The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure
Chapter 152 Idea

Chapter 152: Chapter 152 Idea

Of course, as for the private savings that Old Granny Zhang had hidden away, it’s legendary, something everyone knows exists but also knows not to expect her to reveal what she calls her "coffin fund."

Just forget about it!

When Wang Yongzhu saw her parents worrying about money, she remembered that she had secretly saved up ten taels of silver from selling Yellow Pine Mushrooms and covertly kept it from Old Granny Zhang, subsequently restoring whatever she had made before to her own stash.

Her private savings instantly reached twenty taels.

Now she must be the richest girl in the Wang Family and, likely, the wealthiest unmarried girl in Qilidun.

Suddenly, she felt so rich!

As the most affluent girl in Qilidun, how could she stand by and watch her parents worry about money?

What’s there to worry about, it’s just money, right? The daughter will provide!

Wang Yongzhu stepped forward with a grand gesture, "Mom, I have money! Didn’t you give me ten taels a while back? What’s mine is yours. Just use those ten taels of silver; why make things difficult?"

Wang Laozhu’s eyebrows twitched, slightly moved by her offer.

However, Old Granny Zhang suddenly had a bright idea and feigned objection, "Nonsense, that’s the dowry silver you earned yourself. How could your father and I touch your dowry money? With the family in such a state, if we use this silver, it might be a while before we can compensate you. What will you do when you marry? No, no, we’ll think of something else!"

Wang Yongzhu thought to herself, without having made a fortune or established a career, what kind of family could she marry into or who would she marry?

Even though she felt that Old Granny Zhang was overthinking things, and Song Chongjin certainly had no other intentions toward her, it was still necessary to take precautions. If one day Song Chongjin needed help from the Wang Family and the price was something they couldn’t afford, what then?

Such debts of gratitude, it’s better to repay them as soon as possible.

Thus, she urged earnestly, "What are you talking about, Mom? I was born to you, nourished by the milk transformed from your flesh and blood. Dad and you have raised me without letting me suffer the slightest hardship. How do other girls live, and how do I live? Even if I were confused, I would still know that my parents have been wholeheartedly good to me. Now, seeing my parents troubled over the matter of money, how could I, as a daughter, keep private savings without offering? Would I even be human? Besides, our family is facing difficulties now, yes, but with so many of us, if we pull together and work hard, I don’t believe we can’t achieve better days! I’ve said it before, I want my parents to enjoy the fruits of my labor! Consider these ten taels of silver as an early enjoyment for you! Does it really need to come to estrangement between parents and daughter?"

Her impassioned speech made Old Granny Zhang’s eyes redden.

It revived that sour feeling, thinking about her own children; none of them remembered this deep kindness, seeing only their parents’ partiality and faults.

Not to mention Old Granny Zhang, even Wang Laozhu, this tough man, couldn’t help but feel a mix of sour and sweet in his heart after hearing his daughter’s words.

He prided himself on treating everyone equally, having plans for everything in the house, including his sons.

Eldest Brother was honest and, being the eldest son, he was the one to take care of them in old age, hence most trusted.

Laosi was intelligent and was good scholar material, now even a Scholar—he valued him the most.

Laosan was restless from a young age, always liked to wander, and being in the middle, tended to be overlooked, but even with him being away half the year, weren’t his wife and children still supported by their father?

Laosi was straightforward and strong; as long as he directed this son well, and he found a good wife, he was sure his future would be prosperous.

And even the old daughter, although not as important as a few sons, he nevertheless indulged his wife’s fondness for her and had saved up a dowry for her in secret.

After years of hard work and careful planning, as he grew old and things went awry, he realized that each of his sons had their own thoughts and couldn’t be relied upon.

The sense of defeat really struck Wang Laozhu hard.

Now, hearing his daughter’s caring words, Wang Laozhu felt no wonder people say daughters are the comforting warmth of their parents. Such words were truly soothing and comforting.

He coughed once before trying to maintain a normal tone, "Look at what you’re saying, child. It’s only natural for your parents to raise you all once we’ve brought you into this world—"

But Old Granny Zhang interrupted Wang Laozhu, "Head of the household, since the girl is so filial, it would be cruel for us not to accept, letting her worry. However, we can’t just take your silver for nothing. You’re a daughter, and there are several brothers above you who should be taking care of such matters. We’ll accept the silver for now, but we can’t let our daughter suffer a loss. I do have an idea, but—"

She hesitated, glancing at Wang Laozhu with difficulty.

Wang Laozhu took a puff of his pipe, "What’s the idea?"

Old Granny Zhang said cautiously, "Here’s what I’m thinking, see. Originally, we planned to sell two acres of dry land to the Song Family Boy at a bargain, but now that boy doesn’t want the land, and we need the silver. How about we pretend that the daughter has bought this dry land with ten taels of silver? Technically, the land is only worth six or seven taels. Our daughter is offering ten, it’s still us who are taking advantage of her. Head of the household, what do you think?"

Wang Yongzhu was stunned. My dear mother, how does your mind work? Such audacity! Who in these times has ever heard of buying land to hoard for an unmarried daughter before the sons even have lands in their names?

My dear mother, are you aiming for the heavens?

No, this cannot be done. It’s not about whether Wang Laozhu agrees or not; even if it actually happened, our Eldest Brother’s family is already accusing us of favoritism. Such a maneuver would make the family strife irreconcilable. If you were to say we just disband the family and divide the property, that might be one thing, but Old Granny Zhang is definitely not in favor of dividing the family right now!

In the future, seeing each other all the time, my own mother and I would become the thorn in their sides! It’s important to remember that relationships, whether they are based on kinship or something else, cannot be tested with interests.

At this moment, Wang Yongzhu still didn’t know that Old Granny Zhang had completely lost hope in her sons and was worried that her mother was going too far for her sake. She feared that later on, when Old Granny Zhang wanted to mend fences with her sons, she would find that she had crossed a line from which there was no returning.

So she immediately made her position clear, "No, I don’t want it! There’s no reason to buy land for me, the unmarried daughter, before my brothers have theirs!"

Old Granny Zhang became anxious and pinched her clueless daughter subtly, really a fool, this is not the time to refuse. Once we miss this opportunity, there won’t be another.

As long as the land is secured, let the brothers and sisters-in-law say what they will; why bother about their words? With land comes strength!

Why be so foolish, my silly girl!

Since Eldest Brother and the others say I show favoritism, I might as well just show them what favoritism is.

Wang Yongzhu really wanted to shake Old Granny Zhang awake: My dear mother, by doing this, do you want to push everyone in the family to the opposing side except your own dear daughter?

The current balance of the Wang Family rested on the sons harboring their little schemes yet watching each other carefully. And with Old Granny Zhang’s manipulation, although she favored her own, she hadn’t touched the fundamental interests, which kept things quiet.

If fundamental interests like land become involved, even Wang Yongan in the county seat would be alarmed.

It wouldn’t end well, and moreover, outside, everyone would speak ill of Old Granny Zhang. Why bother with that?

If she wanted land, she could earn some more money and afford to buy a couple of acres, but why have people talk behind her back?

Mother and daughter exchanged glances; one was insistent, the other resistant.

As they locked eyes and argued, the often ignored Wang Laozhu on the sideline finally coughed and said, "I think this plan is acceptable!"