Splendid peasant girl busy farming

Chapter 11918

"Then why not ask for a bride price? Those blind girls are demanding exorbitant bride prices!" Sixi's mother asked again.

Sixi's father kicked her aside. "Your in-laws are open-minded people. They love their daughter and understand our family. They mean well. If you can't speak properly, then shut up!"

While scolding Sixi's mother, Sixi's father winked at her fiercely.

Then he approached the matchmaker and said, "Brother, what does 'no bride price' mean? Could you explain it to me in detail? I'm a little confused..."

……

Half an hour later, Sixi's parents, beaming with joy, saw the matchmaker off at the gate of the courtyard, watching him head towards Yang Yongjin's house at the village entrance.

After the matchmaker left, Sixi's father said to Sixi's mother, "I've thought it over. We can't just cheat the Yang family out of their dowry. You'll understand when you see Li Wei and Xiuxiu!"

“Now, as long as we separate Si Xi, we won’t have to pay that dowry, we won’t have to go into debt, and after that, their fourth wife’s family will have to send us alimony every year. If they don’t, we’ll have to go to the village’s in-laws’ place to settle the matter. I’m sure the Yang family has some shame!”

Sixi's mother nodded repeatedly: "When I first heard that we were going to divide the family, I almost cried. But now that I know that we only need to separate the fourth branch, my tears have gone back!"

Of her four sons, the fourth son was the least affectionate towards her, and it took a lot of commotion before she finally settled on her fourth son's wife.

Bringing a wife into the family means sharing the same pot of food, which can lead to conflict. It's better to separate them out of sight and heartache, and the fourth wife's filial piety gifts can be used to subsidize the other three wives. You'll still have a lively and bustling family, and no one to get in your way. How wonderful!
"Once the stage is dismantled and all the relatives have gone their separate ways, we'll call those rascals over and discuss the division of the family property. It's best to do it before the wedding!"

"I think it works!"

……

The Luo family, including Yang Ruoqing and her extended family, were having their supper around the large table in the dining hall.

After dinner, Madam Zuo and the others still had to go see a play!
Zuo Jinling and Luo Wuyou also returned. Luo Wuyou sat beside Old Madam Zuo, taking care of her during her meal.

"Grandma, please eat this. These fish slices are so tender and delicious."

Seeing Luo Wuyou put the fish slices into her bowl, Old Madam Zuo felt sweeter than if she had eaten honey.

It wasn't just sweetness; an unprecedented sense of pride and honor filled her heart.

Ever since Zuo Junmo came of age, Old Madam Zuo had been looking for a wife for her son, partly so that he would have someone who cared for him and wouldn't be so lonely and isolated.

On the other hand, it is hoped that a young woman from the Zuo family can take over the mantle of matriarch Zuo and support the Zuo family's household.

At the same time, it helps the Zuo family continue their lineage and increases their popularity.

Old Madam Zuo was disappointed time and time again with Zuo Junmo.

Fortunately, thanks to the blessings of their ancestors, Zuo Junmo managed to leave behind a bloodline for the Zuo family, namely Zuo Jinling.

With the arrival of their grandson, the Zuo family finally had hope again, and Old Madam Zuo was able to enjoy the company of her grandson.

Now, her grandson has grown up and is engaged to Luo Wuyou, her childhood sweetheart. Now, looking at her future granddaughter-in-law taking such good care of this old woman, and then looking at her grandson Zuo Jinling talking to Luo Fengtang on the other side...

Madam Zuo could finally stand tall and feel proud.

She could proudly say to everyone: Look, in our Zuo family's generation of grandsons, we have male members to support the family and female members to manage the household!

"Good, very good! Grandma likes all the dishes you recommend!" said Madam Zuo with a smile.

Although Luo Wuyou used to call her grandma, the meaning of that "grandma" now is completely different!
Hearing this "Grandma" made Old Madam Zuo's heart flutter with joy.

Yang Ruoqing and Wang Cuilian had both noticed how much Old Madam Zuo liked Luo Wuyou.

Everyone smiled knowingly. Yang Ruoqing felt relieved, knowing that she had given her heart to Luo Fengtang and couldn't possibly give it to any other man.

Therefore, faced with Zuo Junmo's silent protection, Yang Ruoqing could only repay him as a sworn brother and sister.

Fortunately, God was kind to them, and in their children's generation, they finally made up for what they had missed. The key point is that the two young people still love each other, which makes the story even more perfect.

After dinner, everyone crowded around Old Madam Zuo as she went to the village stage to watch a play.

There was no need to rush to grab a seat for Old Madam Zuo. The opera troupe hired by the Luo family had specially set up a small pavilion-like spot in front of the stage, with a square table inside and a fire bucket with a backrest on three sides of the table.

There was plenty of hot tea and snacks on the table. The pavilion faced the stage, its location neither too close nor too far, a prime spot. On the other three sides of the pavilion, curtains were hung to block the wind.

Later, Old Madam Zuo will sit in the middle of the fire bucket, while the fire buckets on either side will be reserved for Madam Sun and Wang Cuilian.

Of course, Madam Sun and Madam Liu would all try to squeeze into the fire pit with Madam Sun and Wang Cuilian to enjoy this perk...

After dinner, everyone in the family, young and old, went to see a play. Yang Ruoqing and Luo Fengtang didn't go out; instead, they strolled hand in hand in the yard to digest their food and enjoy the peace and relaxation.

“Leng Buqing?” Luo Fengtang stopped and gently squeezed Yang Ruoqing’s hand.

"It's not cold at all."

“I’m a little cold,” he said.

"Huh? Really?" Yang Ruoqing squeezed his hand.

Wait a minute, my hands are very warm.

"Come on, let's go back inside." Suddenly, Luo Fengtang grabbed her hand and started walking back.

"Huh? Are you sure you're really cold? You're not lying, are you? Your hands are definitely warm..."

"No, I'm really cold, I need you to warm me up."

Nani?

Before Yang Ruoqing could react, her feet left the ground, and she was being picked up.

He strode towards the dormitory.

Yang Ruoqing suddenly seemed to understand something, and her cheeks burned.

He came back a few days ago, just as she was getting her period...

So a few days ago, Yang Ruoqing didn't touch the cold dishes on the table when we ate.

Today, things had passed for her, so she ate several bites of cold dishes for dinner.

No wonder Luo Fengtang looked at her with surprise when she first picked up a cold dish.

As she picked up her second bite of cold dish, a hint of secret delight flickered in Luo Fengtang's eyes.

She thought she was seeing things. How could this guy be secretly pleased with her eating a cold dish?

Looking back now, I realize that he gleaned something from this detail. That's why he suddenly exerted his strength now.

Arriving at the dormitory in a great hurry, Luo Fengtang kicked the door shut and bolted it.

Seeing his impatient look, Yang Ruoqing couldn't help but laugh, as if she had returned to her early twenties. Back then, she always felt like she was eating every day, never feeling full. Even when she was full, she would crave food again after a short while...

Since the two of them turned 30, with energy, health, family matters, military affairs, and business matters piling up, their thoughts on certain things seemed to have faded a lot compared to before.

This time, not only did Luo Fengtang return to his peak, but Yang Ruoqing also felt that perhaps because she had taken the Dragon Cloud Pill and regained her youth, her body was completely different from before.

After nearly an hour of intense physical activity...

The two experienced not only physical pleasure but also ultimate joy on a spiritual level. Their souls and bodies merged deeply once again, truly embodying the meaning of being a 'husband and wife'!
"Qing'er, how are you feeling?"

"Nice!"

Luo Fengtang chuckled softly, "All I can say is, youth is truly wonderful!"

Yang Ruoqing nestled in his arms, inhaling the familiar scent of him, her face filled with ecstasy: "Life is still very long, let's stay this nice forever!"

These words were like a small spark thrown into his lava, instantly reigniting a raging inferno...

……

The next day, Luo Fengtang went out for a while, and when he returned, he had an extra bundle in his hand.

He had brought the bundle back with him hidden on his person. After returning to the dormitory, Yang Ruoqing immediately went up to him and asked in a low voice, "Did you get the things?"

Luo Fengtang nodded: "Got it. Here, keep it safe, and make sure those two little rascals don't find it!"

"Do you need to remind me? I'm not stupid!" Yang Ruoqing chuckled softly, took the bundle he brought back, and went to the bedside to open it.

Inside are rings of cleaned and specially treated sheep intestines.

As for what it's used for, those who know, know.

If you don't understand, you won't understand even if I explain it to you. You'll understand naturally when you get older.

Looking at the contents of the bundle, Yang Ruoqing was both amused and exasperated.

Wow, why did you get so many? Will you ever use them all?

Luo Fengtang came up from behind, hugged her, and gently stroked her neck with his chin.

"How come you can't use them all? You used three last night..."

"Stop it, stop it!"

Yang Ruoqing quickly turned around and covered his mouth, her face flushed, not allowing him to continue.

Luo Fengtang took the opportunity to gently bite her hand and playfully tease her.

With their bodies younger and their energy more abundant, the two of them together no longer seem as composed as before; they're more like a newlywed couple.

In Yang Ruoqing's words, "That's getting inappropriate..."

However, this unconventionality actually deepened and strengthened the couple's relationship; it was a positive kind of "unconventionality."

Moreover, this "improper" behavior only exists between the two of them in private and will not affect other people's lives outside.

After playing around for a while, Yang Ruoqing packed up her things, and Luo Fengtang also tidied his clothes, preparing to go to the study to handle military affairs.

Yang Ruoqing was going to the storeroom to prepare gifts, because tonight was the last day of the opera and acrobatics performance, and tomorrow morning, Madam Zuo and Zuo Jinling would be heading back to Huguang County.

Yang Ruoqing will definitely prepare return gifts for them to take back.

……

The day quickly came to the first day of the twelfth lunar month.

As December approached, although the weather grew colder day by day, and the coldest period of winter arrived, the festive atmosphere in the village grew stronger with each passing day.

These days, everyone has been busy going into the mountains to collect pine needles and chop firewood.

In winter, firewood is the most important fuel. Whether it's cooking, boiling water, or heating, firewood is indispensable.

Without firewood, people would really freeze to death during such a long winter!
Moreover, visiting relatives and friends during the first month of the lunar calendar requires cooking meals to entertain them, which consumes a huge amount of firewood.

The Luo family didn't need to go into the mountains to do those things. They could just pay and buy firewood from the surrounding villages. A bunch of people would rush to bring the best firewood, loads of it into the Luo family's backyard, and line up in a long queue, waiting for Xingwang and Ping'an to be called so they could come over, weigh the firewood, record it, and then get paid.

So recently, selling firewood to the Luo family has become a valuable opportunity for many villagers in the surrounding area to earn money for their livelihood.

The Luo family lives nearby, so there's no need to take them to town to sell. The Luo family are fellow villagers, and the transaction is straightforward – money on delivery, no deliberate default. They have a good reputation.

So the Luo family has been extremely busy these past few days, with the several large woodsheds in the backyard filled to the brim with firewood.

In addition, taking advantage of the good weather these past few days, Luo Fengtang had a thousand catties of high-quality charcoal delivered.

Don't think this number is huge. During the long, cold winter, with so many people in the house, even Rong Gu and Shao Yao's rooms were provided with charcoal fires.

As for the children's rooms, they need to be kept warm every day.

A thousand catties may sound like a lot, but when it's actually burned, it's not that much.

Just as everyone was busy preparing for the Chinese New Year, the Yang family was about to have a joyous occasion!
“There was some noise when we were cooking dinner yesterday evening. Last night, your aunt, your second sister-in-law, and your younger sister-in-law all stayed in Liu’er’s room, but after a night, the noise went away!”

Liu came over to visit the third branch of the family and was talking at length with Sun about Zhao Liu'er's miscarriage last night.

Before Yang Ruoqing arrived, Liu had already spoken to Sun, Yang Huazhong, and Bao Suyun about it once, but when Yang Ruoqing arrived, Liu started from the beginning again, as if she had put it on repeat.

“When we were having breakfast this morning, your grandfather and your fourth uncle heard about this situation and told your third brother not to be careless.”

"To be on the safe side, it's best to give birth at a clinic. If anything goes wrong, at least there will be a doctor by your side for peace of mind."

"Waiting aimlessly at home, who knows when we'll get there! When I came over earlier, your third brother, your aunt, and your second sister-in-law had already sent Liu'er to town to prepare for childbirth, and Da Niu Niu was being left with your sister-in-law."

After listening to the entire process of Zhao Liuer's labor, Yang Ruoqing agreed with the suggestions of Old Yang and Yang Huaming.

For the safety of both mother and child, they really shouldn't wait at home.

The medical level in this world was far inferior to that of later generations. If the amniotic sac broke and the cervix was still not dilated enough, and there was a lack of experienced and skilled doctors or midwives to guide and induce labor, the fetus might suffer from oxygen deprivation inside.

The consequences of oxygen deprivation are unimaginable. Even if the mother and child manage to survive, the fetus is likely to be born with intellectual disabilities, and two generations of a family will have to pay a heavy price for their entire lives.