Chapter 168 Be a Person Who Stands Tall and Upright
Cheng Wanwan didn't go to watch the excitement anymore.
There was a lot of work to do when she got back home. She had to clean the 20-plus jin (10 kg) roe deer and put it in a pot to braise. After the meat simmered in the braising liquid for an hour, the water would evaporate and the weight would decrease a bit, but that didn't matter. All the ingredients added up, it was still quite a lot, enough for her.
The remaining three or four pounds were cooked for the children.
Roe deer has a strong earthy smell, so you have to add a lot of ginger and cooking wine to remove the smell. She prepared the ingredients in the kitchen before calling Wu Huiniang to the kitchen to make braised roe deer meat. Of course, she could make it herself, but the taste was not as good as her eldest daughter-in-law's, so it was better to let her eldest daughter-in-law take charge of the cooking.
She is now quite worried about who should be in charge of cooking when her eldest daughter-in-law gives birth and goes into postpartum confinement.
"Mother Dashan, how did you come back so suddenly?" Aunt Wang ran into her yard, pulled her aside and started gossiping. "I used to think the Xu family was pretty good, but today I've learned that they're not good people! Three children lost their father, and their mother was taken away. Logically, the clan should have taken better care of them, but guess what happened? Those six or seven families started fighting over the twenty-plus acres of land left by Widow Zhang... My goodness, dozens of people were fighting. Luckily, our village has patrols, and they were able to control the situation."
While picking vegetables, Cheng Wanwan said, "Get to the point, whose house did the three children end up at?"
"The closest person to Widow Zhang's family is Aunt Xu, so logically we should go to Aunt Xu's house. But the three children refused," Aunt Wang said quickly. "Uncle Village Head let Da Shu choose for himself, and guess who he chose in the end? You'd never guess!"
Zhao Dashan walked in from the doorway and continued, "I've chosen Granny Zhu."
"Kid, why did you say it so quickly? What's wrong with letting your mother guess a little longer?" Aunt Wang glared at Zhao Dashan and continued, pulling Cheng Wanwan, "Good fellow, didn't you see the faces of those Xu family members? Red, yellow, green, purple, black, all kinds of colors. The Xu family definitely doesn't want this. These three children are surnamed Xu, so how could they go to the Zhu family? The twenty or so people who were just fighting each other suddenly united and scolded the village head for meddling in their business."
“Our village head is no pushover. Back then, Dahe Village was Zhao family territory. If it weren’t for the Zhao family’s ancestor giving his permission, the Xu family wouldn’t have a place in Dahe Village! The village head said that if they don’t follow the village rules, the Xu family will be kicked out of Dahe Village!”
Cheng Wanwan laughed.
The village head is usually a peacemaker, but I didn't expect him to be so decisive in such an important matter.
Xu Dashu is a smart kid. If he chooses the Xu family, it will be too easy for them to take over these twenty-odd acres of land.
Old Mrs. Zhu is seventy years old, and she only has an elderly person and a child at home. Even if she has selfish motives, she doesn't have the ability to live with the Zhu family. It is the best option for her at present.
This matter became a topic of conversation throughout the village, and even the children in the family discussed it during meals.
Shen Zheng sneered: "A widow can get pregnant? That's jaw-dropping. The world is going to the dogs."
Wu Huiniang sighed, "It's not easy for a widow to raise three children. She made such a fuss just to borrow power. I don't know what to do with the three children in the future."
Zhao Sidan asked earnestly, "Mother, what will happen to Old Madam Zhang if she takes Widow Zhang back?"
Cheng Wanwan frankly said, "Zhang is not yet thirty years old and is very good-looking. If she lives in her parents' home, the Zhang family will never be able to hold their heads high. How can the family's nieces and such get married? So I guess that Old Madam Zhang probably did not take Zhang back to the Zhang family, but went directly to the town... to get rid of the baby in her belly, and then find a matchmaker. After she got married, she would have no more connection with the Xu family or the Zhang family."
No matter how decent Zhang's appearance was, she was still a married woman. The man who would so easily accept marrying her must either have a physical disability, a personality problem, or be very old or from a very poor family... In short, he couldn't possibly be from a good family.
The children in the family must have thought of this too, and they all fell silent.
They disliked Zhang, but when they thought about her plight, they couldn't help but feel a little sympathy for her.
That's what children are like—always so pure and kind.
Cheng Wanwan patted the door and said, "Since we've brought up the Zhang family, let's elaborate on what you've learned from this incident."
Zhao Dashan scratched the back of his head: "When it comes to marriage, you should marry someone like Hui Niang."
Wu Huiniang blushed and remained silent.
Zhao Ergou said, "To marry a virtuous woman, you must fully understand her character before bringing her home."
Zhao Sanniu grinned foolishly: "The three children of the Xu family have gone with Granny Zhu. The Zhu family doesn't have a single able-bodied adult. I can help with plowing the fields in the future. I'll help with plowing one mu for three copper coins."
Zhao Sidan rested his chin on his hand and said, "Widow Zhang is forced to separate from her three sons because she made a mistake. I feel so sorry for her... If I were forced to separate from my mother, I would never be happy for the rest of my life."
"You little brat, what nonsense are you spouting!" Zhao Ergou slapped him on the back of the head. "Our mother would never make such a mistake!"
Shen Zheng, with his legs crossed, said, "In the end, it's still Zhao Fugui who has no conscience. He slept with her and then didn't take responsibility, hiding at home like a coward."
Cheng Wanwan spoke at the right time, "Xiao Zheng is right. Zhang was certainly at fault in this matter, but Zhao Fugui was also at fault. As a man, he feels guilty towards his wife and children, as well as Zhang and the three children. If he had just a little bit of responsibility, things wouldn't have gotten to this point. So, listen up, all of you. I don't ask you to be great, but you must be responsible. No matter how big or small the matter is, you must take responsibility. I know that responsibility can sometimes be a burden, but those who shirk responsibility are cowards and complete losers in my eyes."
Zhao Dashan: "Mother, I won't be a useless person!"
Zhao Ergou: "Mother, I will definitely shoulder my responsibilities!"
Zhao Sanniu: "Mom, if there's a coward in the family, I'll beat him to death."
Zhao Sidan: "Mother, it is my responsibility to be filial to you, to take care of you in your old age and to see you off when you die. I will never shirk my responsibility!"
Cheng Wanwan: "..."
She's only thirty-three years old, and they're already talking about taking care of her in her old age and seeing her off in death. It feels like they're hoping she'll die sooner.
Watching this scene, Cheng Zhao couldn't help but sigh. His second aunt's words were very ordinary. Although she did not quote any classics, every sentence was thought-provoking and insightful. No wonder his four cousins were completely different from his other cousins.
He said, "Second Aunt, I will strive to become a person who stands tall and upright."
Shen Zheng felt a little envious.
His father often scolded him, condescendingly lecturing him. He knew his father was right, but he just didn't want to listen.
If his father had educated him as gently as Aunt Zhao, he would definitely have been obedient.
The reason he is not as good as Cheng Zhao is that he lacks a gentle second aunt.
He coughed and said, "I will try my best to become a responsible person and help my father with his worries when I grow up."
Zhao Sidan stuck out his tongue: "You are already sixteen, and you haven't grown up yet?"
Shen Zheng raised his hand: "You little brat, if you don't speak, no one will think you're mute..."
"Hey, young master, calm down!" Afu came over. "My responsibility is to serve you, young master, and take care of your every need, ensuring you have no worries. When you become an official, remember to find me a virtuous wife, hehehe."
Shen Zheng smirked: "You're two years younger than me, and you're already thinking about getting a wife at such a young age?"
Afu scratched his head: "Seeing Brother Zhao and Sister-in-law Zhao being intimate every day, I just... I just want to... you know."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Dashan and Wu Huiniang blushed deeply.
Cheng Wanwan couldn't help but laugh out loud.
The children in the room all laughed.
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