Chapter 498 - 492 - 1
"She’s here, at this moment in the inner room; I’ll go call her out," said the village chief’s wife, who promptly went inside to fetch the person. Erhu and his wife were now very busy people. Each time they visited it was for important matters, and she would dare not delay; otherwise, she would surely face her husband’s scolding.
"Erhu’s wife has arrived; I’ll be right out. Brew some of our good tea leaves, and remember we still have some fruits? Bring those as well," the village chief instructed as he put on his clothes, remembering that the good tea leaves they had at home were all gifts from Erhu’s family.
Lin Youfu’s little grandson was playing around and frowned upon hearing his grandparents’ words. Being the youngest in the family, his older brother Zhao Mingfeng, who usually studies at school, wouldn’t compete with him, so the delicacies at home were often for him. "No, you can’t bring those out. Those are mine; you can’t give them to anyone else."
Lin Youfu chuckled and patted his little grandson’s head. "You little rascal, already guarding your food. Your Aunt Lin isn’t just anybody, she is the kindest person, and she often brings things over to our house. Many of the treats you eat are from your Aunt Lin. And you can’t even part with just this little bit?"
"Really?" the village chief’s little grandson was a clever one, listening to his grandfather’s words,
"Of course, would your grandfather lie to you? As a man, you should be generous not petty, like a woman’s small-mindedness. Being miserly in everything won’t lead to great achievements. Look at your Uncle Erhu and Aunt Lin; they believe that to take a loss is to gain good fortune. Whose family in the village lives as well as they do now? Good fortune is earned," Lin Youfu said, not missing a chance to teach his grandson a lesson.
"Enough chattering, Erhu’s wife is still waiting outside; you’re wasting time unnecessarily." The village chief’s wife glanced at the little grandson again. "Then, you rascal, don’t be so upset. It’s just a few pieces of fruit. Just now, your Aunt Lin brought over a basket of things, and I smelled something very fragrant. It must be something delicious. It’s actually strange; the things their family makes are always tastier than others’, even those bought from city shops can’t compare."
"What’s so strange about that? That’s because Erhu’s wife is clever and skillful. She does everything better than others. And now that they’ve hired many servants, I’ve heard they are from large households and have learned skills; all are smarter than us simple country folks. Alright, I’ve had enough idle chatter with you, Erhu’s wife is waiting, and I have serious matters to discuss. Why am I even talking so much with you, a foolish woman," said Lin Youfu, waving his hand dismissively, picking up his pipe from the cabinet, and adopting the airs of the village chieftain, looking disdainful of too much conversation with the womenfolk.
The village chief’s wife knew all too well what kind of a man her husband was. She pursed her lips, "You old man, putting on airs, as if I didn’t know exactly what you’re worth."