Wang Yongping looked at Song Chongjin with a bewildered face.
Song Chongjin watched Wang Yongping silently, rubbed his forehead, and after brewing his thoughts, he finally spoke, "Fourth Brother, what Mother means is that reconciliation is not your strong suit. In the future, if such a situation arises, just remember one thing—never open your mouth. Either ask Fourth Sister-in-law or Mother, and that’ll be the right thing to do!"
It dawned on Wang Yongping, "Brother-in-law, you’re right! I’ll do just that from now on!"
After discussing the matters of the eldest branch, they talked about the third branch.
Nowadays in the third branch, even though Wang Yonggui had his faults, Lady Jiang had low expectations. As long as Wang Yonggui didn’t stay away from home all year long, or steal silver from the house to gamble in town, she was satisfied.
Their family had land, but Lady Jiang was weak and couldn’t work in the fields, and their children were still young.
Wang Yonggui had initially been forced to work the fields by Old Granny Zhang, but now that she wasn’t home, he was relieved and paid someone to help with the planting.
Wang Yongfu saw this and criticized him for squandering the family wealth, telling him not to waste money and to ask for help from the eldest branch once they were done with their own work.
Wang Yonggui refused, arguing that farm work couldn’t wait, and if the eldest branch indeed helped the third branch, he would pay them. After all, they shouldn’t profit outsiders, nor shortchange his own elder brother and nephew, right? He would not only pay them but also pay extra.
Upon hearing this, Wang Yongfu thought, if people found out, wouldn’t they say he, the elder brother, was taking money from his own sibling?
Given that Wang Yonggui was willing to pay, naturally, there were plenty of people willing to help, and the fields were well taken care of.
Lady Jiang from the third branch didn’t bother with Wang Yonggui anymore. These days, she took care of cooking and laundry, and sat at home embroidering, teaching Jinhua to embroider as well.
After completing a few handkerchiefs and taking them to the Embroidery Store, she managed to sell them for a few hundred coins.
She even accepted a sizable order to embroider Buddhist scriptures for a rich patron’s mother, which would pay several taels of silver upon completion.
With this income, the third branch was now getting along harmoniously, and their life was becoming more and more comfortable.
A few days ago, Wang Yonggui even found the time to ask the Lizheng’s son to introduce Jinpan to an old scholar from the neighboring village to begin his education.
After finishing with the third branch, it was just Wang Yongping and Liu Xiaoqiao left.
Wang Yongping first explained that the land left by Wang Yongzhu and the others was initially only farmed by him and Liu Xiaoqiao. Since Liu Xiaoqiao was from the mountains and had never farmed before, she had much to learn.
They had planned to hire some help, but unexpectedly, the Liu brothers came down from the mountain. Although they didn’t know how to farm, they were strong, and with their help, the spring sowing went smoothly.
Liu Xiaoqiao couldn’t sit still and would go up the mountain when she had nothing to do, catching wild chickens and rabbits. Instead of eating them at home, they were sold to a restaurant in town, providing some extra income.
There were also Wang Yongzhen and Mutou. Wang Yongzhu had rented the fields she bought secretly to Mutou.
Mutou worked hard and devoted himself fully to the fields, tending to them even more carefully than his own ancestors.
A little while ago when collecting mountain goods, Wang Yongping remembered his promise to Wang Laozhu and asked Mutou to help out.
He said he wasn’t sharp-minded and only knew how to tend to a small piece of land. He couldn’t be much help and didn’t want to cause trouble by going.
Moreover, since this business belonged to the Wang Family, and with Wang Yongzhen, his own mother, involved, it would be inappropriate for him, an outsider with a different surname, to interfere.
He feared that if the Sun Family came around, it could cause trouble for the Wang Family. It was better for him to diligently work the land.
He expressed his gratitude to the Wang Family for their care over the years, but now that he was an adult, he could take care of Wang Yongzhen himself and wouldn’t be a burden to the Wang Family any longer!
Once he had farmed for two years and had saved up a little silver, he could decide whether to buy the old courtyard or build another house. In any case, the plan was to try to cause as little trouble for the Wang Family as possible.
He also said that if the mountain goods business became busy, the physical labor would not need mentioning; just a call would suffice.
If the fields became too much to handle, he would take care of that as well.
Seeing that Mutou was sincere and a decent person who had thought everything through so thoroughly, the Wang Family Brothers couldn’t help but admire him.
The Wang Family Brothers marveled that although Mutou grew up in the Sun Family, he had not been led astray, so they did not force him to stay.
They only asked him to not involve outsiders in any matters, after all, it was his maternal family.
Mutou agreed, but during those days, he didn’t bother the Wang Family at all and even kept Wang Yongzhen from going out.
During the days of spring planting, Mutou worked day and night in his own fields and then went to help at Wang Yongping’s, claiming it was because of his old aunt’s land and fearing that Wang Yongping would be overwhelmed.
After his work, he would head straight home without eating, which actually improved others’ regard for him.
When Wang Yongzhu heard this, she realized why there was a division; the differences between the branches of the family had become apparent.
The senior branch had many members, but only a small amount of land, especially Lady Lin, who knew nothing beyond farming and raw strength.
On the other hand, the daughters-in-law of the third and fourth branches could either embroider or hunt, adding income to the family.
In comparison, it seemed that the senior branch was inferior to their younger brothers.
One could assume that such differences may also contribute to the estrangement between the branches.
Thinking along those lines, it seemed that throughout history and across cultures, it has always been beneficial for women to have a skill.
As for Mutou, unexpectedly, he turned out to be quite sensible. With him looking after Wang Yongzhen and farming diligently, their future would not be difficult.
Regardless, Mutou’s commendable efforts relieved Wang Yongzhu a great deal, ensuring that Wang Yongzhen’s life could continue smoothly.
Engaged in such conversation, they arrived at Qilidun without realizing it.
The carriage passed by the front gate of the Wang Family’s grand courtyard without stopping and continued on until it reached the side gate next to Wang Yongzhu’s entrance.
When the carriage stopped and everyone alighted, Old Granny Zhang’s face turned dark: "Laosi, why did you drive the carriage to this back courtyard? Do your mother, sister, and brother-in-law disgrace you so much that we cannot be seen? Has it been only a few days since we went to the city, and we can no longer enter through the front gate, only the side gate?"
Wang Yongping was taken aback, "Isn’t this closer to the courtyard?"
Before Old Granny Zhang could blow up, Song Chongjin quickly dragged Wang Yongping aside, "Remember what I told you first: if you can’t speak properly, don’t speak at all. Just do as you’re told!"
Wang Yongping scratched his head and drove the carriage back to the front gate.
The main gate was closed. Wang Yongping jumped down and knocked on the door: "Sister-in-law, open the gate!"
An impatient voice from Lady Lin came from inside: "Why open the gate? The rear courtyard has a gate too; why do you always go through our courtyard?"
As soon as Old Granny Zhang heard this, she bristled with anger, huffing coldly, "Kick the gate open for me! I want to see, returning as the mother-in-law, why the daughter-in-law hides in her room refusing to come out, doesn’t open the door, and has the audacity to criticize. Whose family rules are these?"
Wang Yongping, remembering Song Chongjin’s words, understood to listen to his mother and not question, just to act.
He kicked the gate with all his might.
The wooden gate, personally selected by Song Chongjin from high-quality pine, was extremely sturdy. Despite his kick, it didn’t budge an inch.