Chapter 29

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Fourth Aunt initially did not care about her family’s matters. Her mind was filled with thoughts of her maiden family.

However, she could not do something that would make her family suffer!

She was still hoping to use the marriage of her girls to gain some money so she could marry her nephew to a good wife.

Marrying Scholar Liao?

That would definitely not do. The Liao family was extremely poor. Although Scholar Liao was promising, he would only be promising in the future. He was currently poor.

How could she let her daughter do that?

Moreover, the two families were exchanging benefits for marriage, so the betrothal gift was probably just a formality. There might not even be one.

That would definitely not do!

Hearing Dong Nuan’s words, Fourth Aunt thought for a moment, then immediately reacted. She pulled a long face and said in a sharp and thin voice, “Second Sister-in-law, if you’re unwilling, why are you pushing the responsibility onto our Lil Mei? Why? You’re Lil Mei’s sister. Can you be Lil Mei’s master?”

Although Fourth Aunt was her mother’s angel and was like a devil to this family, only interested in supporting her brother, she was not brainless.

Otherwise, how would the other sisters-in-law have tolerated her scrabbling for things at home all these years?

However, Old Master Dong did not. From this, it could be seen that this matter would not be easy to deal with.

At this moment, he scolded Second Aunt unceremoniously, making her furious.

She wanted to retort, but…

How could she?

It was the fourth branch’s matter to begin with. How could she go over and take charge?

Seeing that Second Aunt was so angry that her face was red and she could not speak, Dong Nuan smiled bythe side and fanned the flames. “Sigh. It’s good that Scholar Liao has a lot of people who want him next door. Since he’s a Children’s Scholar now, if he beats the competition next year and becomes an Elementary Scholar, forget not having to worry about food and drink in the future. His wife’s life will be amazing. We’re lucky that they want to marry one of our girlsSecond Aunt, what’s there to be dissatisfied about?”

Dong Nuan spoke with a smile, but what she said was heart-wrenching.

The problem was that Second Aunt was so angry that her face turned red and purple, but she couldn’t refute anything.

It was because she had persuaded Madam Dong Wu when Mother Liao came over to propose marriage.

Now that she had been rebuked by Dong Nuan, Second Aunt had nothing to say.

Old Master Dong sat at the side and watched the show leisurely. Seeing that the second son’s family was humiliated, he said hoarsely, “Alright, Second Son’s family, close the door to your room and think about it.”

After saying this, Old Master Dong quickly changed the topic. “The other thing I want to discuss is who is going to dig the ditch tomorrow. I estimate that our family will have to send at least four people.”

It was not the busy farming season now. Half of the family would be called. In order to rush the work, the bailiffs would probably rather pull more people in than less.

Therefore, their family had to make two preparations.

Upon hearing that they were going to serve in the labor force, everyone lowered their heads and did not speak. Who wanted to dig river ditches on such hot days?

No one spoke, and Old Master Dong was not in a hurry. However, Old Madam Dong’s face was cold, and her eyes were narrowed. “What? He said we have to find people to dig the ditch. Are you all deaf?”

Dong Nuan said cooperatively, “Grandma, I heard him, but they won’t want me.”

It was hard work digging rivers and ditches, so why would they want a little girl?

Therefore, there was nothing wrong with Dong Nuan’s words.

Old Master Dong glanced at her, but he was not really angry.

As soon as Dong Nuan spoke, the others looked at each other, hiding their thoughts. Eldest Aunt smiled and said, “Logically speaking, as the eldest branch of the family, the head of the family should go. It’s just that the head of the family just went last winter. If he goes again, won’t others frown on us? Brother Xu is a scholar and doesn’t need to serve. On the other hand, Brother Xing is old enough this year. He should go.”

Eldest Aunt’s words were ambiguous. She did not say that she was unwilling to let her husband go. She only said that he went last year, so it would be unfair for him to go again this year.

Moreover, it was not that she did not want to offer anyone up. Instead, she said that her second son, who was old enough this year, could go.

After she expressed her stance, if the second branch did not speak, how would it look?

Second Aunt naturally did not want her man to go, but she had hidden him away last winter. It would not look good if she did not offer now.

However, Dong Nuan, who was watching from the side, said with a smile, “I remember that Second Uncle didn’t go to help last winter. Brother Dong Jing is also old enough this year.”

Hearing Dong Nuan’s words, Second Aunt turned around and rolled her eyes at Dong Nuan.

Dong Nuan pointed everything out. If Second Aunt said that she was unwilling, Old Madam Dong would definitely get a fire poker and hit her. In the end, she could only straighten her neck and say uncomfortably, “According to the rotation, there should indeed be two people going from my branch.”

She sounded reluctant, but would Old Master Dong care about that?

When it was Dong Nuan’s turn, Dong Sanchun smiled innocently and looked honest. His voice was a little muffled. “I’ll listen to Father.”

Hearing his words, Dong Nuan almost could not help but laugh out loud.

He had already gone last winter. In order to maintain the balance at home, Old Master Dong knew that he could not let him go again.

If he said that now, it would make this honest person feel better. It would also make Old Master Dong feel better.

Once the head of the family was happy, would winter and spring not be even better?

Dong Sanchun’s goodwill did not mean that the third branch would be soft-hearted and easily manipulated. Dong Nuan did not say anything and only glanced at Madam Dong Wu indifferently.

For some reason, Madam Dong Wu felt a push, or rather, she was already prepared to say something, but she hesitated and did not know how to say it.

At this moment, she was encouraged by Dong Nuan’s look. Se quickly said shyly, “You went there last winter.”

There was no need to say anything else. Madam Dong Wu wanted to say something more, but she was pinched hard by Dong Nuan. The pain almost made her cry out.

She turned around and glared at Dong Nuan, only to meet Dong Nuan’s smiling and innocent face.

Madam Dong Wu could not take it lying down. In the end, she could only turn her head and pat Dong Yao angrily.

Dong Yao felt that it was too hot and was unwilling to snuggle up to her. However, the atmosphere in the house was tense now, so he did not dare to act recklessly.

From yesterday, Dong Yao still had a deep impression of being starved and not allowed to eat.

Even though he did not go hungry in the end.

However, Old Master Dong’s cold expression still frightened him.

At the end of the day, he was just an eight-year-old brat. If his parents were scared, he would be terrified.

Last winter, including Old Master Dong, there were only five strong laborers in the family. Uncle Dong and Dong Sanchun had both gone, so the remaining two brothers naturally didn’t go.

Therefore, Fourth Uncle did not say anything. His expression was a little numb as if he was letting her family arrange everything.

Seeing his fourth son like this, Old Master Dong glanced at Fourth Aunt coldly.

“Alright, then. Second Brother, Fourth Brother, Brother Xing, Brother Jing, you will leave with Master Jing tomorrow. If Master Jing wants to recruit more people, count me in,” Old Master Dong said in a low voice after looking around coldly.