Soon, the appointed time arrived.
Old Master Wu met his elder brother halfway there, and the two traveled together leisurely to the third brother's house.
After walking for a while, before even entering the courtyard, I could smell the rich aroma of meat...
"Tsk tsk, your third son's wife really went all out today."
The village chief joked, his eyes full of laughter.
"That's right, look who we've invited today!"
Old Master Wu picked up the conversation, stroking his beard with a smug look.
After the third son's wife changed her ways, she became incredibly devoted to the elderly couple.
The frequency with which he delivered meat these days caused his belly, which had lost weight from working in the fields, to swell up again...
When I got home today, I found my wife touching two pieces of fabric like they were precious treasures. When I asked her, I found out that my third son's wife had specially bought them as a gift for the two of them!
"Dad, Uncle Village Chief, please come in quickly! The food is all ready, just waiting for you to take your seats!"
Jiang Yue wiped the water off her hands. Don't misunderstand, she didn't cook. She just talked about it. The cooking time and seasonings were all handled by Da Niu, who was a good prospect.
She just helped out and washed the dishes.
As she spoke, she invited the two "distinguished guests" into her home and then closed the door.
He shouted—
"Ergou, quickly bring the wine glass over here."
"Okay~"
Wu Ergou was in the kitchen and almost couldn't resist sneaking a bite.
His mother's shout snapped him back to reality, and he frantically searched for a wine glass...
"Oh, there's still wine today?"
"Of course! We've specially invited you two to dinner today, so how could we not make sure you both eat and drink to your heart's content?"
Jiang Yue arranged for the two elders to sit in the main seats, and then personally poured wine for them.
These flattering words, coupled with such impeccable manners, were so well-received that even the village chief, who was used to grand occasions, couldn't find fault with them.
Grandpa Wu felt that his third daughter-in-law had never brought honor to the Wu family like this before!
"Da Niu, Er Gou, Qing Yun, bring the dishes up first!"
Okay~
The fact that the three brothers spoke in unison was even more surprising.
The village chief might not know, but Old Master Wu knew that his grandsons were outwardly friendly but inwardly at odds, each harboring their own thoughts.
Now, he can clearly sense that his grandchildren have changed...
They've become more united and friendly!
"Yongfu, I think you're going to enjoy a life of leisure from now on!"
The village chief was quite envious when he saw this. This child is well-educated; he'll be fine in the future!
It seems they were prejudiced against Chiang Kai-shek before; otherwise, how could they explain his completely different behavior now?!
Upbringing isn't something that can be taught overnight; it's a gradual, subtle process, passed down through the example set by parents...
"Thank you for your kind words, brother. Come on, let's have a drink."
Grandpa Wu was pleased to hear this, and his smile deepened.
Then one main dish after another was served, and his face lit up with pride, while his stomach swelled with joy.
Jiang Yue sat with Xiao Cao on the bench to the right of her father-in-law and the village chief, Da Niu and Er Gou sat on the left, and Qing Yun sat at the bottom.
Once everyone was present, she announced, "Dinner is served!"
Let's eat and drink our fill before we get down to business!
Jiang's actions impressed the village chief.
You know, many people ask him for favors or to thank him, and they chatter away during meals, making a racket and preventing him from enjoying his meal!
Now it's all good, no more nonsense or flattery, let's eat first and talk later.
Old Master Wu couldn't help but ask:
"Third son's wife, did you cook today's dishes?"
He then picked up a tempting piece of roasted meat, which melted in his mouth, perfect for his teeth.
"Dad, don't you know my skills? I only have to talk about it; it's your eldest grandson, Da Niu, who does the cooking."
Jiang Yue didn't take credit for anything. Instead, in front of everyone, she praised Da Niu, Er Gou, Qing Yun, and Xiao Cao, the four children, one after another.
It was obvious that the children looked at her with increasing dependence after receiving praise.
"Da Niu's wife is going to be living a good life from now on."
The village chief liked Jiang's current temperament. Unlike many of the village women who were short-sighted, only knew how to beat and scold their children, and did not know how to protect their children's dignity in front of outsiders!
Children should be taught well and praised more; this is always better than hitting, scolding, or beating them.
"Thank you for your kind words, Uncle Village Chief. I'm hoping that after the house is built, I can find a good marriage for Da Niu and Er Gou."
After several rounds of drinks and a good meal, Jiang Yuejian started to bring up serious topics.
"We need to arrange a marriage, and we also need to build a house. Third son's wife, are you short of money?"
Upon hearing this, Mr. Wu immediately expressed his opinion.
As long as it's for his grandchildren to have a good life, he'd be willing to tighten his belt and work in the fields for a few more years!
"Dad, I'm not short of money right now. I invited you two here today for two reasons: firstly, to discuss the house, and secondly, because there's something good that I can't do alone. After you hear my story, if you think it's feasible, I'll have to trouble you two to help me make it happen."
Jiang Yue stated that she had laid out her purpose completely, without any concealment or scheming.
“Mrs. Jiang, after I went back, I made plans for you. I also studied the blueprints you drew. If you want to build a house like that, the cost of materials and labor will be about fifty or sixty taels of silver. Have you thought it through?”
The village chief drank a glass of wine and felt extremely comfortable; even his speech became gentler.
He used his connections to negotiate a lower price, saving himself more than ten taels of silver.
Upon hearing that it was only fifty or sixty taels, Jiang Yue resolutely replied without hesitation:
"I've thought it through. I'll do it, but I'll need your help in hiring people and supervising the construction. When the house is completed, I'll give you a big red envelope."
"Haha, no need for the big red envelope, we're all family, remember to treat this old man to a drink later~"
The village chief appreciated the gesture, casually glossed over the matter of the red envelope, and gave his old friend a few more instructions on the remaining details.
For example, furniture, chests, cabinets, beds, tables, chairs, and even heavy beams...
To save money, these items were made by Yongfu in consultation with his sons.
“Alright, back in the day, I made all the household items. If you don’t mind, Third Brother’s wife, you can leave them to your father to arrange.”
Grandpa Wu finally got a job and took on everything.
"By the way, what will happen to your family of five after we break ground?"
The village chief suddenly asked, glancing around. It had been in disrepair for years and should be demolished and rebuilt.
“That’s easy. I’ll have my wife and two daughters-in-law clean up the north wing of the house and set up two rooms for you to live in until the new house is completed.”
Without hesitation, Mr. Wu resolved the subsequent concerns.
"Alright, I'll listen to you, Father. However, Qingyun will be going to the academy soon, so the four of us will move to the old house for a while. All expenses during this time will be our own responsibility. We can't take advantage of Father, Mother, Brother, and Sister-in-law!"
After thinking it over, Jiang Yue made her point clearly to avoid future arguments.
"Okay, it's settled then."
Old Master Wu nodded. He wasn't dead, and the Wu family hadn't split up; his words still carried weight.
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