The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure
Chapter 518 - 516: Set Phrases

Chapter 518: Chapter 516: Set Phrases

Wang Yongzhen opened her mouth to say something but was dragged out by Sun Daming. At the doorstep, facing Wang Laozhu’s stern face, she awkwardly squeezed out a smile, "Dad, we’re leaving now."

Wang Laozhu maintained his stern expression and grabbed Wang Yongzhen by the arm. "You all go ahead. I want to have a word with my daughter." He intended to keep Wang Yongzhen behind.

Sun Daming quickly nodded, covering Sun Shitou’s mouth, who was about to speak, and walked away. Sun Laoer smiled ingratiatingly at Wang Laozhu from behind and followed them.

Wang Laozhu, looking at Wang Yongzhen who kept her head down, sighed, "Come to the room with me." Saying this, he headed towards the main room.

Wang Yongzhen’s eyes were red as she followed him into the main room.

Old Granny Zhang saw this and was about to follow them, but was stopped by Wang Yongzhu.

Wang Laozhu probably saw that Wang Yongzhen hadn’t eaten and felt sorry for her, calling her in to give her something to eat and to have a heart-to-heart talk as father and daughter.

For Old Granny Zhang to enter at this time, as the stepmother, would be quite tactless.

"Mom, don’t go in. Let Dad and big sister talk. Besides, big sister’s mother-in-law still needs you to keep an eye on her! You mustn’t let them mess up the mealtime," Wang Yongzhu persuaded.

Old Granny Zhang glanced at the sky; it was almost noon, mealtime, and there could be no further delays, as this was the priority.

In the courtyard, Old Lady Sun squeezed her way towards the woman cutting the meat, "Oh, I’m good at cutting meat, let me do it, let me do it."

Shitou’s Wife also stood next to the woman cleaning fish, "This cold weather is the worst for cleaning fish, let me handle it instead!"

They were actually volunteering to take over the work.

The women who came to help couldn’t dare let their tasks be taken over; if they did, they’d have nothing to do. Without work, there would be no wages.

This was akin to cutting off their means of subsistence!

Not to mention, Sun Shitou’s being the Wang Family’s grandson and Shitou’s Wife carrying another one inside her—if anything were to happen to them, they couldn’t afford the consequences.

The women helping out were all very steady on their feet, the knives for cutting meat flying swiftly in their hands, while they said, "Oh dear, Mother-in-law from the Sun Family, do step back a bit. Careful now, my knife doesn’t have eyes; if it accidentally cuts your hand..."

The woman cleaning the fish shook its tail furiously, scattering fish scales and blood, "Sun Family Daughter-in-law, this is not your job! You are a guest, and we cannot let guests dirty their hands! Besides, you’re pregnant, better rest. We have enough hands for these tasks!"

Each of them kept a firm grip on their tasks, preventing Old Lady Sun and Shitou’s Wife from finding any opportunity to pitch in.

The grandmother and daughter-in-law exchanged a glance and relaxed, not in a hurry anymore. Instead, they started to make small talk with the women around.

"Sister, your knife skills are impressive, and you’re quick with your hands. No wonder my cousin invited you to help! But now that you’re here, has everything been settled back at home?" Old Lady Sun said shamelessly, dragging a stool over to sit next to the woman who was cutting the meat.

The wife really didn’t want to bother with this. If this had been her own in-laws being so shameless, she would have swept them out with a broom long ago.

But this was the Wang Family’s home, and for the sake of their hospitality, and considering the wages, she grudgingly grunted in acknowledgment.

She thought to herself that everyone used to say how formidable Old Granny Zhang was, but now, where was that fierceness? Being a stepmother was just suffering. With such in-laws, if it had been her own daughter, anything would go, but since it was not her own flesh and blood, she still had to be considerate.

That eldest daughter of the Wang Family was also foolish and useless, her four younger brothers were born from her stepmother, yet she didn’t make an effort to please her stepmother and get along with her brothers. Look at her now, controlled by her mother-in-law, what a waste of life.

Wang Laozhu was also confused, for a daughter who was married off, it was natural for her mother to step in, and a stepmother was still a mother! For the sake of reputation and face, the stepmother had to do even better.

But instead, he summoned his grown daughter to the room and completely disregarded his own wife, wasn’t he just further driving a wedge between his wife and his daughter?

Because she was preoccupied with her thoughts and also had to mind the cutting of meat, she didn’t really listen to what Old Lady Sun was saying, and just gave some perfunctory replies.

Then she heard Old Lady Sun slap her thigh, "My, you guys get paid to help cook? "

As soon as these words were spoken, the wife who was cutting meat was startled and nearly cut herself, immediately realizing that trouble was brewing.

Indeed, Old Lady Sun got up swiftly, went up to Old Granny Zhang and said, "In-law, I’ve long heard that your family has struck it rich, and sure enough, you have an air of wealth now! Even the wife helping with cooking gets paid, you’re more generous than the big households in the city! Look at this lavish spread you’ve got, with meat, fish, and tofu, it’s even better than what we have for New Year’s."

As Old Granny Zhang was pulling dried mushrooms from her cloth bag to soak in a basin, she replied impatiently, "If you’ve got something to say, say it; if you’ve got something to let off, let it off! I’m too busy for idle chit-chat with you! Didn’t you say you came to help? Or are you just helping with your mouth? Haven’t you seen we’re all busy here? No one’s moving the firewood, no one’s washing the vegetables, can’t you see?"

Old Lady Sun wasn’t annoyed and simply told Sun Shitou’s Wife, "Shitou’s Wife, go wash the vegetables."

Shitou’s Wife was reluctant, but she went. A basket of radishes was by the well, and she lazily drew a basin of water, dumped all the radishes in, swished them around perfunctorily, and called it washed.

The helping wife couldn’t stand it, "Sun Family Daughter-in-law, you didn’t wash the radishes clean, there’s still dirt on them."

Sun Shitou’s Wife, who had been all ears listening to Old Lady Sun talk with the in-law, turned at that comment with a roll of her eyes, "Eating something unwashed never killed anyone. We peasants don’t fuss about such things. Besides, you’re not the head of the household; you’re just hired by the head to work, what right do you have to look down your nose at me? I am the legitimate Daughter-in-law of the Wang Family!"

The wife who was helping out had a fiery temper, and upon hearing Sun Shitou’s Wife’s words, she rolled up her sleeves, ready to start a fight.

She was quickly restrained by someone quick-witted nearby, "Oh, sister-in-law, calm down. She’s still got one inside her, stay away or if something happens, it’ll be your fault, and you won’t be able to clear your name! Come on, come help me with the firewood—" and dragged her off.

Sun Shitou’s Wife puffed up her belly, triumphant, and called out to the wife’s retreating figure, "As long as you know your place, you also want to challenge me, huh? You don’t see who I am—"

Wang Yongzhu sauntered over and chimed in, "And who might you be?"

"I am the Wang Family’s bona fide Daughter-in-law, I count as half a—"

The rest of her words were trapped in her throat.

Shitou’s Wife squeezed out a smile with great difficulty, "Um... Aunt, when did you suddenly get behind me? You gave me quite a fright."