Chapter 5: Discussion

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Madam Liu felt uncomfortable when she saw this scene. She put away the wicker sewing basket she was using to mend her shoes, and said to Madam Wang, “Mother, Weixin is coming back from the county town today, let’s prepare some good dishes tonight. Our Weixin… Even our county magistrate has met him.” One could only guess whom she was directing this comment to, she even emphasized the last sentence.

When Madam Wang heard this, she replied, “We know, we know!”

Madam Ma laughed to herself. Hehe, it’s true he had met the county magistrate. He and a group of scoundrels were eating, drinking, and fooling around. They teased a girl on the street and were caught red-handed by a passing constable. After they were released, they came back claiming that they saw the girl being bullied by others and acted bravely to rescue her, they were invited by the county magistrate to receive an award.

Hmph, pfft, shameless. Only Madam Wang and Madam Liu believe it. They think that this eldest son, Weixin, is a genius. In my opinion, he’s just a worm. He wants us, second brother’s family, to contribute some betrothal money. No way.

At this point, Tian Zhuangzhu and his two sons returned from the fields with hoes on their shoulders.

Madam Wang walked over and said to Tian Zhuangzhu, “You’re home. You must be tired after being out all day! That little brat Juxiang is taking so long to cut some hogweed. She must be slacking off outside again.”

As long as it came to work, Madam Wang would think of Juxiang. Nowadays Madam Wang did not lift a finger and knew only to delegate tasks to Juxiang. Juxiang was now handling all household matters alone.

Before dawn in the morning, Juxiang had to get up and go to the river to wash the clothes of the entire family. On returning home, she had to hang out the laundry. Then, she had to cut hogweed,feed the pigs, and make lunch.

However, Juxiang did not need to cook. Madam Wang was worried that the girl would use too much oil and salt, and was also afraid that she’d secretly eat while preparing food. Hence the woman mostly did the cooking, or otherwise, her two daughters-in-law would do it.

At this point, Juxiang returned carrying a basket of grass. Needless to say, she brought the grass to the side of the small ditch and washed them in the stream flowing down from the mountains. Then, she brought the grass to the pigpen, chopped them on the chopping board with a kitchen knife and fed the pigs.

As soon as she was done, Madam Wang called out from the doorway of the main residence again, “Juxiang, why are you dawdling, can’t you work faster?! Hurry up, your grandfather and uncles are hungry. Go cook the rice first before washing the vegetables. Hurry up! Are you asking for a beating?”

Juxiang turned around and said to Wunian, “Sister, go home first. I’ll bring you food later.”

“Uh huh! Big Sister, I understand.”

Juxiang saw to it that Wunian had returned to their little dilapidated house before running off to the kitchen in the main residence to continue her chores.

Madam Ma, who was watching Juxiang enter the kitchen, pretended to be calm and continued to watch Yuehong embroider. In fact, she was scheming how to sell Juxiang, and get half of the money for herself.

Seeing that the men at home were resting in front of the main hall and Madam Wang was passing this way heading back to her room, Madam Ma said hypocritically, “Mother, Weixin is already 15 years old. Logically speaking, he should be getting married. I wonder how much betrothal money you’ll be contributing as his grandmother?”

“I don’t have any money. This bit of income every year is in plain sight. Can’t you see it?!”

“Mother! I know of a way you can contribute and look good without costing you a single cent. You might even be able to earn some money.”

“What method? Don’t keep us in suspense. Tell us quickly!”

“That’s right. There’s a ruffian in my maternal family’s village. He’s in his thirties and hasn’t gotten a wife yet. The last time I visited my maternal family, he asked me if there were any suitable girls. He’s willing to pay five taels of silver as betrothal money. Mother, what do you think?”

“That won’t do. If I marry Juxiang off, who will do the housework for me?”

“Mother! Aiya! Hasn’t that d*mned child, Wunian, grown up too?”

“Okay, let me think about it. We’ll discuss it after dinner!”

Madam Ma smiled and said, “Sigh! Whatever you wish.”

At this point, a young man alighted from the ox cart at the entrance of the courtyard. This young man was a little fat! He was none other than Weixin, son of the eldest son. When Madam Liu heard the commotion, she quickly went out to welcome him.

“Son! You must be tired! Come in and rest. The food isn’t ready yet. We’ll go over when it’s ready!”

“Mother, I’m exhausted. Riding on that ox cart makes me feel like my body is falling apart. Many of my close friends in school are already using horse carriages. It’s too embarrassing when I’m with them.”

“Okay, okay, okay. Let’s talk inside.”

“Mother, we’re already inside the house. Are you agreeing to buy a horse carriage?”

“Son! How would I have the money to buy a horse carriage for you! Aren’t you already 15? It’s time for you to marry a girl. I don’t even have the betrothal money!”

“Mother! What are you people at home doing all day? You can’t even afford this bit of money. Let’s make a deal! I’m not going to marry a girl from the village. I want to marry a girl from the county town.”