The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure
Chapter 511 - 509: Scolding

Chapter 511: Chapter 509: Scolding

Lizheng and his wife were both astute individuals, who knew that since the Wang Family had started a business and had made connections, they had access to all these fine goods from the Capital. Once the business grew larger, the family might even move to the city and become esteemed gentry.

Why would they stay in the small mountain village of Qilidun forever?

Not to mention, after their son returned and relayed the Scholar’s words, Lizheng had even more to ponder.

With these rumors circulating, it wasn’t seemly for Lizheng to come forward, but his wife had no such qualms.

In front of the whole village, she put her hands on her hips and let loose.

She started by scolding those who spoke sour words, calling them good-for-nothings, ungrateful wretches who betray kindness. Had they forgotten the scuffle for water last summer? Had they forgotten it was the Wang Family’s Yongzhu who helped the village secure water and how Elder Daughter-in-law, Lady Lin, discovered someone secretly stealing water downstream, almost losing her life in the process?

If not for their family, the crops of the entire village would have withered, and by now, most villagers wouldn’t have enough to fill their stomachs, let alone have the energy to wag their tongues at others. To forget such kindness and speak ill behind their backs was nothing short of a loss of conscience!

She also cursed the people of Qilidun for being ignorant and unappreciative. They only saw the Wang Family making money and grew jealous, forgetting how difficult their days were when they faced adversity themselves. The money they earned today was due to their own capabilities. To be green with envy and gossip behind their backs, what kind of hero does that make you? If you’re so capable, why don’t you start a business and become wealthy yourself?

Besides, didn’t the Wang Family’s business with mountain goods bring benefits to the people of Qilidun? The Wang Family was generous, offering higher prices for mountain goods brought in by the villagers, and even if the quality was slightly lacking, they would turn a blind eye and accept it.

Without mentioning anything else, just the fact that the Wang Family bought mountain goods meant villagers didn’t have to travel so far to sell them, and they even got better prices. Each family made at least a hundred or so more Large Coins than in previous years. Without the Wang Family, where would they get such advantages?

After taking advantage of the Wang Family and basking in their light, now simply because they didn’t get a little extra benefit, they cursed the Wang Family as being no good and even instigated discord between their own family and the Wangs, with nothing but malice and venom in their hearts and on their tongues. Such rotten mouths will surely lead to damnation after death, their tongues torn and eyes plucked out in hell!

And did they ever consider why the Wang Family paid money to hire people for building their new house? Of course, they wanted the house to be built quickly. Wouldn’t they need skilled workers for that?

If their own men were idle and tried to get a quick job at the Wangs’ without success, why not blame their own uselessness instead of finding fault with the Wang Family? No matter how much silver the Wang Family had, it wasn’t theirs to waste on those ungrateful ingrates who would eat their meat and curse them afterwards!

After this tirade from Lizheng’s wife, many people blushed with shame. Now that they thought about it, aside from Old Granny Zhang’s sharp tongue, there really wasn’t anything to criticize about the Wang Family.

They had quietly done so much for the villagers, not to mention the business with mountain goods which had indeed brought the villagers many benefits. And now with the construction of the new house, hiring people for help, providing three meals a day, and even paying wages—this was a first for Qilidun.

In the past, when someone built a house, wasn’t it just a matter of calling a few close friends or relatives to help? You’d be lucky to be ensured three meals a day and forget about wages; that was a pipe dream.

After all, if you helped me today, I would help you tomorrow—it’s been this way for many years.

There were also those families who had already been booked by the Wang Family, who would have spoken out earlier if not for fear of offending Lizheng’s house.

Now that they saw the wife of Lizheng cursing in the streets as the first one out, they all busily came out in agreement—who would want to have issues with money? If these people angered the Wang Family and they withheld their wages, what then?

With strength in numbers, and since most still remembered the good the Wang Family had done, they joined in, chattering and babbling. Shortly, they managed to scold those who had been speaking sour and strange words until they skulked back to their homes.

After driving the people away, the wife of Lizheng even made a special trip to the Wang Family’s home, finding Old Granny Zhang, to clarify her family’s stance: "Sister-in-law, you can be at ease, our family head isn’t the kind of person those Little Rens are describing."

"Our family head often says at home that it would be good for Qilidun to have a few more talented people like your family’s young ones. Nowadays, not many people, whose lives have improved like your family’s, remember to lend a hand to their fellow villagers. We aren’t ungrateful people; we all remember the good the Wang Family has done for us!"

Old Granny Zhang was adept herself, and upon hearing the words of the wife of Lizheng, she lifted her robe to wipe the corner of her eyes: "Big little sister, fortune is on our side that your whole family are insightful people! Otherwise, our family would truly feel wronged unto death!"

"When it came to building our house, honestly, we had no choice. The kids are growing up, we just recently settled a marriage arrangement for our Laosi a few days ago, which is due to be finalized before the New Year, but we simply don’t have the space at home."

"Looking forward, the eldest grandson and the second grandson will also need to start looking for spouses soon—it’s impossible to manage! Surely we can’t expect the kids to get married and still share a room with their brothers, can we?"

"When it comes to our family business, it was, to tell the truth, like groping for stepping stones across a river. There are many ins and outs we don’t understand, and our Eldest Brother is so honest and mild-mannered. Folks from the village selling mountain goods, regardless of whether they are of good quality or not, he can’t bear to refuse and thus accepts them."

"You don’t know, though we are willing to buy, those large merchants and dignitaries from outside won’t accept them. How much we have suffered in silence over this... Didn’t we all think of our fellow villagers, and help whenever we could?"

"This year our family indeed made some money, but to fund this new house construction and Laosi’s wedding, what we earned in a year is not even enough for the expenses! And it was largely thanks to our Yongzhu who is truly devoted to our family. The money she made from selling dyes—all of it—was put into this house."

"Even so, she still said that it’s too cold to build a house in this weather. Though the big brothers and uncles are good friends of our family and willing to help, she couldn’t let everyone work in the biting cold without compensation. So she adamantly urged our family head to give wages to those who helped, as a token of our gratitude."

"Who would have thought, with Yongzhu’s kind heart, it would attract such unpleasant words! I was so anxious at home, just thinking of going to your place, sister, to clarify things, but it was Yongzhu who said that you and your brothers Chengdong wouldn’t be the kind to listen to Little Ren’s provocations."

"She went on to say that ever since Chengcai became Lizheng, the days in Qilidun have been getting better day by day, claiming that Chengcai could truly teach. Not only is your family’s Chengdong learned, but he is also amiable. I saw him several times in town, always so genial, and he will surely achieve great things in the future..."

Such words pleased the wife of Lizheng to smiles.

Joining hands, the two women sang each other’s praises, and it became clear to both that the Wang Family supported and had great expectations for Lizheng, and that Lizheng also valued the Wang Family highly.

The two sides ended this exchange in a friendly and harmonious atmosphere, each returning home content.