Chapter 539 - 540: Wild Ideas
Chapter 539: Chapter 540: Wild Ideas
Sitting on the ox cart, Huang Qianlao finally asked in a low voice, "Why didn’t you insist back there? Are we really just going to the neighboring village?"
Lu Cuihua looked at her son driving the cart in front of them before whispering to her husband. "You saw the situation just now. Mr. Gu and Mrs. Gu are not pushovers. Those nobles have plenty of ways to deal with commoners like us.
"I underestimated how important those two girls were to Mrs. Gu. If I had known, I would have buttered them up.
"It’s all your stupid son’s fault! Boasting about being highly valued by the masters—why didn’t he mention it was all thanks to his wife’s connections?"
As Lu Cuihua spoke, her tone dripped with contempt. The Huang family men’s bad habit of caring too much about their pride really was identical across the board.
She had thought Huang Pingguo was different from the rest of the Huang family, but he turned out to be just as much of a braggart.
If she had known earlier, she would have treated Chunxiang well. For the sake of familial ties, they wouldn’t have been kicked out.
They had only enjoyed a few days of a good life, and now they had to start all over again.
The atmosphere among the surrounding Huang family members was exceptionally gloomy. Everyone knew in their hearts that this move to the neighboring village would determine their future fate.
"Mother, do we really have to move?" As the most favored son, Huang Pingan was reluctant. Life at Huang Pingguo’s place had been comfortable, with good food and no chores to do. He didn’t want to leave.
"What else can we do if we don’t move? Didn’t you see that Pingguo doesn’t welcome us?" Lu Cuihua’s words were filled with bitterness, and she deliberately raised her voice. Yet, Huang Pingguo didn’t even turn his head, merely keeping his eyes down as he drove the cart.
"We have no house and no land over there. Are we really going to have to clear the wasteland?"
Huang Pingan curled his lips. "Since Pingguo doesn’t welcome us, he should at least be generous enough to build us a house. And don’t buy wasteland; buy a few acres of fertile land instead, so we can live a good life sooner.
"Otherwise, won’t he feel guilty if it’s just him and Chunxiang living comfortably?"
Huang Pingguo cracked the whip in the air and struck the ground heavily, making the ox run faster. Only then did he turn back to look at him. "I already gave the family dozens of taels of silver before. I only have a little bit of silver left on hand now. If you want to buy fertile land, you can, but the amount will be small.
"As for whether it can support you? That will be up to you.
"I don’t have any spare money right now. I’ve given you all the savings from my years as a servant. From now on, you’ll have to look out for yourselves."
"Pingguo, we’re still family after all..."
"When you were bullying my wife at home every day, why didn’t you say we were family then?" Huang Pingguo said coldly. "Chunxiang is heavily pregnant, yet she was busy serving you all day long, and you even schemed to take her dowry. If word of this gets out, do you think you’d still be able to find a wife?"
When calm, Huang Pingguo actually had a good head on his shoulders, easily striking right at their weak spot.
Huang Pingan, who had been full of complaints, didn’t dare to utter another word.
As for the grandparents and the families of his uncles, they were even more afraid to speak up. After all, they were just tagging along to take advantage of the situation. If a real fight broke out, Lu Cuihua might kick them to the curb as well, making their lives even harder.
Therefore, ever since they sold their house and land, it was Huang Qianlao’s branch of the family that called the shots.
Now, squeezed together on this ox cart, their hearts were actually filled with bewilderment. They didn’t know where to go from here.
Once they arrived at a new village, without Huang Pingguo’s help, could they really make a living?
Now they all felt a tinge of regret. Why hadn’t they restrained themselves a bit over the past few days?
"Pingguo, why don’t you bring your wife back? I’ll treat her like royalty from now on. Otherwise, who’s going to help you take care of the baby once it’s born?" Lu Cuihua tried one last struggle.
Huang Pingguo didn’t even turn his head. "No need. Since the decision has been made, it won’t change.
"Besides, you find fault with my wife in every possible way, so she shouldn’t be an eyesore in front of you.
"As for taking care of the child, I believe the older women in the village will be more than happy to help."
"How can outsiders be as attentive as a grandmother? Why don’t we delay the move for a few days and wait until the child is born? I’m still waiting to see my eldest grandson."
"It could also be a granddaughter. Mother, have you forgotten? Your eldest son already gave you a grandson, and you’ve long since held him in your arms. You should worry more about Pingan’s marriage.
"I suggest you settle his marriage in the next few days, before word spreads about the scene you made."
Huang Pingan shifted his weight. "Pingguo, I actually did take a liking to someone."
Huang Pingguo replied, "Which girl in the village caught your eye? Let me tell you, if you hadn’t caused all that trouble before, it might be manageable. But now, I advise you to give up on that idea."
What decent family would marry their daughter into their household now? Others didn’t have Chunxiang’s backing.
"Pingguo, we are own flesh and blood. You have to help me out! I think that maid by Mrs. Gu’s side is quite pretty. Plus, she served Mrs. Gu just like Chunxiang did, so they would get along well as family..."
Startled, Huang Pingguo quickly pulled on the reins. Once the ox stopped, he turned to look at him. "Are you joking with me?"
He remembered that the maid following Mrs. Gu today was Zisu. Uncle Wu’s entire family worked for Mrs. Gu. It was said that Uncle Wu even managed the estate for her now, and Zisu was his only daughter. How could they possibly favor someone as good-for-nothing as Pingan?
"I’m not joking. I like that girl."
Lu Cuihua’s eyes lit up. Although she couldn’t remember what the girl looked like and hadn’t paid her any special attention, anyone who could serve directly by the master’s side was surely exceptional.
Hadn’t Dongmei and Chunxiang also served by Mrs. Gu’s side in the past? As soon as they married, they were provided with houses, fertile land, and a substantial dowry.
If her youngest son could also marry a wife like that, his future would undoubtedly be secure.
"Pingguo, I think you should help him. Pingan is a handsome talent, more than a match for that girl.
"We won’t mind her slave background. As long as she marries into our family, she can carry on our family line..."
Lu Cuihua was already imagining how many children the girl would bear and how to snatch her dowry away when she heard Huang Pingguo’s mocking voice. "I advise you not to bite off more than you can chew. She’s completely out of your league.
"The Wu family are hereditary servants of the Bai Family; their whole family works at the estate. We could never reach their status."
"How is it out of our reach? They belong to the slave register. She should be secretly thrilled that Pingan doesn’t look down on her."
Huang Pingguo didn’t want to talk to them anymore. He turned around and started driving the ox again. "Then you’re better off looking down on her. I can’t bring myself to ask, and I don’t want to invite a snub."
"Mother, look at Pingguo." Huang Pingan immediately turned to complain. "He’s just afraid that I’ll live a better life than him, so he won’t even do this little favor."
"Don’t worry. If Pingguo won’t speak up, I’ll hire a matchmaker myself..."