The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure-Chapter 51 - I’ve Never Seen So Much Money in My Life

51: Chapter 51: I’ve Never Seen So Much Money in My Life

51 -51: I’ve Never Seen So Much Money in My Life

Li Dagui suddenly came to a realization, yeah, it wasn’t only his unfortunate daughter’s fault—could a belly get big by itself?

The He Family isn’t dead!

After all, there’s still blood of the He Family in his daughter’s belly, right?

Why should his family lose all face and bleed money while the He Family gets off scot-free, picking up a wife and even getting a grandson thrown in the deal?

It’s all because Old Granny Zhang came on so strong and fast that he was caught off guard.

Li Dagui quickly calculated in his mind, the dowry of five taels of silver and two sets of clothes his daughter mentioned earlier had pleased him.

Now it seemed far from enough, not to mention anything else, but surely the He Family should pay the ten taels of silver the Wang Family demanded in compensation, right?

Having lost all face and reputation, he feared he wouldn’t be able to hold his head up in the village from now on—shouldn’t the He Family take that into account?

And about the dowry, not a penny less, and they should throw in a little extra; after all, there was their He Family seed in his daughter’s belly.

After thinking it over, Li Dagui raised his head, his words not set in stone, “Sister Zhang, here’s the thing, you know our family can’t come up with that much silver, but you’re right, this matter involves the He Family too, so we should see what they have to say, right?

How about this, what if the three families meet face-to-face tomorrow and sort this matter out clearly?”

Old Granny Zhang wasn’t so easily fooled and flatly refused, “I don’t care about that, whatever you have to settle with the He Family, that’s your business with them.

If you want to call off the marriage, bring ten taels of silver.

I don’t care if it comes from your family or the He Family, that’s your affair, what’s it to me?”

Did he think he could get a bargain today?

Who knows what might change tomorrow?

Did they think Old Granny Zhang had lived so many years just to eat salt for nothing?

Li Dagui clenched his teeth and steeled his heart, “How about this then, Sister Zhang, our family can only come up with half right now, we’ll give you five taels first and the rest tomorrow, how about that?”

Lady Lin, standing behind Old Granny Zhang, her eyes lit up.

If it weren’t for Old Granny Zhang’s fearsome reputation, she would have jumped out and agreed right then and there.

Initially, when her mother-in-law demanded ten taels, it wasn’t just the Li Family that was startled, even Lady Lin was taken aback.

Ten taels!

She had never seen so much money in her life.

Which rural family could come up with that much silver?

Sure enough, the Li Family said they couldn’t afford it, and Lady Lin almost couldn’t help blaming her mother-in-law.

Why be so greedy?

It would have been enough to make do, they had never really given any betrothal gifts when their families got engaged, and the gifts sent during festivals all these years had been things of little value from their own fields, but of course, that’s the way it’s done in the countryside, not worth much money.

Getting back two or three taels of silver would mean not only breaking even but also making a profit.

Now that the Li Family agreed to give five taels first, it was already a big win.

Whatever the case, getting it in hand first was what mattered!

In her heart, Old Granny Zhang was actually delighted.

Asking for ten taels was just a spur-of-the-moment demand, meant to disgust the Li Family.

Ever since getting engaged to the Li Family, she had planned not to spend more than one tael of silver.

Of course, her good-for-nothing son might have done some tasks in secret, possibly helping out and contributing some wild game, but that was worthless!

She had intended to ask for more, expecting the Li Family would definitely bargain, but after a bit of haggling, getting five taels would have been quite good.

But contrary to her expectation, Li Dagui, even though he bargained, didn’t seem too firm.

The crafty old lady immediately understood—the Li Family might be out of money, but the He Family had money, especially considering what Li Dagui had said, he was hoping to call the He Family over tomorrow for a standoff between the three families and then have the He Family pay up.

With that in mind, she had a plan.

Putting on a great deal of airs and pretending for a long time, she finally reluctantly agreed to accept the five taels of silver first, with the rest to be delivered tomorrow when the three families met face-to-face.

Still not reassured, Old Granny Zhang had Lady Lin invite the clan leaders of both the Wang Family and the Li Family to the scene, where they drew up a document on the spot.

It clearly stated that five taels of silver were to be received today and, after the remaining five taels were collected tomorrow, both families would exchange their marriage contracts and annul the engagement.

Proud, with a triumphant stride, she left the Li Family’s home, pocketing the five taels of sparkling white silver.

Outside the door, Wang Yongzhu and several little beans, as well as the majority of the neighbors who were waiting to see the final outcome between the two families, hadn’t left; they were gathered in small groups outside the Li Family’s courtyard, waiting.

Upon seeing Old Granny Zhang come out, everyone swarmed around her.

“Sister Zhang, how did it go?

Was the engagement called off?”

“Aunt Zhang, is the engagement off, and did you get any compensation?”

…

As soon as Old Granny Zhang stepped out of the Li Family’s courtyard gate, her face darkened immediately; she had already reminded Lady Lin to keep a low profile.

But Lady Lin, after all, was not adept at concealing her emotions, and no matter how she tried, she could not hold back the upturn at the corners of her mouth.

Everyone saw this and knew that the Li Family probably paid dearly this time.

However, considering the circumstances, such an outcome was to be expected.

In cases like these, there were unreasonable families who would have killed the adulterers on the spot without a second thought about propriety.

The Wang Family was merely asking for money, which already showed they were reasonable.

Old Granny Zhang immediately spotted her own dear daughter among the crowd—it was impossible to miss her in the sea of people due to her distinctive build, even if she tried to look the other way.

Her daughter was gazing at her eagerly, exuding a sense of pity.

Motherly love swelled within Old Granny Zhang; indeed, her darling daughter was like a little padded jacket close to her heart, so caring!

She had told her not to come but she still worried about her own mother—her affection wasn’t wasted!

“Didn’t I tell you not to come?

If someone were to shove you and you fell, it wouldn’t be a joke—” she chided with affection.

The people nearby rolled their eyes at these words; who could possibly shove Wang Yongzhu over?

It would be a surprise if she didn’t shove others herself!

Seeing that Old Granny Zhang was keeping a straight face, but the smile in her eyes, and the twisted face of Lady Lin behind her trying to hold back laughter, Wang Yongzhu knew that the issue had been resolved and quite smoothly at that.

She let out a sigh of relief, “Mother, sister-in-law, you have worked hard.

Let’s go home!”

Old Granny Zhang could no longer keep her stern expression, feeling tender affection for her lovable daughter.

She fondly smoothed her daughter’s hair, “Alright, my darling misses her mother.

Let’s go, we’re heading home.

Tonight, I’ll stew a rabbit for my dear daughter to eat!”

The surrounding little beans cheered; if the old maiden was getting a stewed rabbit, she would eat the rabbit legs, and the rest could get a nibble on the neck and head—nothing wrong with that!

Lady Lin pursed her lips behind them.

The mother-in-law was blatantly biased, but if it meant getting to share in the rabbit feast, she wouldn’t be foolish enough to make a fuss at this moment.

The little beans collected the cleavers and the chopping boards and marched home in high spirits.

When they arrived, only Wang Laozhu was sitting in the courtyard, smoking, with no sign of the elder brother, Wang Yongfu.

Seeing his family return home buoyant and beaming, Wang Laozhu felt like a weight had been lifted from his chest, sensing that the matter must have been mostly resolved.

Lady Jiang also emerged from the kitchen at the sound, bringing hot water for Old Granny Zhang to wash her face.

Old Granny Zhang instructed Lady Jiang to kill and stew the rabbit that Wang Yongzhu had brought back for dinner while the little beans followed her into the kitchen to watch the rabbit being slaughtered.