The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure
Chapter 281: Raised to Be Useless

Chapter 281: Chapter 281: Raised to Be Useless

"I quickly opened the door and rushed out, only to see a figure dressed like Eldest Sister today flash by, and then she was gone. I took a few steps forward, saw people moving around, but didn’t catch sight of the person who dropped the items; fearing if I went too far, the children at home, I would worry, so I came back."

"As soon as she returned, Mother took the grain and those Copper Coins, I handed them to her. I’ve guessed, but I don’t know who the kind-hearted person is. Yet today, with Eldest Sister’s arrival, I thought she looked seven or eight parts similar."

Lady Jiang cautiously glanced at Old Granny Zhang.

Old Granny Zhang slammed her bowl down, "Who else could it be? She’s nothing stubborn, her own father was so angered by her he had a stroke and coughed up blood; she doesn’t dare to come back and visit openly, only knows how to skulk around, which makes people look down upon her!"

"Mother? Is it Eldest Sister?" Wang Yongzhu asked.

Old Granny Zhang snorted coldly, "Who else could it be? The kerchief wrapped around the copper coins, it was made from fabric brought back from her maternal home during the New Year, I recognized the embroidery at a glance! Otherwise, based on what she’s done today, do you think her in-laws would let her in the door? To eat? She might as well drink the wind!"

It was then that Lady Jiang had an epiphany as to why her mother-in-law, after she told her, just looked at the kerchief wrapped around the copper coins and put it away without saying a word; she already had an idea in her mind.

No longer worried, she took the grain Old Granny Zhang brought out to make something to eat for Wang Yongzhen and his wife.

The children outside didn’t feel much affection for Eldest Sister Wang Yongzhen, the older ones barely managed a greeting before ducking away.

Wang Yongzhen beckoned Jinguan, Jinpan, and Jinshao over, wanting to share some cakes with them.

Except for Jinguan, who gave two more glances, and then, after Jinhoo coughed, immediately waved his hand in refusal, afraid he might succumb to temptation, he simply dragged Jinpan outdoors to play.

Jinshao was young and had no impression of this Eldest Sister. However, Lady Jiang always instructed that if a stranger offered something to eat, they should refuse.

So Jinshao, sucking on his finger, glanced at Wang Yongzhen, then plunged into Jinhua’s arms, pointing at the kitchen, "Find Auntie—"

He knew to get something tasty, all he had to do was find Auntie.

Jinhua, stifling a laugh, held Jinshao and went into the kitchen.

Wang Yongping was already resentful towards this Eldest Sister and didn’t want to talk more, so he muttered he was going to work in the fields and headed out the door with his hoe.

Jinhoo, being clever, also followed Fourth Brother and quickly left.

Jindou, left with no choice and feeling disgruntled, still had to endure, since Grandfather said to let them stay for a meal, he had to acknowledge this Eldest Sister.

He brought over two bowls of water.

Wang Yongzhen and his wife, having walked a long way that morning, were indeed thirsty and drank without hesitation.

Lady Jiang, nimble with her hands, quickly prepared a bowl of noodle soup for each of them. Having risen early in the morning and walked miles through the mountain roads, how could they not be hungry?

They ate clean as the wind sweeps fallen leaves.

While they were eating, Wang Yongzhu and Old Granny Zhang went back to the room.

Wang Yongzhu saw that Old Granny Zhang seemed to have deep prejudices against this Eldest Sister, but she herself didn’t have much of an impression of her.

If this Eldest Sister really is a heartless person, then she will simply ignore her in the future.

But when Wang Laozhu had a stroke out of anger, during the family’s toughest times, she secretly helped her family of origin, which shows she wasn’t completely heartless.

After thinking it over, Wang Yongzhu asked, "Mother, about you and eldest sister—"

Old Granny Zhang tapped Wang Yongzhu’s forehead with her finger, "Why be so scheming with your mother? If you want to know something, just ask. Would I keep it from you?"

She sighed, "Mother knows you want to know about your eldest sister’s affairs. That child is just like your Fourth Brother, not the brightest, ruined by that cursed old hag—"

When Old Granny Zhang had first married into the Wang Family, Wang Yongzhen was already close to seven years old. In the countryside, a girl of that age would already understand quite a bit.

And with Old Lady Lin incessantly whispering in Wang Yongzhen’s ear about how a new mother means a new father, Wang Yongzhen developed an aversion towards Old Granny Zhang, her stepmother, from the moment she entered the door.

Though Old Granny Zhang was a bit fierce when she was a maiden, she wasn’t a bad person. Besides, the Wang Family had only this one daughter of marriageable age, and even for the sake of her own reputation and for her own children, she wouldn’t treat Wang Yongzhen too harshly.

Yet Old Lady Lin, always stirring trouble without saying, kept Wang Yongzhen under tight watch, as if speaking a word to Old Granny Zhang would spell disaster.

As time went by, Old Granny Zhang herself became pregnant and had no time to care for Wang Yongzhen.

When Old Granny Zhang was pregnant, Old Master Wang and Wang Laozhu were elated. If it was a boy, the Wang Family would have an heir. Thus, during her first pregnancy, Old Granny Zhang was treated rather well.

Old Lady Lin meanwhile poisoned Wang Yongzhen’s mind, claiming Old Granny Zhang was all pretense and so on.

After the birth of Wang Yongfu, Old Lady Lin took her grandson to her room, making her daughter-in-law’s life difficult while brainwashing her granddaughter.

She instilled beliefs like, without a male heir, the family would end, and they would be bullied, with their fields and food stolen.

She preached that girls were worthless and naturally ranked below men, created to serve men, toiling as their beasts of burden.

She told Wang Yongzhen that everything in the Wang Family belonged to her eldest grandson, that only males could inherit the property, and to be raised as a daughter was already a great favor.

She said that in the future, when getting married, they would have to provide a dowry, proving them to be a loss.

She also said it was not just about the Wang Family but about Wang Yongzhen’s future marriage. They would need to rely on this brother, for without a family of her own, a woman’s in-laws would not value her.

She claimed that Wang Yongzhen’s real relatives were her blood father, brother, and future brothers, flesh and blood bound by bone, and she must treat her brother well and serve him so that he would support her in the future.

How old was Wang Yongzhen? Being brainwashed daily by Old Lady Lin, and with the rampant gender bias in the village degrading girls, she believed it.

She felt she was naturally inferior to her brother, born to serve men, looking after her father and brothers at home, and in the future, her in-laws and husband.

In the meantime, Old Granny Zhang was fortunate with pregnancies, bearing two children in three years, and with her mother-in-law taking away her own flesh and blood, she focused all her attention on her sons.

Old Master Wang and Wang Laozhu didn’t care how their granddaughter felt, but instead thought Wang Yongzhen was well taught, so understanding for her age, selflessly caring for her brother, exemplifying sibling harmony!

It was only later, as children multiplied and Wang Yongzhen grew, that Old Granny Zhang realized her stepdaughter had been thoroughly twisted by her mother-in-law’s teachings.

Even if Old Granny Zhang wanted to rectify her, it was already too late. Moreover, because of Old Lady Lin, Wang Yongzhen had always had a negative impression of Old Granny Zhang, her stepmother, feeling as if she meant to harm her.

Old Granny Zhang, being a stepmother and not a saint, naturally let go and didn’t bother anymore; after all, she wouldn’t be the one suffering the consequences in the end.