My 1995 Small Farm.

Chapter 27 Embarrassing
"It's not that I'm being polite, but once we've finished the peanuts, I'll have to ask Fugui to bring some back from the county town. Do you expect me to not charge you?"

“Your money doesn’t grow on trees, and these are fresh peanuts grown in greenhouses, not from your own fields. We’ll do what we’re supposed to do; we’re not going to take your money for nothing.”

Wang Jusheng said with a serious expression.

After saying that, seeing that Wang Susu and Chen Ling still did not intend to accept the eggs, he walked to the basket hanging from the beam inside the house, grabbed the eggs and put them in.

"No, no, no, Brother Jusheng..."

Chen Ling stopped him, saying rather displeased, "Let's keep things separate. Helping you bring peanuts is a matter for the future, but these eggs can't be kept today."

"If you have to be so particular about everything, I'll never dare to borrow your donkey cart again."

These words made Wang Jusheng pause, and he suddenly felt awkward.

He looked at Chen Ling, then at Wang Susu, shook his head, and gave a helpless bitter smile.

“Look at what you’re saying, Fu Gui. If we’re going to talk about it that way, I have no choice but to keep it.”

"I didn't mean anything by it, it's just... sigh, never mind, I won't say anything more."

Seeing this, Chen Ling smiled and said, "That's right. Hurry up and put it away. Eggs are not like other things. If you push and pull them, they will break."

Wang Susu chimed in.

Wang Jusheng sighed and had no choice but to put the basket aside.

"I heard from my father that you're going to plow the fields these next few days, Fugui?"

Chen Ling nodded: "Yes, that land has been abandoned for a long time. I plan to plow it twice and turn it over."

"That place..."

Wang Jusheng's mouth moved, but he didn't say what was on his mind. He just went along with the topic and said, "That land really should be plowed."

“I haven’t needed to go to the countryside much for the first half of the month, so remember to call me when you’re plowing the fields. I’m free anyway, so I can lend you a hand.”

Knowing that Wang Jusheng was embarrassed after receiving the peanuts, Chen Ling didn't refuse. In the countryside, friendships are built on reciprocity.

The three chatted and laughed for a while until it got dark outside, at which point they stopped talking, and Wang Jusheng got up to leave.

"I was so busy talking that I forgot you two haven't eaten yet."

"Hurry up and cook, I'm going home."

As Wang Jusheng spoke, he carried the peanuts and eggs outside.

"Wang Wang Wang..."

However, just as Wang Jusheng stepped one foot over the threshold and hadn't even fully stepped outside, Heiwa and Xiaojin, who had been silent all along, suddenly ran out of their doghouse.

It barked at Wang Jusheng, this stranger.

Although its voice was still very immature, with its little tail standing upright and its round eyes glaring, it really did look quite majestic.

Wang Jusheng was taken aback, turned his head to look at the two little guys, one black and one yellow, and couldn't help but smile.

"Hey, they're even raising two little ones..."

Before he could finish speaking, Heiwa and Xiaojin ran to his side and, in perfect unison, bit the foot of the urea bag containing peanuts, sticking their little bottoms out and pulling it backward with all their might.

Wang Jusheng was immediately dumbfounded, and was extremely surprised.

"This is incredible, Fugui!"

"Where did you get this puppy? It's already so young and it already knows how to guard its food. When it grows up, it will definitely be a great guard dog."

Chen Ling laughed upon hearing this and explained the origins of Heiwa and Xiaojin, which amazed Wang Jusheng.

"Look at this size, it must be a cub born to Tiger Head Yellow. It's only just learned to run and it's already this big."

Their place is at the intersection of three provinces, and is considered a poor and remote area by outsiders. It not only produces unruly people, but also a famous hunting dog called Tiger Head Yellow.

This breed of dog is large and is either pure yellow or pure black. If it has even a little bit of other colors, it's not pure and can no longer be called Tiger Head Yellow.

Moreover, it lacks the loyalty and ferocity of the Tiger Head Yellow. "Who cares what breed it is? Susu likes puppies, so we'll keep it."

Chen Ling smiled, took the two little ones, Heiwa and Xiaojin, off the urea bag, and handed them to Wang Susu.

Wang Susu reached out and hugged the two little ones, stroking them and giving them a sweet smile.

"You have to keep one or two dogs in the village. They'll come in handy if anything happens!"

Wang Jusheng smiled and echoed.

Then, after glancing at Chen Ling and Wang Susu, I suddenly felt that something was off about the young couple.

But as for how he felt, he couldn't quite describe it; it just felt rather awkward.

After being escorted to the courtyard gate by Chen Ling and Wang Susu and saying goodbye, Wang Jusheng couldn't help but look back a few times as he walked away.

As she walked closer to her home, that strange feeling intensified.

When he got home and stepped into the room, the moment he saw his wife Zhang Qiaoling, Wang Jusheng finally realized what was wrong.

So he put down the basket of peanuts and eggs: "Everyone in the village says that Fugui is lazy, good-for-nothing, and beats his wife, but I don't think so. The two of them are very much in love."

Zhang Qiaoling was washing diapers when she heard this and rolled her eyes: "What? Can he change his mind?"

"They say a leopard can't change its spots. When he first got married, every elder in the village tried to persuade him, but I never saw him change."

"How many ridiculous situations has he made in trying to get money from his wife?"

"The wealth his mother and father left him is being squandered away. His wife can't even complain a little; she gets beaten and scolded by him and has to go up the mountain to collect herbs to earn money for him..."

"Sigh, don't be fooled by how well he behaved when his wife's family came to beat him up the other day. With his character, it's no wonder he can't change."

"There's an old saying that goes, 'It's easier to change mountains and rivers than to change one's nature.' If he could change his ways, the sun would rise in the west!"

Wang Jusheng frowned upon hearing this: "I've heard people say these things before, but when I went to his house today, I really didn't think that Fugui was as wealthy as outsiders described."

"Look, I even brought the eggs back. Fugui refused to take them no matter what. The young couple is so devoted to each other. Anyway, I really can't see anything wrong with them!"

Zhang Qiaoling glanced at the egg basket and snorted again: "It would be strange if you could see the problem. That's the son of a female educated youth. Just like her, he's the best at pretending."

"Even Fu Gui's father was fooled for half his life. Do you think you're better than Fu Gui's father?"

Wang Jusheng was speechless for a moment. After a long silence, he said, "Let's stick to the facts. We really have to thank them this time. Otherwise, if you don't have breast milk, we'll have to spend money to buy formula, and our second child will suffer too."

"Anyway, you should refrain from saying anything gossipy about other people's wealth in the future, otherwise it will embarrass us too."

Zhang Qiaoling was furious when she heard this. She threw the diaper into the basin, glared at her, and said, "When have you ever seen me gossip about wealth? It's always your mother who makes fun of others. If you feel embarrassed, why don't you shut your mother up?"

"you……"

Wang Jusheng's expression immediately changed. Just as he was about to stand up and say something, the child on the kang was woken up by the two of them and started crying loudly.

Wang Jusheng didn't have time to say anything then and hurried over to comfort the child.

"Humph."

"These peanuts were given to our family by your mother with great reluctance, and all the vegetables were taken back by Juxiang's wife."

"This is the good thing your mother did."

Zhang Qiaoling pursed her lips, got up and put the eggs and peanuts in the inner room.

"Alright, alright, stop nagging and go feed the baby."

Wang Jusheng looked displeased. He handed the child to his wife and said, "Stop talking nonsense. If we hadn't been given peanuts, we wouldn't have known that peanuts help with lactation."

"Oh dear, my man!"

"Just pretend you're confused. Once your mother helps Juxiang and his wife empty the house, you'll have your day."

Zhang Qiaoling got up and went to nurse the baby, turning her face away and not looking at Wang Jusheng again.

(End of this chapter)