stingy landlady

Chapter 88 The Old Man Teaches His Wife Behind the Scenes

The old lady muttered to the old man:

"I didn't cause any trouble! What trouble could I possibly cause! I work inside every day! You can go and drive your carriage without worry!"

"That heartless Xiaoyun! I treated him so well! He didn't even say goodbye when he left!"

The old man said:

"Come on! Xiaoyun's biological father is here. Xiaoyun has been out for so long! Her family must be very worried! He came that night and left in a hurry without even having breakfast this morning!"

The old lady, thinking about the old man's words, listened to Zhao's encouragement. She sat steadily on the kang (a heated brick bed) and watched Zhao.

Seeing that the old lady was sitting steadily, Zhao rolled her eyes and said again:

"Mom! Tell me, how much money did my eldest brother earn to be able to build such a big house?"

Will you let your parents stay for a couple of days as well?

Collecting wild mountain vegetables can earn you a lot of money! My brother makes money selling dumplings, and he can also make money selling vegetables.

Regardless of others, the filial piety money given to one's parents cannot be neglected!

The eldest brother's life is getting better and better, so logically he should be able to support his younger brothers!

Besides, my parents haven't lived in a new house yet!

"Mother! What if Fifth Brother passes the imperial examination and becomes a scholar? When people come to congratulate him, or when his classmates come to visit, they'll see him still living in the same room as Father and Mother. How embarrassing! It'll be so shameful!"

“Mother! In a few years, Da Bao will be of marriageable age. He has no house or land, how can he find a good girl?”

"Mom! Let's not make a fuss. Just ask your older brother if he has any good ideas for his younger brother. If everyone in the family is making money, won't we all be doing better?"

The old lady didn't say anything, but she was still having doubts.

When the old man came home in the evening, the old woman started nagging.

"Old man! Dazhu's got some skills now! He's making money every day! Let him help his younger brothers, at least the fifth one!"

The old man started soaking his feet and said to the old woman:

What should I say to you?

That's why they say you women have long hair but short brains; you always have to take things slowly and methodically.

You just ask for it as soon as you open your mouth and grab it as soon as you reach out. How can that be allowed?

Tell me, what have you gained all this time? Only the resentment and distrust of Dazhu's family! They think you're robbers! They're always eyeing their property!

Why isn't Dazhu helping his younger brother anymore? He's been bringing Lao Wu lunchboxes and dumplings every day! He's even made new clothes for Lao Wu! He even gave Lao Wu a few taels of silver when Lao Wu went to take the exam!

If this isn't helping, then how do you help? Guizhi was telling Laowu today that she'd take him to the county town to buy exam materials in a few days! You know those things cost several or even tens of taels of silver each! We simply can't afford them, okay!

Dazhu spent a fortune on his fourth son's wedding! He'd only just started earning money and was already thinking about getting his fourth son to earn some too! Did they shortchange you a single penny when you bought firewood?

"Didn't Dazhu teach us how to grow vegetables and wheat? Have some conscience! You're all just trying to squeeze every last penny out of Dazhu, why don't you think about how much you've helped him?"

The old man's foot bath water had cooled down, and he said while wiping his feet:

"I know you don't have any bad intentions! Isn't that how all parents are? When they have many children, they always try to treat them all equally."

They think that those with money should subsidize the poor, but the one they care about most is the one who can't afford to eat.

If Dazhu is having a hard time, I bet you'll secretly give him some money, right?

Dazhu has managed to make a living on his own, and now you're thinking the whole family is the same! How can they be the same?

Erzhu's leg is broken, and Dazhu is running around taking care of him! What will Zhao do? She'll seize any opportunity to bully Li!

Why didn't you stand up for me back then! And you have the nerve to say you treated everyone equally!

You! Just live your life peacefully! Stop causing trouble!

Children and grandchildren have their own blessings! As for me, this old man, I'll just enjoy the moment and live for the moment!

I need to go to sleep now!

After saying that, the old man didn't care what the old woman thought, got into bed, and fell fast asleep!

The old lady thought for a long time before finally uttering a sentence:

"You eat and drink well every day, living for the moment! Why am I worrying about you like this? I'm caught in the middle!"

"Go to sleep!"

Dazhu returned and found Foreman Liu to discuss building a shed at the entrance of Xing'an Academy.

Foreman Liu suggested building a large house, the kind with walls, with no rooms inside, just tables and chairs.

If you're afraid of the cold in winter, you can build a small heated kang (a traditional heated platform bed), put a small stove in the middle of the room, boil some water, stew some soup, or build a fire wall, and the whole room won't be cold.

The house is big, so we can install more windows and keep the inside from getting dark even with the doors open. This way, it won't be too hot in summer or too cold in winter when we eat lunch!

Building a house like this, without adding any rooms inside, doesn't cost much money.

Dazhu originally wanted to build a thatched hut, but Guizhi suggested that they build a wooden hut instead! At least it should match the academy and not be too different from it. It would be better to make it look nice than to make it look out of place and offend the students!

Alright, one donkey is one thing, two donkeys are another! Let's build a big log cabin! Wood is the one thing we have in abundance in mountain villages. Let's get started! Foreman Liu has no shortage of manpower, and Dazhu has no shortage of money. Once we bought all the materials, we began construction.

Before construction began, I repeatedly reminded everyone not to make loud noises! Do not disturb the students without reason, and do not delay their studies at the academy gate!

People have an innate respect for scholars, and they tend to keep their distance from academia.

A few days later, the wooden house was built without anyone noticing!

The fifth child, Wang Yiyun, was given a nice name:

"Let's borrow the line from the poem 'A person amidst grass and trees, half a day of leisure in a fleeting life,' and name it 'Amidst Grass and Trees'!"

Helping others is helping yourself, so a well was dug among the grass and trees for easy access to water.

A small stove was boiling water among the grass and trees, and students could pour themselves a drink if they wanted!

Gradually, some students even started bringing their own tea leaves, brewing some tea after lunch, and sharing it with friends! How wonderful!

Suddenly, the business of selling osmanthus blossoms boomed! Boxed lunches were back on the agenda.

Gui Hong proposed:

"Since there's a heated kang, a stove, and a pot in the grass and trees, why don't we set up some bowls, chopsticks, and other utensils there and cook in the grass and trees?"

To avoid having to run up and down the stairs every day with the food container, making a racket!

Everyone pondered it carefully!

Guizhi said:

"Cooking among the grass and trees is convenient, but who will actually cook the food?"

Gui Zhi looked Gui Hong up and down, then pursed her lips and said:

"Second sister, with your small frame, you think you can cook? Are you sure you can manage?"

Gui Hong laughed and pounced on the osmanthus branch.

"Fine! Guizhi! You dare look down on your second sister! I'll let you see if my little body can handle it!"

Guizhi immediately ran behind Guixiang, calling out and pushing her:

"Big sister! Help! Big sister! You're much better than second sister! Big sister, go cook! Sisters, let's all work together!"

Gui Hong couldn't catch Gui Zhi because Gui Xiang spread her arms wide to block her, protecting Gui Zhi like an eagle catching a chick.

After playing around for a while, Guixiang also felt that it would be better for her to go by herself!

“Mom and Dad! I’m the eldest son. I’m the one who cooks the lunchboxes at home every day now. It’s just that I’m cooking the dishes in a different place!”

My fourth sister is still young, and someone needs to take care of her at home. Guihong and I can manage that!