"What good fortune can a little brat have? Doesn't he fear shortening his lifespan and dying young... There's water in the well, yet he doesn't even bother to bring it to me, you beast that deserves to be struck by lightning..."
As Zhou washed the rice and cooked, she grumbled and cursed all the while.
Although a natural disaster struck, the Li family received eighty taels of betrothal gifts from the Qian family and bought back a considerable amount of grain and meat from the city government, making them much better off than other families.
"No way! I don't care about other people's land, but that bastard has to water our land!" Zhou Shi became angrier and angrier, and she was about to leave.
What's the point of letting outsiders benefit?
Just as he was about to leave, Li Guangmao blocked his way.
Where are you going?
"I, I..."
Zhou remained silent, not daring to utter a word.
Li Guangmao raised his hand and slapped her across the face. Zhou Shi turned her head away, covered her face, and didn't dare to say a word.
She's gotten used to being beaten now.
Her two daughters got used to it and didn't even glance at it.
"If you go and ask Chi Yongcai to irrigate our land now, you're going against the whole village! You idiot! You're so stupid you're practically invincible! Why didn't your parents give you a brain?"
Li Guangmao was also convinced.
No matter how many times you beat this woman, she's still so stupid!
Mrs. Zhou said with some grievance, "I'm doing this for our family too..."
At this moment, Li Lao Er's wife leaned against the door of the east wing and said with a smile, "Mother, watering the fields is not practical, but we can have Chi Yongcai bring us four buckets of water every day. That will be enough for us to eat, drink, and bathe."
As for the grain in the fields?
Anyway, we have money now, eighty taels of silver! It won't make a difference if it's just one year's harvest.
"Didn't you hear what the second son's wife said?" Li Guangmao scolded.
Zhou stood up straight and said, "I'll go talk to him first thing tomorrow morning. I'll say it in front of everyone. If he has any shame, he won't refuse."
"Well, don't say another word! You have to act pitiful."
Li Guangmao offered a couple of pointers.
Zhou nodded.
As expected, Zhou went to fetch water early the next morning.
But before she could even speak, Old Man Chi said directly, "You should send Li Lao Er over, and he'll give you two buckets of water every day too."
"Only two buckets of water? That's not enough. Here, you can bring me four buckets of water to my house later," Zhou instructed matter-of-factly.
The Chi family was furious upon hearing this.
Just then, the village chief's family was also waiting in line to fetch water. Upon hearing this, they immediately stood up and cursed, "Aren't two buckets of water enough for you? Why do you need someone to deliver it to you? Are you all dead?"
"You... Ah, village chief, I, I didn't mean to..."
"Let Li Lao Er fetch water, just two buckets, take it or leave it! If I find out you're causing trouble at the Chi family's house again, your whole family will have to move out of Dahe Village!"
The village chief was furious.
One bad apple spoils the whole bunch.
Meng Chenyi is right. If we don't manage Zhou Shi properly, what if the Chi family moves away? You know, the Chi family has been having a lot of good luck lately.
What if the Chi family moves away and the well runs out of water?
This is not impossible, after all, all the wells in the village are dry except for the Chi family's!
Therefore, we must keep the Zhou family in check!
Mrs. Zhou left, looking ashamed and dejected.
Before they could even explain themselves when they got home, the village chief came after them and gave them a good scolding.
This caused Li Guangmao's family to lose face.
After the village chief left, Li Cuiliu made up her mind that she had to get married as soon as possible.
If she doesn't get married soon, her reputation will be ruined because of her mother.
"...Father and Mother, I think we should hurry up and get Dongfu and I married while things are still peaceful at home...that way we can save some food."
Li Cuiliu openly and frankly told her parents about her plans.
Of course, when she said she was doing it, she meant it for her family.
Li Lao Er's wife sneered, "I think you just want to go to the city with the Qian family and live a good life, don't you? What, is Dad treating you badly?"
She just couldn't understand it. Was Qian Dongfu blind?
He actually took a liking to Li Cuiliu!
That slut actually has such good fortune!
"If that's what you think, then just pretend I didn't say anything." Li Cuiliu's eyes held a hint of grievance, but she still tried her best to maintain a smile.
Her tightly clasped hands revealed her suppressed emotions.
Li Guangmao immediately felt sorry for his daughter, but as a father-in-law, he couldn't scold his daughter-in-law, so he directly expressed his support for her:
"Cui Liu, getting married so hastily might be unfair to you."
"There's nothing to be aggrieved about. No matter when we get married, Aunt Qian will never like me. So it's better to save some food for our family and make her angry!"
Li Cuiliu smiled mischievously.
His witty remarks made Li Guangmao laugh heartily.
Li Guangmao only had this one daughter, so naturally he doted on her.
After thinking for a moment, Li Guangmao made a decision: "It's alright, I'll take half of the eighty taels of betrothal gifts and give it to you as your dowry! That way, you'll be able to stand up for yourself when you get to your husband's family."
"Forty taels of silver?"
Zhou gasped in surprise, somewhat displeased.
Of the eighty taels of silver, she planned to leave fifty taels for her youngest son.
Then, of the remaining thirty taels, fifteen taels were given to the daughter, and fifteen taels were kept for oneself to support one's old age.
If I give my daughter forty taels of silver now, what will she have left?
"No way! Father, what family gives such a large dowry when their daughter gets married?" Li Lao Er's wife stood up anxiously, her eyes practically spitting fire.
Forty taels of silver!
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