Farm Tough Girl-Chapter 57 - 058 Deliberately Being Mean to Me_1

Chapter 57: Chapter 058 Deliberately Being Mean to Me_1

Chapter 57 -058 Deliberately Being Mean to Me_1

Muniang took Qinghe’s hand, her slender and fair fingers, yet the fingertips were all calloused. It is said that children from poor families take on responsibilities early. Qinghe was only sixteen years old. Had she been born in a wealthy family, who knows how lovely these hands might have looked.

“Now that you step out of this door, you are a wife, and I truly hope you’ll be well, but if by any chance you can’t bear it anymore, there is still a way back for you. Your brother has only your best interests at heart, don’t put up with things just to pretend that you can cope,” Muniang said while combing Qinghe’s hair.

Qinghe shook her head, “That won’t happen, Muniang. I won’t turn back. No matter how difficult it is, I will not leave Qiao Yuanzhen. You don’t understand. In my life, I have only loved this one man, even when I realized that Qiao Yuanzhen wanted to drug me and sell me to Qian Yuan, although I hated him, I still loved him. That’s why I switched our cups of tea. Muniang, I believe that, given time, Qiao Yuanzhen will see my worth.”

Muniang sighed helplessly, “Apart from him, everyone else can see your goodness; it’s just that your heart is set on him. That’s why it’s said that one’s fate is really unpredictable.”

Qinghe smiled softly, “I actually envy you. Even though Li Cheng isn’t the brightest, he only has eyes for you. The two of you are a perfect match, deeply in love. You don’t know how many in the village look down on Li Cheng in public yet deep down envy what he has.”

“That’s my fortune,” Muniang smiled, her lips curving up.

About half an hour later, Muniang finally got Qinghe dressed properly. Outside, firecrackers sounded, announcing the arrival of the groom.

Li Cheng had just come in and saw Qinghe in her bridal attire, radiant and captivating, his eyes reddened. After all, she was the sister he had doted on for so many years, and it was hard to let go. But a man should not easily show tears, so in the end, he swallowed them back.

“Qinghe, now that you’re ready, come out,” Li Cheng’s voice was choked.

Qinghe nodded, and Muniang covered her head with the red bridal veil and had Li Cheng carry her out.

After the ceremonies were completed and she was seated in the bridal sedan chair, Qinghe’s eyes turned red, and she began to cry into her handkerchief.

The Qiao family was celebrating a joyous occasion, and most of the village would go to have a drink in celebration, but Muniang decided against it. After all, they were archenemies, and an accidental spark could ruin Qinghe’s wedding day, which wouldn’t be good.

Just after Qiao Yuanzhen’s wedding day had passed, joyful news spread that he passed the boy scholar examinations. The Qiao family swept away the dark clouds of previous troubles and were overjoyed.

On the three-day return visit to the bride’s family, although Qiao Yuanzhen didn’t take this marriage seriously, being a cultured man and having studied for so many years, he was particular about customs and naturally brought gifts when he accompanied Qinghe back to her maternal home.

Of course, the biggest reason was the one-hundred silver note that Qinghe brought with her.

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Qiao Yuanzhen was no fool. Li Qinghe’s family, even if they sold all they had, could not produce such an amount of money. She had always been closest to Qiao Muniang, so the money could only have come from that newly rich Muniang. By giving Li Qinghe such a large dowry, Muniang was both looking out for her and warning Qiao Yuanzhen that Li Qinghe had her support, so he better not make trouble without recognizing the good in front of him.

Given Qiao Yuanzhen’s current situation, this money was practically a life-saving straw. Qian Yuan had botched the job, and to not be targeted by him was already a relief, let alone getting any silver. But once the boy passed the examination for ‘tongsheng’, the subsequent exam for Scholar required more money! The Qiao family truly had no money left.

Li Cheng had initially been upset, but seeing Qiao Yuanzhen take such good care of Qinghe, he also felt somewhat reassured and let it be after giving a few instructions.

The construction work at the fish pond was nearly complete. Once the water channel was connected, Muniang had Old Man Xue bring in a cartload of premium fish fry, all of which were released into it.

Seeing the first step for Prosperous Era Manor being taken, Muniang felt quite at ease.

Finally, it was time to settle the wages for the work. Muniang looked at the account book, calling out each name and distributing the corresponding amounts of silver, two liangs each.

The ones who earned the most were Li Cheng and Zhu Ping, each earning twice the daily wage. In total, they received two liangs and eight hundred copper coins. Even the worst performers made around one hundred copper coins a day. The assisting villagers were all extremely excited, but Niu Tieshu’s face didn’t look good at all. The amount he was paid hadn’t increased by a single coin! He received only seventy copper coins a day!

Niu Tieshu had a volatile temper, and his face darkened immediately. He started complaining, “What is the meaning of this? Everyone else gets around one hundred copper coins a day, so why do I get only seventy? I’ve worked hard for the better part of a month; why is this so unfair? This isn’t how you treat people!”

Muniang frowned, glanced at the record in the account book, and said, “You’re slacking off every day, arriving late, leaving early before finishing work, and sometimes you’re nowhere to be seen for half a day. And now you have the gall to ask me for more money?”

Niu Tieshu replied without a blush, “Slacking off? I’ve been very serious and honest! You only occasionally come up the mountain to check, so how can you know that I’ve been skipping work every day? I know it’s because you don’t get along with my mother, so you’re finding excuses to make things difficult for me!”

Pingzi spoke indignantly, “Although my wife isn’t here all the time, Old Mr. Xue is responsible for keeping the work records, and he has no grudges against you. Why go out of his way to make life difficult for you? Besides, a daily wage of seventy copper coins is already quite generous.”

Niu Tieshu snorted coldly, “Old Mr. Xue is working for you, naturally he’ll do as you say! Regardless, the fact that everyone else’s wages are higher than mine today is the truth! Are you trying to deny it?”

“Shameless! With so many people, there’s bound to be one with the lowest wages. Does that mean we’re intentionally mean to him?” Pingzi was infuriated.

The other villagers who had helped with the work couldn’t stand it any longer: “Tieshu, with your work pattern of fishing for three days and drying your nets for two, we’ve all seen it. The wages paid out are fair. Even if we are envious of Chengzi and Pingzi earning double, we still think they deserve it. Examine your conscience, aren’t you the laziest among us?”

“Ha!” Niu Tieshu cursed, “Indeed, you’re all fellow villagers from the same town. Once you’ve got your good fortune in hand, you’re all so keen to curry favor with Qiao Muniang! Now you band together to slight me! Fine, fine, you’re all diligent, I’m the only lazy one! Today, you all earn more than one hundred copper coins a day, while I’m stuck at seventy, and that’s as it should be!”

With that outburst from Niu Tieshu, it seemed as if everyone was conspiring against him for their own benefit. The villagers were fuming, “Niu Tieshu, don’t slander us! Why would we deliberately alienate you? We’re just stating the facts!”

Niu Tieshu’s mouth, as sharp as Nanny Zhang’s, retorted without politeness, “The fact is you’ve all earned a nice sum, and now you’re ganging up to be stingy with me!”