The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure
Chapter 269: Have You No Shame? (Add more for every 1100 monthly tickets)

Chapter 269: Chapter 269: Have You No Shame? (Add more for every 1100 monthly tickets)

Since no one was opposed, Wang Laozhu wanted to object but no one would have paid him any mind, so Old Granny Zhang made the final decision.

"That settles it! Today, in the presence of us two elders and the whole family, this matter is decided! For the sake of your mother’s face, Zhuzhu, you’ll have to take a bit of a loss. The one or two hundred silver taels you’ve earned upfront, consider it a filial contribution to your parents! Rest assured, your brothers and sisters-in-law are not heartless. When you get married, they will definitely give you a grand celebration!"

Wang Yongping and Wang Yongfu immediately echoed, "Mother, don’t worry, we will definitely provide the best for our little sister!"

At this moment, everyone felt moved by Old Granny Zhang’s words and believed that it indeed put the little sister at a great disadvantage, vowing not to let her down in the future.

Everyone felt somewhat indebted to Wang Yongzhu.

Wang Yongzhu also nodded with a smile, "Okay! I’ll be waiting for my brothers and sisters-in-law to prepare my dowry!"

This sentiment stirred up a determination in Wang Yongping and Wang Yongfu’s hearts; no matter what it took, they would work even harder for the sake of their sister’s bridal dowry.

Even Jinhoo joined in the excitement, "Old cousin, there’s me too, I will also contribute to your bridal dowry when the time comes!"

"Very well, I’ll be waiting!"

"Me too, old cousin, when I grow up I’ll also contribute to the dowry!" Jinshao, young and not understanding what a dowry was, knew it must be something good since everyone was preparing it for the old cousin, and he wanted to contribute too.

Wang Yongzhu hugged Jinshao and tousled his hair, "Then Jinshao must grow up quickly, otherwise by the time you can earn money, your old cousin will already be old!"

The whole family burst into laughter, the first time since Wang Yongfu’s incident that everyone felt so joyfully at ease.

Jinshao wrapped his arms around Wang Yongzhu’s neck, snuggling up to her warmly, "Old cousin is not old! Old cousin is the prettiest!"

That comment reminded Old Granny Zhang to take a closer look at her daughter and sure enough, the past two or three months of one thing after another at home must have been wearing on the girl, who had become noticeably thinner.

Her chin had sharpened, even her eye sockets had sunk in, revealing a pair of sparkling eyes that just begged for affection.

"Ah, my dear Yongzhu. You’ve suffered greatly over these past few months, look how thin you’ve become, Laosan’s house, from tomorrow on, add a brown sugar and egg soup to Zhuzhu’s breakfast. We haven’t been eating well enough these days, from tomorrow on, three meals a day, add more fine grains—"

She said, hugging her daughter and feeling endlessly heartbroken.

Poor girl, her waist used to be too wide to be encircled by an arm, but now she could be held easily. Her previously chubby face had lost its plumpness, leaving only a bit of flesh on her cheeks!

What a pity to lose the flesh she had been nourished with over a decade of careful feeding! All that nourishment from fatty meats and eggs, gone in just three months!

Upon hearing about the improved meals, the children all cheered.

Even Wang Laozhu, seeing how thin Wang Yongzhu had become, turned his head away and fell silent. They discussed for a while how to redeem the family land.

"I’ve asked Shopkeeper Wu to inquire," Wang Yongzhu said. "The person who bought our family’s land seems to also have the surname Wu. We might ask him to pass on a message, offering to pay a little more to redeem our land. If the person really isn’t willing to sell, then we’ll take our time to find some good land to buy."

Everyone still hoped to redeem their own land. It had been passed down from their ancestors and Wang Laozhu had tended it for decades, so their attachment was profound.

But if the other party was not willing to sell, there was nothing that could be done and everyone expressed their understanding.

Wang Laozhu also urged, "When the time comes... bring... Jindou and the others... with you..."

He was suggesting that Wang Yongzhu bring his nephews along. It looked like he was still dissatisfied with Old Granny Zhang and Wang Yongzhu; could it be he had given up on his own son and was thinking of having Wang Yongzhu take his grandsons out instead?

Wang Yongzhu had no objections. Who to bring with her wasn’t the issue. Taking the children to see more of the world was always better than being cooped up at home in the village.

After everyone had gone back to their rooms to rest, Old Granny Zhang, with a cold expression, finished washing up and climbed into the kang bed, completely ignoring Wang Laozhu.

Wang Laozhu waited a long time. Not seeing Old Granny Zhang come to wash his face and feet, he opposed her and turned over to sleep.

Already feeling aggrieved, anger rose when he saw his wife’s demeanor: "Get up and wash my feet!"

Old Granny Zhang didn’t even turn her head: "Wash them yourself! I don’t owe you, and you don’t owe me. I didn’t mind caring for you when you were less able, but now that you can walk and move on your own, you still want to order me around? Am I your servant? Slaving away during the day and then expected to wash your face and feet at night, it’s like courting illness! Wash or don’t, as you please!"

Wang Laozhu hadn’t expected Old Granny Zhang to be fiercer than himself and was taken aback. It took him a while to shiver out, "Fine then... you..."

"What about me? Let me tell you, Wang Laozhu! Don’t go too far! Today, when I spoke about that matter, the whole family agreed. Why the disapproving look? Are you their real father or not? You always say I’m biased; aren’t you? Your heart has skewed so far it’s fallen into a crevice! Only Eldest Brother and his lot are your true offspring, and Zhuzhu isn’t your own daughter? What more does she have to do before you’re satisfied with her contributions to the Wang Family? Counting from before our troubles at home to now, Zhuzhu has contributed over two hundred taels of silver to the family. When will your appetite be sated? Go ask around the whole village; which other daughter has earned so much for her parents?"

"Didn’t you see how skinny Zhuzhu has become? Apart from a bit of flesh on her face, she’s thin as bone everywhere! You’re her father; how can you be so cruel? Hasn’t she done enough for this family? The silver for your treatment, the silver soon needed to redeem the land – where didn’t it come from my Zhuzhu’s earnings? I’m just trying to save some private silver for her. The silver was earned by my Zhuzhu to begin with, why must she be the one to take it out?"

"I’m laying it out here today, Wang Laozhu, if you’re still thinking of leeching off my daughter to support your good-for-nothing sons, then, pushed to the brink, I will Divorse you! I’ll take Zhuzhu and find a man to be a live-in son-in-law!" Old Granny Zhang rose from bed, ready for a fight.

Her outburst left Wang Laozhu stunned for a long time, "You... you dare!"

"What wouldn’t I dare? Zhuzhu is the flesh of my heart; anyone who tries to pinch my flesh will be fighting for their life against me!" Old Granny Zhang was ready to risk everything.

"You... you’re talking nonsense... are Eldest Brother and the others... not your... sons? I’m doing... this for the good of the Wang Family! In the future... Zhuzhu will, just like Eldest Brother... get her share... when splitting the inheritance..." Wang Laozhu stuttered his defense.

"Tch! Wang Laozhu, have you no shame! In the future? My daughter will have plenty of ways to make money. By then, won’t it be just my daughter working to support the entire family, and also share the inheritance with Eldest Brother and the rest? Do you think I’m a fool? Let’s not even mention that parents don’t split the property while alive. How many years will it be until we are all dead? Why should my Zhuzhu support these people? Besides, when dividing the inheritance, Eldest Brother takes the lion’s share, with the rest getting the leftovers. Do you expect my Zhuzhu to work for the Wang Family her entire life, only to let Eldest Brother’s house take the lion’s share? Dream on! As long as I’m alive, don’t even think about it!" Old Granny Zhang, furious, advanced and scratched Wang Laozhu a couple of times.