Chapter Thirteen Chicken Ass

  Lian Man'er knew she had touched Zhang's sore spot. But if it didn't hurt, Zhang wouldn't wake up.

  Zhang sat dazed for a while and finally wiped away her tears.

  "Your aunt looks like she can't do anything, the whole family is waiting for dinner. Mother still has to go and help." Zhang Shi said to Lian Mian'er, "Your father and we also have to eat. Mian'er, your words are remembered by mother, this time mother will be reasonable."

  Lian Man'er felt a bit helpless, Zhang Shi was indeed virtuous and considerate of the overall situation. To be honest, if she had to interact with someone, she also hoped that the other person would be like Zhang Shi.

  It's not something that can be changed overnight. Now Zhang is willing to listen to her opinions, which is a good change. Just as Zhang said, doing more work won't kill anyone, thinking of this, Lian Man also stopped stopping Zhang.

  "Then I'll go with my mother, and I can help out too." said Lian Man'er. Gu Shi was so clever, and Zhang Shi was a straightforward and honest person, she feared that Zhang Shi would be taken advantage of.

  Zhang was going to help with cooking, and Zhao followed to assist as well.

  Gu was burning fire under the stove, filling the whole house with smoke, but the fire didn't catch on. She was bent over coughing there. She thought Zhang was holding a grudge against her because of Lian's matter and refused to come help, just making excuses earlier. She was both angry and hateful, gritting her teeth, when she saw Zhang and Zhao coming to help, suddenly smiling with joy.

  Zhao took over the unfinished work from Gu as soon as he entered the door.

  "...the firewood is a bit damp...I don't know where to put things, Brother and Sister, you see..." Gu Shi said with a smile to Zhang Shi.

  Zhang looked at Lian Mian'er, and Lian Mian'er nodded slightly to Zhang.

  "Sister-in-law, the firewood was dried by Wu Lang yesterday, it's not damp at all. It's just that you haven't done these chores for a long time, so your hands are out of practice." Zhang Shi said to Gu Shi.

  "Yes, fourth brother and sister, you are right, it is my fault. Wu Lang is a good child." Gu Shi hastily said.

  Zhang looked at Lian Man'er, and Lian Man'er nodded encouragingly to her. That's right, for some people, you can't always be a good person, you have to be tough to gain respect.

  Zhang's heart moved slightly. If it were usual, she would definitely follow Gu's words and say, at least not refuting Gu, even though what Gu said was wrong. Today, her slight change was that Gu followed her words and also acknowledged Wu Lang's hard work.

  Man'er was right, Zhang thought, recalling how she used to be so obedient and compliant in the past, which was indeed inappropriate.

  "Eldest sister, what the daughter means is that you should also take turns cooking meals for the family. Eldest sister will definitely do better than us, it's just that the first time she does it, her hands are a bit clumsy. Eldest sister is a clever person, learning by watching and imitating, she'll soon get the hang of it." Zhang said as she pointed out all the things in the house to Gu, even teaching her hand in hand. These were all taught to her by Lian'er, saying that one cannot "usurp the host".

  Gu's face was smiling, but her heart was bitter. She knew that Zhang was the softest and most talkative, planning to use good words to coax Zhang, letting Zhang do all the work for her. Now it seems, Zhang had no such intention.

  Gu was spoiled for a long time, even with Zhang's guidance, she still stumbled when doing chores. Zhang was used to being diligent and efficient, so she couldn't bear it and ended up doing most of the work herself, although Gu also got her face covered in dust.

  "Old lady learns so fast, next time she can cook by herself." Lian Man'er said intentionally.

  Gu's mouth twitched, next time, she wouldn't allow another chance, soon she would go back to the town with Lian Shouren.

  Just as the meal was ready, Lao Lao and the brothers returned one after another from outside. The several brothers put the silver they had exchanged on the kang, a total of ten or so packets of silver, which filled half of the kang with its white color. Lao Lao, Lian Shouxin and Lian Shoulì all furrowed their brows, only Lian Shourén and Lian Shouyi were inexplicably excited. It turned out that Lian Shourén had borrowed 600 taels of silver from Old Jin, but the exchanged amount was a full 540 taels.

  "There's also the matter of the flowers, and we'll need to spend some money at home too. Let's borrow a bit more and be more generous." said Lian Shouren.

  The son has already borrowed the money, and even the old man can't say anything about it anymore.

  "First eat," said Lao Lao, "after eating, you go to the town, the money owed to others must be repaid early."

  They put down their bowls and chopsticks, Gu's family made an excuse to let Lian Shouren wash his hands, and called him out. The couple whispered for half a day before returning to the table.

  The family quickly finished breakfast, Gu collected the bowls and secretly gave Lian Shouren a urging glance.

  "Father, mother, I'll go to the town now to repay the debt," Lian Shouren said to Lian Lao and Zhou Shi. "Also need to prepare some dowry for Hua'er, let her mother take care of it. Her mother and a few others will come back with me."

  Lian Lao Ye was just about to nod when Zhou Shi coughed. As for matters concerning the daughters-in-law, Lian Lao Ye had always let Zhou Shi take charge, so he didn't say anything and waited to hear what Zhou Shi would say.

  "You and your two brothers go return the money, and the three of them will stay at home. As for Hua's dowry, I've already thought it through. Her eldest sister-in-law has a ready-made shop, what doesn't she have? Even if there are one or two things temporarily lacking, let them buy it, it's still cheaper than us. We'll just open up the things to be sold at home and send them along with the silver to her eldest sister-in-law, how convenient."

  Zhou was actually convinced, so Gu hastily made eye contact with Lian Shouren, signaling him not to agree.

  "Mother, the Sun family is no ordinary family, and the betrothal gifts..." Lian Shouren also didn't expect Zhou Shi to arrange things this way, and he wanted to find an excuse to decline.

  "You've only lived in this town for a few years." Madame Zhou cut off Lian Shouren's words, casting a cold glance at Gu Shi. "Lan'er has been living in the county seat all these years, and her shop is thriving. She's associated with many wealthy families. When it comes to buying things, she knows much more than you do. And as for this marriage, we have to thank her aunt, or else how would you have gotten to know the young master of the Sun family? As for the dowry, entrusting it to her aunt is the most reliable option."

  Lian Shouren was refuted by Zhou Shi and had nothing to say in return. Gu Shi, at this time, did not dare to offend Zhou Shi again and could only anxiously stand by.

  "Besides, the girl is getting married, and as her mother-in-law, I have to teach her some rules, otherwise when she goes to her husband's family as a daughter-in-law without any rules, it will be my loss of face." said Zhou Shi.

  Can't I, as a mother, teach better than you? Mrs. Gu was annoyed in her heart, but she could only hold back her temper and not dare to make a sound.

  "Let's do it as your mother said. Hua has always lived in the town, and this old house hasn't been lived in for many days. In the future, when you go out, it will be even harder to come back. For these few months, just stay at home." Lao Ye added, "The house in the town is rented, not like our own home. Hua also needs to get married at home."

  "Yes, Flower, you come and live with me, we can have a good talk." Lian Xiuer also happily said.

  Even Lao Yezi has spoken, the three women of the Gu family can only temporarily agree, their discontent in their hearts cannot be described in words.

  "It's almost time for autumn harvest, let Jizong and them come back too." Lian Laoyezi reminded before Lian Shouren went out.

  Lian Shouren agreed and went with Lian Shouyi and Lian Shouxin to the town.

  …………

  Farmers are busy all year round, and their children have to help with household chores from a very young age.

  Just after dinner, Mrs. Zhou moved a stool and sat under the eaves of the main house, calling out to Lian Zhier, Lian Maner and several other children.

  "Open the chicken coop and catch the chickens."

  What's going on with the chicken? Are we going to slaughter it and eat it today? Lian Miao turned her head to look at Lian Zhi.

  "Let the chickens out and let them find their own food to eat. And also check how many eggs there are today. We don't need to bother with the rooster, just catch all the hens and have grandma feel each one." Lian Zhier saw that Lian Maner looked a bit dazed and thought she was still confused from hitting her head, so he quickly explained things to her.

  "Oh." Lian Man'er nodded and followed Lian Zhi'er and Xiao Qi, jumping into the chicken coop. The Lian family raised over a dozen chickens, only three of which were roosters, while the rest were hens, all of which were laying eggs.

  This task is almost like a game to the little kids. With two sisters around, Little Seven got playful and chased a nimble little hen, making it cluck loudly as they ran around in circles inside the chicken coop.

  Zhou didn't care about him and just let Lian Man Er and Lian Zhi Er catch chickens.

  These chickens were fed by these few children, so they are not afraid of them. Lian Man quickly caught a silkie chicken and handed it to Mrs. Zhou.

  Zhou picked up the hen and held it in his arms, one hand pressing down on the hen's body, the other reaching towards its buttocks.

  Lian Man'er looked at Zhou Shi's fingers inserted into the chicken's buttocks with some embarrassment. What was Zhou Shi doing?

  Zhou quickly withdrew his finger and let go of the hen.

  "This hen didn't lay an egg today."

  Zhou said, and took another hen from Lian Zhier, still doing it in the same way.

  "There is only one egg... Today there are five eggs in total." Mrs. Zhou finally announced.

  "The milk touch is quite accurate, it's never been wrong." Lian Zhier said softly.

  It turns out that this is the way to feel whether the hens will lay eggs today...it's really direct.

  "Milk really has skills." Just talking about it, this is absolutely a great move, at least that's what Lianhua thinks.

  "Keep an eye on everything." Zhou shouted at He who came out of the side room, "One egg is missing, I'm not done with you yet."

  "It's none of my business if hens lay fewer eggs." He turned his face away, slammed the door and went back inside.

  "This trick of milk, no one else thinks of picking up eggs." Lian Zhi'er whispered to Lian Man'r with a smile.

  "Second Aunt, always stealing eggs?" Lian Mian'er reacted quickly.

  Lian Zhi'er puckered up her mouth and smiled.

  Originally, Zhou's family wasn't afraid to get dirty and touch the chicken's buttocks every day. It was not only to know in advance the production of eggs but also to prevent the daughters-in-law from stealing eggs.

  It's very rustic, hehe.

  Maybe there's still one more chapter tonight.