The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure
Chapter 282: Spilled Water

Chapter 282: Chapter 282: Spilled Water

By the time Wang Yongzhen reached the age to marry, her suitors were chosen by Old Granny Zhang through intermediaries, and there were several families.

But in the end, it was Old Lady Lin and Wang Laozhu, who were still alive at the time, who made the decision. Among these candidates, the Sun Family was the wealthiest, yet according to Old Granny Zhang, had Wang Yongzhen been her own daughter, or had their relationship not been so deteriorated, she would never have let her marry into the Sun Family.

Why, you ask? Because the Sun Family’s matriarch was notoriously shrewish far and wide.

With Wang Yongzhen’s temperament, marrying into that family was like sending a lamb into the lion’s den, wasn’t it?

Moreover, the member of the Sun Family who was to marry Wang Yongzhen was the Eldest Brother, named Sun Daming, known to be a paragon of filial piety. Truly obedient, he would do anything his mother asked of him.

If one really cherished their daughter, how could they allow her to jump into such a pit of fire?

But what Old Lady Lin valued was different. The Sun Family was wealthy, their son was the eldest, and in the future, wouldn’t it fall to the eldest to inherit? Once Wang Yongzhen was married and had established her position, couldn’t she lend a hand to her own grandson in the future?

Thus, Old Lady Lin agreed to the match with the Sun Family, and even persuaded Wang Yongzhen to consent as well.

Wang Laozhu, being a man, didn’t understand the intricacies involved. Seeing that the Sun Family’s background was clean and their conditions favorable, he agreed as well.

Given it was his first daughter getting married, and remembering the affection he held for his deceased wife, he provided a generous dowry and saw Wang Yongzhen off to her new home.

Old Lady Lin regretted the decision immediately after, but thinking about how Old Granny Zhang probably felt even worse and anticipating a future return on her investment, she bore it.

After marrying into the Sun Family, Wang Yongzhen was meek and compliant, primarily because Old Lady Lin had so thoroughly brainwashed her. She truly epitomized the saying "Follow the chicken if you marry a chicken, follow the dog if you marry a dog; marry a broom and you’ll pick it up and go."

Upon arriving at the Sun Family, she didn’t need any schooling from Old Lady Sun to dutifully serve her in-laws, her younger brothers-in-law, her sisters-in-law, and of course, her husband every day.

Even her dowry was swindled by Old Lady Sun. Apart from a few cumbersome pieces of furniture and such, most of it ended up in Old Lady Sun’s pocket.

Old Lady Sun hadn’t expected her daughter-in-law to be so compliant, to serve her even more attentively than her own son.

She was quite satisfied, and so for a time, an eerie harmony reigned in the Sun Family thanks to Wang Yongzhen’s arrival.

Additionally, at that time, Wang Yongan had already gained some renown for his scholarship, and the Wang Family’s fortunes were also looking up. The brothers seemed to exhibit signs of a flourishing family.

Old Lady Sun still felt that this marriage was a lucrative deal, and managed to live in peace with her daughter-in-law.

During festivals and holidays, the two families interacted quite warmly.

Wang Yongzhen also never returned to her family home to complain about her life, so the Wang Family always thought she was content with her marriage. Even Old Granny Zhang found it strange, could it be that this stepdaughter really had some skills up her sleeve? Had she managed to tame and subdue Old Lady Sun?

Later on, Old Lady Sun kept testing her daughter-in-law’s limits, only to find out that she hardly had any; she could be easily shaped and molded as desired.

Old Lady Sun became increasingly brazen until she instructed Wang Yongzhen to go back to her parental home to fetch things to supplement her husband’s family, something that went against Wang Yongzhen’s upbringing.

Wang Yongzhen always believed that once a daughter was married off, she was no longer entitled to ask her parents for things, so no matter how much Old Lady Sun hinted or outright instructed, she didn’t budge.

She was beaten a few times and even forced to kneel in the courtyard for a day and night, yet still, Wang Yongzhen did not yield.

Then, by chance, Wang Laozhu missed his daughter and sent Wang Yongfu to deliver gifts to his eldest daughter, and he happened to witness the scene.

Wang Yongfu, still young and hot-blooded, and someone who could stand up to Old Granny Zhang, was not short-tempered himself. Moreover, Wang Yongzhen had taken care of him during his childhood, so the bond between the siblings was indeed quite strong.

Seeing his sister being bullied, he couldn’t restrain himself. He beat up Sun Daming and dragged Wang Yongzhen back home with him.

The initial intention was for the family to defend Wang Yongzhen, to make the Sun Family come and apologize, and then make a promise that would deter them from bullying her in the future.

With several brothers to back her up at home, what was there to fear?

But Wang Yongzhen, bless her, after spending a mere night at her parents’ home, couldn’t even wait for the Sun Family to arrive before she wanted to return, muttering incessantly about those theories Old Lady Lin had brainwashed her with.

It really made everyone in the Wang Family gasp in frustration.

Her natal family indeed wanted to support her, but if she herself was so off-the-mark, what could be done?

In the end, Wang Laozhu had to personally escort Wang Yongfu and Wang Yongzhen back home and then gave them a threat for good measure, and thus the matter was smoothed over.

Later on, Wang Laozhu, his heart soft for his daughter, would have Old Granny Zhang prepare some gifts for Wang Yongzhen during the festivals, both to supplement her daughter and to shut the mouth of Old Lady Sun.

This really had nothing to do with Old Granny Zhang. Whether Wang Yongzhen’s life was good or bad, she couldn’t care less—she only needed to mind her own business and didn’t need the extra worry.

Yet, Old Granny Zhang, who rarely sought out trouble, found Wang Yongzhen coming to her door instead.

After marrying into the Sun Family, Wang Yongzhen gave birth to Sun Shitou, the eldest grandson of the Sun Family, within a year, and with a son, her life improved somewhat.

In a few years, she had another son, Sun Mutou.

When Sun Mutou was two or three years old, Old Granny Zhang gave birth to Wang Yongzhu, who was treasured like a piece of delicate porcelain, afraid she might dissolve in the mouth or fly away if handled carelessly—extremely precious.

Wang Yongzhen brought her younger son to her maternal home and, seeing how Old Granny Zhang doted on Wang Yongzhu, for some reason got a bee in her bonnet and criticized Old Granny Zhang for spoiling Wang Yongzhu too much.

She said girls were just a drain on resources and it was already good enough to raise them to adult size—what was the use of coddling them so? And on and on she went...

She really ruffled Old Granny Zhang’s feathers!

Criticizing Old Granny Zhang was one thing, but to criticize Wang Yongzhu was like stirring up a hornet’s nest.

Old Granny Zhang laid into Wang Yongzhen, scolding her for acting as if she still had a say in her natal family after getting married—like water that’s been splashed out and can’t be taken back. She should just stay put in her marital home, as she’d never heard of a married daughter bossing around both heaven and earth, and meddling back in her own family’s affairs!

She also called Wang Yongzhen shameless, saying that for all her fine talk about being splashed out water, she came back to her natal home for handouts year after year, had her head turned by a man, and was biting the hand that fed her.

With single-minded focus, she aimed to plunder her natal home to enrich her marital household—as if she wanted to dig out everything from her natal home and transfer it to her in-laws’...

In a battle of words, Wang Yongzhen was no match for Old Granny Zhang and left for her marital home, disgraced and clutching her young son.

She didn’t return to her natal home for a long time afterward.

It wasn’t until later, when Old Lady Sun had a birthday celebration, that, as family, they had to attend.

By then, Wang Yongfu had married Lady Lin, and the young couple brought the one-year-old Jinhoo, along with Old Granny Zhang and Wang Yongzhu, to the birthday feast.

The Wang Family gave face to their in-laws, purchasing longevity peaches and noodles, and presenting generous gifts—it was truly lavish.

Yet Old Lady Sun harbored resentment because, as a peer and a relative by marriage, Old Granny Zhang had taken a seat at the main table, accompanying Old Lady Sun herself.

At that time, Wang Yongzhu was about four or five years old, and could already eat by herself, so she was assigned to a table with other children.

Old Granny Zhang was initially worried but reluctantly agreed after Wang Yongzhen offered to look after her sister.

However, just as the banquet started, Wang Yongzhu ran over to Old Granny Zhang, complaining that Wang Yongzhen didn’t arrange a seat for her at all, but sent her to the side of the stove with a stool and just a bowl of rice before leaving.