The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure
Chapter 535 - 533: Settling Accounts Clearly

Chapter 535: Chapter 533: Settling Accounts Clearly

Lady Lin had been in high spirits the last couple of days due to her efforts in clashing with the Sun Family, earning herself a few days of good favor from Old Granny Zhang, she couldn’t help but get excited, "Mother, Jindou and his brother are also of age, it’s time for matchmaking and maybe next year they will bring home a bride. Why not also make a set of furniture for each of the brothers?"

After all, the wood is readily available in the household and so is the master carpenter. With such excellent craftsmanship, who wouldn’t want a piece of the glory?

Old Granny Zhang pretended not to hear and instructed the two carpenters, "Gentlemen, please focus on the furniture for the room next door for my son-in-law first. He doesn’t have anything over there. Go with him later to take a look and measure the dimensions, see what needs to be made. We have the materials, and rest assured about your wages."

The generosity of the Wang Family was something everyone had become aware of these days; the two carpenters didn’t think much of it, and off they went to Song Chongjin’s courtyard.

The first thing to do was to get the measurements of the rooms right. It would be quite the joke if they ended up making furniture too big to fit through the door.

Master Chiang and his men were also busy setting up the beams and rafters.

That left the Wang Family members alone. No one dared to say anything, but they all knew that once the new house was ready for occupancy, Song Chongjin would be moving out soon.

Everyone knew his situation. He was leaving with nothing, starting afresh.

Everything needed to be purchased anew. Giving priority to his furniture was the sensible thing to do; otherwise, moving into an empty house would hardly seem right.

Wang Yongfu was about to follow to the new house but was stopped by Old Granny Zhang.

"Don’t rush off just yet, I still have things to say."

Seeing Old Granny Zhang’s stern face, who would dare to leave? Everyone stood quietly in the courtyard.

"Yesterday, Yongzhu and I went over the accounts. Once the tiles are on and the house is fully completed, after settling Master Chiang and his men’s wages, the total comes to around four hundred and forty-five taels of silver, give or take a few taels," she announced.

Upon hearing this, everyone smiled; the idea of completing such a large courtyard and still having around fifty taels of silver left over was a pleasant surprise—that was enough to refurnish the whole family with new furniture.

Wang Yonggui was the least able to contain himself, "Isn’t that perfect? Let’s have the carpenters make new furniture for the entire family. Everyone can have something new."

Lady Lin nodded in agreement, her heart filled with joy at the thought that after all the hardships, they were now living in a new house with new furniture. And soon, they’d bring in two new daughters-in-law. Life couldn’t get better!

"I’m not finished talking yet. I’ve made separate accounts for Chongjin’s house, which total up to over seventy taels, with another twenty or so taels left of silver. That silver is Chongjin’s, naturally we can’t take it!" Old Granny Zhang always knew what her family was like, and she doused their excitement with cold water.

Wang Yonggui’s face fell, as did Lady Lin’s.

Song Chongjin quickly said, "Aunt, there’s no need to separate things like this right now. If I were to build a house on my own, it would at least cost a hundred taels. Because we’re doing it together, the materials are much cheaper, and I would never be able to find this many helpers in the village on my own. You’ve saved me both money and worry. I can’t possibly accept this silver."

Song Chongjin’s refusal prompted Wang Yonggui to agree, "Exactly! Chongjin is one of our own now, family doesn’t split hairs like this. Why make things so formal?"

Old Granny Zhang spat, "Nonsense! Even close brothers settle accounts! Chongjin is Chongjin, the Wang Family is the Wang Family! Even if we’re family, proper accounts need to be kept. It can’t be muddled! Besides, even if Chongjin is building a house along with ours, saving money on materials and labor, haven’t we also saved?"

"Not to mention, building such a big house—without Chongjin, where would we find Master Chiang and his workers? Without Chongjin, could we have gotten such a good deal on the stones and tiles? Without Chongjin overseeing, would Master Chiang and his lot have put in so much effort? Do you really think Master Chiang would obediently not play any tricks behind your backs, just because of your brothers? Even though Chongjin doesn’t say it, don’t you have any clue?"

The Wang brothers fell silent.

"Chongjin, don’t push this away anymore. Given the current situation between our two families, your aunt will make the decision for you. The remaining twenty or so taels of silver will go for the furniture in your room, and the rest will be used by your aunt and Yongzhu to go to town and buy whatever is needed. A proper home needs to look the part, doesn’t it?" Old Granny Zhang firmly decided.

Song Chongjin nodded obediently, "I’ll listen to Aunt. As long as Aunt and Yongzhu take charge on my behalf, it’s all good."

Old Granny Zhang’s smile finally broadened, "As for our family, we’ve also got about twenty taels left, which we need to save for when we move and warm the new house with a celebration. As for the rest of you, the brothers and us old folks, except for Laosi whose furniture is nearly done, everyone else will make do with the old furniture for now."

"If you find the time, there’s plenty of wood outside. Make it yourselves, or have your father make it for you, that’s up to you! Or if you have the money, hire the carpenters to do it. Just one thing, the family won’t pay for this expense. I have always been fair, it can’t be that Laosi’s wedding furniture was made by your father for free, and you, as the older brothers, actually want the family to pay for a carpenter."

Wang Yongping hadn’t given it much thought before, but hearing Old Granny Zhang’s words, his eyes turned red. He was no longer the simple and guileless Wang Laosi of before.

If the rest of the family started using beautiful furniture made by outside carpenters, and his own wedding furniture turned out to be the lesser, not only would Xiao Qiao, coming into the family, find it disheartening, but even he himself might feel a twinge in his heart.

With Old Granny Zhang having put it so plainly, who would dare say a word against it? Moreover, following through with that, what kind of rumors would it spark on the day Laosi got married?

Wang Yongfu promptly said, "Mother speaks the truth! There’s certainly no reason to do otherwise. Anyway, once the house is built, and after Laosi is married, we won’t have much to do. The wood is ready at hand—this is the perfect opportunity to make our furniture at home and save some money."

Lady Lin though muttered, "What about the younger sister?"

All this time, the mother-in-law had been talking, but she never mentioned the youngest daughter-in-law. Was this hinting at making furniture especially for the young sister-in-law?

"I’ll pay for Yongzhu’s furniture!" Before Old Granny Zhang could respond, Song Chongjin spoke up.

"Auntie, these past few days, I’ve been helping Master Chiang and the others select a few good pieces of wood, which we have kept aside, specifically to make furniture for Yongzhu. When we got engaged, Yongzhu faced some hardship, and now, it’s only right for me to at least show some heartfelt gratitude," Song Chongjin explained sincerely, looking at Old Granny Zhang.

After hearing this, Old Granny Zhang had no reason to refuse, "Alright! As long as you two are happy, why would your aunt not agree?"

With that settled, no one had any objections anymore, and the matter was decided.