stingy landlady

Chapter 11: Parents have shortcomings

Dazhu tied the cow to the cowshed, fed it salt and water. He went back inside and paused, stunned. "What happened? What's wrong?"

Okay! This careless man is my dad, my biological dad! Guizhi thought to herself.

"What's wrong? Wang Dazhu! Do you even respect me? Do I have any say in this family? You just buy a house like that! Waaah!" Li burst out upon hearing this.

"Mom, don't cry! This is a special situation! Besides, it's the fourth son's wedding today, there are so many people, it's hard to say anything. I was planning to go home and tell you slowly," Dazhu quickly explained.

"Father, my mother has been wronged. Let her speak out! She'll feel better if she does." Guizhi looked at Wang Dazhu, signaling him not to rush.

“Wang Dazhu, I’ve been married to you for so many years, I’ve been dutiful to my parents-in-law and raised the children with all my heart. When have I ever disobeyed you? It wasn’t my intention to have several daughters, I just swallowed my anger and didn’t dare to raise my voice.” Li wiped away her tears and continued.

“Father-in-law and mother-in-law, my brother-in-law and sister-in-law look down on me and the children for living separately from the family, and I don’t dare to say anything. You know, the children work so hard to earn money, and your brothers are jealous. They’re always trying to get information out of me, so I have to avoid them.” Li finally had a chance to vent her frustrations.

“You said you wanted to buy cattle, emptying our savings, and I didn’t say anything! But you bought a house, the same kind of house, without even giving me a heads-up or discussing it beforehand. You just came back saying you had the money to complete the paperwork. Tell me, don’t you take me seriously? So, will you do whatever you want from now on? What if you say you want to take a concubine, will you just bring her back?” Li finally voiced her concerns and grievances.

"No, no. We can discuss things together in the future. It was my fault this time, honey, don't be angry!" Dazhu stammered, his face turning red with anxiety.

"Mom, my father has admitted his mistake, please forgive him!" Daya hugged her mother's arm.

Er Ya didn't know when her family had bought a house, but keeping her mother happy was the most important thing. "Mom, you hold onto our family's money. If my father needs money, you can give it to him if you want, or not if you don't."

Guizhi said, "Mom, my dad offended you, and you won't forgive him! How should we punish him? By not letting him eat? Or by making him kneel on a washboard? I think I heard in town that someone was made to kneel on a washboard and ruined their legs."

Guizhi gave her father a mischievous smile. Dazhu made a gesture as if to hit him. Li Shi looked down and didn't notice their little actions.

“Mother of my child, I accept the beating and punishment. Why don’t you hit me? Hit me until you’re satisfied.” Dazhu walked to the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), grabbed Li’s hand, and started hitting himself with it.

Having been taught proper etiquette and rules for women since childhood, the idea of ​​male superiority and female inferiority was always in her mind, so how could she dare to actually hit her man? She pulled her hand back, and in her heart, she forgave Dazhu.

"Alright, alright! From now on, you should at least discuss things with me first. I'm not an unreasonable person." Li Shi scooped up Siya.

“Sanya, don’t listen to everything and say everything in the future! Who makes someone kneel on a washboard and ruin their legs? That’s your father, how could he be so heartless!” Li Shi thought for a moment and then advised Guizhi.

"Okay, Mom! Let's eat? I'm hungry." Guizhi rubbed her stomach. Guiban knew that it was important for her mother to vent her pent-up frustrations from the past few days, both for her health and for the whole family.

Daya and Erya moved the table, and Guizhi helped with the bowls and chopsticks. They quickly brought the food to the table. The hostess was in a better mood, and the whole family began to eat.

The next day, after selling their food, Guizhi and Dazhu went to the town's pharmacy to inquire about how to disinfect the house. The pharmacist recommended several herbs, such as Atractylodes lancea, Artemisia argyi, and cloves, suggesting they use them for incense. Guizhi didn't know much about them, but after listening, she thought it should be effective. She bought the herbs and planned to use them to fumigate her newly purchased house for a while.

In the afternoon, when they went to herd the cattle, Guizhi insisted that Dazhu not come with her. She made a makeshift mask by covering her mouth and nose with a towel. Only after she was properly prepared did she open the doors and windows of the newly bought house, light some herbs on the ground, and fumigate the inside and outside rooms with the herbs. The rooms were quite clean and empty, without even a cabinet. There was a well in the outer room. Guizhi thought for a moment and remembered that she had heard that putting salt in wells could also disinfect them, so she decided to bring more salt to put in next time. Zhang Niangzi probably hadn't lived there for a while either. Checking inside and out, it suited Guizhi's needs perfectly.

Guizhi felt that if she made good use of this place, her family could live a better life. At least they wouldn't be restricted and wouldn't have to worry about others constantly prying into their lives. If conditions allowed, they could rebuild a large brick house here. "Come on, work hard!" Guizhi encouraged herself, determined to live a good life and ensure her family had enough to eat and wear!

How could she generate income using the existing resources? Guizhi kept thinking about this question. She even thought about it while sleeping. For a whole week, Guizhi went to fumigate and disinfect the house herself. In order to use the new house as soon as possible and not waste the money she had spent, she had to work hard and not be lazy.

The morning after Lao Si's wedding, Da Zhu's family was busy with their own affairs and didn't go to the old house. In the evening, when they saw Da Zhu's family return to prepare dinner, Lao Si brought his new wife, Sun Shi, to meet his relatives.

"Big brother, sister-in-law! I've brought your fourth sister-in-law to introduce her to the house!" the fourth brother called out as soon as he entered.

"Mrs. Sun, this is my elder brother and sister-in-law!" Mrs. Sun blushed, bowed to her elder brother and sister-in-law, and whispered, "Hello, elder brother, hello, sister-in-law! Have some candy!" She then took out a bag of candy that she had bought for the banquet.

"Although my elder brother and sister-in-law have moved out and are living separately, they are still our family. Blood ties and kinship never change. Isn't our kangqin beautiful? It was a gift from my elder brother and sister-in-law!" the fourth brother said with a smile to his new wife.

"Thank you, elder brother and sister-in-law! The kangqin is beautiful, I like it very much!" Sun also expressed her joy, echoing the fourth brother's words.

"Sit down, sit down! Fourth brother and sister-in-law, come and eat here with us!" Madam Li warmly invited the young couple.

"Hello, Fourth Uncle and Fourth Aunt!" the girls called out in unison.

"Fourth Aunt is so beautiful!" Guizhi teased.

Mrs. Sun blushed even more: "Eat candy! You all eat candy!"

The fourth son then introduced his nieces to Mrs. Sun. He also made sure to praise them for their diligence and competence!

"Elder brother and sister-in-law! I'm married now too. If there's anything you or your fourth brother and sister-in-law can do to help us, just let us know! We'll always be family." The fourth brother once again extended a friendly gesture to Dazhu's family!

“Our parents have also prepared a meal, let’s go back and eat! This morning we brought Sun Shi to meet her relatives, but we didn’t see you. We knew you were busy, so we brought her over tonight.”

The fourth brother explained, and at the same time pulled Sun to her feet, and they started to walk back.

"Mother, quickly give two red envelopes to the bride and groom!" Guizhi tugged at her mother. Li Shi finally reacted, "Fourth brother, fourth sister-in-law, wait a minute. Why are you leaving so soon? Sit a little longer!" As she spoke, she found a piece of red cloth, wrapped twenty copper coins in it, and quickly got down to give them to the two of them.

The fourth brother refused to accept it, but Dazhu said, "Your sister-in-law gave it to you, so just take it. Our family's circumstances are limited, so this is just a red envelope to wish you a happy marriage!"

The fourth brother's eyes reddened. "Eldest brother and sister-in-law!" he called out, gesturing to Sun Shi, "Then you should keep it! Remember the kindness of eldest brother and sister-in-law!"

Today, the fourth son brought his new wife to meet the family, but no one from the old house gave them red envelopes. Only Dazhu and his wife gave them some, so it's impossible not to be moved.

On the morning of the third day, while Li and her daughters were cooking and packing food into containers, the third son brought Qian and her two children into the house.

"Sister-in-law! I'm busy!" Madam Qian greeted as she opened the door.

"Third brother, third sister-in-law is here! Xiaoquan and Xiaoyu are here too! Come in, come in quickly! It's a mess here. You all go inside first!" Li Shi hurriedly ushered the third brother's family into the inner room.

"Sanya, go see where your father is! Your third uncle and aunt are here, tell him to come back quickly!"

Guizhi agreed, put down the wooden shovel in her hand, and got up to run outside.

Dazhu was helping the old man hitch up the oxcart. Ever since they got the oxcart, the old man would come to help whenever he had time.

"Dad! My third uncle and aunt have come to our room! Mom wants you to go back and check on them!" Guizhi then asked the old man, "Grandpa, have you had breakfast? We just finished cooking and are packing the food! If you haven't eaten, go and have some while it's hot!"

"I've eaten! Dazhu! You don't need to do this anymore, I'll be fine by myself soon! Go back and sit with Lao San for a while." The old man said as he tied the rope around the car.

When Dazhu and Guizhi entered the house, Li had already poured hot water for the third son's family. "Third brother and sister-in-law, please sit down and talk to your eldest brother! I haven't finished my work yet! I'll go back to my tasks now." With that, she left. Daya and Erya continued with their work. The weather was cold, and the food would cool quickly, so they had to be quick and efficient to pack it into containers to keep it warm.

"Sister-in-law, do you need my help?" Qian asked.

"No need, no need! Please sit down, we're used to doing this!" After coming out, Li closed the door behind her.

Actually, Qian had already looked around the outer room and thought it was just a simple home-cooked meal, nothing special. The food container was also simple, so she didn't inquire further.

"Big brother, we're going back to town tomorrow. I took a few days off specifically for Lao Si's wedding, but we can't stay too long." Lao San, who deals with different clients every day, is actually quite good at reading people.

“Brother, we weren’t home when the family divided the property. Father and Mother just sent us a message. Brother, we are brothers, and the division of the property was just a temporary measure. In the future, when our lives are better, we will definitely take care of you.”

"Third brother, it's alright. We've separated the family and are living our own lives, it's really nothing. Brothers will always be brothers, and we'll still take care of our parents together!" Dazhu replied.

The two brothers were chatting when Qian asked Guizhi, "Sanya, I heard you went to town with your two older sisters too. You're so capable!"

Guizhi took out the candy that her fourth uncle and aunt had given her last night and shared it with Siya, Xiaoquan, and Xiaoyu.

"Third Aunt, I don't know anything! I just went out to play with my dad, my older sisters, and my second older sister! Hehe!" Guizhi didn't want to say too much. It's good to be a child! You can pretend you don't know anything! Guizhi thought to herself.

"Then who do your father and sisters sell their food to? You've been following them around every day, haven't you seen it? Where do you sell it?" Madam Qian was unwilling to give up.

"Third Aunt, I... I was only thinking about eating. I didn't remember anything else," Guizhi said, feigning ignorance.

"Mrs. Qian, the child is still young, it's good that he has candy to eat! Have you packed your things yet?" The third son felt uncomfortable and quickly scolded Mrs. Qian.

"Big brother, your third sister-in-law is just concerned about you. She also wants you to be doing well!" the third brother said, trying to downplay the situation.

"Yes! I know! We should care about each other as a family!" Dazhu replied casually.

"Third brother, fifth brother, are you going to town with them?"

“There are only a few more days until the New Year holiday. My fifth brother has an exam next year, and it’s so cold. He doesn’t want to go through the hassle of traveling back and forth, so he’s asking for leave until the start of the new school year next year,” the third brother said.

"Fifth brother will take the exam next year. I hope he will become famous in one fell swoop and pass the imperial examination!" Dazhu said with anticipation.

"Fifth brother is working very hard! It would be wonderful if he could pass the exam!" said the third brother, though what he really thought was unknown.

Seeing that she couldn't get any information out of her, Madam Qian hugged her daughter and said with a smile, "Yifeng, your brother still has to go to town. Shall we go back first?"

The third brother immediately chimed in, "Yes! Big brother, you go ahead and do your work! We just came to see you. I'm relieved to see you! We're going back to the old house now!"

The brothers remained silent. Dazhu also welcomed his third brother to come visit anytime. After seeing off the third brother's family, Dazhu took Daya, Erya, and oh, Guizhi, who was left behind, to town.