Chapter 120 – Old Master Yan’s Calculations Fall Short
When a woman blushes at a man, it’s either a moment of affection or anger.
Yan Xiaosi subtly withdrew her gaze, lowered her head to nibble on her corn, but she was pondering in her heart.
Could it be that Big Sister actually has feelings for Tian Dazhuang? If so, didn’t she play the role of a match-breaker today?
“No need, Shuqin, you sit. I’m a big man, I have plenty of strength. I can eat standing up.”
Tian Dazhuang moved next to Yan Xiaosi.
Seeing Yan Xiaosi engrossed in nibbling her corn, he happily asked, “Xiaosi, is it tasty?”
Yan Xiaosi was deep in thought and gave a vague answer, “It’s tasty, Big Brother Dazhuang. Your skills are good. Your future wife will be very lucky.”
Upon hearing the words “future wife”, Tian Dazhuang unconsciously stared at Yan Xiaosi, his face reddening slightly.
“Xiaosi, if you like it that much, I’ll bring you a few more next time.”
“Dazhuang, there’s no need.”
Ms. Zhong declined before Yan Xiaosi could respond. She knew Ms. Wang’s temperament very well. If Ms. Wang found out that Tian Dazhuang had picked unripe corn to give them; it would certainly cause a stir at the Big Sister Peak. Maybe even the whole Shaoyao Village would know about it. She didn’t want the reputation of her four children to be affected by a few corn cobs.
“You and your mother are dependent on each other; it’s not easy to grow crops all year round, you can’t waste food like that. Wait until the corn in the field is ripe before picking it.”
What Ms. Zhong said was true, and Tian Dazhuang had to give up on his idea.
Suddenly, he remembered that tomorrow was the market day in Daxing Town, and casually asked, “Aunt Yan, Shuqin, are you going to the market in Daxing Town tomorrow?”
Upon Tian Dazhuang’s reminder, Ms. Zhong remembered that indeed, tomorrow was market day in Daxing Town. “Yes, we had stockpiled some firewood at the straw temple at the end of the village for winter use. Now that we have moved to Big Sister Peak, we probably won’t need the stockpiled firewood. We might as well take it to Daxing Town to sell tomorrow. Any money we can get is good.”
There were trees everywhere on Big Sister Peak. What they lacked the least was firewood.
Tian Dazhuang responded, “Aunt Yan, I will bring the ox cart to your previous residence early tomorrow morning.”
After offending Ms. Wang today, given Ms. Wang’s temperament, she would definitely not lend the ox cart for free. Yan Xiaosi thought about it for a moment, then told Tian Dazhuang, “Big Brother Dazhuang, Aunt Tian definitely won’t agree to lend the ox cart. When you go back, tell Aunt Tian that I will pay her ten wen to rent it.”
Upon hearing this, Tian Dazhuang frowned unhappily.
“Xiaosi, we’re good friends. I can’t take your money for such a small favor.”
Yan Xiaosi shrugged and said, “Compared to arguing with Aunt Tian, I’d rather pay ten wen. Big Brother Dazhuang, if you don’t want to tell Aunt Tian, I will figure out another way tomorrow.”
Aside from the Yan family, the Liu and Ge families were wealthy, but the rest of Shaoyao Village was largely impoverished. It would not be easy for Yan Xiaosi to find another ox cart to go to Daxing.
Tian Dazhuang knew that she was stubborn; once she made a decision, she wouldn’t change it easily. Fearing that she would go around looking for an ox cart tomorrow, he reluctantly agreed.
“Alright, I’ll tell my mother when I get back.”
Having filled his stomach, Tian Dazhuang noticed that the sun was setting. If he descended the mountain any later, the road would become difficult to navigate. He bade farewell to Ms. Zhong and Yan Xiaosi’s family and hurried away.
…
“Who’s the damn thief who picked my unripe corn? If I catch you, I’ll chop off your hands.”
On his hurried way back to Shaoyao Village, Tian Dazhuang could hear his mother’s curses from a distance.
His heart skipped a beat.
The sound of Wang’s curses seemed to be coming from the village entrance. He steadied his nerves and hurried towards the entrance.
When he arrived, he saw Ms. Wang sat on a small wooden stool, cursing at everyone who passed by the village entrance.
Approaching her nervously, Tian Dazhuang asked, “Mother, what are you cursing about here? Have you had dinner?”
Upon seeing her son, Ms. Wang started cursing even louder.
“Dazhuang, the corn in our field was stolen. I don’t know who the damned thief was, but he stole our corn. I curse his hands and feet to rot off, and to bear a son without a bum or eyes.”
What a vicious curse.
Tian Dazhuang felt his scalp tingle and became afraid that his future son would be born without a bum or eyes. “Mother, isn’t it just a few corn cobs? Don’t make a scene at the village entrance and become a laughing stock. Perhaps those corn cobs were eaten by wild boars. Isn’t it possible that boars would eat them considering our village is at the foot of Four Sisters Mountain?”
Ms. Wang’s eyes widened. With hands on her hips, she said, “Don’t try to fool me, it’s impossible that wild boars ate our corn. I didn’t find any boar footprints in the cornfield.”
Unable to argue with Ms. Wang, Tian Dazhuang waited until Ms. Wang had vented her anger, then took her home along with the small stool.
On the way home, Ms. Wang suddenly remembered something and asked Tian Dazhuang, “Dazhuang, didn’t you go hunting on Big Sister Peak? You were gone so long, how come you didn’t catch a single pheasant?”
Nervously, Tian Dazhuang replied, “I…I went to Big Sister Peak to find Xiaosi.”
Ms. Wang seized his ear. “You naughty boy! You don’t fancy any of the three beautiful daughters of the Yan family, but instead that brat Xiaosi. Tell me, what are you thinking? Do you like men? I tell you, don’t bring this bad behavior to me. You’re the only child in our Tian family. Your late father and I are relying on you to carry on the family line.”
Upon hearing this, Tian Dazhuang’s heart thumped as if guilty.
Could he really be interested in men? Had he really taken a liking to Xiaosi?
“Mother, let go, you’re going to pull off my ear.”
Not only did Ms. Wang not let go, but she pulled even harder. “You naughty boy, every time you go hunting on Big Sister Peak, you bring back game. Today you came back empty-handed. Did you give all the game to that rascal Yan Xiaosi? Also, our lost corn, did you pick it? Did you secretly pick the corn for that rascal Yan Xiaosi?”
Ms. Wang guessed accurately.
Tian Dazhuang felt extremely guilty, hurriedly averting his eyes, not daring to meet hers. “Mother, hunters from several nearby villages all go hunting on Big Sister Peak. The pheasants and wild rabbits have been almost hunted out. It’s not possible to find game every time. On my way down the mountain, I passed by the cave where Xiaosi and his family live, so I went in to take a look. Aunt Yan was cooking dinner and asked me to eat.”
Feeling there was some truth in his words, Ms. Wang finally let go of his ear.
“So, Dazhuang, you ate dinner before coming home?”
“Mm.”
Tian Dazhuang nodded in reply. “Aunt Yan cooked stir-fry tonight and boiled white rice for me. I came back very full.”
Feeling that she had gained something, Ms. Wang felt slightly better.
“Since you’re full, then I’ll just eat a bit tonight.”
If Tian Dazhuang wasn’t eating, she didn’t need to cook, which would save some groceries.
Ms. Wang’s frugal demeanor was something Tian Dazhuang had grown accustomed to.
“Mother, there’s something else I need to discuss with you.”
Ms. Wang guessed, “Tomorrow is the market day in Daxing Town, is Yan Xiaosi planning to borrow our ox cart again? Tell him, I won’t lend it.”
Ms. Zhong didn’t agree to marry her daughter, yet still wanted to borrow an ox cart, she must be dreaming.
Tian Dazhuang sighed, “Mother, Xiaosi isn’t borrowing our ox cart for free. He said he’d give us ten wen if he used our cart for a day.” Ten wen for lending the ox cart for a day could was worth half a kilo of pork belly. Upon her calculations, Ms. Wang answered cheerfully, “Since he’s paying, deliver the ox cart to Yan Xiaosi tomorrow. Oh, and make that brat feed our ox until it’s full before returning it.”
Ms. Wang thought to herself. Last time, who knows what that boy fed the old ox, but it definitely grew stronger.
…
The scene switches to the Yan mansion.
In the courtyard of the mansion, two tables were set up. The whole Yan family was eating dinner, with men at one table and women at the other.
On the tables were steamed perch, stewed chicken, steamed rice, and several kinds of seasonal vegetables. Compared to what the five members of the third branch of the Yan family usually eat, the food here was incredibly lavish. It’s like the difference between heaven and earth.
The Yan patriarch sat at the head of the table, with Yan Bozhang and Yan Boshu on his left and right, respectively. Yan Wenfeng and Yan Wenqing sat at the other end of the table.
“Let’s eat.”
When the Yan patriarch called out to start eating, the rest of them slowly began to pick up their chopsticks.
The Yan patriarch picked up a piece of tender perch, furrowed his brows, put it into his bowl, and raised his eyebrows to look at Yan Bozhang, “Eldest, has that family moved out of the rundown grass temple at the end of the village?”
Yan Bozhang respectfully replied, “Yes, Father. Following your instructions, Liu Qianhe has driven them out.”
Upon hearing this, the Yan patriarch’s frown deepened.
In fact, he had been waiting for Yan Xiaosi to have no choice but to come to the Yan mansion to beg for his forgiveness. However, things didn’t go as he expected.
That boy actually dared to leave the rundown grass temple and the Yan family.
“Hmph, I hope that family continues to show such spirit.” Hearing the patriarch’s displeased snort, Ms. Li, from the next table, walked over and respectfully said, “Father, you kindly offered to let the people from the third branch move back to our main household, disregarding past grudges. But they were ungrateful and rejected your kindness. Father, don’t bother about them in the future.”
The members of the third branch of the Yan family not returning to the mansion was to everyone’s liking. Yan Wenfeng filled a bowl of chicken soup and brought it to the Yan patriarch. “Grandfather, I am a scholar now. I will strive to pass the imperial examination. I will bring honor to our Yan family. Grandfather, don’t think about those ungrateful people anymore.”
