The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure
Chapter 285: Hard Effort

Chapter 285: Chapter 285: Hard Effort

Now in the Wang Family, they could speak with absolute authority, while he, Eldest Brother, and Fourth Brother had all stepped back considerably.

But initially, it was he who had personally promised to let his eldest daughter take charge of the household. Today, the Wang Family’s fortunes were indeed on the rise, and Wang Laozhu couldn’t deny in good conscience that her management had been anything other than excellent.

Wang Laozhu’s concerns were about the years, maybe even decades to come.

Old Granny Zhang had already declared that she wanted her eldest daughter to adopt the practice of taking in a son-in-law at home. He had previously thought that his eldest daughter was unlikely to marry off and considering her good judgment, taking a son-in-law into the household might also support the Wang Family.

Now it appears that his eldest daughter’s judgment was too strong. As long as she was there, the land they have now was bought by her, and the silver and connections for doing business were all in her hands.

With her temperament, Eldest Brother and Fourth Brother wouldn’t be able to make any waves under her control.

Wang Laozhu had originally thought that as long as he could keep the Wang Family afloat, that would suffice. He hadn’t thought much further. Only now did he realize that if the Wang Family were to rise, it would be on the back of a woman.

Moreover, with his daughter managing the household in such a manner, Eldest Brother and Fourth Brother could only listen to her. What’s more, what about Jindou and Jinhoo?

Besides, if the daughter were to take in a son-in-law and be in charge, and her future children bear the Wang surname, if she were to raise her own children well, wouldn’t her branch eventually overshadow her brothers’ main branch?

When the main branch is weak, and a side branch is strong, it isn’t good for any family. He couldn’t allow such a thing to happen.

Yet, his painstaking concerns went unnoticed by everyone in the family.

Even Eldest Brother, having used his daughter’s silver, also felt somewhat subdued, not to mention himself, who couldn’t speak up before his daughter either.

It’s not that he didn’t love his daughter, but this shouldn’t conflict with the future of the Wang Family, should it?

Wang Laozhu felt that he was not like Old Lady Lin, who lacked insight and was so elated just because her daughter was making money; she didn’t consider the current state of the world, where men were supreme—where is there a rationale for a woman to head the household?

These thoughts, which he once could share with Laosan, who understood him best,

But Laosan, sigh, let’s not talk about that.

He never expected his eldest daughter to understand his worries fully, her every word, every character struck right at his heart.

However, as a man who had once declared that his daughter should be in charge, he could not now go back on his word and reclaim that power.

After much thought, he realized that he had to let his daughter hand over power willingly.

With this in mind, Wang Laozhu’s thoughts began to stir.

He revealed a little of his inner concerns to Wang Yongzhen.

Wang Yongzhen, having been successfully brainwashed by Old Lady Lin, realized upon hearing Wang Laozhu’s worries and remembered Old Lady Lin’s words—that for a woman to secure her position in her husband’s family, she had to rely on her natal family.

What could the natal family rely on?

Of course, it had to rely on brothers!

Whose natal family relied on sisters?

For the sake of her natal family’s wellbeing as well as her own situation in the Sun Family, she had to rectify the current improprieties of the natal family.

With these thoughts, Wang Yongzhen immediately stood up, "Father, don’t worry! I’ll go talk to my younger sister! She’s really being thoughtless. Once you recover, she should take the initiative to return the power to manage the household to you. Holding onto it herself, she’s being utterly unfilial!"

Sighing angrily, she headed outside.

Old Granny Zhang, who had been eavesdropping at the door, could hardly restrain herself. Several times she was about to roll up her sleeves, burst in, and give Wang Yongzhen a good slap in the face.

Clueless and heartless wretch, how dare she speak ill of her own daughter!

However, she was held back by Wang Yongzhu. As Old Granny Zhang was her stepmother and even a slightly improper action could start nasty rumors, it was better for her to take action instead.

Therefore, as soon as Wang Yongzhen stepped out, she came face to face with Old Granny Zhang and her daughter.

Old Granny Zhang spat in Wang Yongzhen’s face and slammed the door as she went inside.

Wang Yongzhen’s face flushed with anger. It took her a long time before she managed to force a strained smile at Wang Yongzhu, "Little sister—" She called out and then fell silent.

Her own little sister had always been distant, spoiled and petulant because of Old Granny Zhang’s indulgence.

She had been fed to be plump and chubby, and though Wang Yongzhen hadn’t seen her much in recent years, she heard from Lady Lin that she had grown so fat as to have difficulty even walking.

But looking at her now, where was the chubby figure Lady Lin had described?

Instead, she seemed to inherit their parents’ good looks, clearly a well-figured young maiden.

With her brows curved, her eyes bright, lips red, and cheeks pink, she looked every bit the pampered and delicate young lady who had never suffered.

Especially since Wang Yongzhen was also at an age to look for a daughter-in-law, seeing such a girl made her very satisfied, no matter how she looked at her.

Deep down, Wang Yongzhen felt a tinge of jealousy. Such a little sister, clearly coddled and cherished, was different from a child protected by her mother.

But she quickly suppressed these feelings of sourness and envy. "Little sister, I heard from father that you’re now in charge of the Wang Family?"

Wang Yongzhu smiled slightly, "Of course! I had no other choice. Back then, the household was in such disarray, the land was gone, Wang Yongan had run away, Eldest Brother was incapacitated, and Fourth Brother couldn’t hold up. You, my older sister, didn’t even come back to visit. What could I do as the youngest sister? If I didn’t step up, wouldn’t our family fall apart? Besides, it was only after our father pleaded with me did I agree to take charge. Why? Am I not doing a good job?"

Even if Wang Yongzhen was foolish, she couldn’t say that Wang Yongzhu wasn’t doing a good job managing the household.

Plus, Wang Yongzhu’s words were pointed, especially the mention that she had not visited her natal family, which made Wang Yongzhen feel guilty.

Nevertheless, after living off others for so many years, her skin had thickened.

Wang Yongzhen’s face reddened slightly, and she took a deep breath, taking Wang Yongzhu’s hand proactively, "Yes, I’ve heard everything from father! Truly, we owe the stability of our home to you! You are a great hero of our Wang Family—"

The hands of Wang Yongzhen, rough and calloused from years of working at the Sun Family, caused a painful prick as they grasped Wang Yongzhu’s hand.

"But, little sister, heed your older sister’s advice. Now that father is well and the household circumstances have improved, it’s not suitable for a girl to be in charge! For the sake of our mother, you should no longer run the family!"

Wang Yongzhu had originally planned not to quibble with Wang Yongzhen, who had been brainwashed, especially considering Wang Yongzhen had still thought of providing covert assistance to her parent’s home during the hardest times.

But when she dragged Old Granny Zhang into the matter, Wang Yongzhu could no longer hold back.

"Oh? I wasn’t aware that it had anything to do with my mother?"

"Little sister, in today’s world, men are the sky; where is it the norm for women to run the household? Besides, now we have father, Eldest Brother, and Laosan and Laosi at home. We don’t need a young girl to step forward. To speak of it, people will laugh at the poor family values of the Wang Family on one hand, and on the other hand, laugh at the fact that it was your mother who didn’t teach you properly—what kind of unmarried girl takes charge of the family when her parents and brothers with their wives are present? Your mother has spoiled you too much. As the saying goes, ’Indulgence is like killing a child.’ Your mother is harming you! With such a reputation, how will you marry in the future?"