Fortunate Life of the Rural Beauty

Chapter 23: Chapter 22 Singing, Reciting, Doing, and Fighting Chapter 23: Chapter 22 Singing, Reciting, Doing, and Fighting Chen Ming knew what Mrs. Hu was thinking and sighed with the money in his hand, “It doesn’t seem like a small sum, but with our household expenses, medicine, houses repairs, it’ll be gone in a flash.” He then said to Mrs. Chen, “Mother, our family is either weak or sick, and keeping this much money makes me uneasy. Please keep these three thousand cents for me, they can be used for house repairs, purchasing clay bricks, lumber for our bed, and so forth. It’ll also be easier for big brother to draw from it when needed.”

The old lady agreed and took the money.

Chen Ming then handed another thousand cents to Mrs. Wang and said, “Take a trip to the county town tomorrow. Pay off the debt for the medicine and buy some more to bring back. From the remaining two thousand cents, one thousand will be used to pay the workers for house repairs and buying pots and pans for Afu and her child. We don’t have enough money to buy furniture, so just move the ones from the east room over. The remaining money is barely enough for two months’ worth of medicine. It’s never enough no matter how much money we have for all these medicines.”

With that allocation, over six thousand cents vanished in a blink, It’s genuinely hard to run this household.

During mealtime, as usual, Mrs. Chen was with her two sons and grandson on the bed, Mrs. Hu and Mrs. Wang would likewise sit on the edge of the bed.

Afu and a few other children ate at the low table. Chen Dahu, with the absence of Aju, showed his lovely side. While eating his meat, he looked at Afu’s clean face and said, “Aunt Afu, you look handsome when your face is clean, even more handsome than Aunt Aju.”

Afu laughed and said, “Aren’t you afraid that Aunt Aju will hear and beat you up?”

Dahu said carelessly, “I’m not stupid. When she is around, I’d say that she’s the prettiest girl in Xiangluo Village.”

This kid truly inherited traits from his grandfather, more like Chen Ye, and even more glib than Chen Ye.

Upon hearing this, Chen Alu and Dabao laughed.

This table was friendly, but the one on the bed was not, with everyone watching Mrs. Hu’s drama.

Mrs. Hu was complaining endlessly about the hardships she, her husband, and her son had endured, “Oh dear, for more than half a year, no matter if it rains or shines, my husband and son have to rush to the field. They always prioritize your land before ours. They often return home so tired that they moan on the bed. Once, during a heavy rain, my husband fell while draining the water. He came home covered in mud, and it broke my heart…” She then beat her chest and continued, “Where else can you find a man who loves his brothers as much as my husband? Anyway, other than my husband, I haven’t seen any…” She continued, “As the eldest daughter-in-law, my life in the Chen family has always been busy, like a top, taking care of my two younger brothers-in-law…”

While crying and telling her story, Mrs. Hu’s eyebrows were knitted into a rope, her eyes squinting, and her face full of sorrow. Looking as if she wanted to weep at any moment. She was considered a beauty in the countryside and looked much like an actress in a play.

To anyone who didn’t know better, they would think that the eldest family was farming the second family’s land for free and that the second family didn’t know how to repay the favor when they reaped the harvest.

Chen Ming and Mrs. Wang were sitting on pins and needles, every time after harvest, Mrs. Hu would put up this act.

Chen’s Ye found her words appealing, his eyes filled with laughter, although he cursed at Mrs. Hu, “You nagging woman, what nonsense are you spewing? We’re brothers; we’re supposed to help each other.”

Upon hearing this, Chen Ming hurriedly filled Chen Ye’s cup with wine and said, “Little brother thanks you, big brother.”

After taking a sip of wine, Chen Ye patted Chen Ming on the shoulder and said, “As the eldest brother, and with our father passing away early, it’s only right to take care of my younger brothers.”

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Hu added, “People often say that older brothers are like fathers. Younger brothers rely on their older brothers just like they would rely on their fathers when they are young. But once they grow up, how many of them can actually respect their older brothers the same way they respect their fathers?” She paused, then continued, “Of course, not everyone is ungrateful. Third uncle is not bad, knowing that my husband is working hard to support him, he often shows his filial piety…”

Her words made Chen Ye blush with embarrassment, he hurriedly scolded her, “I say, you nagging woman, why are you saying all this? We brothers support each other because we have a good relationship. Why are you bringing up the subject of obligation?”

Mrs. Chen most definitely didn’t enjoy Mrs. Hu’s talk. When her eldest son enjoyed listening to it, she didn’t bother to interfere. Now her big son scolded her, she also chimed in, “Listening to you talk, anyone would think that not only has their father died, but their mother also has died. You’ve taken the place of their mother, they should be filial to you.”

Mrs. Hu stopped, too afraid to keep going. If she were talking to Chen Shi, she would keep talking even if anyone tried to stop her. It would be beneficial to talk more and worth it even if she got scolded. But the second family was too stingy and ungrateful. It’s a waste of words and not worth the scolding.

By observation and description from the two boys, Afu had a further understanding of the eldest family. Mrs. Chen and Chen Ye were pretty good, quite astute and had a typical farmer’s mentality. They didn’t want to suffer a loss, but they were also good to their sons and brothers, and never do anything outrageous. Especially Chen Ye, welcoming and helpful, craved face. However, Mrs. Hu was selfish to an extreme, had a thick skin, was always seeking to take advantage, and never missed the opportunity to take credit for things, whether she actually contributed or not.

Regarding the children from the eldest household, Chen Agui was good, industrious, reliable, somewhat like Chen Ye, but more honest and not articulate. He didn’t share traits with both Chen Ye and Mrs. Hu. From a young age, Chen Ye, who held high hopes for Agui, sent him to study, but he just didn’t get the hang of it. At the age of twelve, he made such a fuss that he refused to study. Chen Ye had no choice but to send him to the capital city to learn business from Chen Shi. But he didn’t like it either, claiming that doing business gave him a headache. Half a year later, he sneaked back home on his own. It left Chen Ye with no choice but to let him work in the fields.

Chen Alan was more gentle and hardworking, she would occasionally come to the second family to learn embroidery from Mrs. Wang. Although she looked down on stupid Afu, she never showed it publicly and would never bully her.

Chen Aju was like Mrs. Hu, extremely selfish and malicious, but without Mrs. Hu’s cunning. She enjoyed bullying Afu and often made her cry. When she grew older, it became even worse because her wedding arrangements were not going well. This caused her to resent Afu and Chen Dabao even more.

Mrs. Hu didn’t dare sing her misery song anymore, and everyone resumed their talks about repairing the house for Afu and Dabao.

The plan from Chen Ming was to ask Chen Ye to help arrange for several workmen. They would pay them the usual wage for workers, plus a meal.

Chen Ye nodded, “It’s such a small courtyard, there are only three houses, and we don’t need that many people. Agui and I, plus three others, we should be able to finish the repairs in a little over ten days. You only need to pay the wages for those three, you don’t have to pay Agui and me.”

Chen Ming quickly said, “How could that be? You should be paid just like everyone else. We can’t let big brother and our nephew work for nothing.”

Mrs. Hu also rushed to say, “Yes, how could second uncle let you guys work for free.”

Chen Ye glared at her, spoke dominantly, “What do you mean, no? Listen to me.” He then said to Mrs. Hu, “Did I not help your brothers enough? Our second brother is having a hard time. It’s only right for us to help him as his brother and nephew, and don’t you dare secretly take his money.”

Chen Agui also nodded and agreed.

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Thanks for the red envelope from keppra; you’re too kind. Thanks for the wallet from Hera@Qianlin, thank you for all your support, I appreciate it!