The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure
Chapter 257 Scolding Awake

Chapter 257: Chapter 257 Scolding Awake

It wasn’t easy, but Wang Yongping managed to get through explaining the situation intermittently. Old Granny Zhang cursed and summed up disdainfully, "These unpresentable matters! It’s only because your sister has improved our family’s circumstances that we live better now and will even more so in the future. Now, outsiders flatter us with a few kind words, and you forget the hard times, lightening your bones by three pounds! Do you really see yourself as somebody? After getting a little praise like a cat’s piss, you start getting above yourself!"

"Seeing that Despicable Person of the Li Family not doing well, you feel smug, huh? So smug that you just want to show off! Pah! Such a worthless thing, what is there for you to show off? When something goes wrong at home, what can you do besides using that brute strength of yours? Have you earned a tael of silver, or contributed significantly to the family?"

"It’s only because Zhuzhu pities you and gives you face, thinking of you in everything she does! I see you haven’t improved in any way, but you sure have grown complacent! Zhuzhu doesn’t hold it against you, and now you think you’re the head of the family, right? Always trying to stand up for Zhuzhu, but lacking the brains to avoid these foolish, harmful actions!"

The little vanity in Wang Yongping’s heart, along with his most secret, incomprehensible desires, were laid bare by Old Granny Zhang’s blunt words—it really burnt his face.

He knew that although his younger sister was in charge, she always indulged him, his Fourth Brother. She might be harsh with her words, but she always had him in her heart, not forgetting to involve him when there were benefits.

Sometimes, even if he did something wrong, at most she would just scold him a bit and then let it slide.

Especially when he went to the neighboring village to announce that their family was going to buy mountain goods, the shocked expressions of the others gave him a sense of vindication.

After everyone knew that the Wang Family was indeed on the rise through connections with major bosses.

There were many who changed their attitude towards him, calling him big brother as soon as they opened their mouths, all with the underlying message for him to take care of them in the future.

Wang Yongping, who had never experienced this kind of treatment, couldn’t deny that he enjoyed it immensely.

The ones who used to mock him as useless behind his back or sneered at him for being cuckolded by a woman now greeted him as ’brother’ and asked for his care—how tables turned!

Without realizing, he seemed to have been immersed in this praise and flattery.

At the beginning, he still tried to explain that the business was managed by his sister, but as everyone flattered him, claiming that the Wang Family now relied solely on him, the stout man, who else but him to shoulder the responsibility?

However capable his sister might be, she was still a woman; could she really come forward and handle things publicly?

It was still up to him, wasn’t it, to manage the buying and selling, even if she managed the mountain goods at home?

He gradually began to believe this, especially when his sister took him to meet Shopkeeper Wu and introduced him, saying that whatever was discussed with him was as if discussed with her.

Did this not mean that his sister was slowly allowing him to take charge?

Of course, he still loved his sister and listened to her, but he felt that without him, the man of the house, his sister alone wouldn’t be able to manage everything!

He, Wang Laosi, wasn’t entirely incapable!

At this moment, sobered by Old Granny Zhang’s scolding, Wang Yongping realized that without his sister, he really was nothing and couldn’t do anything right!

Not only couldn’t he do things right, but he also jeopardized the family’s chance to redeem their land.

Looking at Wang Yongping’s expression, Wang Yongzhu sighed.

When it came down to it, it was her oversight. The family still had too few capable hands to use. She had been too reliant on her Fourth Brother before, eager for him to be independent quickly.

She hadn’t considered that Wang Yongping, being the youngest, was never burdened with expectations. Only now that he was the sole adult male among his peers in the family was he being forced into the limelight.

Yet he never considered whether he could stay grounded when he went from being unnoticed to suddenly being flattered and praised.

Sure enough, Wang Yongping, who had never experienced much of the world, became arrogant with just a little exposure.

Luckily, that day when Old Granny Zhang scolded Wang Yongping for his attitude towards Song Chongjin, it also served as a reminder for her to stay alert to Wang Yongping’s current state of mind.

Therefore, she took advantage of the issue with Li Jinzhi to sound a warning for Wang Yongping and the whole family, urging everyone to stay awake and alert.

Speak and act with caution, or else the whole family could be implicated!

After this incident, it’s hoped that not only Wang Yongping but also everyone else should have become more vigilant, right?

However, this also reminded her that she cannot rely too much on others; within this house, besides herself and Old Granny Zhang, there are still several people with their own agendas.

Even though everyone seems to be working together now, once life improves and they see the continuous benefits, those hidden agendas might just emerge.

Eldest brother, Wang Yongfu, must be strong, so he can keep a firm hand on Wang Yongping.

She would also train Jinhu and Jinhua well, so the third branch of the family wouldn’t be too weak and could offer some restraint.

However, it couldn’t be too easy to let Wang Yongping off the hook without letting him and the family deeply remember this lesson. What if something like this happens again in the future? She didn’t want her efforts to be in vain because of these people.

Wang Yongzhu cleared her throat, "Alright, it’s getting late, everyone should go back to their rooms and rest!"

Jinhu was still not convinced, "What about Li Jinzhi? Should we find her tomorrow in town and settle the score!"

Old Granny Zhang scoffed with a cold laugh, "Go tomorrow, and will they admit it? With this sort of thing, without catching them red-handed, they will never confess; what can you do about it?"

After thinking it over, she still felt unsatisfied, "At my age, I’ve never suffered such a loss in silence! No, I must go to the town tomorrow. I will sit in front of the He Family’s shop and curse them. Isn’t doing business about making money with harmony? I’ll throw caution to the wind. I’ll squat in front of their shop every day to curse. Every customer that comes, I’ll drive away, I won’t rest until I’ve cursed the He Family’s shop out of business!"

With the eagerness of someone watching a play from a high perch, Jingu said while clapping her hands, "Granny, I’ll accompany you! If I can’t out-curse them, I’ll just urinate at their shop doorway, throw mud... "

Even Jindou and Jinhu appeared to be moved by the idea, eagerly rubbing their hands together as if they wished they could go right now.

Wang Yongzhu laughed and cried at the same time, "Mother, tomorrow the matter of the dye, you still need to help me see if it can be salvaged. As for the He Family’s shop, let’s wait until our family is less busy. We definitely can’t let Li Jinzhi off the hook!"

What good would it do to find Li Jinzhi now? She probably already believes she has succeeded, and if she has any other methods to deal with the Wang Family, she will be ready to use them.

She could take this opportunity to make her new ideas a reality, and once the new fabric is dyed, it will be time to settle the score with Li Jinzhi.

Upon hearing her daughter needed her help, Old Granny Zhang put everything else aside, like the He Family and Li Jinzhi, and promptly agreed to help.

The whole family was tired after a long day and feeling sleepy, so they yawned and went back to their rooms to sleep.

Only Wang Yongping remained, kneeling in the middle of the courtyard, unmoved.

Old Granny Zhang pretended not to see, thinking that for causing such an egregious error that hurt his own family, not breaking his legs was already lenient enough. If he had to kneel, then let him kneel.