The Farm Girl’s Charismatic Fortune
Chapter 145 - 141: Every Family Has Its Own Set of Difficulties

Chapter 145: Chapter 141: Every Family Has Its Own Set of Difficulties

Zhang Yecheng was well aware that in recent years, because his wife had not borne a son, his mother had not shown a pleasant face to any relatives from his wife’s family.

He hurriedly said to Granny Zhang, "Mother, this is a New Year’s gift sent by Wenyao’s brother-in-law."

Old Granny Zhang was beyond reproach in her dealings with others, and he was afraid his little sister might say something that would embarrass others.

Granny Zhang was a businesswoman who opened her doors to various customers every day, and although she had many complaints about her daughter-in-law, she would not publicly disgrace her.

The reason she had just ignored Ruo Xuan was that the child was just a child, and what do little kids understand?

In the presence of adults, she wouldn’t do that; she immediately put on a smiling face and said kindly, "Brother-in-law is here! Let Wenyao and Chengye take care of you. I’ll go to the shop. Don’t leave until you’ve had lunch. Just now, the child was gluttonous and protective of her food, talking nonsense, making you watch a joke. Chengye, Wenyao, prepare some more New Year’s goods for your brother-in-law to take back later."

How she behaved as a mother-in-law and gave her daughter-in-law a hard time at home, that all happened within her own home. In front of outsiders, she would not show this and would even behave as if she respected her daughter-in-law a lot.

After all, she was the proprietress of a grocery store, big and small, and she cared about her reputation.

The recent incident was purely accidental.

It was her daughter who had just brought up how the neighbor’s grocery store laughed at them saying how good their business was, what was the use if they didn’t have a grandson; even if they made lots of money, it would just benefit outsiders. She was in a rage at the time.

She also knew that the Ruo Family sent New Year’s gifts every year and that anytime they bought something from their grocery store, they always paid with silver.

They would give her son a little extra, sometimes even just the wholesale price — among relatives, that was normal and didn’t really count as taking advantage.

What she was angry about was that Madam Liu had given birth to three daughters, causing their Zhang family to lose their heir, making them the subject of gossip and unable to lift their heads high within the clan, prompting her to say things to irritate Madam Liu.

If Madam Liu could bear her a plump grandson, she might even treat her, and her maternal family, like ancestors and revere them.

Ruo Shui didn’t plan to stay long, much less have a meal at the Zhang family. No matter what they had said in the courtyard just now, as they greeted him with a smile, he could only pretend to be unaware, since every family has its own difficulties.

He smiled and said, "No thanks, there’s a pile of things to do at home. I just made time to come to the city to deliver the New Year’s gift and do some New Year’s shopping before I hurry back home."

Granny Zhang then instructed her son, "Chengye, prepare some more New Year’s gifts for Wenyu and his wife later on."

She was also worried that her daughter would say something harsh and be rude to the guests, she turned to her daughter and said, "Xiaoli, can’t you discipline the children properly? You only know to protect their food, they’re not so young anymore, don’t be rude. And you, always bringing the children to their grandmother’s house and making a mess, can’t you clean up promptly? You might not be ashamed, but I am!"

This was also a hint to Ruo Shui that whatever they said about freeloading had nothing to do with them now.

Granny Zhang knew how to conduct herself in public; if she were just plainly harsh, the grocery store wouldn’t have become so successful.

Zhang Xiaoli glanced at the four bolts of cloth that Ruo Shui was holding and nodded absent-mindedly.

The four bolts of fabric looked very fine, especially one pink floral damask which looked even better than the patterns she had seen at Jinxiu Square!

Where did the Ruo Family get such fine fabrics?

Granny Zhang smiled at Ruo Shui again and said, "You must find this amusing. Come inside and sit for a while. The yard has been dirtied by the two naughty boys. Have your meal before you go, I have to keep an eye on the shop."

Ruo Shui felt a bit awkward but also smiled and said, "It’s fine, we really don’t have time for a meal, we’ll be leaving when my mother arrives. Besides, the store is busy too, everyone is busy at the end of the year. Next time I’m in town with Wenyu, we’ll definitely stay longer."

Granny Zhang took the opportunity to say, "Alright then, since you’re busy, I won’t keep you any longer. I’m off to watch over the shop, it’s the end of the year and there are a lot of petty thieves around."

Having said that, Granny Zhang hurried out.

Her son, daughter-in-law, and three granddaughters all came in, and she was genuinely worried the shop would be short-staffed and get pilfered.

Zhang Xiaoli chuckled and said, "Big brother, sister-in-law, you guys talk, I’m heading back inside!"

After saying this, Zhang Xiaoli pulled her two sons and went back inside.

Zhang Xiaoli had married a Scholar, whose family lived in a remote mountain. Her husband studied in the city and initially, they rented a house, but after a few months, they found the rent too expensive. Zhang Xiaoli didn’t know how to cook, so they simply moved back to her mother’s house.

Therefore, their family of four lived and ate with the Zhang family all year round, as if she hadn’t married at all.

Zhang Xiaoli was even planning to if his elder brother and sister-in-law couldn’t have a son, he would adopt one of his own sons to his elder brother to naturally inherit the grocery store later.

Because she was still hoping her elder brother and sister-in-law would adopt her son, she didn’t dare to blatantly say anything, so she tactfully took her son back to their room.

Liu Wenyao sighed with relief, she did not want her own father and younger sister’s family to know about her situation.

Her mother-in-law was just a little harsh towards her over the past few years, but generally, she was still passable in front of the relatives and did not show any dissatisfaction when her husband had previously brought her father to live in the city.

It was just that after her father left, she intensified her harshness, showing Liu Wenyao an even worse attitude.

Fortunately, her husband was wholeheartedly devoted to her, adamantly refusing to take any concubines, and he defended her against his mother’s difficulties, and he also cherished their three daughters very much. Otherwise, life would have been unbearable.

However, Liu Wenyao felt that it was precisely because her husband was too protective of her and refused to take any concubines no matter what that her mother-in-law treated her worse and worse.

The first few years after getting married, when she gave birth to the eldest daughter and the second daughter, all was still quite good. It was after the birth of the third daughter that things became worse.

It was also her own womb that was to blame.

Zhang Yecheng warmly invited Ruo Shui and Ruo Xuan into the house, "You sisters, go get some pastries and sweets for your uncle and little cousin. Didn’t you say earlier that you have something to give to cousin Xuanbao? Now that cousin Xuanbao is here, hurry and get it out."

The three sisters hurriedly ran back to the room, excited to fetch those things.

Liu Wenyao called out loud, "Ruiji’er, take out the new clothes mother made for Xuanbao and your cousin as well."

Every year Liu Wenyao would make a new suit of clothes for Ruo Xuan and Ruo Xian to wear for the New Year.

As for the other brothers of the Ruo family, though she didn’t make them herself, she would still send each of them a set of fabric.

After all, she had to help in the shop, take care of her own family, and look after her sister-in-law’s family, which kept her pretty busy.

Holding Xuanbao in her arms, she asked her if she had received any rewards from the Lord County Magistrate or The Emperor.

Ruo Xuan answered truthfully, then added, "Those pieces of fabric were gifts from The Emperor, my mother and I specially picked them out to give to you, Aunt, Uncle, and cousin to make clothes with."

"Oh my, how can we just give away things bestowed by The Emperor? Your Aunt can’t accept this, you take it back!"

"It’s fine, The Emperor gave us so much, we can’t use it all up. Just don’t casually give it away, Aunt, it’s fine for our own family to use."

"If you can’t use it all up, keep it for your dowry in the future. Fabric bestowed by The Emperor can be treasured as a dowry. We don’t want it, your cousin has plenty of clothes." A dowry with gifts from The Emperor, what glory would that be? That could make her in-laws think highly of her!

"Then you could keep it for cousin’s dowry, Aunt! I also picked out some jewelry to give to cousin; it’s very pretty, also a gift from The Emperor..."

"Why are you giving them jewelry too, and it’s from The Emperor, no, no..."

...

On this side, Ruo Xuan and Liu Wenyao were talking.

On the other side, Ruo Shui and Zhang Chengye were discussing recent events in the family.

Many of these things they had already heard from Master Liu a few days earlier when the shop was not busy, while bringing New Year’s gifts to him.

The couple were very happy for them.

At last, the Ruo family was on the rise!

After a while, the store’s waiter came in saying Granny Lei had arrived.

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