stingy landlady

Chapter 103 Another Storm (7)

Seeing that the old man and woman had made up their minds, Dazhu said:

"Father! Mother! Find someone to harvest the wheat tomorrow! Father is getting old, hire more people to help, don't overwork yourself! Starting tomorrow, Pan Qiang will go to town with the horse cart! Father, you can take care of the chores at home for now!"

The old man was stunned. He thought it would be like before, during the busy farming season, when he and Dazhu would exchange jobs, with him driving the cart and Dazhu providing the strong labor.

"Letting a strong laborer drive a carriage? Isn't that a bad arrangement, Dazhu?"

Dazhu shook his head helplessly. Guizhi interjected to explain:

"Grandpa! My mother miscarried! The doctor said if she doesn't take good care of herself during her postpartum period, she might not be able to get pregnant again! She needs to be properly cared for!"

Pan Qiang can cook! He can carry those huge baskets of vegetables by himself!

The old man glanced at his wife reproachfully, but since things had come to this point, he stopped scolding her, knowing it would be useless anyway.

"Alright! Just make the arrangements! Let me know whenever you need this old man!"

The old man suddenly lost all his energy!

Guizhi smiled and said:

"Grandpa! There's always something for you to eat at home, you can come anytime!"

Dazhu also said:

"Father! Mother! We're going home!"

Everyone tacitly avoided mentioning what happened this afternoon! What difference would it make? They'd already fought and argued. We're all family; everyone has their disagreements, sigh!

In the morning, Zhou Qiong arrived early, and Guizhi asked her:

"Xiao Qiong! So early! Didn't you help Aunt Zhou kill ducks today?"

Zhou Qiong replied respectfully:

"Third Miss! My mother said I don't need to help! Madam needs someone to serve her, so she sent me to serve her! The young ladies are in town and don't have time!"

Guizhi sighed, "Alright! Go and brew the medicine first! Take it to my mother later! You'll have to work hard these next few days, cooking for my parents! We usually don't get back until the afternoon!"

You just make breakfast and lunch. If you're too busy, ask Jixiang and Ruyi to help. They'll eat here too! We'll talk about dinner when we get back!

Gui Xiang and Gui Hong also got up to wash up, and they didn't have any objections when they heard Gui Zhi's arrangements.

Gui Xiang said:

"Buy a few more old hens later, Mom needs to nourish herself properly during her postpartum period! I've heard that postpartum illnesses can be treated during the postpartum period! Our mother didn't nourish herself properly during her postpartum period before, so this time we'll get rid of all the old ailments!"

Gui Hong chimed in:

"There's been a lot going on these past few days, so buy some extra meat to keep at home. Dad needs to eat something good too!"

Dazhu came out, and the three sisters went into the house together to see Li Shi. Li Shi had woken up, but she didn't dare to move too much, afraid of bleeding too much. However, her mood was obviously much better!

Seeing that Guiling was still asleep, Guixiang asked softly:

"Mother! Did you sleep well last night? Did Fourth Sister bother you? Should we let her stay in one of our rooms?"

Gui Hong also said, "Mom! Xiao Qiong will be with you these few days, so let her do whatever she needs! You must take good care of yourself during your postpartum period! After you recover, you can give us a few more little brothers!"

Li smiled:

"You lot are all worry-free, I don't need to worry about you! I'll take care of my health! Siya was frightened yesterday, and she even cried in her sleep last night! Let her sleep here!"

Let Pan Qiang go with you to the woods today! Mother, on the other hand, went for two days and came back! From now on, you sisters will take care of him! Mother won't be able to go for a while!

Gui Xiang! Take some time these next few days to check on how the clothes are coming along. Don't let the housewarming party in a few days delay you from wearing them!

Gui Xiang agreed to each one.

Guizhidao:

"Mother, don't worry! Jixiang, Ruyi, and the others are cleaning those rooms outside. Ping'an is planting flowers in the flowerbeds in the yard. If Xiaoqiong isn't in the house, just call them if you need anything!"

Grandpa Zhou is staying at the gatehouse today. The main gate is usually closed, and no outsiders are allowed in. Mom, take good care of yourself!

We need to go keep an eye on Brother Pan and Second Brother Pan as they prepare the vegetables! We should also head to the woodshed!

At noon, Wang Yiyun didn't see Li Shi and asked curiously:

"Didn't your sister-in-law and Guiling come today?"

Guizhi led him to a secluded corner before speaking:

"Oh! Fifth Uncle! If you pass the imperial examinations and become an official, you'd better be careful! My second uncle and aunt... sigh!"

Wang Yiyun's curiosity was piqued:

"What happened to them? Did they do something bad?"

"Absolutely! My second uncle stole my fourth sister's silver bracelet, and my second aunt beat my mother so badly she miscarried! They even ransacked my house, stealing silver and fabric!"

Wang Yiyun was stunned:

"Guizhi! Is this true? It feels like we've encountered bandits!"

"Absolutely! They were just two robbers!"

Wang Yiyun then asked:

"Have you reported this to the authorities? Are we still family? When did my second brother become like this? It's true what they say, 'One is influenced by one's company.'"

"Fifth Uncle is absolutely right! Fifth Uncle! I don't think reporting it to the authorities is necessary; it would damage the reputation of our entire family! I had someone beat them up and robbed our money back!"

Wang Yiyun felt like she was listening to a story, only the protagonists were her familiar family members. She felt annoyed at first, but then found Guizhi's animated gestures amusing!

"Has your sister-in-law seen a doctor? Is she alright? Didn't your grandpa and grandma take any care of her?"

"My grandfather and father went to the fields! My grandmother! Oh! Fifth Uncle! My second aunt took the cloth and silver to deliver to my grandmother!"

"Your grandma accepted it?!" Wang Yiyun couldn't help but exclaim excitedly!

Guizhi looked at Wang Yiyun with sympathetic eyes and said:

"My second aunt only gave my grandma two strings of copper coins! Grandma said to take it as a filial offering from my father! The fabric is in Grandma's room, but she dislikes it because it's all the colors little girls wear! My grandpa made me take it back!"

Wang Yiyun opened his mouth but couldn't say a word.

"Fifth Uncle! We all moved to the east end last night! It's so annoying to have everyone living in the same courtyard!"

Wang Yiyun suddenly remembered something and asked:

"Guizhi, why did you tell me to be careful in the future?"

Guizhi whispered:

"A wise man manages his family, governs his state, and brings peace to the world! My second uncle and aunt are like that, Fifth Uncle, you'll have to find a way to deal with them! Otherwise, if they cause trouble, won't it implicate you?"

Wang Yiyun then realized, "These two people need to be taught a lesson! Guizhi! Fifth Uncle thinks you are the best candidate! You have connections, you can beat unreasonable people into submission with your fists!"

Fifth Uncle supports you!

Guizhi giggled.

"Fifth Uncle! Don't let anyone hear this! My fifth uncle is a gentleman!"

Wang Yiyun slightly raised the corners of her mouth and said:

"Guizhi! Didn't you tell me not to study to death? Besides! You're just a young lady, your fifth uncle should just act like a gentleman!"

"Fifth Uncle! So you were waiting for me here! Fine! Today, this humble woman will ruin Fifth Uncle's gentlemanly image!"

After Guizhi finished speaking, she was about to grab Wang Yiyun, but Wang Yiyun hurriedly cupped his hands in a gesture of respect.

"Guizhi! Guizhi! Your fifth uncle was wrong! From now on, your fifth uncle will help you with anything!"

"Hmph! That's more like it!" Guizhi finally gave up!