The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure
Chapter 602 - 600 Going to the City for the New Year

Chapter 602: Chapter 600 Going to the City for the New Year

Old Granny Zhang’s face was extremely serious, "I’ve thought it through, you’ll get married as soon as the new year begins. That second son of mine is full of who-knows-what devious schemes in his belly, and now that we’ve completely offended him, who knows if he might actually dare to sell off his sister for glory."

"Although you two are engaged, as long as the wedding hasn’t happened, it’s not set in stone. If the second son really does such a thing, even if the marriage isn’t completed, Zhuzhu’s reputation will still be ruined! We can’t let that beast ruin my little Zhuzhu’s good prospects!"

"Mother is right! We’ll do as Mother says!" Song Chongjin said excitedly.

Upon speaking, he realized that he had let the word "Mother" slip from the bottom of his heart.

Old Granny Zhang was taken aback for a moment but then immediately burst into smiles, "Since you’ve already called me Mother, we must hasten the marriage! We’ll disregard it for now, but once the second one has left, we will start preparing!"

Wang Yongzhu and Song Chongjin naturally had no objections.

Just as the wedding was settled and they were discussing choosing an auspicious date, Wang Laozhu hurried into the room, pretending to be very calm, "I’ve decided to go to the city to celebrate the New Year with the second one!"

At this moment, Old Granny Zhang’s heart was full of her daughter’s upcoming wedding; she wanted to make it splendid and had countless things to know about. She couldn’t care less whether Wang Laozhu was going to the city for the New Year or to heaven for that matter.

She just nodded vaguely, indicating she understood.

"You... Don’t you want to go with me?" Wang Laozhu asked through clenched teeth after hesitating for a long time.

"I’m bound to earth and heaven, I won’t go anywhere, I’ll just stay at home! If you want to go, go. Is there anything else?" Old Granny Zhang shifted her thoughts, hoping that Wang Laozhu would leave quickly; once he was gone, it would be ideal to focus entirely on the wedding preparations at home.

As the day approached, they would call Wang Laozhu back.

It’s not like she didn’t understand Wang Laozhu. Don’t look at how enthusiatic he is now; when he actually gets to the city, he might not be able to get used to living there.

But right now, it was no longer her concern, so she waved her hand and gestured that Wang Laozhu could leave.

Wang Laozhu left with a face ashen with anger.

He returned to his room and began packing his luggage.

Considering that the second son had money, why would he, the father, need to spend his own when visiting his son’s house?

But the share of gold and silver he had, if he wasn’t at home, that would be a problem.

To hand it over to his son? Wang Laozhu immediately dismissed the thought. He feared that once given, it would be like throwing a meat bun to a dog — gone and never to return.

After much consideration, Old Granny Zhang was the only one he could entrust with it.

After wrestling with the idea all night, he went to the backyard and handed over the gold and silver to Old Granny Zhang for safekeeping. Of course, he didn’t put it that way, "I don’t know when I’ll return from this trip, and it might delay business matters if the need arises. I’ll leave the principal with you, and you can use it whenever it’s needed."

Old Granny Zhang snorted coldly but considering the fact that Wang Laozhu was about to take that thorn in the side, the second one, and his family away, she accepted it without saying much.

Wang Laozhu still felt uneasy, so he called his sons over to announce his decision and then probed his sons, "I might be gone for a while this time, and it’s also a good opportunity for the kids to check out the schooling environment. If it’s really good, we could send the kids there to study."

Upon hearing the mention of studying, Jinguan’s head swelled; he thought his grandfather was too awful, going to the county town not to buy food or toys, but to look for a tutor first and foremost.

And to send them there too? Only a fool would go!

Just as he was thinking this, he heard Wang Laozhu ask, "Jinguan, Jinpan, do you want to come to the city with me? There are way more fun places in the city than here in the countryside."

Jinguan rolled his eyes. Even though they were just children, wasn’t this a rather heartless way to deceive them? The old man had just talked about finding a tutor and sending them to study, and now he was talking about taking them to play?

He was already a grown-up; he would not fall for these adult tricks again!

He firmly refused, "I don’t want it! I won’t go! I don’t like the city!"

He had made it clear from the start, he didn’t like the city, so don’t expect him to be involved in anything related to studying.

Jinpan looked at his parents and then at Jinguan, before carefully saying, "I, I don’t like the city either!"

Wang Laozhu looked at his grandsons with disappointment. Fearing that Wang Laozhu would not let go, Jinguan hurriedly ran outside.

Having no choice, Wang Laozhu finally got his bundle ready, with Wang Yonggui helping to carry it.

As they left the courtyard, Wang Yongzhu just happened to arrive. She pulled out a five-tael silver note and stuffed it into Wang Laozhu’s hand, "Dad, even if you live at his place, there might be times when you’re short on money. Take this with you and don’t take it out lightly."

Wang Laozhu held the silver note, his lips quivering for a while, his gaze at Wang Yongzhu filled with complexity and embarrassment.

To be honest, he hadn’t paid much attention to his youngest daughter, and he found her stubborn and disobedient.

But at this moment, she was the only one who remembered to give her father some silver, worried that he might be short on cash.

"Take good care of your mother at home!" After much effort, that was all Wang Laozhu could muster.

Wang Yongzhu nodded, "Dad, don’t worry!"

After thinking for a moment, Wang Laozhu added hesitantly, "Don’t worry, your marriage to Chongjin is set in stone. Your second brother is looking out for your best interest; I’ll persuade him..."

This was an implicit statement that he would not listen to Wang Yongan, and he had no other thoughts about Wang Yongzhu’s marriage.

Wang Yongzhu knew Wang Laozhu well. Although he was partial and cared about face, it was precisely because of his pride that he would never commit to something as disgraceful as breaking off a marriage.

After seeing off Wang Laozhu, Wang Yonggui escorted him to the old house.

Wang Yongzhu thought for a moment, then turned and asked Wang Yongfu, "With this cold weather and the long journey, how do they plan to travel to town?"

Given the constitution of Wang Yongan’s family, she estimated they wouldn’t make it to town on foot.

Wang Yongfu was taken aback but it was Wang Yongping who said, "I heard dad say early this morning that they were going to hire an ox cart to go to town."

Wang Yongzhu frowned, "With this weather, riding in an ox cart, I’m afraid dad won’t be able to endure it. Brother Song, please trouble yourself to take my dad to town and then come back. Once they’re in town, they can hire a carriage."

Better to send Wang Yongan, a character as venomous as a snake, on his way as soon as possible.

If the cold caused an incident, and they decided not to leave town, that would still be a disaster.

Song Chongjin and Wang Yongzhu exchanged a knowing glance, and he nodded in understanding. Agreeing with a word, he drove the carriage out towards the old house.

Wang Yongan and his family were worrying. They had spent half of yesterday packing, and most of their belongings had been damaged by Old Granny Zhang. Even the cotton robe Wang Yongan was wearing had been slashed with several large cuts, exposing the cotton inside.

Lady Qian cried out of distress, it had taken her most of the night to mend the cotton robe.

As for the other damaged goods, those that were still usable were packed up, and those that would require too much effort to repair, Lady Qian simply gave them to Wang Yongzhen.

Wang Yongzhen didn’t mind. What Lady Qian deemed useless, she found to be quite good, and happily accepted them.

She had arrived with a full chest of belongings, but as she left, not even a single parcel remained.