??Chapter 36: Chapter 037 Fear of Fa, Pigs Fear of Growth_1
Chapter 36: Chapter 037 Fear of Fa, Pigs Fear of Growth_1
Muniang smiled and rubbed her head: “Is this Tianniu? Where are your parents?”
Tianniu blinked her big eyes and said crisply, “Everyone has gone to the fields, my mom is feeding pigs in the backyard, and my fourth uncle is reading in the inner room.”
No sooner had she spoken than Madam Liu’s voice ca: “Tianniu, who is here?”
When she ca out and saw Muniang, a smile spread across her face: “Muniang is here? Why are you standing outside, co in and sit.”
“Alright.”
Muniang and Erliang entered the house, where Madam Liu poured them tea, and then instructed so children to call for others. Muniang couldn’t believe she would receive such treatnt at the Qiao family’s ho, thanks to those troublemakers not being around.
Muniang took out so pork from the basket to give to Madam Liu: “Sister-in-law, this is a little sothing from us. The villagers all sent a portion.”
Madam Liu accepted it with a smile: “Why go to such trouble? I’ve already heard your family defeated a tiger and made a fortune. It seems your days are indeed looking up, giving away such fine at. If it were , I’d not part with it even if it ant breaking a bone.”
The four children gazed longingly at the at, nearly drooling, their looks of intense desire bringing a laugh from Muniang, who then lifted the cloth off the basket Erliang was holding.
“Little gluttons, try this, it’s delicious.”
The children’s eyes lit up at the sight of the shiny candied haws, but they dared not move, instead turning their gaze towards Madam Liu, seemingly seeking approval.
Such well-mannered children could certainly not be taught by a mother like Mrs. Ji. Muniang rembered that when she was little, still at the Qiao family, Mrs. Ji’s eldest son, Qiao Dalang, was incredibly rude, grabbing anything he fancied as if he were the King of the World: if he saw anything nice, whether it was his or not, he would go for it without hesitation.
Muniang smiled and said, “These are made from hawthorns from the hills behind us, nothing expensive. Every household gave a bit, and all kids love them.”
It was then that Madam Liu nodded, and the children cheered as they each took a skewer from the basket. Muniang placed the basket on the table: “I’m giving these to you. If you want more, your sister can make them for you in the future.”
“Hurry up and say thank you,” chided Madam Liu.
“Thank you, sister.”
“Go out and play, I have sothing to talk over with your cousin sister.”
The children scampered out, and Madam Liu finally sat down, marveling at the basket of rock candy haws: “I was wondering what kind of hawthorns your family was selling to make such money. You really do have a skill.”
“It’s just a ans to get by, hardly a skill,” Muniang replied. “I genuinely enjoy making these for the children. Auntie, you’ve taught them well.”
Erliang leaned in: “Wife, are you longing for a baby?”
Muniang glared at him. What nonsense are you speaking in front of soone else?!
Madam Liu began to laugh: “You two really are amusing. I’ve heard that you’re planning to buy land, and all the village gossip says that you’re recklessly spending Erliang’s money.”
Muniang’s face darkened. Isn’t this just how people are? They can’t stand to see others do well.
“Don’t overthink it,” Madam Liu hurriedly said. “I was just speaking off the cuff. You’ve always been so capable, and naturally, I trust you. It’s just that the more famous you get, the more you attract envy, and if you can’t keep a low profile, you’ll need to toughen up and not let those idle gossips outside affect your mood.”
Muniang smiled gratefully. “Do you really think so, Auntie?”
“Of course, I felt you were different the last ti I went to your house. You must be a person with plans, and since you can co up with so many money-making ideas, naturally, you wouldn’t be reckless with that money. I can’t stand those who have no skill of their own and only know how to gossip behind others’ backs. Won can achieve just as much.”
Listening to these words, Muniang’s impression of Madam Liu greatly improved. Wasn’t it said that in ancient feudal tis, won’s status was low, inherently weak, and incompetent? Yet Madam Liu was different. A person born and bred in ancient tis that still possessed such spirit, she was to Muniang’s taste.
“Talking with you today, Auntie, has made
unusually happy. If you’re free, please co and visit
more often,” Muniang ant every word. Good friends are hard to find, and eting soone so compatible was indeed rare.
“Since you’ve invited , I will co over when I have the ti, as long as you don’t find
botherso,” laughed Madam Liu.
After seeing off Muniang and Erliang, it wasn’t long before Qiao Dazhi and the others returned from the fields.
As soon as Qiao Yuanshan got back, he started shouting, “Has that wretched Qiao Muniang co by? The old Xue family in the west of the village just said she brought them so nice things. Did she co to our house or not?”
Madam Liu felt disgusted the mont she heard Qiao Yuanshan’s tone, eagerly expecting others’ kindness yet cursing so gleefully. Barely concealing her annoyance, she brought out the basket: “Five catties of pork, and so hawthorn treats for the children.”
Mrs. Ji glared at the pork in the basket and shrieked, “Is that all? Who are you trying to fool? She’s made so much money, and we are the elders in the family, yet only five catties of pork? Have you hidden the rest?”
Madam Liu’s expression darkened, and she was not one to be bullied: “Don’t assu others are like you. If I were hiding anything, may heaven strike
dead with lightning. Are you satisfied now?”
Mrs. Ji’s eyes darted around; she fell silent and turned to berate Qiao Dazhi and Madam Zhao, “Dad, Mom, just look at this. That little wretch really has learned sothing, bringing only this much to honor you. Heh, I see it all now. It’s true, the Qiao family has raised a white-eyed wolf. Even I, her elder aunt, can’t stand it!”
The faces of Madam Zhao and Qiao Dazhi indeed looked displeased. Madam Liu couldn’t care less about these greedy spirits and went inside with the children on her own.
Madam Zhao cursed out loud, “She really is a heartless thing. The Qiao family has truly wasted their nurturing on such a beast! Tomorrow I must go myself and see if she has the face to stand before , her grandmother!”
Qiao Dazhi glared at her. “You want to make a scene again? Have you no sha? We agreed it would just be
going. Stay put!”
Although Madam Zhao was afraid of Qiao Dazhi, she reluctantly agreed. Yet she fud on the inside, this old fool always treated her like a disgraceful object, never realizing that if not for her firm control over their sons and daughters-in-law, the family coffers would be ager!
Muniang and Erliang were preparing to head back when they happened to et the village head who had just returned.
“Erliang, Muniang, good that I ran into you. Over the past few days, I’ve asked the other village heads if they had any large tracts of good farmland for sale, but there’s none available, and the big landlords have no intention of selling their land either.”
“Oh, is that so? Well, thank you for the trouble,” Muniang sounded sowhat disheartened.
“But don’t lose heart,” the village head glanced around and then leaned closer to Muniang. “I suspect that there will soon be a lot of good farmland for sale right here in our village.”
Muniang looked at the village head in surprise. “What do you an?”
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