The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure
Chapter 492 - 490: Double Happiness?

Chapter 492: Chapter 490: Double Happiness?

Upon hearing that they were about to build a grand house, the entire family became excited.

And so Wang Yongping’s marriage was settled.

Old Granny Zhang was not the type to sit still, and she immediately set out to find a matchmaker. In Chongzi Gou, where the mountains were high and the roads were long, it was essential to find a reliable matchmaker, and to pay them well.

Wang Laozhu could not remain seated either and went out to find a geomancer to pick an auspicious date.

With this happy event added to the household, everyone’s faces were momentarily adorned with smiles as they dispersed.

You could still hear Jinpan asking while biting her finger, "Mom, is Uncle Four going to get us a fourth aunt? Is she nice?"

Lady Jiang felt a bitter sweetness in her heart as she saw how her in-laws and sister-in-law specially mentioned building a new house before conducting the wedding, knowing how much they valued this new daughter-in-law.

They had to personally seek a matchmaker and give the betrothal gifts.

Compared to her own marriage with the head of the household, the matchmaker had brought her mother-in-law along to size her up, and then the betrothal gifts were just ordinary. Back then, the Jiang family was eager to marry into the Wang Family, and with her husband having a stepmother, who would genuinely consider her best interest?

Everything was to accommodate the Wang Family’s wishes, and even if the wedding was simple, no one said anything.

Lady Jiang still remembered that Miss Liu who was about to marry into the family, who was clearly favored at home. Her two brothers also adored their sister, and she was marrying into a family that held her in high regard.

It truly incited envy.

Wang Yonggui turned his head and saw his wife’s dazed expression, and how could he not understand?

When they first got married, they too had had their loving days.

Back then, Wang Yongan was a scholar, and his wedding had been lively and grand. When it came to his own turn, Wang Laosan, of course, it paled in comparison, with many arrangements being cobbled together from what was left over from Wang Yongan’s wedding.

In all honesty, Wang Yonggui’s wedding was not too different from others in the village, but in comparison to Wang Yongan’s, which occurred not much earlier, it appeared particularly shabby.

Because of this, Lady Lin had often mocked Lady Jiang.

Even Wang Yonggui had heard his share of sarcastic remarks outside.

As a man who cared about his reputation, could Wang Yonggui truly have no grudges in his heart? During the honeymoon period, when he was so affectionate with Lady Jiang, he too had promised that he would provide her a good life, not letting her be inferior to anyone, nor allow her to be laughed at again.

But later...

Thinking of this, Wang Yonggui felt a rare discomfort and walked over to Lady Jiang, speaking gruffly, "What are you spacing out for? Go back inside. The socks I put on this morning are chafing, find me a clean pair to change into. Quick, don’t delay your man’s business."

Lady Jiang instantly lost all thoughts and hurried back to the room to find clean socks.

Finding a pair, she laid them on the kang, and as she turned around, she faced Wang Yonggui’s hesitant expression.

After a long while, Wang Yonggui couldn’t force out a word; he just roughly grabbed Lady Jiang’s hand and stuffed a warm Silver Piece into her palm and then walked away.

Lady Jiang looked down at the warm Silver Piece in her hand, weighing roughly a tael, heavy.

Looking at Wang Yonggui’s retreating figure and then at the shadow in her palm, Lady Jiang’s eyes reddened, and a smile curved at her lips.

When everyone else had left, only Wang Yongzhu and Song Chongjin remained in the main room.

Song Chongjin glanced around to make sure they were alone, then, with a hint of tentativeness, whispered, "Yongzhu, since the main house will be hosting Fourth Brother’s wedding at the year’s end, what if, what if we also get married then? It would be like a double celebration, wouldn’t it?"

Wang Yongzhu gave Song Chongjin a steady look, thought for a moment, and realized that it was better to communicate her reluctance to marry early to Song Chongjin sooner rather than later to avoid any misunderstandings between them.

Therefore, she said earnestly, "Actually, I’ve been wanting to talk to you about our marriage for a while but never found the right opportunity. What I’m about to say might make you angry, but please be patient and listen to me until the end, alright?"

Song Chongjin felt a pang of anxiety in his heart and took a while to nod, "Yongzhu, go ahead, I’m listening."

"I know you’d like to marry me soon. But, I don’t want to marry that early—" As soon as she said this, Song Chongjin’s expression changed.

Just as he was about to speak, Wang Yongzhu took his hand reassuringly, "It’s not that I don’t want to get married, I just don’t want to marry too soon. I’ve heard that if girls marry too early, before their bodies are fully developed, especially if they bear children too young, it can cause great harm to both the child and the mother."

Wang Yongzhu felt that she was being very informative and serious, but to Song Chongjin, hearing this made his eyes flicker and the tips of his ears turn red.

She became exasperated, gave Song Chongjin a pat, "Where is your mind going? I’m discussing serious matters with you!"

Song Chongjin coughed, turned his face away in embarrassment, and took a good while to regain his composure. For a moment, he dared not look at Wang Yongzhu, his gaze somewhat evasive, "Is there evidence to support this claim?"

When Wang Yongzhu talked about academic topics, she was utterly serious, "Nowadays, in the city, families of officials and nobles generally marry off their daughters at around seventeen or eighteen years old. The more mature the woman’s body, the healthier the children she bears. Furthermore, you might not have noticed, but mothers who are too young when they have children, tend to give birth to weaker babies that are more prone to illness and may not survive."

"Think about it, there are living examples right in our village." She didn’t finish her sentence, but wasn’t Song Chunhua a case in point? She was too young when she got pregnant and was overly supplemented with nourishment and lacked exercise, resulting in not only the child being weak but her own health being damaged.

In today’s backward medical standards, how many women have lost their lives at this deadly passage of childbirth.

Song Chongjin’s expression gradually became serious. He wasn’t foolish, and although Wang Yongzhu hadn’t mentioned it, as soon as she hinted at it, he thought of Song Chunhua.

It reminded him that the marriageable age for girls in towns seemed to be older.

He understood, then, that Wang Yongzhu was not speaking carelessly.

Even if there was only a possibility, he couldn’t let Yongzhu take that risk.

Pursing his lips, Song Chongjin finally asked, "Then, when would it be best for a woman to marry?"

Wang Yongzhu hesitated. According to her preference, it would be best after the age of twenty, the later the better.

But meeting Song Chongjin’s expectant look and considering the reality, even if she wanted to delay it, not only would the Wang Family disagree, but the surrounding people wouldn’t accept it either—their spit alone could drown you.

After thinking it over, Wang Yongzhu answered, "At eighteen." At eighteen, one became an adult, and the body’s functions were more or less mature.

Eighteen was also the highest age tolerated by this era for unmarried women.

Song Chongjin nodded, "Then it’s settled! As soon as you turn eighteen, we’ll get married!"

Seeing Song Chongjin be so reasonable lifted the heavy stone off Wang Yongzhu’s heart. Feeling a rare mood to tease, she poked Song Chongjin’s arm, "Are you really that eager to be a live-in son-in-law to the Wang Family?"

Looking at Wang Yongzhu’s smile, Song Chongjin’s eyes darkened. He grasped her hand, pulled her into his arms with a tug, and held her tight.