Chapter 5: Madam Zhang’s Instigation

On one side, Wang Yuan’er was persuading her mother to let go, while on the other side, Madam Zhang was cursing in the house.

“Mother, you’ve been scolding for almost half an hour,” Wang Min’er finally couldn’t hold back and put down the small mirror in her hand, frowning in discontent.

“What do you know?” Madam Zhang sat heavily on the kang and said, “You didn’t see your elder sister’s eyes, sharp like the butcher Zhang’s knife, piercing and terrifying.”

“Her temperament is just like her crybaby mother’s, soft like a bun. How sharp can she be? Mother, you must be seeing things in broad daylight,” Wang Min’er sneered, indifferent and dismissive.

What kind of character Wang Yuan’er had, she knew well. Soft and meek, what could she accomplish?

Madam Zhang spat twice, pinched Wang Min’er’s ear, and said, “What nonsense are you talking about? Spit it out again.”

“Ouch, are you trying to tear my ear off?” Wang Min’er shook off her hand, quickly picked up the mirror again, and pouted, “It’s all red now.”

Wang Min’er was considered a flower of Changle Town, always very particular about her appearance, not tolerating any flaws. Look at her white jade-like earlobes, just like pearls.

Wang Min’er curled her lips, remembering the ugly daughter of the butcher Zhang flaunting her new pearl earrings in front of her yesterday. She put the mirror on the table with a snap, twisted her slender waist, and grabbed Madam Zhang’s hand, coquettishly saying, “Mother, I want a new pair of earrings too.”

Madam Zhang slapped her hand away and said, “Didn’t I just buy you a pair of earrings the other day? Now you want more? Do you think your mother is a gold mine?”

Wang Min’er pouted and said, “I’m almost of age, and I don’t have many pieces of jewelry. How will you marry me off to a good husband and enjoy a good life?”

“Shameless girl, saying such things, aren’t you ashamed?” Madam Zhang laughed and pinched her daughter’s face lightly. Her daughter was indeed beautiful, destined to marry into a good family and become a young mistress. She should have some jewelry.

Thinking about how Wang Yuan’er had gone to the mountain early in the morning to gather firewood, Madam Zhang realized the money hadn’t been handed over yet. Thinking about the silver she lost at the gambling house, Madam Zhang felt a pang of pain. She decided to go to the main house.

Since the family hadn’t split, any money earned naturally had to be handed over to the main household.

The Wang family, although a farming family, had a skilled carpenter as their ancestor, and the craft had been passed down to the sons. Over two generations, they managed to set up a carpentry shop, which made their situation better than that of regular farming families. Thus, the wives of the Wang family didn’t have to work as hard in the fields.

In the Wang family, Grandma Wang’s favoritism was well-known. Who wouldn’t pamper their youngest? Wang Min’er, being her granddaughter, was also dearly loved. As long as she talked to her mother-in-law, wouldn’t she get more jewelry for Min’er? If she married well, it would bring good fortune to the Wang family, wouldn’t it?

“Eldest sister, grandmother is calling you,” Wang Yuan’er was eagerly talking to Madam Liang when the second household’s boy, Fuduo, ran in and called out.

Wang Yuan’er frowned, wondering why she was being called. She touched the small money bag in her sleeve and immediately understood. In her previous life, this was exactly what happened. Every time she sold firewood, her grandmother would take the money.

Chapter 6: Refusing to Hand Over the Money

Wang Yuan’er was right in her thoughts. Upon entering the main house, Grandma Wang didn’t even glance at her and simply asked about the money from selling the firewood today.

In the past, Wang Yuan’er would obediently hand it over, but after being reborn, she didn’t want to be so foolish anymore. In her previous life, whenever she and her sisters earned a little money, they handed it all over, but they never got to use much of it. Even when she got married, her second aunt said that marrying into a landlord’s family meant she wouldn’t lack anything, so they didn’t prepare much for her dowry, only some auspicious items and two quilts.

Meanwhile, her cousin Min’er from the second household never had to do any work, let alone gather and sell firewood. Yet, she always had everything she needed, dressed and adorned like a young lady compared to Wang Yuan’er and her sisters, who were like maids.

Why was that?

They were all granddaughters, so why did some get everything without effort while others couldn’t even touch the money they earned through hard work?

Feeling indignant, Wang Yuan’er said, “Grandmother, can I keep the money from selling the firewood today?”

Granny Wang paused her sewing and looked sharply at her. Wang Yuan’er instinctively shrank back but then straightened up, thinking of her mother’s frail body.

Seeing her mother-in-law’s expression, Madam Zhang sneered, “Are you possessed? How dare you say such things? Mother is the rightful head of the household. Are you trying to defy her?”

Ignoring Madam Zhang, Wang Yuan’er looked at Grandma Wang and said, “Grandmother, I know you are the head of the household, and I also know that our Wang family is not so petty as to covet the small earnings of a granddaughter. Our Wang family’s carpentry shop is well-known in Changle Town, and its annual income is far better than that of ordinary farming families. The money I earned from selling firewood is just a few copper coins. How could you care about such a small amount? Usually, you just help us save it.”

Her words made Grandma Wang’s eye twitch, rendering her speechless.

Wang Yuan’er was telling the truth. The Wang family wasn’t wealthy, but they had a carpentry shop that brought in dozens of taels of silver annually, much better than the average farming family. The few copper coins from selling firewood were indeed insignificant. But no one disliked having more money. As the head of the household, it was her duty to manage the money, so she always collected it to prevent wasteful spending.

That was her usual thinking, but now Wang Yuan’er refused and brought up such points, especially the part about coveting a granddaughter’s small earnings, which made her feel embarrassed. The part about helping them save it left no room for criticism.

Grandma Wang couldn’t help but squint at her granddaughter. Wang Yuan’er resembled Madam Liang, with a slender figure and a gentle temperament, soft and meek like a quail, unlike the typical Wang family members. But today, she seemed different, especially her eyes, which showed a hint of stubbornness.

“Oh my, such a young girl already thinking about saving private money. Is she planning to attract a man and save for her dowry?” Grandma Wang didn’t care about the small amount of money, but Madam Zhang couldn’t ignore it. After all, every little bit added up, and it could be used to buy some candy for little Fuduo.

“You shut up!”