The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure
Chapter 279 Thank You Gift

Chapter 279: Chapter 279 Thank You Gift

For example: "Ah, no, no, it’s not as amazing as you all say, we just barely keep from starving, our family lives a passable life, that’s all."

Or maybe: "I just made a little money, no choice, who told me my daughter is so filial and sensible."

All kinds of flamboyant boasting.

Then there were those with a scheming mind, who would inquire, what does the Wang Family do, and how did they suddenly come into a fortune?

Old Granny Zhang would lightly change the subject.

The onlookers were itching with envy but had to admit their own daughters didn’t compare with such a sensible, capable, and filial girl.

Those quick thinkers, meanwhile, started getting ideas.

Especially when they saw Wang Yongzhu come out of the house, looking like a completely different person after not being seen for several months.

She had lost weight and turned out to be a beautiful girl, almost as good-looking as Wang Yongan, the Wang Family’s Second Child.

Everyone used to say that the prettiest one in the Wang Family was the second child, that both the good looks and the brains went to him.

But now it seems that the youngest daughter of the Wang Family is quite a beauty too!

Her face was still a bit chubby, which made her look fortunate and festive. Although her skin wasn’t very fair, the healthy pinkish tone was much liked by the women around her; her round, sparkling eyes and her lips that curved up slightly when she smiled made her an endearing young girl.

Such a girl was not only visually appealing but, most importantly, she could make money!

If one could marry her and bring her home, wouldn’t it be like marrying a hen that could lay golden eggs?

Although a while ago, the Wang Family had put word out that their youngest daughter was looking to attract a suitor to join her at home, now that the Wang Family were rising, surely they’d be okay with marrying her off, right?

One by one, they changed from their sarcastic tones to sincerely praising Old Granny Zhang for raising such a beautiful and pleasing daughter, "Oh, what great fortune..."

Old Granny Zhang was nearly floating from all the praise until someone mentioned matchmaking for her daughter, which snapped her back to reality.

"My daughter is seeking a suitor to join our household. If any of you have a suitable young man, do introduce him. Not to boast, but with our current status, my daughter’s talents, looks, and skills, even attracting a suitor, it’s not open to just any Tom, Dick, or Harry," she said.

"Not to mention anything else, but the suitor must be good-looking and upright. Also, his family shouldn’t have too many burdens, not having to support a whole bunch of parents, brothers, sisters-in-law, nephews, and nieces after joining us - our money won’t be spent on outsiders! And he must be obedient, listening to everything my daughter says! If you have such a suitable match, tell me, and I will have a look. If it works out, I’ll give you a big red envelope as a matchmaking thank you!"

Old Granny Zhang had always felt that her daughter was worthy of the Emperor himself, and now, even more so, she was nearly convinced her daughter could catch a fairy for a husband.

Those terms left the women tongue-tied.

Was this for recruiting a live-in son-in-law? Even for marrying off a daughter, finding such a son-in-law was rare. If there really was such a young man, would he not have been kept for their own daughters? Would they leave such a catch for her family?

Delusional much?

Some, feeling that Old Granny Zhang was just leading them on, held back their annoyance and took their leave. As they stepped out of the courtyard, they would mutter a curse or two under their breath, criticizing her for becoming so arrogant after just a few days of success.

Yet there were those who, tempted by the chance of a big red matchmaking envelope, actually racked their brains for such a candidate.

Soon enough, everyone took their leave.

And the Wang Family finally had some peace.

Wang Laozhu went out for a walk and received many admiring comments from his old friends, which greatly lifted his spirits. He moved more briskly, and even his speech became more fluent.

Having been inseparable from the fields his whole life, he now hated to be away from them day or night. Jindou, Jinhoo, or Wang Yongping had to drag him back home every day, or else he might have joined the fields in sleep each night.

The miraculous downfall and rebirth of the Wang Family became the talk of the town, spreading throughout the neighboring villages.

Especially Old Granny Zhang’s terrifyingly high standards for seeking a son-in-law—it was the talk of the town for a while.

As for what outsiders thought, Wang Yongzhu didn’t care at all.

※※※

In the town, Wu Zhongbao flipped through the bamboo basket sent by Shopkeeper Wu’s people.

A packet of clean dried wolf meat, two small earthen jars—upon opening them, the scent of meat sauce hit him, making his mouth water uncontrollably.

At the very bottom was what?

Wu Zhongbao took a deep breath and pulled out two well-folded pelts from the bottom, caressing them carefully.

The fur felt coarse to the touch, with a grayish hue in the center darkening gradually towards the edges—was this wolf pelt?

Despite being near Dahei Mountain and knowing about the wolf packs there, which hunter would dare to go after wolves without cause? Weren’t they afraid of retaliation?

Even if wolf pelts were occasionally available, they were bought up at high prices.

For Wu Zhongbao, his life’s only wish, hidden from his father’s knowledge as he secretly trained in martial arts for years, was to kill a wolf and skin it himself.

This—while he hadn’t killed a wolf, just feeling the wolf pelt was a small satisfaction, wasn’t it?

Wu Zhongbao was utterly captivated by the feel of the wolf pelt.

After a long while, he finally addressed the man who had been drinking tea beside him, "I’ve done everything you asked me to do, and I’m telling you, you can’t take these thanks from the Wang Family back with you!"

He guarded the two wolf pelts in his arms with particular caution.

The man drinking tea with his back to him, snorted coldly, rose to his feet, paused upon passing the basket, and extended his well-defined hands to lightly pick up the two small earthen jars, "I only want these, you keep the rest!"

Having said that, he walked straight out the door.

As long as Wu Zhongbao could keep the wolf pelts, it didn’t matter—the dried wolf meat, the meat sauce, all were insignificant by comparison.

Therefore, he had no intention of stopping the man at all.

Before long, Old Man Wu, after hearing the news, rushed over in a hurry.

He found his son clutching two wolf pelts, smiling like a simpleton.

Then, noting the basket left on the table with the packet of dried wolf meat lying peacefully inside, he weighed it in his hand and revealed a pleased expression.

"Didn’t that Wang Family maid say there was also meat sauce? I had a taste at the Shopkeeper’s, and it was really good. I heard two jars were sent to our home as well—where’s the meat sauce?" Old Man Wu had no interest in wolf pelts, even though he knew these two weren’t cheap and were probably the best the Wang Family could offer.

But he still hankered after the meat sauce; that stingy Shopkeeper Wu had only given him a couple of tastes, and now he was craving it.

Wu Zhongbao showed a hint of guilt: "Well, uh, I gave it away!"

"I’ll beat you to death, you wastrel! Things sent for your father and you dare give away? Why didn’t you just give away the wolf pelts too?"

With that, Old Man Wu started to hop madly.

"How could I do that? I like the wolf pelts—"

"You little rascal, you keep what you like, but give away what your dad likes, huh? You ingrate, fetch the family punishment stick—"