The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure-Chapter 39 - I’m going to break his legs

39: Chapter 39: I’m going to break his legs

39 -39: I’m going to break his legs

After a whirlwind feast, the table was left completely bare.

Even Wang Yongzhu, who was determined to diet, was swept up in the atmosphere and unknowingly ate several pieces of braised pork.

Rarely, even Lady Jiang felt full today, almost seven or eight parts full, and she even ate a piece of fat as big as a little finger, savoring it in her mouth, the meat so fragrant, so tender, she almost wished she could swallow her own tongue.

In the end, the kids even wiped the soup bowl clean with their steamed buns, so there really was no need to wash it.

Wang Yongping, patting his belly, had long forgotten about the beating he received before the meal, “Mom, you really care about your son, knowing that I was coming back today, did you specially cut so much meat to welcome me home?”

Old Granny Zhang replied irritably, “Pah!

Welcome you home?

You think your face is bigger than a basin?

If I had known that you, such a headache, were coming back, would I have cut meat?

I’d have just boiled some green veggies and rice gruel for you, all because I take into account that you’re my own flesh and blood!

You spring up out of nowhere, don’t tell me, you’ve caused trouble again?

Haven’t you broken someone’s leg again?”

As she spoke, she deftly picked up the broom beside her, ready to swing it the moment Wang Yongping nodded.

Wang Yongping scratched his head in grievance, “Mom, do you think I’m that kind of person?

Didn’t I follow your advice, make enough money to pay back what I owed, and rush back because I was worried that we didn’t have enough hands for the farm work?”

No matter what, under Zhang Granny’s discipline, the Wang Family’s sons, regardless of their characters, were regarded as filial sons by outsiders.

Wang Yongping knew his own family affairs.

To outsiders, it seemed the Wang Family had many hands, but actually, only a few were able to work.

His father was getting older and wasn’t too healthy, so he could only do lighter work in the field or give guidance to his grandson.

The real dependable ones were just his eldest brother and his sister-in-law.

Though Jindou and Jinhu had been working in the fields for a few years, they could only help out a bit, and weren’t up for more physically demanding tasks.

His second brother was in the county town and rarely came back once a year, and his third brother was like a wild horse without reins, all unreliable.

So since early spring, he had been eager to take on more jobs and managed to save up Half String Money only yesterday.

Worried about his family, he had set off early, buying only two pieces of glutinous rice cake with money and two head ornaments a while back during the market day, and rushed home without purchasing anything else.

He thought that at this moment, everyone at home would be far too busy and tired, and his old mother might even be at home, throwing basins, breaking bowls, and cursing in the street.

But to his surprise, when he returned, the house was quiet, and such a big pot of meat had been stewed, giving Wang Yongping, who hadn’t tasted meat for half a year, a good chance to indulge.

He didn’t think much of it, assuming it was because he was away, and his mother bought meat for the family to eat, so everyone would have the strength to work the fields.

He quickly touted his merit, indicating that his return was precisely to work the fields.

Hearing Wang Yongping say this, Zhang Granny’s expression softened a bit, and, throwing the broom aside, she stretched out her hand, “Hand it over—”

Wang Yongping obediently took out his wallet and handed it to Old Granny Zhang.

Zhang Granny turned the wallet inside out, and a clatter of Half String shiny copper coins fell out.

After counting them three times and confirming it was Half String Money, she finally stored it satisfactorily in the cupboard.

Meanwhile, she complained, “You’ve been out and about for almost half a year and only earned this little money, not even as much as your younger sister!

Who among you can I rely on in the future, I wonder—”

After securing the money, and with everyone gathered, Zhang Granny tapped on the table, “Laosi has returned, and everyone is here.

The work in the fields is also mostly done, so I’ve been thinking, now that Zhuzhu’s wedding is called off, and with the returned betrothal gifts, plus the money I have, it should be enough to find Laosi a wife—”

He hadn’t finished speaking when he was interrupted by Wang Yongping, “Mom?

What did you say?

Little sister’s marriage engagement has been canceled?

Why?

Was it that bastard Song Chongjin who came to cancel it?

Damn it, I’m gonna break his legs—”

As he spoke, he pushed the table away and rolled up his sleeves, his face fierce as he was about to start a fight.

Old Granny Zhang slapped him back into place, “Sit down for your mother, who do you think you are?

Keep whining, and I’ll break your dog legs!”

Wang Yongping whined, “Mom, didn’t you say that if little sister was bullied, I, as her brother, should stand up for her?

Now that her engagement has been broken off, where does that leave our Wang Family’s face?

How will little sister ever hold her head up again? freewebnoveℓ.com

Mom, just let me go, I have to show the Song Family that our Wang Family Young Lady is not so easily bullied!”

Old Granny Zhang slammed the table and glared fiercely, “If you want to fight, you can do it tomorrow.

Right now, sit down and listen to me finish.

Do you all take my words for the wind?

Are you trying to turn the heavens upside down?”

Wang Yongping, the best fighter in Qilidun, immediately backed down and obediently sat down to be scolded.

“It’s good you’re back; take advantage of the slack season to get your marriage with the Li Family Maid done.

It’s been put off for several years now; one day it’s bad timing, the next the fortune is ill-favored.

Their Maid isn’t even fit to carry shoes for our Zhuzhu, and yet she dares to think she’s so precious just because her name is ‘Jinzhi’?

To marry into our family, where she won’t have to worry about food and clothing, she doesn’t know how many lifetimes of good karma she’s accumulated.

What more could she want?

How come they have so many poor pretentious ritual constraints?

Tomorrow, I’ll have a matchmaker set the date.

Your room could use a fresh coat of paint these next few days.

Have your dad and you work on making some pieces of furniture.

Get her married sooner rather than later for peace of mind, so at least there will be someone to wash your clothes and cook for you.

I’ve been taking care of you for damn near twenty years; I’ve practically worn myself out.”

Wang Yongping, though a tender-hearted young man, aside from his own mother and sister, had never even held hands with another girl.

Listening to his mother’s determination, it seemed he really was about to have a wife brought into his home.

The heart of the young man thumped wildly, and the tips of his ears turned red.

Whether working outside or hanging out with his buddies in the village, as a grown man, conversations inevitably involved women.

Especially the married ones, when they talked about the benefits of being married, each of them looked as proud as if they had been feasting on rich meat for several days, often speaking as though only those who had gone through it would understand.

They would mention how tender their wife’s skin was, how soft her body felt like noodles, how slick and tight certain places were…

The unmarried young men all blushed and burned with curiosity, tossing and turning sleeplessly at night.

The thought that he was about to get married and become one of those experienced men, able to embrace a soft and fragrant wife and do this and that, made Wang Yongping feel like his nose was about to bleed, leaving him grinning idiotically.

Wang Yongzhu simply couldn’t bear to look at her foolish Fourth Brother.

Old Granny Zhang also found her fool of a son too hard on the eyes and chased him out with a couple of broom sweeps.

After dinner, Jindou and the other little Beans, who had been chased into the yard, also heard about the plans to get Uncle Four a bride, and they all laughed and teased Wang Yongping.

“Uncle Four, are you going to get us a Fourth Aunt?”

“Uncle Four, why is your face so red?”

…

The courtyard was bustling with excitement.

Left behind in the main room were Wang Yongfu and Lady Lin, a couple, with Lady Lin giving Wang Yongfu meaningful looks.

Today was a rare occasion when the mother-in-law brought up her younger brother-in-law’s marriage prospects.

Their own Jindou was turning 15 next year, and it was time to start looking for a bride.

Otherwise, after a couple more years, all the good girls would have been picked by someone else.

Even the houses for the grandchildren’s marriages weren’t settled yet; this needed to be put on the agenda as well.