The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure-Chapter 21 - Drama Queen On Board

21: Chapter 21: Drama Queen On Board?

21 -21: Drama Queen On Board?

The three Little Beans sipped their sugar water in tiny gulps.

Although it wasn’t as sweet as before, to them, this sugar water was the sweetest they had ever tasted, a sweetness they would nearly never forget for their entire lives.

Jinhua was sensible and stopped drinking her share halfway.

She quietly picked up Little Jinshao who was scampering around the yard and gave him the rest of her half bowl of sugar water.

Little Jinshao had never tasted sugar water before.

After trying a sip, he almost buried his face in the bowl, not only gulped down the rest in one breath, but also stuck out his little tongue to lick the bowl clean.

Lastly, he lingered, reluctantly licking the corners of his mouth, not willing to let go of the last trace of sweetness.

After finishing the sugar water, the four Little Beans looked at the smiling Ming Zhu and felt that their old cousin looked pleasant no matter how they looked at her today.

Especially the youngest Jinshao, who was still a naive child, and upon hearing from his sister Jinhua that the sugar water was given by old cousin, his innocent heart immediately felt she was the best.

Little Jinshao was well-behaved on ordinary days, quiet and not fussy, always smiling at people.

Although he was malnourished and thin, and his clothes were gray and patched upon patches, they were cleaned meticulously by Lady Jiang, making him quite likable.

Particularly today, having had sugar water, his little face was a bit rosy, making him especially endearing.

His little mouth was also particularly sweet as he cupped his hands in thanks to Ming Zhu, “Thank you, old cousin, sweet—”

Ming Zhu felt her heart melting just looking at him and she spontaneously hugged him, giving him a good rub.

Little Jinshao was very well-behaved and, feeling that Ming Zhu truly liked him with no ill intentions, he didn’t struggle at all.

Instead, he compliantly leaned his head into her hands for her to rub.

It was downright adorable.

Inside the house, Ming Zhu was happily rubbing her nephew, while outside in the field, the laborers had already come back for dinner.

Perhaps because Old Granny Zhang was in a good mood, and also because she had retrieved the betrothal gifts, she was feeling more generous.

Today’s dinner was a tad richer than yesterday’s: a basket of mixed-grain buns, a pot of sorghum grain porridge, a basin of cold blanched shepherd’s purse, and even an additional large bowl of smoked pig skin braised with fresh fava beans.

Coupled with a few kinds of pickles, it was a sight that could whet anyone’s appetite.

At the dinner table, after a day of hard work, everyone dug into the portions Old Granny Zhang had divided for them without any words—heads down, they ate heartily.

Like a whirlwind sweeping through leaves, half of the dishes on the table were quickly consumed, which caused Old Granny Zhang to roll her eyes and slam her chopsticks down, cursing as she began, “Eat, eat, eat, is that all you know?

Were you pigs in a past life?

You’re useless at work, but when it comes to eating, you never get enough?

These few days I’ve been nice to you, and you all think you can turn the sky upside down, eh?

Look at how you’re eating, as if you’ve been starved for eight generations.

How have I been harsh on you on normal days?

Go around the village and ask, who treats their daughters-in-law and grandchildren as well as our Wang family?

You’ve been spoiled until your tails are all sticking up, not knowing how vast the sky is or how deep the earth is!”

The Wang family members were scolded harshly and instantly felt embarrassed.

Jindou and Jinhu, who were still young, had grown up in poverty and found today’s meal exceptionally delicious.

They couldn’t help but want to eat more.

Their chopsticks fell like rain, aiming straight for the one dish with a bit of meat—the smoked pig skin with fresh fava beans.

Yet even after being scolded by Old Granny Zhang, they still didn’t dare to lift their heads and didn’t pause in snagging morsels.

That stirred up a hornet’s nest.

“What sins did I commit in my past life to give birth to such heartless things like you!

Zhuzhu had her engagement broken off today—such a big incident, and not a single one of you came out to stand up for your cousin.

You just know how to eat, eat, eat!

My Zhuzhu, so pretty, so blessed, such a kind-hearted and filial girl, what will become of you now?

With the engagement gone and this heartless bunch at home, feeding on your blood and drinking your flesh, and not one can stand by your side or support you!

What’s the use of giving birth to so many sons?

When your sister is bullied, none of you even know how to grunt, just know how to eat.

My heart, oh, it’s so cold!

Now we can’t count on you for your sister’s matters, and in the future, when us old folks can no longer work, I’m afraid you will just toss our old bones out to die…”

Wang Yongfu sat there dumbfounded, his bun almost slipping from his hand onto the floor.

Lady Lin was also stunned.

The couple looked at each other: Had their little sister really been rejected for marriage?

When did this happen?

Ming Zhu was even more bewildered.

My dear mother, you did not act like this when you accepted the breakup payment.

Are you possessed by a drama spirit?

Wang Laozhu was also shocked.

Though he did not fancy his aging daughter, having her actually be rejected felt terrible for a father.

He put down his chopsticks and picked up his smoking pipe to take a puff before speaking, “The Song Family has come to break off the engagement?”

Old Granny Zhang was full of indignation, “They even returned the engagement gifts!

Pah!

The Song Family—such a disreputable bunch—was never worthy of our Zhuzhu.

But pity our Zhuzhu, who has now unfairly gained the reputation of being rejected.

As for future marriage prospects, who knows where they might be?

Those ungrateful, black-hearted bastards of the Song Family!”

After venting, she gritted her teeth and said, “From now on, no one is allowed to associate with anyone from the Song Family, got it?

If I find out anyone has been with a Song, see if I don’t break their legs!”

Everyone nodded busily in agreement.

Jindou, quick-witted, stood up to make a statement, “Granny, rest assured, in a few days, once we’re done with the busy work in the fields, Jinhu and I will go beat up the Song Family’s brats to vent for our aunt!”

Old Granny Zhang gave a grudging snort, which was as good as consenting.

Seeing this, Jinguang and Jinhua thought Granny wanted the family to make a stand and hurriedly said, “Granny, we’ll gather more pig grass, so those brats from the Song Family don’t have any to gather!”

Jinpan, seeing his siblings had all made their statements, scratched his head for a long time before forcing out, “Every day I’ll go pee at the entrance of the Song Family’s house, stink them out!”

If it weren’t for the inappropriate setting, Ming Zhu would have almost burst into laughter.

Was this some kind of a rally to trip up the Song Family?

Even Lady Jiang, who was always timid and honest, stepped forward somewhat meekly, “Mother, if anyone in the village dares to gossip about my little sister again, I…

I…” She struggled for a while before coming up with, “I will splash them with water!”

For Lady Jiang, who was usually so mild and well-behaved, this was indeed her limit.

Old Granny Zhang didn’t expect Lady Jiang to do something earth-shattering like slapping the gossipy women around.

She just glanced at Lady Jiang and tossed the half-eaten bun in her hand to her.

This was her form of praise!

Lady Jiang was so grateful she nearly fumbled catching the bun.

She silently vowed to protect her little sister-in-law at all costs.

Protecting Zhuzhu was the only way to gain favor with her mother-in-law, which meant she’d have food to eat!

Standing behind her little sister-in-law, whatever Zhuzhu said was right = mother-in-law would be pleased with her = there would be buns to eat = no hunger pains!

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Except for Wang Laozhu and his son Wang Yongfu, everyone else had made their stance clear.

Old Granny Zhang’s gaze put a lot of pressure on Wang Yongfu.

The honest man, under his mother’s piercing look, grew even more tongue-tied.

After a long silence, he finally managed a muffled, “Mother, whatever you want me to do, that’s what I’ll do!”