Chapter 41: Waiting for Them to Come
"Wait." Su Yaoguang said, "Mom, let’s go inside first."
Zhang Zhaodi asked if they had written the marriage contract and if they had gone to the government to record it.
Su Yaoguang directly displayed the marriage contract.
"See, here is my name, here is Wang Shu’s name, and here are the birthdates and times of both of us..."
Zhang Zhaodi, unable to read, got a detailed explanation of the marriage contract’s contents from Su Yaoguang.
Zhang Zhaodi teared up, "Good, good, very good."
Su Yaoguang handed the marriage contract to Zhou Wangshu, "Keep it well; it will be very useful in the future."
Zhou Wangshu took the marriage contract and placed it inside the room.
Zhang Zhaodi continued to ask, "You just said wait, wait for what?"
"Wait until they can’t sit still." Su Yaoguang said, "Later we’ll spread the word that we’re selling the land for twenty-five taels of silver."
In the afternoon, the Su Family waited and waited but didn’t see Zhang Zhaodi and her daughter come over. Instead, they heard that Zhang Zhaodi was inquiring if anyone wanted to buy their family’s land, and several families were already interested. They couldn’t hold themselves back, so they immediately arranged for Grandma Su to come over to discuss serious matters. Grandma Su brought Su Guilan, after all, her involvement was still needed for this matter.
"I say, Lady Yaoguang, I heard your family wants to sell land, tell me about it. Maybe I’ll be kind enough to buy your land." Zhong Lanhua said, pinching her orchid fingers.
Zhang Zhaodi looked at her with disgust, "Even if I had no way out, I wouldn’t sell the land to you. Get lost; seeing you makes me want to vomit."
Zhong Lanhua put one hand on her hip and mocked, "Oh dear, disaster is coming, and she’s still being stubborn! In this village, besides me, who else can afford the silver?"
"Nonsense!" Grandma Su cursed as she appeared, "You’re the only rich one in this entire village? Everyone else is poor? What a big mouth, aren’t you afraid of biting your tongue!"
Zhong Lanhua sneered, "Aren’t you the ones who usually curse this mother and daughter the most? Why pretend to be good people now? Ha, well-intentioned deeds taken as donkey’s liver and lungs."
Seeing the Su family appear, Zhong Lanhua knew she couldn’t get any benefit, so she didn’t waste time there. She twisted her waist and left, muttering about how it was a pity for such good land.
If it weren’t for being unwilling to part with that land, she wouldn’t have come to find Zhang Zhaodi. She thought that if Zhang Zhaodi desperately needed silver, she might sell the land to her. But who would have thought that this bumpkin, even when cornered, still had such a stiff mouth and wouldn’t bow to her.
Jiang Yihuan was just coming down from the mountain, accompanied by a sturdy man. That man was a young man from the village, tall but a bit ugly, just right for helping her chop firewood. If it were on an ordinary day, she’d barely pay him any attention.
"Brother Dachun, you’re really a good person; I never realized it before."
Zhang Dachun said shyly, "Huani, don’t be scared of my fierce face; I’m really easy to talk to. This fierce face of mine is just natural, don’t mind it."
"Brother Dachun, you don’t look fierce, just because you don’t like to smile. That’s why I was a bit scared. You should smile more in the future; you look nice when you smile."
"If Huani likes me smiling, I’ll smile more often in the future." Zhang Dachun said, grinning.
Jiang Yihuan covered her mouth and laughed, "Brother Dachun is really cute."
Ugh, so ugly.
But it doesn’t matter, she can tolerate it.
As long as he’s willing to help her work, saying a few nice things won’t hurt.
Seeing Jiang Yihuan and Zhang Dachun appear together, Zhong Lanhua walked over smiling, "Oh, Dachun, you’ve been a great help. This girl here is weak, luckily you were there to help her."
"Aunty, if there’s any heavy work in the future, just call me. Don’t let Huani tire herself out." Zhang Dachun patted his chest and guaranteed, "I have plenty of strength."
"It’s still good to be a man; look at this strong build, no wonder he’s so strong. When I look for a son-in-law in the future, he should be this strong."
Zhang Dachun looked at Jiang Yihuan excitedly, his eyes full of light.
Jiang Yihuan said shyly, "Mom, why are you saying these things..."
Zhang Dachun carried the firewood into the woodshed and said to Zhong Lanhua and Jiang Yihuan, "Aunty, Huani, it’s still early; I’ll go back up the mountain and chop more firewood."
After Zhang Dachun left, the smiles on both Zhong Lanhua and Jiang Yihuan’s faces disappeared.
"Mom, he’s so nauseating." Jiang Yihuan pouted, "Doesn’t a man like that ever look in the mirror?"
"Men, the ugly ones have their uses, and the handsome ones have theirs." Zhong Lanhua said, "As long as he’s useful to us, saying a few nice things won’t hurt."
"That’s true. Otherwise, we’d have to haul water and chop firewood ourselves, which would be exhausting!"
"Tomorrow, find someone to plow the field." Zhong Lanhua said, "Don’t get this Zhang Dachun. You have to let those men know there are many suitors around you, create competition among them, and more will vie for your favor. A household with a beautiful girl attracts many proposals; only the best women have so many men pursuing them."
Jiang Yihuan played with the hair at her ear, "Got it."
When Grandma Su and Su Guilan came to their door, wanting to talk inside, Zhang Zhaodi wouldn’t let them in.
"Sister-in-law, I heard there’s some trouble at your place. Just tell us your difficulties; we’re family. We might argue usually, but in crucial moments, we’re united."
Zhang Zhaodi’s eyes reddened, "You’re not here to laugh at us?"
"Heaven and earth are witnesses; you’re my sister-in-law. Even if we have misunderstandings on ordinary days, those are trivial. If something happens to you, how would we explain it to my elder brother?" Su Guilan said, "Tell us your difficulties, and we’ll think of a solution together. Many heads are better than one; maybe that’s how it will be resolved!"
"Really?"
"Really. If you don’t believe it, I’ll swear." Su Guilan raised her finger.
"Then swear, if you’re lying to me, may your whole family die a terrible death." Zhang Zhaodi looked at Su Guilan.
Su Guilan: "..."
This wretch dares to curse them.
"If you don’t swear, you’re thinking of harming us, right? I said you couldn’t be so kind." Zhang Zhaodi turned away, angry.
"I swear, I swear." Su Guilan raised her hand to swear, "If I’m lying to my sister-in-law and harm her, may my whole family die a terrible death."
"Include Yaoguang. If you lie to me and Yaoguang, may your whole family die a miserable death."
Su Guilan gritted her teeth and repeated.
"Alright then, come in!"
Once inside, Su Guilan noticed Su Yaoguang was absent and asked, "Where did Yaoguang go?"
"She went to my mother’s house to borrow money." Zhang Zhaodi cried, "This time I owe a hundred taels of silver, I really don’t know what to do. I’m thinking of selling the land, selling the house, maybe I can gather thirty taels of silver. If it doesn’t work out, I’ll sell myself, go be an old maid in a big family, maybe I can sell for three or five taels."