Allure of a Country Maiden
Chapter 132 - 130: Mrs. Lu is Happy

Chapter 132: Chapter 130: Mrs. Lu is Happy

"That would be... 25 taels and 550 coins a year."

Before Xiao’er could even finish her sentence, Mrs. Tan was laughing so hard she could barely hold herself up. Many others also started to laugh along with her.

Aunt Wang was dizzy from the barrage of Xiao’er’s daily, monthly, and annual figures. It took her a while to recover.

"Over 20 taels of silver in a year? Are you trying to rob us? This road was built for free by your family for the village people. It belongs to everyone in the village! Why are we to pay a toll!"

"The road was built by our family. It belongs to us. Those were your very words! Why is it now owned by everyone in the village?" Xiao’er asked, perplexed.

"Since your family built it for everyone, it’s everyone’s road. Everyone in the village contributed!"

"So, according to Aunt Wang, the road is owned by the villagers! So if your grandson gets hurt on it, don’t come looking to my family for compensation. You should ask the villagers. Let’s see if they’re willing to pay!" After saying this, Xiao’er turned to the surrounding villagers.

"Uncles and Aunts, should we pay Aunt Wang this compensation?"

Hisses of dissent rose from the crowd: "What compensation? Slipped and fell on the road and then demanded compensation from those who built it. There’s no such absurd logic in this world!"

"Let’s compensate! This is our road. If it caused harm to her grandson’s head, we should compensate. Aunt Wang, you also contribute! And remember to pay each time you use this road. Although the contribution per household won’t be much, every little bit counts."

"Let’s quickly take the child to Doctor Luo. Maybe it’s just a scratch and Doctor Luo may not even charge us. In that case, there’s no need for compensation. My fellow villagers, we should get going quickly! In a few decades, every household could receive more than 25 taels a year. Why shouldn’t we take up such a profitable opportunity?"

Seeing the villagers’ backlash, Aunt Wang was so terrified that she was close to wetting herself. She hurriedly scooped up her grandson and fled.

"My grandson is completely fine, there’s no need for compensation!" she shouted before scurrying away.

The villagers dispersed after a few more jeers, and those who initially wanted to extort some silver lost the interest. Over 20 taels a year? Heaven! They don’t even earn that much! How on earth could they afford to compensate!

Returning to Xiao’er’s backyard, Mrs. Lu joined them.

"So that was your plan, Xiao’er. You scared me earlier, but then I couldn’t stop laughing! More than 25 taels a year, oh my! I wonder how you come up with such plans!"

"Only such tricks work for people like them!"

"I knew it! I knew Xiao’er must have a trick up her sleeve!" laughed Mrs. Lu. She admired Xiao’er’s cleverness; she had never seen Xiao’er lose.

"Xiao’er, you’re so smart! I admire you!" Liu Jingshu took Xiao’er’s hand with stars in her eyes and a face full of admiration.

"Sister, is this what they call ’fight fire with fire’?!"

"Yes, Hao’er did a great job!" Xiao’er gave Jinghao an approving look.

"Hao’er is very knowledgeable! Zhiwen, Zhiwu, just look – Hao’er and you both started school on the same day, and he’s already using complex phrases, while you two are still learning to read. I wonder how shameless you’ll be if you keep thinking about playtime all the time!"

"Hao’er had been studying for a while before starting school. Zhiwen and Zhiwu only recently started. They can’t be compared!" When Mrs. Liu saw her nephews being reprimanded, she quickly stepped in to defend them.

"Sis, your words are getting profound too!"

"I’ve been studying with the children every night." Mrs. Liu said embarrassedly.

"Can’t take the Imperial Examination, so what’s the use of studying?" Mrs. Tan asked, perplexed.

"Aunt, even a steward needs basic skills. You should learn too. In future, when our business expands, bookkeeping would become convenient."

After hearing this, Mrs. Tan pondered over it and found it reasonable. Additionally, she wouldn’t have to pay any fees while studying with the kids. Even when considering fees for two people, three people learning means more savings! No, that’s not enough! She’ll have to include her son and daughter in these lessons. Saving even more!

"Gran, Aunt, why don’t you stay at our place for a few more days? My cousin and brother can attend school tomorrow."

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Tan quickly declined, "I can’t, my mother should stay. There’s a lot to do in the shop. I often help out and also have to cook for your uncle."

"If I stay here for a few days, who would manage your place? Let the kids stay here for a few days."

Mrs. Liu didn’t push any further knowing that her mother and sister-in-law were busy: "You can always come back later when you have free time. Let’s dine early and return home afterwards. Besides, it gets dark late these days, we’ll be fine."

In this era, perhaps due to transportation limitations, banquets were usually held at noon. Dinner was typically a cozier affair with closer and nearby folks continuing the festivities.

The two women agreed reluctantly.

"Younger sister, you and Jingjie should come and eat with us too. Your husband must’ve been too busy with bicycles and threshing machines to come home for a meal."

"That’s exactly why I came, to have dinner here. Lately, I’ve been so tired that I don’t want to move much."

"Could it be that you’ve caught the cold? You should go see Doctor Luo when you get the chance."

"I should be fine as I am eating and sleeping well." Mrs. Lu didn’t pay much attention as she had a great appetite. Hence, it couldn’t be any sickness.

The dinner was, of course, sumptuous. The leftover food from the noon banquet was shared with the villagers, but a lot of ingredients were still left. Manager Xie’s daughter-in-law was skilled at preparing Basil Fried Duck, a dish much loved by Xiao’er’s family for its wild flavor. She specifically recommended it to Mrs. Liu Lin and the others, and everyone loved it.

Mrs. Lu usually loved the unique fragrance of basil. She took a piece of duck meat to try, but as soon as she put it in her mouth and smelled the unique fragrance of basil, she felt sick and wanted to vomit. She hastily covered her mouth and ran to the toilet to throw up.

Xiao’er suspected that Mrs. Lu may be pregnant.

Mrs. Liu hurried in to help pat her back.

"What could have caused you to vomit? Did you eat something wrong?"

Mrs. Lu had just finished throwing up and felt a bit better. She shook her head and said, "No, everyone ate the same food as I did."

"Can sister-in-law be pregnant?" Mrs. Liu Lin remembered Mrs. Lu talking about feeling lethargic, not wanting to move but being able to sleep and eat. These were all signs of pregnancy!

She remembered having the same symptoms during her pregnancy with Mrs. Liu.

Hearing this, Mrs. Lu was stunned. It had been a while since her last menstrual period. She had been unaware because she hadn’t been keeping a close watch. Perhaps she really was pregnant...

Still, after so many years with no success, perhaps it was a false alarm.

"Let’s go check it out with Doctor Luo. We would know after a pulse diagnosis."

"Doctor Luo must be dining in the front yard now. Just go straight there and find him later. Now that Doctor Luo is having at least one meal a day here – hold on, it would be so embarrassing if it turned out false!"

"What’s so awkward about that? We’re all experienced. Just tell him that you’ve just vomited and are feeling uncomfortable. allow Doctor Luo to check. That should be it."

After checking her pulse, Doctor Luo confirmed that Mrs. Lu was two months pregnant.

This news made Mrs. Lu cry with joy. She cried unrestrainedly in front of everyone, unable to stop!