The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure
Chapter 328: Servants

Chapter 328: Chapter 328: Servants

Wang Yonggui looked down and, seeing who it was, smiled, gently caressing Jinpan’s head, "Jinpan, you’ve grown taller again, good, good, good..."

When Jinpan had his head patted by his father, his little face blushed with excitement.

Although Jinhua spoke with disdain and knew her father was unreliable, he was still her father after all. When Wang Yonggui had money, he was good to his children.

So even though Jinhua knew Wang Yonggui was not a good man, having not seen him for a year, she indeed missed him. Holding Little Jinshao’s hand, she slowly made her way over.

Reluctantly, she called out "Dad," then prompted Jinshao to do the same.

Jinshao’s little face was scrunched up as he sucked on his finger, looking timid and shy.

When Jinhua told him to call out "Dad," he just hugged her leg tightly and tried to hide behind her.

When he was born, Wang Yonggui ran away to dodge his gambling debts. Later, he did return stealthily during Jinshao’s first birthday celebration after the guests were entertained and everyone was exhausted from sending them off, and then he stole the last bit of Lady Jiang’s dowry and private savings before fleeing again.

So Jinshao didn’t recognize his own father at all, only feeling unfamiliarity. But since his brother and sisters were calling him "Dad," and they wanted him to do the same, he felt scared yet also a bit curious—so this is what having a father is like, his very own father.

Even though he hid behind Jinhua’s legs, he couldn’t help but sneak a few glances, then habitually looked for Lady Jiang.

Lady Jiang stood behind her children, with slightly reddened eyes. No matter how much she had hated this man before—how he abandoned her and their four children without a word and stole her last bit of dowry before leaving—now that he was before her, she couldn’t help but feel a slight flutter of joy and comfort in her heart.

A man was needed to stand at the helm of this household, and Lady Jiang felt she was not as capable as her sister-in-law. She knew she couldn’t rely on this man, but his return gave her a sense of reassurance. Having a man in the house felt different from having none.

Wang Yonggui had little memory of his youngest son. Before he left, he had only glanced once at the boy who was thin and small. Now, seeing the child with a bit more flesh on his face and looking rather smart, he felt joy in his heart—it was, after all, his own flesh and blood. Watching Jinshao walk up to Lady Jiang, he looked up and exchanged glances with his wife.

This scene...

Wang Yongzhu coughed and said, "Third Brother, if you have something to say, let’s go inside and talk about it. I want to see what tasty things you’ve brought back for us."

Wang Yonggui hastily agreed, "Alright, you all go inside first, I’ll be right there."

Then he turned and walked back toward the direction of the carriage.

It was then that everyone realized the carriage had not left yet and was still quietly parked at the entrance of the Old Wang Family’s home.

Some neighbors joked, "Oh, Wang Laosan, what valuable things have you dragged home in this carriage? Show us and let’s open our eyes to it."

"So secretive, could it be that you’ve brought home a little mistress?!" someone with a quick tongue laughed.

Wang Yongzhu had felt something was amiss upon seeing the carriage.

Even if he had made it big outside, if he really brought things for the family, they would be in big and small packages, and there would be a dedicated cargo carriage. Given Wang Yonggui’s love for showing off, if there were such a load, he would certainly have made a spectacle of it so that the entire journey home would know.

Why hire such a compact and securely covered carriage, which is typically used to carry people? The carriage curtains were tightly drawn, hiding whatever was inside.

There was something fishy going on.

Wang Yongzhu and Old Granny Zhang exchanged a look of subconscious suspicion.

Who was Old Granny Zhang? Wang Yonggui was her own flesh and blood; didn’t she know exactly what kind of person her Third Son was?

On the street, even buying a straw could turn into bragging incessantly, if he really had made a fortune, he would be dying to blare it through a megaphone, making sure everyone knew Wang Laosan had struck it rich.

This sneaking and hiding, skulking about definitely spelled trouble.

Especially since Wang Yonggui was always smooth-talking; no matter what anyone said, he would respond with a beaming smile. Just now, when he heard about the young wife, his smile turned awkward in an instant, giving both Old Granny Zhang and Wang Yongzhu an ominous premonition.

Wang Yonggui quickly recovered with a chuckle, "Everyone’s just joking. What valuable things could there be? It’s just some food and clothing I brought back for the elders and kids in the family."

With that, he turned his head, "Cart driver, drive the cart to the back entrance of our house..."

He pointed toward the direction of the back door and led the coachman that way.

The villagers ceased their questioning unwillingly.

Some speculated that perhaps Wang Laosan was just keeping up appearances, maybe the carriage was empty, fearing embarrassment if others saw. He rarely came back, and now he was donning brand-new clothing, certainly wanting to put on a show.

Those sharp-minded ones sensed something amiss, fearing Wang Laosan wanted to hide something.

Whether good or bad, it was the Wang Family’s business, not something the outsiders could meddle in.

Moreover, at that moment, people from another village had come to sell mountain goods, so it wouldn’t be proper to block them. They all gradually dispersed as the day wore on.

Wang Yonggui led the cart driver into the yard through the back door.

Wang Yongfu remained at the door, checking the mountain goods, while Old Granny Zhang and the others turned back into the yard as well, with Wang Laozhu following them in and closing the gate behind him.

Once the carriage was inside the yard, Wang Yonggui signaled the coachman to leave. Without waiting for Old Granny Zhang to ask, he fell to his knees before her, putting on a good-natured face, "Mother, there’s something I’d like to discuss with you. Why don’t you have a sip of water first, calm your heart and listen to me before you hit your son, alright?"

Old Granny Zhang kept her arms folded and did not respond.

There was clearly something fishy going on!

Wang Yongzhu glanced again at the carriage, growing even more suspicious.

Wang Laozhu came over, tapping his tobacco pipe, "So what’s the matter, spit it out?"

"Dad, Mother, your son... I’ve brought someone back from outside. Someone to take care of the both of you. You’ve raised me, and I haven’t given you a single day of luxury, so..." Wang Yonggui rubbed his hands together, looking somewhat embarrassed.

Wang Yongzhu quickly interjected, "So, Third Brother, you mean you bought a servant back to take care of our parents?"

Old Granny Zhang played along, slapping her thigh, "Laosan, so you’ve really made your fortune outside, and even remember to buy a servant to look after me and your father, oh my! Heaven’s finally looking out for us! Old man, did you hear that? Laosan has become successful; we might actually enjoy the fruits of Third Brother’s labor! I’ve heard that in the city, the old ladies all have servants to attend to them, doing everything from bringing tea and water to laundry and cooking, even combing their hair and dressing them up."

"Never thought I’d see the day I’d be like one of those old ladies. Laosan, are you out of your mind, why haven’t you called your bought servant down yet? Really now, who has a servant arrive in a carriage, wouldn’t it make more sense to just follow behind? Laosan, what kind of servant did you buy? They seem clueless, you sure someone didn’t swindle you?"