The Eldest Daughter of a Rural Family
Chapter 92 Lack of Upbringing(2)_1

Chapter 92: Chapter 92 Lack of Upbringing(2)_1

Previously, he had always been leeching off Sister Peiqin and her siblings, but now that they’d split households, he naturally had to snatch food from the mouths of others.

Pei Wenlee wasn’t one to be pushed around; Old Pei, he didn’t dare mess with, so he had to try to get a larger share from Lady Zhu, Lady Chen, and Pei Houli.

Just when they finally had a chance to eat meat again, she only got two pieces, which barely touched her teeth. Lady Zhu was quite displeased, but since she had always spoiled her grandson, she felt somewhat resentful but didn’t feel it was right to say anything.

But Pei Wenbo hadn’t had nearly enough, "They’re eating dumplings at their house! Let’s eat dumplings too! I want to eat dumplings!"

"You just ate meat, what dumplings!" Pei Houli said sternly.

Pei Wenbo twisted his body, wanting to go to Lady Zhu to make a fuss.

"Go bother your mother!" Lady Zhu was particularly irritated at the thought of Lady Chen hiding her own stash of money, and suddenly hiding so much silver. Although she said it would all be given to her eldest grandson when he takes the exams, Lady Zhu still felt annoyed.

Seeing her in a bad mood, Pei Wenbo turned around to pester Lady Chen instead.

Lady Chen didn’t dare say much these few days, just worked harder. Pushing the bothersome Pei Wenbo away, she said, "No family eats meat every day. You’re not a child anymore, stop causing a fuss! We just had meat, and we’ve eaten it several times this winter."

"Dad! Let’s go catch bamboo rats too! They made so much money by selling them; we could definitely get some silver!" Pei Wenlee persuaded Pei Houli.

Thinking of the things Pei Qin bought at the market, which he had now ended up eating himself—she was not visiting relatives, so she must have earned quite a bit of money. Hearing Pei Wenlee’s advice, he was tempted, but planes were selling well too. He wanted to make more and sell them before other carpenters to get the money.

"Dad! You can make planes at any other time! Those bamboo rats sell for so much money. If we catch some, at ten coins per catty, two sacks could be sold for several taels of silver!" Pei Wenlee urged Pei Houli, recounting everything she heard in the village about catching bamboo rats.

Many of the villagers had already set out, and some were keeping an eye on Peiqin, planning to secretly follow them up the mountain to see how she caught them.

Peiqin, however, had shifted her target. Bamboo rats weren’t selling well anymore; she was planning to try catching wild rabbits.

Though a cunning rabbit has three burrows, as long as one finds the rabbit’s warren and spends a bit more effort and tries a few times, it shouldn’t be difficult to catch a wild rabbit holed up inside.

The villagers watching Mother Peiqin saw that they were continuously going up the mountain, but only to gather firewood, not to catch bamboo rats.

Unable to hold back, someone went up the mountain to try their luck but saw wild rabbits and pheasants, without even a glimpse of a bamboo rat. Catching wild rabbits and pheasants, which both run incredibly fast, was difficult, not to mention badgers and weasels.

After three or four days had passed without trying to catch a single bamboo rat, they just kept chopping firewood and marking spots, with a pile of dry wood accumulating at home.

Peiqin led Wendong out again, and Si Ya insisted on following this time, so while San Ya and Lady Fang stayed home to sew, Peiqin took Si Ya and Wendong out, crossed Taiping Mountain, and headed to the town.

Today wasn’t a market day, and the streets were sparse with people, but a few old stalls were still set up.

As Peiqin was about to cross the bridge, she ran into Pei Wenli, who was buying stationery with a few of his schoolmates.

Pei Wenli, thinking about her various changes these days, and how she managed to catch bamboo rats to sell at the county restaurant while no one else could, greeted her proactively, "Sister Daya! Have you come to the market too?"

Peiqin nodded indifferently and led Si Ya and Wendong past him.

One of Pei Wenli’s companions couldn’t stand it and called out to her, "Your eldest brother kindly greets you, yet you are so arrogant in your response! Don’t you know anything about courtesy and upbringing?"

"Upbringing?" Peiqin turned to look at him.