The Lucky Farmgirl
Chapter 439 - 428: Persuasion for Peace

Chapter 439: Chapter 428: Persuasion for Peace

So, Manbao reached out to grab Third Uncle Qian’s hand, gripping it firmly to ironically highlight his left hand’s missing finger, "Third Uncle, even for the sake of your other little finger, you can’t go to the gambling house again."

Third Uncle Qian: ...

Grinding his teeth quietly, he said, "I didn’t go gambling, I was just strolling through the county town, and ended up wandering there by chance. If I find out who’s spouting nonsense in the village..."

"Even strolling should not be done near the gambling house," Manbao said, "You should learn from my Fourth Brother. He’s been to the county town often these past two years but never goes near the gambling house."

Manbao sighed like a little adult, "Third Uncle, what’s so fun about gambling? Meat is much tastier. If you have money, you should go buy some meat to eat. The braised pork I had in the county town last time was really delicious."

Manbao felt even hungrier and straight up left Third Uncle Qian behind, dashing towards the kitchen.

Third Uncle Qian, who wanted to whisper something to her, only managed to catch a glimpse of her retreating back, his reaching hand not even grasping her sleeve.

Manbao ran into the kitchen, where Ms. Feng, Ms.He, and Eldest Sister-in-law Qian were washing vegetables near the kitchen door, and Ms. Qian was assisting Junior Ms. Qian in the kitchen.

Just as Manbao entered, Junior Ms. Qian had just served a big pot of egg stewed tofu. This tofu had been left over from yesterday, kept cool in well water, but it still had a bit of a smell to it.

However, as she cooked it, the smell disappeared.

Seeing Manbao, Junior Ms. Qian scooped two eggs and several pieces of tofu into a bowl for her and let her sit aside to eat.

Eldest Aunt Qian looked on with a smile, said to Ms. Qian, "This child’s culinary skills are getting better and better."

Naturally, the child she referred to was Junior Ms. Qian.

Ms. Qian nodded, saying with a smile, "She makes the best-cooked meals at home. Her sisters-in-law would rather handle all sorts of chores just to take turns cooking with her. They have all learned from her, even receiving hands-on teaching, but for some reason, although they use the same oil and salt, the food they cook just isn’t the same."

Eldest Aunt Qian smiled with her eyes creased up, saying, "This child has had this skill since she was young. When she wasn’t even as tall as the cooking range, she could cook while standing on a stool. The first time she cooked, it scared me to death. I have no idea where she got such nerve from. When the adults were not at home and she was hungry, she would light the fire and cook for herself, even using half a jar of my lard. Her three brothers kept calling it delicious. Oh, how could it not be delicious with half a jar of pork lard?"

Manbao listened with rapt attention, loving these stories, especially the ones about her family’s grown-ups when they were little.

Junior Ms. Qian felt a bit shy, and upon seeing Manbao’s bright, twinkling eyes, she tapped her forehead, "Hurry up and eat, what are you listening to?"

Manbao immediately nodded her head.

Ms. Qian then chimed in with a laugh, "Our Manbao is far behind her sister-in-law. If she’s hungry, she could nibble on the table leg and still wouldn’t cook. Isn’t that worrying?"

"What’s there to worry about? Manbao has plenty of skills, and if she can’t cook, people will bring food to her," Eldest Aunt Qian said, then hesitantly added in a lower voice, "I think this must be a sign of her extraordinary destiny. Just think, which fairy cooks her own food? Isn’t it always the case that their food and clothing come without lifting a finger?"

Ms. Qian’s eyes lit up, she clapped her hands together and said with a smile, "Eldest Sister-in-law is right; I hadn’t thought of it that way."

Manbao sat stunned—she remembered an earlier time when her mother urged her to learn cooking from her eldest sister-in-law, saying that knowing how to cook means never having to worry about food and clothes wherever she goes, because she only liked to eat. And it worried her mother to the point of losing her appetite.

How did the story change all of a sudden?

Ms. Feng and the others brought in the washed vegetables.

The kitchen couldn’t accommodate so many people, so Ms. Qian simply sent them to set up the tables and stools, while she and Eldest Aunt Qian continued to help with chopping vegetables and tending the fire.

Junior Ms. Qian was just in charge of cooking.

Eldest Aunt Qian glanced outside then brought up Ms. Qian, "I see you’re in good health now, and the family is increasingly harmonious. You ought to show more patience to your brother-in-law, and not always quarrel with him."

Ms. Qian’s face said yes with a smile, but inside, she was gritting her teeth at Old Zhou.

Manbao spoke up for her mother, "Eldest Aunt, my mother hasn’t been quarreling with my dad; they’ve been getting along just fine."

Eldest Aunt Qian patted her forehead with a chuckle, "You’re always so clever. Alright, I won’t talk about your mother anymore."

But as she turned away, she couldn’t help but to continue speaking in a lowered voice, "Even if they do argue, it should stay between the couple, just a little scuffle in their room. They really shouldn’t take it outside; that is too embarrassing for your uncle. Think about it."

She whispered, "He’s of an age to be a grandfather now, and the older a person gets, the more they value their dignity. When he goes out and the villagers see him and ask about it, or some make fun of him, won’t he get annoyed? And if he’s annoyed, won’t he come back and take it out on you? In the end, you’ll be the one who suffers."

Manbao found a small stool to sit not too far from their feet as she ate, listening in astonishment.

Had her father and mother had a falling out without her knowledge? Could it be that they even fought?

Ms. Qian quietly acknowledged the advice, occasionally glancing down with a warning eye at her little girl. Manbao prudently kept silent, not daring to ask questions at that moment.

Only after everyone finished lunch, and the Qian Family left, did Ms. Qian take a look at Zhou and turn to go inside.

Zhou pondered the meaning of that look for a moment and uncertainly asked his little girl, "Is your mother happy, or is she unhappy?"

Manbao spoke up bravely, "Happy, maybe?"

"That’s right," Zhou brightened up, "After making so much silver, how could she not be happy?"

He decided to go count the silver coins.

There were one hundred and twenty-two taels left in the chest, an amount Zhou had never seen before in his life.

Ms. Qian had not seen that much silver either, but she had an idea since the money Manbao kept in her possession was definitely more than that. So, she only glanced at it before turning to Zhou and asking, "Did you go out and speak ill of me?"

Zhou blurted out in confusion, "What bad things have I said about you?"

Unable to help herself, Ms. Qian smacked the bed planks, which made Manbao run in. Ms. Qian paused her anger, remembering it had been many years since she last got mad and quarreled with Zhou, so she suppressed her anger and continued, "Wasn’t it you? Today at noon we were at the Dayuan family, and there were visitors too, all saying you were angry about the wheat seed exchange, and even called my family over to take your side..."

Ms. Qian paused as she sensed something was off, but she pressed on, "And then, you kicked me out. My family stood with you. And you even went around saying, saying that you didn’t argue with me before because I was not well. And now that I’m healthy, you should ’beat the roof every three days’ and so you’re going to beat me every three days..."

Zhou looked utterly bewildered, "When did I say that? Am I not wronged here? Others don’t know why elder brother and the rest came, but don’t you know?"

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