Liu continued, "That Master Qian is a wealthy and powerful man, and he can have any kind of woman he wants. It just so happens that he has taken a liking to your Lanzhi. In my opinion, it's because Master Qian is kind-hearted and wants to help your family."
"Let Lanzhi marry into your family. Your whole family will be elevated to a higher social status. She can enjoy a life of luxury in town, while you take the money, live with your granddaughters in the village, and even have a son to establish your own household. It's a truly wonderful thing with multiple benefits!"
Seeing Liu Shi spitting as she spoke, Wang Shi didn't get angry. She just smiled and said, "Aunt Liu, your youngest daughter-in-law's belly hasn't shown any signs yet, has it? In my opinion, you should send her to Master Qian's house and ask him to help you out. Not only will you get money, but she'll also have a grandson in a few months. It will also save your youngest son from being unable to hold his head up in the village!"
Upon hearing this, Liu became angry: "Widow Wang, I only helped you with this matchmaking because I felt sorry for your family. Why are you trying to insult me in this way? My son is perfectly fine. What family would give their daughter-in-law away to be a concubine?"
After realizing he'd gotten himself into a mess, he added, "Your family is different. You have seven daughters to support. Besides, Xu Lanzhi has that vixen-like look. If you don't let her find a man, can she really resist? It's better to marry her off; at least you'll get some money! Otherwise..."
As Liu's words became increasingly outrageous, Wang gripped the hoe tightly and said to her three granddaughters beside her, "Girls, move aside!"
After saying that, he swung the hoe handle at Liu, who was caught off guard and hit hard on the head with the wooden hoe handle.
"Oh dear, why are you biting everyone you can? You ungrateful thing! Master Qian said he'll get Xu Lanzhi sooner or later!" Liu said as she ran.
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Wang felt all her strength drained away. She dropped the hoe and walked forward blankly, wondering when this would ever end.
Zhao Di, sensing the situation, picked up the hoe. The three sisters obediently followed behind Wang Shi. Jie Di quietly asked, "Eldest sister, is Mother really going to marry into a wealthy family in town? What will we do then?"
Yindi glared at her and said, "Don't listen to Grandma Liu's nonsense. With our little sister, life will be better, and we won't have to sell our mother!"
Thinking of her granddaughter's smiling face, a ray of light shone into Wang's heart, which was riddled with wounds. She hoped that this child could truly bring hope to this family!
As soon as she arrived at her doorstep, Wang felt a chill run down her spine. From afar, she saw Tang Erzhu from the same village climbing over the courtyard wall and talking to Xu Lanzhi. Si Di, Nian Di, and Pan Di had already come out of the courtyard and were calling out "Uncle Zhuzi" to her.
Wang quickened her pace and walked over, asking coldly, "Erzhuzi, what are you doing climbing my yard wall in broad daylight!"
When Wang Shi suddenly shouted, Erzhuzi's heart skipped a beat, his legs went weak, and he tumbled off the courtyard, the wild yam balls in his arms rolling all over the ground!
He stammered, "Auntie, I dug up some sweet potatoes today and said I'd bring them to the children, but my sister-in-law just wouldn't accept them!"
Although Erzhuzi had an honest and simple appearance, Wang Shi couldn't stand the sight of him.
She said sternly, "Erzhuzi, stop sending things to my house. Your brother Dongsheng isn't here, and you, a man, come to my house every day. What kind of behavior is that!"
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Erzhuzi understood Wang's implied meaning, picked up the yam from the ground, and handed it to Sidi.
She said respectfully, "Auntie, I'll head back now!"
Wang slapped the yam out of Niandi's hand and scolded, "You little brat, you dare to accept things from anyone? There's no such thing as a free lunch!"
Sisi burst into tears after being slapped like that. Uncle Erzhu had given the family a lot of things, and Grandma had never said they couldn't take them. Why was she suddenly angry today? The sisters were all confused!
Seeing her mother-in-law disheveled and in a sorry state, Xu Lanzhi rushed over to help her up and asked with concern, "Mother, what happened?"
Wang shoved Xu Lanzhi's hand away forcefully and left in a huff.
Xu Lanzhi smiled apologetically at the dumbfounded Erzhuzi and hurried after her mother-in-law.
She asked Zhao Di and the others in a low voice, "What exactly happened?"
Jiedi immediately said, "Mother, Aunt Liu said Father won't be coming back, so you have to marry into the Qian family in town!"
Upon hearing this, Xu Lanzhi immediately understood why her mother-in-law had been so angry—she was afraid that she would remarry!
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Xu Lanzhi gestured to Jiedi to shut up, then quickly caught up with her mother-in-law and said respectfully, "Mother, don't listen to Aunt Liu's nonsense. Dongsheng will definitely come back. The children and I will always wait for him with you!"
Hearing Xu Lanzhi's statement, Wang felt a little more at ease and tentatively asked, "Master Qian is going to arrange a marriage for you with all the traditional betrothal gifts, are you really not tempted at all?"
Xu Lanzhi smiled and said, "Mother, look at what you're saying. Who is that Qian guy? Do you think I don't know what's good for me? Don't overthink it."
You're right, our little one is a lucky star. That old hen hatched all twenty-three eggs. As long as we take good care of him, he'll be laying eggs in a few months.”
Wang knew she had gone too far by venting her anger on Xu Lanzhi, so she softened her tone and asked, "Is the wheat all dried yet?"
Xu Lanzhi quickly replied, "They're all dried. I've divided them into four portions, and I'll send them to my sister-in-law and the others later!"
Wang nodded in satisfaction, and after a while said, "Now that Dongsheng isn't here tonight, you should avoid him. Erzhuzi is a bachelor, so don't pay him any attention, or the gossip in this village will drown you!"
Xu Lanzhi replied repeatedly, "Mother, I understand." Then she instructed the children, "Don't keep going to your Uncle Erzhu's house, understand?"
Seeing that Xu Lanzhi remained as meek and submissive as ever, Wang realized that she had been overthinking things and invited the whole family to dinner.
Xu Lanzhi pounded the dried buns into powder, cooked them with wild vegetables, and made a thick wild vegetable porridge. The family ate until they were mostly full.
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Tang Qiqi, still in her swaddling clothes, felt helpless. The food she had given them should have been enough to feed them for three or four months, and by then the fields would have yielded a harvest. Yet Xu Lanzhi was still so stingy.
However, seeing that they were preparing to raise chickens and farm in a well-planned manner, Tang Qiqi was still very pleased. At least this family was not the greedy type and knew that they should work hard to get rich.
Aside from the harsh conditions, she was quite satisfied with the place she had been in for the past few days.
Grandma seemed to like her very much, her mother was gentle and patient, and her older sisters would chatter on and on whenever they had a spare moment. This pleased Tang Qiqi, who grew up in an orphanage, and she would giggle without realizing it.
Sixth Sister Pandi touched her little face and said, "Little sister's smile is so beautiful. Grandma, little sister hasn't been named yet. What should we call her, Di?"
Looking at the delicate, soft little bundle of flesh in the worn swaddling clothes, Madam Wang said as if she had made up her mind, "This girl is the seventh in her family, so let's call her Qiqi!"
"Tang Qiqi, that sounds so nice!" Pandi said in her childish voice.
Upon hearing this, Xu Lanzhi couldn't help but smile knowingly. Could it be that her mother-in-law had resigned herself to her fate?
Tang Qiqi clenched her little fist and then giggled.
In this life, I am also called Tang Qiqi, so it seems that I did not come here for no reason.
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