The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure
Chapter 488 - 486: Moved

Chapter 488: Chapter 486: Moved

Wang Yongping’s just now had a strong volume, and both Father Liu and the Liu brothers in the courtyard heard it.

All three exchanged glances, and before they could speak, they saw Liu Xiaoqiao covering her face as she returned to her room.

Shortly after, the Wang siblings and Song Chongjin came in with beaming smiles, easing the anxiety Father Liu had been holding onto.

Seeing the Wang family’s daughter’s demeanor, it seemed she was pleased with the development, or at least not opposed to it, right?

These past days, Wang Yongping had stayed at the Liu family’s place, industrious and capable, and even though he was a bit blunt, what man needs too many schemes?

To the Liu father and son, he indeed looked like an honest man without cunning, a son-in-law who wouldn’t bully their precious daughter.

Not to mention Mother Liu, for whom the proverb "a mother-in-law seeing her son-in-law grows fonder each day" couldn’t have been truer.

Women and men see things differently, and Mother Liu appreciated how Wang Yongping was always busy, starting each day by fetching water and sweeping the courtyard.

When he had free time, he would chop wood and help with repairs around the house.

Whether it was the smoke-clogged stove, the leaky roof, the wobbly table, or the chair missing a leg.

Without needing to be asked, Wang Yongping would take it upon himself to fix anything he noticed, and it only took a few days.

The water vat at the Liu’s was always full, the firewood was piled up like a mountain, and every nook and cranny in the courtyard was spotlessly clean.

The stove no longer clogged with smoke, the roof no longer leaked, and tables and chairs were all neatly repaired.

Where else could you find a man who takes the initiative to work so diligently both inside and outside the home?

What a worry-free wife such a man would have in the future!

Add to this the Liu family’s occasional insinuations and inquiries about the Wang household.

At first, Wang Yongping really regarded Father Liu and Mother Liu as his godparents since the two families were relatives—so naturally, he didn’t hold back anything.

Aside from business matters, whatever he could divulge, he did so honestly.

For example, he shared that at home, it was his sister Wang Yongzhu who ran the house, their father didn’t handle affairs, and their mother had the final say and adored the sister, always siding with her.

He described the household members, their situations, and what their personalities were like.

It didn’t take long for the Liu family to get a clear picture of the Wang household. Although there might have been omissions in Wang Yongping’s account or biases due to perspective,

the Liu family still came to understand the situation.

Now the Liu father and sons hesitated. With no involvement from the father and the daughter and mother ruling the house, all sons and daughters-in-law making a living under the sister and mother’s command, it was evident that the Wang brothers, especially this Laosi for being too honest, was not fawned over, unloved by his father and mother.

How would they live their life in the future?

What was most important was that Wang Yongping had been engaged before, and even though the engagement was broken off due to issues on the girl’s side, there was still a hint of displeasure in his expression whenever he brought up the broken engagement.

From a man’s intuition, it seemed that Wang Yongping had a deep connection with the girl he was previously engaged to.

As men often do, they figured Wang Yongping had someone in his heart before, and might compare his future wife with the girl he was once engaged to.

The one you can’t have is always deemed the best; what you have is undervalued.

Why should their precious daughter suffer from such a subtle blade?

Mother Liu also began to worry that if a man had another woman in his heart, the future would indeed be difficult.

Yet, if she were to truly let go, Mother Liu couldn’t bear the thought.

After making many oblique inquiries, Mother Liu eventually made up her mind and felt that the marriage with the Wang family should proceed.

While the Wang Family was headed by a daughter and a mother-in-law, one could discern from Wang Yongping’s words that he had a good relationship with his sister and held her in high regard.

As long as their daughter married into the family and maintained a good relationship with her sister-in-law, it seemed that her days at the Wang Family wouldn’t be hard.

Besides, there were benefits to not being the favorite child. With three older brothers, it wouldn’t be the youngest son’s turn to take care of the parents in their old age, right?

When the time came to divide the family property, the couple could start their own household separately, without having to serve the parents-in-law every day—their life would indeed be comfortable.

As for the girl he had been betrothed to before, Yongzhu had asked about it. Wang Yongping had indeed liked her in the past, but that girl had gone behind his back to be with another man, and later, she nearly caused harm to the Wang Family and his sister.

Such a woman would naturally not be able to stir up any significant trouble.

Even if Wang Yongping really lost his mind one day and wanted to be with that woman, it’s likely that his family, especially his sister, would not agree!

So what was there to worry about?

All these pros and cons were naturally explained to Liu Xiaoqiao, so she could make an informed decision.

Liu Xiaoqiao initially had a mediocre impression of Wang Yongping, thinking he was just a dumb and honest big guy, easy to bully.

But after hearing that her family intended her to marry Wang Yongping, her feelings changed.

She began to find fault in everything Wang Yongping did, so much so that even the Liu brothers couldn’t stand to watch.

Unexpectedly, Wang Yongping was not angry at all. He always smiled and patiently corrected his faults over and over until Liu Xiaoqiao herself was too embarrassed to continue.

Gradually, Liu Xiaoqiao realized that although Wang Yongping was straightforward and naïve, and everyone thought him a bit foolish, he also had his strengths.

He had followed the hunters on several trips into the mountains. Although he didn’t know how to hunt, he helped carry the game, transport mountain goods, and never complained about work; he was always smiling at everyone. This made the men in Chongzi Gou accept him.

They no longer treated him as an outsider, didn’t hide anything from him, and occasionally taught him a trick or two for processing mountain goods and game.

The men in the village were also willing to teach him about the mountains goods he couldn’t recognize.

Wang Yongping had a good nature; on days he didn’t go to the mountains, he would help around the village without hesitation. He also liked to play with a bunch of children who all liked him.

In less than a month, Wang Yongping had gained the acceptance of the villagers.

He was able to integrate into Chongzi Gou more quickly than some women who had married into the village, a strength that others couldn’t learn even if they tried.

Later on, Liu Xiaoqiao didn’t know exactly when it happened, but her feelings changed.

Every day, if she didn’t see Wang Yongping, she would feel an emptiness inside; and whenever she saw him, she couldn’t help but let her eyes linger on him.

She became anxious and overly thoughtful—mulling over the meaning behind what Wang Yongping said, wondering if there was a hidden message.

Seeing Wang Yongping speak a few extra words with another girl made her upset.

Giving Wang Yongping a hard time, confusing him until he could only apologize haplessly, made her happy...

Liu Xiaoqiao wasn’t foolish. With the Liu brothers always snickering and making faces when they saw the two of them, and her own mother always looking at them with a beaming smile,

it became clear; she had developed feelings for this simpleton, Wang Yongping.

Liu Xiaoqiao was a straightforward girl. Once she understood her feelings, her first reaction was that it couldn’t just be her—Wang Yongping couldn’t continue to be oblivious.

What was the point of acting out a play solo?

When they were alone together with no one around, Liu Xiaoqiao brought the subject out into the open.

She mentioned the intention of the Wang and Liu Families to arrange a marriage and asked Wang Yongping if he had any thoughts on it?

At such a critical moment, Wang Yongping truly didn’t drop the ball.