The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure
Chapter 157 Disquiet

Chapter 157: Chapter 157 Disquiet

This indeed voiced the concerns of many villagers; Wang Daxiu’s sudden act of brandishing a knife and slashing at someone in their own home was like madness. If she had run into their own home and something had happened, it would have been an irrevocable regret.

Since it had grown dark and the matter was still unresolved, the villagers were unwilling to disperse; they wanted to see the outcome.

Nowadays, nobody wanted to waste lamp oil. Fuming with anger, Old Granny Zhang wouldn’t even light a single lamp. Left with no choice, the clan leaders of both families ordered torches to be lit, illuminating the courtyard bright as day.

The Li Family Patriarch approached the Wang Family Patriarch to discuss, "What do you think we should do about this?"

The Wang Family Patriarch took off his smoking pipe, tapped it against the sole of his shoe, and frowned, "A swift solution is needed for this tangled mess; it cannot be dragged out any longer. It all depends on whether you can make the tough decision!"

The Li Family Patriarch said fiercely, "Had I known that this was a family of madness, why would I have given them ten days? They should have been kicked out with their bags on the very day! The Li Family has been utterly ruined by them this time!"

He gritted his cheeks, a hint of venom flashing across his eyes.

The Wang Family Patriarch gave the Li Family Patriarch a sympathetic look. Indeed, having such people in the clan was like a single rat dropping ruining a whole pot of soup.

It was said that in recent days, several girls from the Li Family who were just engaged had their engagements called off, the reason being the bad reputation of the females in the Li Family.

Li Jinzhi alone had caused so much trouble for all the girls of the Li Family, and with the chaos Wang Daxiu was now creating, it was likely that after this incident the entire Li Family would have to keep a low profile for a while.

It seemed that from now on, more attention would have to be paid to the upbringing of girls in the clan. Should anything like this recur, the Wang Family would not be able to hold their heads high either.

The Li Family Patriarch didn’t become clan leader for nothing; he was no fool. He had previously cared about the blood ties, but that patience had been worn thin by the shenanigans of Li Dagui’s family.

After having a whispered conversation with the Wang Family Patriarch, he called over Wang Laozhu to mutter something for a while.

It was then announced that Wang Daxiu was to be dragged back to the Li Family Ancestral Hall and locked up for the night, regardless of life or death. The next morning, the Li Family members were to oversee the expulsion of her family from Qilidun, never to return.

As for the compensation, since the Wang Family members had only been frightened, Li Dagui’s Family was to compensate with Half String Money and two old hens to settle the matter.

Everyone could accept this result; the main thing was getting rid of Li Dagui’s family, which would allow everyone to rest easy, no longer living in fear each day.

Old Granny Zhang thought the compensation was too little; what use was Half String Money? But with the addition of two old hens, she didn’t comment further.

She thought to herself, her daughter was shocked today and had exerted such an effort to overturn the table. If it weren’t for her, Laosan’s family and Jinshao would have probably faced dire consequences today.

Just for that, she ought to reward her daughter with a stewed hen.

The Li Family Patriarch had people drag Wang Daxiu to the ancestral hall to lock her up; meanwhile, the Wang Family clan people helped clean up the Wang Family’s courtyard, which was a mess.

Especially that table, when a few people lifted it up, the kitchen knife on it was still trembling.

It made onlookers shudder with fear.

Some quick-mouthed person said, "We were lucky to have this table, otherwise if the knife had cut into someone, who could have remained alive? To see such force in the chop, I wouldn’t have thought that Wang Daxiu’s wife usually acts sly and weak, claiming to be frail and lacking strength; yet when she goes mad, she isn’t any weaker than us men—"

Wang Yongping, who was reaching to pull out the knife, froze. He wanted to say that whether Wang Daxiu had any strength or not, he didn’t know, but this little sister—

He shivered involuntarily, imagining the pain in her bones when the table smacked right into Wang Daxiu’s face.

Fearful of more trouble as the night dragged on, the darkness did not stop Old Granny Zhang’s determination to go to Li Dagui’s House that night to take the hens back home.

She thought about it, if she brought them back overnight, she might get a couple of eggs from them as early as tomorrow morning. Otherwise, if she went to fetch them tomorrow morning, wouldn’t the eggs just benefit the Li family?

Not a single feather should go to anyone from the chickens that belonged to her own family!

In the middle of the night, and just after the incident, no one would feel at ease letting her go to the Li family alone.

The two clan leaders assigned two young men to lead the way with torches, while Old Granny Zhang took Wang Yongzhu with her to the Li family to catch the chickens.

The two young men walked ahead while Wang Yongzhu stayed by Old Granny Zhang’s side, beginning to feel increasingly anxious.

Had Old Granny Zhang already realized something was amiss? Her daughter had suddenly become so strong; surely she would be suspicious?

Yet, at that critical moment, if she had chosen to conceal her identity rather than save a life, Wang Yongzhu couldn’t have done it.

But if Old Granny Zhang had realized, would she be heartbroken? Or would she—

Wang Yongzhu felt she didn’t dare to think about it.

As they walked on and Old Granny Zhang remained silent, Wang Yongzhu became even more uneasy.

Clenching her teeth, she thought it’s better to die earlier and be reborn sooner. If Old Granny Zhang really discovered the truth, at most, she would just deny everything fervently, claiming to have suddenly gained divine strength. In case Old Granny Zhang still didn’t believe her, and just became emotionally distant, it wouldn’t matter much since she was in her daughter’s body after all!

If Old Granny Zhang couldn’t accept her and insisted on the return of the original Wang Yongzhu, then apologies would have to be made; her own life was still more important. Perhaps she could only hide, and look for an opportunity to repay Old Granny Zhang for her kindness to the original host in the future.

Therefore, after some inner turmoil, Wang Yongzhu made up her mind, "Mother, today, at that moment when the table was flipped over, I—"

Upon hearing this, Old Granny Zhang quickly covered Wang Yongzhu’s mouth: "Quiet down; don’t let others hear—" she said, casting a wary glance at the two young men ahead, fearful they might overhear.

Once she was certain they hadn’t noticed, she whispered, "It’s alright, don’t be afraid! You have your mother here. Nothing will happen, don’t worry—" After saying this, she even patted Wang Yongzhu’s back to soothe her.

What was going on?

Wang Yongzhu herself was at a loss.

Wasn’t she about to confess? But listening to Old Granny Zhang’s words, it seemed as if Old Granny Zhang was the one afraid she had been frightened?

Confused, Wang Yongzhu followed Old Granny Zhang dazedly to Li Dagui’s chicken coop. There, they lit torches, picked out the two fattest hens, and returned home with their catch.

Everyone at home had dispersed.

Two torches were still sticking out of the wall, and Jindou, Jinhoo, and Jinhua were cleaning the courtyard.

From Lady Jiang’s room, low sobs could still be heard.

Seeing the two return, Jinhua dropped her broom and came forward to take the hens and put them in the coop.

Old Granny Zhang didn’t forget to remind her, "Tie the wings of these two tightly, I will clip their wings tomorrow, keep them penned for a few days to get acclimated before letting them out."

Jinhua nodded and thanked Old Granny Zhang and Wang Yongzhu in a low voice, "Thank you, Granny, and Auntie! If not for you today, my mother and little brother might have been lost—" As she said this, the girl’s voice choked up, still evidently afraid.

Wang Yongzhu patted her shoulder: "It’s all right now, after you’re done cleaning up, go back to your room and rest. After a good sleep, everything will be fine tomorrow!"