members gave Wang Yongping were like they were seeing a monster.

Are you dumb? That’s your sister, not your mother, got it?

Their voices weren’t low, not only did Wang Yongzhu at the kitchen door hear them, but even the people in the main room did too.

The lively conversation that had been going on inside suddenly came to a halt.

Wang Yongan couldn’t help but clench his hand inside his sleeve, though his face showed no sign of it.

As for Wang Laozhu, he felt somewhat embarrassed and laughed it off, "The children are talking nonsense! It’s just my wife doting on our daughter; sorry for the joke!"

Old Granny Zhang’s favoritism towards her daughter was known to the whole Qilidun; who didn’t know, who didn’t understand?

This was someone else’s private affair, and even though they were from the same clan, there was no reason to interfere with how parents favored their children, so everyone just laughed it off and moved past the subject.

Only Wang Yongan, without showing it, glanced at Wang Yongping who was still outside, ardently discussing how to be good to his sister, and sneered inwardly: What a fool!

The curiosity he had harbored about Wang Yongzhu faded.

She was still as greedy as before, and his mother was still biased as usual. Considering she had been cold and indifferent to him earlier, he guessed she must have been upset. Girls at that age are sensitive; happy one day, annoyed the next. Besides, he assumed it was probably his mother, who kept nagging in his sister’s ear, that made her so estranged.

Forget it, after all, this sister couldn’t help him with anything. Growing up like that, she wasn’t even presentable enough for a marriage alliance, so there was no need to butter her up anymore!

Having made up his mind, Wang Yongan looked at Wang Yongzhu with a hint of coldness in his eyes.

Wang Yongzhu, with her back turned, didn’t notice, but Song Chongjin saw it clearly.

He glanced at Wang Yongzhu nonchalantly. The maid was carelessly hugging the youngest child of the Wang Family’s Third Wife, exchanging kisses, heading into the side room, without paying any attention to her surroundings.

※※※

Wang Yongzhu cradled Jinshao as she returned inside, cuddling her nephew for quite a while before they played a game of you-throw-I-catch, both of them working up a sweat in the process.

Only then did she hear the call for dinner from outside.

Many hands make light work, and the family had brought out the table used only for New Year’s and set it in the middle of the courtyard, surrounding it with long benches.

On the table, a big pot of pork stewed with sauerkraut was set down; underneath was all sauerkraut, topped by a thin layer of glistening, translucent fat, sprinkled with a bit of chopped cilantro, aromatic and enticing.

There was also a big pot of tofu cooked with fried pork rinds; the tofu was pure white, the pork rinds golden, and finely chopped spring onions were sprinkled on top, whetting one’s appetite just by smelling it.

Another large bowl contained eggs scrambled with garlicky leaves pickled from last year. Fresh, spiky cucumbers were smashed and mixed for a cold dish. Semi-ripe persimmons were sliced and stir-fried with green peppers for a large bowl, and there was also a bowl of amaranth greens, in season and just sprung up, with a broth of vibrant purple that was pleasing to the eye.

It must be said, in a farmer’s home, this was already a remarkable feast.

Even during the New Year, this was all there was to eat, and many families couldn’t even afford such a lavish meal during the festivities.

Even the Clan Leader nodded in satisfaction. Despite the wife Wang Laozhu had married being a bit fierce and partial, she had handled the matters of face very well.

At other families’ feasts, if you had a stingy and miserly woman hosting, you’d be lucky to get tofu cooked with some pork rinds.

Wang Laozhu then brought out the two pounds of liquor Wang Yongping had distilled, filling everyone’s cups generously. After a couple of gulps of alcohol, the guests let go of their reservations, and chopsticks rained down into the bowls as if in a storm.

In the countryside, according to local customs, women and children generally were not allowed at the table when there were guests.

And the best dishes would be served only at the table where the men were drinking.

If there were older family members at home, then children could take their bowls and scrounge a bit of meat or such from the table, sufficiently filling their bellies.

This routine was all too familiar to Jinguan. During festivals or when visiting relatives, as long as he hovered around the table, Wang Yongfu would always save some meat from his own mouth for him.

So as the men’s table had already started dining, the women and children’s table was set up in the kitchen.

On it was only a small half pot of sauerkraut soup, a small half pot of tofu, a dish of smashed cucumber, a bit of stir-fried amaranth greens, and a plate of pickles.

Under normal circumstances, these would already be quite delectable, especially the sauerkraut cooked with fat and the tofu simmered with pork rinds, which even Old Granny Zhang wouldn’t normally prepare.

But the scent of meat had Jinguan’s soul practically escaping his body, and clutching his bowl, he crowded towards the table in the courtyard.

Jindou and Jinhoo, now strapping young men due to their father’s matter, were allowed for the first time to stay at the main table, pouring liquor for everyone.

Jinpan, Jinhua, and even Jinshao, however, sat obediently at the side of the table; they had never experienced such treatment. Lady Jiang had raised them well; they never crowded around the table hoping for delicacies.

Wang Yongzhu looked on, heart aching. Compared to Jinguan, children from the countryside without a father’s backing seemed particularly sensible.

Old Granny Zhang didn’t even lift an eyelid as she handed Lady Jiang two flatbreads, indicating that she should share them with her children, while she and her daughter scooped up two bowls of sorghum rice for themselves.

She then brought out another bowl from the cupboard, specifically reserved for Wang Yongzhu by Old Granny Zhang, containing a bit of scrambled egg with minced pickled garlic, a little stir-fried persimmon with green pepper, and prominently, three or four pieces of fried pork rinds.

She placed it in front of Wang Yongzhu, "Mother saved this specially for you. You must be hungry! Eat up quickly!"

Her face, that of a pig farmer’s, looked on kindly.