The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure-Chapter 1659 - 1653: Unless I’m Dead

During dinner, the Little Bean kids were well-behaved, sitting properly, and enjoying their meal heartily.

You should know, the cooks here were all top chefs from the best restaurants in the county city, summoned by the County Magistrate to prepare meals for the Noble Patron these days.

These chefs aren’t foolish. Upon hearing a few words, they resolved to use their best culinary skills, hoping to serve this Noble Patron well. Even if no reward is given, just a couple of praises could significantly boost their stature, right?

That’s why they served a variety of dishes from different parts of the country, local specialties included, every day without repeating any.

Not to mention the Little Bean kids, even the Wang Family brothers—who often dined out due to business relations—hadn’t enjoyed such authentic banquets.

The Little Bean kids ate until their bellies were round and greasy, and their previous fear of Wang Yongzhu and Old Granny Zhang dissipated for the most part.

At night, when their parents were about to take them back to the nearby courtyard, they seemed somewhat reluctant to leave.

The adults couldn’t help but find it both amusing and exasperating.

It was Wang Yongzhu who remembered and called out to Wang Yongfu, "Big Brother, come with me somewhere tomorrow morning." 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

Wang Yongfu was initially surprised but didn’t ask where, simply nodding in agreement, "Understood."

Back at the other courtyard, the adults of the Wang Family finally relaxed their long-held tension.

They used to fear Old Granny Zhang, their mother, and Wang Yongzhu, their younger sister. Strangely, after meeting them this time, despite Yongzhu being friendlier and their mother not scolding or hitting at every turn, they felt even more tense.

Looking at the children, who were now full and sleepy after a long day, barely able to keep their eyes open, the adults didn’t concern themselves further and carried the Little Bean kids back to their rooms.

By the time they fetched water to bathe them, the Little Bean kids had already closed their eyes, sleeping like little piglets.

Liu Xiaoqiao reluctantly undressed them, wiped them down with warm water, and changed them into bellybands to prevent them from catching a chill if they kicked off their bedding at night.

Wang Yongping then took the children and laid them side by side on the kang bed.

After they finished, they went over to check on Jinsui, who was obediently sitting in a chair, and noticed she was playing with a small gold bracelet.

Liu Xiaoqiao’s eyelids twitched as she hurried over to ask, "Sui’er, where did this bracelet come from?"

She took the bracelet into her palm, examining it carefully. Clearly meant for children, it was polished smooth, adorned with several small golden bells, making soft sounds when they touched.

Weighing it in hand, the small bracelet wasn’t heavy, but its craftsmanship and those exquisite little bells indicated it was surely quite valuable.

Though Liu Xiaoqiao wasn’t very worldly, even in Qilidun where their life was relatively well-off, wearing a few silver hairpins and having two silver bracelets on her wrist was considered enviable.

Among her few gold ornaments were two pieces gifted by Wang Yongzhu, which she treasured like heirlooms, intending to pass them to her daughter-in-law in the future.

Yet she knew this gold bracelet was likely worth at least thirty taels of silver.

Though she asked aloud, she knew it was probably a gift from either her mother-in-law or her sister-in-law.

Sure enough, Jinsui answered obediently and cutely, "Grandma... gave it..." At just over a year old, though she could speak, her sentences were short.

Liu Xiaoqiao exchanged a glance with Wang Yongping, crouching down to ask quietly, "When did Grandma give this to our Sui’er?"

Jinsui thought for a moment, nibbling her finger, "After dinner... gave... Grandma... likes Sui... Sui...".

Liu Xiaoqiao understood her daughter’s meaning was that Grandma liked her, hence the gift.

Indeed, after a while, Jinsui forcefully added a few more words, "Grandma said... Sui has... what others don’t..."

This meant the bracelet was solely given to Jinsui.

Liu Xiaoqiao was unsure whether to feel happy or something else, but it seemed her mother-in-law truly liked her daughter.

Wang Yongping didn’t think much of it, happily scooped his daughter up, tossing her into the air a couple of times and catching her.

This was his favorite game with the kids, and Jinsui giggled so much that drool dribbled.

After playing for a bit, Jinsui began to tire, so they bathed her, changed her clothes and coaxed her to sleep.

In the past two years, Wang Yongping had become more adept at reading expressions. Seeing Liu Xiaoqiao’s worried face, he asked, "Mother likes our daughter, which is good. Why don’t you look happy?"

Liu Xiaoqiao sighed, "Mother liking Sui’er makes me happy, but giving solely to her while the others get nothing seems inconsiderate, doesn’t it?"

Wang Yongping brushed it aside, "What’s wrong with that? Our daughter earning her mother’s favor is her skill! If they wish, they can have daughters just as good! Anyway, it’s getting late, let’s rest. Who knows what tomorrow holds!"

Liu Xiaoqiao had to set her worry aside, store the bracelet carefully, blow out the lamp, and sleep.

Not far away, in the main house.

Brother Rong was taken to bed by Quan Xiuniang.

Wang Yongfu and his two sons exchanged looks. Jinguan, being young and impatient, spoke first, "Father, why did Aunt call you to go with her tomorrow? What’s it about?"

Wang Yongfu pondered, shaking his head, "I don’t know."

Jindou tentatively guessed, "Is it regarding our family’s business?"

Wang Yongfu waved his hand, "Your aunt clearly said before, she wouldn’t involve herself in our business, and she always keeps her word. She won’t meddle in our affairs."

Jinguan considered a possibility, and whispered, "Father, do you think it’s about my marriage?"

On hearing this, Wang Yongfu’s face darkened immediately, "Don’t bring up your marriage to me again! As I said, unless I die, you can forget about it!"

He angrily walked into the room.

Jindou and Jinguan looked at each other, unsure what to say.

After a long while, Jinguan finally smiled wryly, "Why won’t Father agree? It’s a perfect solution. Our family business is well handled by you, Second Brother has his own business outside and likely won’t return to Qilidun. Marrying Miss Zhao allows me to take over the Zhao family business without being a live-in son-in-law. What’s wrong with that?"

Jindou glared at Jinguan, "What are you talking about? Our family business managed by just me? It’s a family affair, meant for all of us! If you truly liked Miss Zhao and wanted to marry her, that’s one thing. But from what you say, you only covet the Zhao family fortune! Even if Father doesn’t agree, as your brother, I can’t allow this! Don’t bring it up again!"

He turned to leave.

Jinguan grabbed him in a hurry, "Of course I like Miss Zhao, why else would I marry her? What does her business have to do with liking her?"

Jindou wiped his face, turning back to sternly gaze at Jinguan for a while before speaking, "In this house, has Sister-in-law or anyone wronged you? Has someone been dishing out rumors? Tell me truthfully—"