The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure
Chapter 153: The Abacus

Chapter 153: Chapter 153: The Abacus

"What?" Wang Yongzhu thought that only Old Granny Zhang had lost her wits, but now even the usually astute Wang Laozhu had gone offline too?

Both Wang Yongzhu and Old Granny Zhang were surprised and looked at Wang Laozhu together.

Old Granny Zhang had thought that the head of the family would definitely disagree because, after all, not to mention Qilidun, she feared that no one in the nearby villages had ever done such a thing.

In her heart, she planned to broach the subject first and then get her daughter’s silver. When the time came to say the silver had been spent and couldn’t be returned, she would bring up compensating her daughter with the dry land. She estimated that the plan would have a seventy or eighty percent chance of success.

She wasn’t really foolish enough to think that as soon as she mentioned it, the head of the family would agree to give her daughter everything she treasured?

It was only her silly daughter, the maid, who really thought she hadn’t considered everything and was anxiously hopping mad!

Before her daughter got married, this matter definitely couldn’t be settled, and not a word could be leaked. Otherwise, if that pack of ingrates couldn’t touch her, they might trip her daughter up behind her back. Wouldn’t her daughter suffer then?

Who would have thought that the head of the family would actually agree?

Could he have lost his wits too?

That was the only thought in the minds of the mother and daughter.

Under the gaze of the mother and daughter, Wang Laozhu calmly took a puff of his smoke, "I’ve thought about it, and this matter could indeed be arranged in such a way, but there’s a condition. The daughter must marry a man into our family. This way, the land will still belong to the Wang Family in the future, and no one else will be able to gossip about it. Even the clan won’t have anything to say."

Damn! There’s such a shrewd move?

Wang Yongzhu felt like kneeling!

Old Granny Zhang slightly frowned, beginning to understand the thoughts of the man who had shared her bed for decades.

He must have realized by now that once Eldest Brother falls, Laosi is too naive, Laosan is not in a rush, and the second oldest has lost heart. The family lacked a pillar.

Their daughter, having just improved, was capable of earning money, and the recent family affairs showed that she was even more cunning and resourceful than her sons.

To wait for Jinshao and Jindou to grow up and take over the Wang Family would take many more years, and the head of the household was afraid he wouldn’t make it that long.

It would be better to have the daughter support the family until Jinshao and Jindou were strong enough to take on the family’s responsibilities and then he could let go.

And her reward for this would be those two acres of dry land!

However, these two acres of dry land couldn’t be given to anyone with a different surname, so the daughter would have to marry a man into the family. This way, the land would still belong to the Wang Family after a hundred years.

The plan was certainly shrewd! Old Granny Zhang sneered inwardly.

She didn’t show it on her face but was contemplating in her heart whether it would be better for her daughter to marry a man into the family or to marry out.

On the other hand, Wang Yongzhu was truly shocked. She wasn’t stupid, and with a few extra thoughts, she naturally understood what Wang Laozhu’s plan was.

She was just a stepping stone for the Wang Family to transition to Jinshao and his generation, and her reward was two acres of dry land. And these two acres still had to carry the Wang surname!

Wasn’t this reward too cheap?

Wang Yongzhu really wanted to refuse. Whoever wanted those two acres of dry land could have them; she didn’t care for them!

She was just about to refuse when, as the words reached her lips, a thought suddenly surged in her mind.

If handled well, this matter actually has many benefits. For instance, I wouldn’t have to worry about getting married for the time being, as definitely, it wouldn’t be easy to find a live-in son-in-law. When the time comes, I could be pickier, or I could say that since Jindou and the others are not yet adults, I’m not at ease leaving them. That way, I could easily avoid getting married too early.

Another example is that if I present myself as someone who plans to stay with the Wang Family to seek a live-in son-in-law, then the Wang Family itself would have more say. According to Wang Laozhu’s idea, if I play my cards right within a few years, or even ten years, I could basically take control of the future direction of this family.

And finally, who says I must follow Wang Laozhu’s plan? Once I lead the Wang Family to wealth and prominence, who would care about those two acres of dry land? At worst, I could just transfer those two acres back to the Wang Family, right? By that time, I’ll return the land, dust off my bottom, and walk away. Who would dare say a thing?

The more I think about it, this is an opportunity, a chance to take control of my own fate!

Done deal!

As for the downsides of seeking a live-in son-in-law and splitting the land, like the jealousy of my brother and sister-in-law and such, what’s there to fear? I’m Popeye! If anyone’s unhappy, come on, let’s see who’s stronger—whoever is stronger gets to call the shots, right? That’ll solve everything.

In this world, there’s nothing a good punch can’t solve. If one beating doesn’t do the trick, why not thrice a day? They’ll eventually be persuaded!

I was initially worried that Wang Laozhu wouldn’t agree, and with my daughter’s identity, it wouldn’t be easy to manipulate the situation without making Old Granny Zhang a target for the whole family. But now that Wang Laozhu has agreed, the shift in my status means that this is worth a try.

After weighing it in her mind, Wang Yongzhu decisively decided to accept it, as the advantages outweighed the disadvantages.

Of course, I couldn’t appear too eager, otherwise, Wang Laozhu might think I was coveting those two acres of land, which wouldn’t be good.

Therefore, standing up, with a reluctantly feigned girlish chagrin, I said, "Dad, what are you talking about? Who’s getting married? Who wants to find a live-in son-in-law? You’re embarrassing me! I’m not going to marry anyone, I won’t go anywhere, I just want to spend a few more years with Mom and Dad! Don’t worry, I don’t want the land or the silver. You guys take it and use it!"

Saying that, I covered my face and made for the door. As I sidestepped, I nodded at Old Granny Zhang and then rushed out, pretending to be mortified.

I hurried back to my room, laid on the kang, and touched the goosebumps on my skin—ugh, I really shouldn’t try to act like a bashful young girl in the future; it’s disgusting!

I’ve given Old Granny Zhang the signal. If she truly understands it, even if she’s not going to help me outright, she won’t immediately shut down the idea.

As long as there’s room for negotiation, I can persuade her, and we’ll plan together.

My initial plan was to get wealthy first with Old Granny Zhang and Wang Laozhu, perhaps adding Wang Yongping. Then, I’d see which of the younger Wang Family members I favored and pull them up too.

Wang Laozhu suddenly threw such a good opportunity my way, although it means I’d have to lead the entire Wang Family to prosperity.

Honestly, my only emotional attachment in the Wang Family is to Old Granny Zhang, while the ones I’m somewhat fond of are Wang Yongping, and then Jinhua and Jinshao, the two siblings. As for the rest, they mean little more to me than strangers.

With this arrangement now, I could continue to take care of and repay Old Granny Zhang without worrying about people gossiping for not marrying or causing her anxiety.

I also wouldn’t have to worry about not being able to serve Old Granny Zhang closely after I’m married.

Other than shouldering the responsibility for the other members of the Wang Family, well, that’s no big deal. Herding one sheep is the same as herding a flock.

It’s just that I’ll be the one deciding how to herd these sheep.

People have their closeness and distances. I’m no saint, and I won’t be so short-sighted as to see only those two acres of dry land and go out of my way for every single Wang Family member.

Those close to me and respectful to Old Granny Zhang, I’ll help and favor a bit more. As for those who have always bore grievances against me and Old Granny Zhang, I won’t be soft-hearted.

Now that I’ve figured out my path forward, Wang Yongzhu finally let out a sigh of relief. After crossing over for so long, I’m finally starting to feel like myself again.

What I need now is to set a small goal, to make the Wang Family earn a hundred, er, or ten taels of silver, right?