stingy landlady

Chapter 56 The Tragic Farmhand

Li then spoke to Zhou Niangzi:

"It's all because we're poor that we don't have enough to eat! Yang Liu! When you work for us, make sure we're fed first! Of course, we buy grain now, but we should still be frugal! We can't waste it!"

Tonight I'll discuss it with Dazhu and the others. Tomorrow, Erya will buy more sorghum, corn, and millet from town! We can mix them together!

Madam Zhou respectfully replied to Madam Li, "Madam is right! The two young men probably haven't had a proper meal in a long time. I'm afraid they'll overeat if I suddenly feed them so much!"

Who would have thought that after the two of them finished eating, they went up the mountain to cut tree branches and even gathered up all the branches from the vegetable garden. My father was delighted, saying they were both good children! They were observant and quick-witted!

Hearing this, Li was also pleased and said, "That's great! We farmers have to be observant and proactive. If we rely on others to tell us everything, life would definitely be difficult!"

“Yes! Madam is absolutely right!” Madam Zhou nodded in agreement.

Gui Hong was also making dumplings. After listening for a while, she finally pouted and said:

"They say a half-grown boy can eat his father out of house and home! That big boy in the other house can eat a lot too! Before we separated from the family, he ate more than the three of us sisters at every meal! And I never heard my grandma complain about him. She always scolded us for eating too much! We're such a waste of money!"

Gui Xiang silently continued with her work, only speaking after hearing Gui Hong's words:

"Second sister, you have such a big mouth! There are some things we should just keep to ourselves, why do you have to say them and offend people! We've all separated the family now, who cares how much they want to eat or how much they can eat, what does that have to do with us! From now on, just ignore them!"

Li also said:

"You're growing up, you need to be more careful with your words! Once you're in your husband's family, you can't just blurt things out without thinking, that won't do! No other family will spoil you like your own family does!"

Gui Hong flung the powder away, "I'm not getting married! What's so good about marriage? You can't even speak properly, it's so restrictive! What's the point!"

Li thought of how she had also been forced into marriage. Her eyes reddened slightly, and she said reproachfully:

"Who doesn't get married? Stop talking nonsense all day long. You're getting all high and mighty just because I said you're fat! Get back to your work! Stop being so temperamental!"

Gui Xiang nudged Gui Hong, gesturing for her to look at Li Shi's slightly reddened eyes, and whispered, "Don't make Mother angry!"

Madam Zhou said softly:

"Madam! Eldest Miss and Second Miss are growing into beautiful young ladies! Once the house is built, our family's circumstances will improve! At that time, we'll let them gradually learn the manners of wealthy families! It will only bring them benefits and no drawbacks when they get married!"

Li didn't understand the affairs of wealthy families, but she knew that learning the rules was very important.

Life at home was much better, but the outside world still had little to do with her! She obeyed her father at home and her husband after marriage, and rarely went out for a stroll!

My parents' home is far away and inconvenient to go back to, nor do I want to. Just thinking about my sister-in-law's disdainful look and her condescending words makes me feel even worse! I'd rather spend my days making dumplings and doing needlework! So leisurely and carefree!

Once the children's clothes are finished, we'll buy some more fabric. Life's better now; the family's out and about all the time, so we need at least a couple of changes of clothes!

Li remained silent, making dumplings while lost in thought. Guizhi paced back and forth in the vegetable garden at the east end of the village.

Old Mrs. Yang's maiden name was Pan. On the way from Xing'an Town to the county seat, one had to pass through several villages and towns. Pan Sen and Pan Qiang lived in Huanghua Town.

The good old days are gone, and now we have no choice but to stay with my aunt! Life at my aunt's is actually quite good, but with two more young men joining us, there's more food. My cousin and his wife have started to complain, and neither of them dares to eat their fill!

Everyone's eager to do the work, but it's not the busy farming season, and there's only so much work to do. Everyone knows their quota; they work half a day, rest half a day, and then it's all just for eating!

The two had originally planned to find odd jobs in the county town, but they didn't have a single penny to go to town. By the time they reached their aunt's house, they were so hungry that they were staggering as they walked.

My aunt said that the people who sell wild vegetables she finds now are doing well! She swallowed her pride and went to ask them!

Although she didn't know who the employer was either! Her aunt always thought the employer was Old Man Zhou!

It was only when they were signing the contract that Old Man Zhou told them that the boss was Wang Dazhu!

Finally, I repeatedly requested that there was no need to specifically tell the villagers!

The employer is really good! Not only do they provide plenty of food, but I heard they even make clothes for us!

The brothers' clothes were much too small! Not to mention the patches upon patches!

The two women remembered not having a proper meal in a long time. After their father became addicted to gambling, their home was filled with sorrow! Their father beat their mother and sold their younger sister. Although their eldest sister escaped being sold, she married a poor tenant farmer, but her circumstances were dire! She gave birth to two daughters and was constantly disliked by her mother-in-law! Her husband beat and verbally abused her!

The two brothers dared not approach their eldest sister, so they had to seek help from their aunt!

The two young men only knew how to work and be filial; they dared not and did not know how to live for themselves! Pan Sen, who was engaged, broke off the engagement when the girl heard that his family had sold their land.

His father gambled away all their savings, even the house. He still hadn't broken even, and too ashamed to go home, he jumped into a river and committed suicide.

A mother and her two children were evicted from their home by a casino!

Horrible!

I couldn't take it anymore, so I hanged myself!

The two remaining brothers comforted and encouraged each other, hoping to find a glimmer of hope!

Unbelievable! May our parents in heaven bless us brothers, for we've actually found such a wonderful employer!

Pan Qiang said to Pan Sen, "Brother! Grandpa Zhou said that a big house is being built next to our vegetable garden. Only servants who have sold themselves into servitude will be given a place to live there!"

As Pan Sen chopped willow branches, he said, "Yes! We are farmhands. Grandpa Zhou said he'll build a shack later! There are still a few farmhands who don't have a place to live while they're working, so we'll all live together then!"

Pan Qiang neatly arranged the cut willow branches and said, "Brother! In the shack, do we all live on one big kang (heated brick bed)?"

Pantheon nodded and replied, "Mm!"

The two remained silent for a long time. When one of them carried a bundle of willow branches towards the vegetable garden, Pan Qiang couldn't help but say something.

"Brother! I! Once the big house is built, if the employer is willing to take me, I'd rather be their servant! I don't want to live at Aunt's house and cause her trouble, nor do I want to live in a dormitory!"

Pantheon grunted again. "Keep going!"

Guizhi wanders around the vegetable garden! She has nowhere to use her talents!

The vegetables have been planted and watered. The walking sticks have also been put in place. The two brothers are working hard! They're really good young men, able to eat and work! After a full meal, they feel like they have inexhaustible energy.

When we arrived at the east end of the village, we saw the two brothers neatly bundling willow branches and standing them upright in the woodshed!

Old Zhou looked at the two of them with a smile and said, "Young men! Come on! Have some water before you get back to work!"

"Thank you, Grandpa Zhou!"

"Grandpa Zhou! Good morning! Are these Hongmin and Hongli's two uncles?"

Old Zhou nodded!