The Lucky Farmgirl
Chapter 440 - 429: The Rumor Starts with You

Chapter 440: Chapter 429: The Rumor Starts with You

Manbao, standing inside the house, was also somewhat stunned. When she belatedly realized what had happened, she guiltily raised her little hand and said, "Dad, Mom, I think I know why..."

Manbao recounted the incident of meeting someone when they were seeing off Old Master Bai, and then said, "It must have been Zhou Sanqi who said it. Dad, Mom, he was the only one outside at that time, and he was the one who asked me."

The couple was silent for a moment, and Old Zhou was so angry his teeth itched, "That Sanqi, just like his mother, so gossipy. He dares to spread rumors about me. Just wait until I beat him up."

Ms. Qian wasn’t angry anymore, but still gave him a sidelong glance and said, "What kind of uncle bullies his nephew like that?"

Manbao then offered her dad a suggestion, "Dad, let Four go beat him up!"

Thinking it over, she felt it wasn’t a good idea, so before Old Zhou could speak, she added, "He’s older than Four, so Four definitely won’t be able to beat him. Let Second Brother and Third Brother go too."

The brothers, who were listening outside by the corner of the wall: ...

Zhou Dalang got up, drove all his younger brothers away, and then left himself.

Never mind, as long as Dad and Mom don’t argue, that’s fine.

The sudden loud voices, coupled with the meaningful looks exchanged by their wives, had all the brothers on edge, fearing that their parents were going to start arguing again.

Manbao, carefree Datou, and others didn’t know, but their brothers were aware. In earlier times, Dad and Mom had often argued fiercely.

It was only later, when they had grandchildren and Mom’s health gradually declined, that the couple stopped fighting.

Eventually, the two in the house didn’t start arguing. Manbao wanted to slip away, but Ms. Qian called her over, "Come here and help Mom with the accounts."

Manbao went over with a cheerful grin. She loved counting money the most.

Seeing her happy demeanor, Ms. Qian couldn’t help but reach out and stroke Manbao’s little head, and then seeing her unevenly tied hair, she couldn’t resist asking, "Did you tie your hair back yourself?"

Manbao nodded.

Ms. Qian sighed, "In a couple of days, I’ll have Daya and Erya teach you how to tie your hair. You’re a young girl now, and you need to learn how to do your hair. Now, tell Mom, how much money did our family make in total this trip?"

Manbao had already calculated it and said, "We made a total of one hundred and twenty taels, with a surplus of three hundred and forty wen."

Touching the silver, Ms. Qian felt sentimental, "Who would have thought that twenty mu of winter wheat could make so much money?"

Old Zhou suddenly remembered something, "It should have been more than this. Why did you let Dalang and the others take away three bags of wheat? If we sold those as well, that would have been quite a sum."

"We have to keep some for relatives and friends," replied Ms. Qian. "When folks come over to exchange for wheat seeds later, are you going to give it to them or not? I’ve already given some to my family. How would it look if we didn’t share with the others?"

"But the seeds you’ve kept aside, will there be enough for us to plant ourselves?" Ms. Qian knew he was reluctant, so she had the sons move the wheat early, locked the door, and had the daughters-in-law block the entrance. She didn’t believe he would dare to forcefully take it.

Old Zhou certainly was reluctant and grumbled, "One hundred and fifty wen per dou."

Ms. Qian couldn’t resist giving him a twist and said, "Is it all about money? These are our neighbors and relatives. What if one day we need their help? Also, keep in mind, they’re your daughters-in-law, they’re someone’s daughters too."

Pointing at Manbao, she said, "Think about Xi, think about Manbao. If we don’t give, how will they face going back to their maternal home?"

"If people aren’t happy inside, life won’t be pleasant. In a big family, if even one person starts causing trouble, there won’t be peace at home. Then see if you can count your silver and live comfortably."

Old Zhou really wanted to say he could, but under his wife’s stern gaze, he didn’t dare.

Manbao nodded continuously from the side and quietly supported her mother, "Dad, what if in the future, Big Sister and I get good seeds at our in-laws’, and you come to ask Big Sister and me for them, and neither of us gives you any?"

Old Zhou’s eyebrows shot up, and as Ms. Qian’s glare flew at him again, the words he was about to say got stuck in his throat.

As Ms. Qian looked back down at Manbao, she felt more and more fond of her and, stroking her little cheek, smiled and said, "I was thinking, having so much money on us is no use. Why don’t we divide some and give it to the children?"

"What?" Old Zhou’s attention was immediately diverted, and he exclaimed, "Why would we give it away?"

"For their expenses," Ms. Qian said as if it were the most natural thing. "Eldest, Two, Third, and Four are all fathers now; don’t their children need money to spend? So, we give them a share."

"They’ve got silver in their hands. Do we need to distribute more?" Old Zhou said. "I might not manage the accounts, but I know, including Five and Sixth, even the younger ones like Datou have money."

He looked at Manbao, "Manbao, right?"

He had raided Five and Sixth’s money more than once and knew their substantial savings were with Manbao. Even the younger children, to prevent their money from being taken by their parents, kept it with Manbao.

Before Manbao could answer, Ms. Qian cut him off, "It doesn’t matter whether they have money or not, it’s useless for us to keep so much. Oh, and I was just about to tell you, now that we have money, we should find a match for Five."

Old Zhou had no objections to this and even added, "Find a good one. It’s okay to spend more on the dowry."

But he still opposed giving money to the sons.

However, the money at home had always been managed by Ms. Qian. How it was spent was essentially up to her. Alright, even though she would discuss it with him before spending, due to many years of habit, Ms. Qian’s decision clearly carried more weight than Old Zhou’s.

"They don’t have as much money as you think. Since last May, Two has had to turn in all the money he makes from setting up stalls in the county town, including all the bamboo craft sales. Second Wife’s family hasn’t made much. The school is gone, so Eldest’s family has no extra income. And as for Third and Four, as well as Xi, with the ginger they grow, the money they make from selling it goes first to me – sixty percent – and then the kids divide what’s left among themselves. How much can there be?" she explained.

Old Zhou fell silent.

"Four has just had a child. There will be a lot more things to buy for the kid in the future," Ms. Qian persuaded.

Old Zhou couldn’t help saying, "That’s why I don’t want to give him the money. That boy doesn’t know moderation. Money should be saved to have any at all, you know?"

Manbao couldn’t resist interrupting again, "Dad, my friend said that money is meant to be spent, and the more you spend, the more you’ll have."

"Nonsense, who’s this friend of yours? Don’t make friends with people like that; they’ll lead you astray," he retorted.

Keke: ...It wasn’t me who said that; it’s information you humans entered in the encyclopedia, Host. Don’t wrongly accuse me.

Old Zhou believed his ability to support a large family, even through two natural disasters, was because of his frugality.

Being thrifty on usual days gave him the confidence to endure in times of disaster. When disaster came, he’d be even thriftier, hoping just to survive, not necessarily to be full. Usually, they could survive a year or half, and continue to live on.

To make money by spending money, what was this if not a scam?