country bumpkin

Kong Xiangdong stopped speaking in riddles and explained, "Wife, I'll tell you what the family heirloom is."

Zhou Caiyun was excited and eager to speak.

“It’s those three books,” Kong Xiangdong said.

Zhou Caiyun didn't understand, "Are those three books very valuable? Are they antiques?"

Kong Xiangdong rubbed her head and said, "Silly girl, where would you find so many antiques and paintings? These three books represent my life's work."

He continued, "One book is for examining the feng shui of burial sites. Another is for examining auspicious feng shui locations for houses. There is also a book on palmistry and physiognomy."

Zhou Caiyun said, "What use do you have for it? Do you even understand it?"

Kong Xiangdong nodded. "I understand a little. When my three brothers and I were young, our father said that I was the most suitable to learn this. My eldest brother is too soft-hearted and cunning, so he's not suitable. My youngest brother is tough and lively, but his impatient temper makes him too impulsive, so he's not suitable either. Only I am honest and steady, so I'm suitable to learn this."

Zhou Caiyun pouted, "Oh, oh, oh! You're just praising yourself! Hehe..."

Kong Xiangdong continued, "These books are just waste paper if you can't understand them, but they're priceless treasures if you can. Think about it, once you learn these skills, you'll have a steady stream of business, so why would you worry about not making money?"

Zhou Caiyun seemed to understand. "Okay, then study hard and hide the book well. If there's anything you don't understand, ask your father, okay?"

Kong Xiangdong nodded, promising to listen to his wife. The two looked at each other, embraced, and fell asleep.

Wang Cuihua saw that Kong Xiangguang had come home from get off work, finished dinner, and was getting ready for bed. He was still unaware of what had happened that day.

He lived a very secluded life, going only between two points and never having time to visit the old house. He only knew what was happening in the village from his master and mistress.

My teacher's wife is also someone who loves to listen to gossip. She didn't go out today, so she doesn't know about these events. But if she did know, Kong Xiangguang would definitely know.

Listening to gossip was a form of entertainment for the women in the village. Wang Cuihua naturally wouldn't tell Kong Xiangguang about these things.

The next day, she discussed solutions with Granny Wang again.

Wang Cuihua looked at Granny Wang expectantly: "Auntie, how can I rightfully get my family heirloom back?"

Granny Wang thought for a moment and said, "If the underhanded approach won't work, let's try the direct approach. Tomorrow, go directly to the old house and make a scene with your mother-in-law. Force her to give you the things. If she doesn't, threaten her to take the child back to her parents' home. That's her precious grandson; I don't believe she won't be afraid."

Granny Wang herself favored sons over daughters and often criticized her daughter-in-law. She felt that women who gave birth to sons should have confidence and that women who gave birth to sons were meritorious in the family.

Therefore, she felt that using the child would definitely allow her to control Mu Shuyun. Wang Cuihua decided to do just that.

After lunch, she took her youngest son and went to the old house to cause trouble.

When she arrived at the old house courtyard, she put the child on the ground. She then sat down on the ground and began to wail.

"Heavens above! This is unbearable! My mother-in-law is so biased, she's practically a traitor! The family heirloom that was supposed to be ours, the eldest son's, was given to the second son's family instead. It's so unfair... Waaah..."

Mu Shuyun looked at her shameless daughter-in-law and confronted her angrily.

"Wang Cuihua, do you have any conscience? You were the first to separate the family property, and we asked you if you wanted it or not. You said it was like waste paper and you didn't want it. Now you're causing trouble again. Have you no shame?"

Wang Cuihua was bewildered and stopped crying. She looked up at her mother-in-law and asked, "What family heirloom is it? Those few scraps of paper?"

Mu Shuyun said, "Yes! I've been asking you about this. You said that waste paper is useless and we don't need it."

Wang Cuihua didn't believe it. "Don't lie to me. How could a family heirloom be... I don't believe it, I don't believe it."

Mu Shuyun said, "Believe it or not, it's up to you!" and then ignored her and went into the house.

Kong Jianjun and Yunya had been playing inside the house when they heard someone crying and shouting in the yard, so they came out to see what was going on.

Seeing that it was his mother causing trouble again, Kong Jianjun silently went to his younger brother's side and stayed with him.

Yunya watched Wang Cuihua's performance attentively, trying to learn from it.

Wang Cuihua continued to cry and make a scene, showcasing her dramatic talent by crying, cursing, jumping around, clapping her hands, and foaming at the mouth. The villagers watching the spectacle were used to her antics.

They watched the commotion and chatted. Granny Zhang also came to watch, holding a handful of melon seeds, which she ate with relish.

When Wang Cuihua was exhausted from crying and saw that no one was paying attention to her and everyone was laughing at her, she ran into the house and threatened Mu Shuyun, saying that she would take the child back to her parents' home.

This time, Mu Shuyun didn't hold back. She said, "If you take the child away, I'll make my son divorce you."

Wang Cuihua was frightened, and she stopped. Wang Cuihua stood up and stood there, her face turning pale and then flushed.

She knew this wasn't just empty talk from Mu Shuyun; if she really angered her, her husband would definitely listen to his mother and divorce her.

If they really get divorced, who would want her? She has a bad reputation in her family; apart from when she seduced Kong Xiangguang when she was young, no one would want to marry her.

She gritted her teeth, and a plan popped into her head.

“Mother, I was wrong. I was blinded by greed and listened to other people’s slander, which is why I came here to cause trouble.” Wang Cuihua said, picking up the child from the ground.

Mu Shuyun snorted, "You think it's that easy to get away with this?"

"Mother, I promise I'll never cause trouble again and will live a good life," Wang Cuihua said with a fawning smile.

Mu Shuyun looked at her and sighed inwardly, "I hope you keep your word. If there's a next time, it won't be as easy as it was today."

Wang Cuihua nodded repeatedly and left the old house dejectedly with her youngest son.

Kong Jianjun did not go home with her, but stayed to continue playing with Yunya.

On her way home, she pondered how to find out if the family heirloom was just a piece of waste paper. If it really was a treasure, she would have to find a way to get her hands on it.

Mu Shuyun watched her departing figure, shook her head, and hoped that she could really behave herself.

News of what happened here quickly spread throughout the village. The story of her being caught stealing and having to pay compensation yesterday also spread.

It was naturally thanks to Granny Zhang and Granny Xu.

Inside the carpenter's shop, the master craftsman and Kong Xiangguang were working. The master craftsman's wife and a few visiting women were gossiping.

Several old women were chatting and gossiping together, having a little tea party.

Kong Xiangguang heard it clearly; his wife had gone to the old house to cause trouble again.

He was exhausted, truly mentally drained. He had chosen to give up, to stop thinking about these things, and to get back to work.

When Wang Cuihua returned home from get off work in the evening, she was playing with her youngest son in the yard. Kong Xiangguang didn't say anything, but went straight into the house and got a bowl to serve rice.

I sat down and ate my meal quickly and quietly. After finishing, I planned to visit the old house.

Wang Cuihua spoke to him, but he didn't answer. Wang Cuihua felt guilty; she knew her husband must know what she had done.

She didn't dare to lose her temper, fearing that Kong Xiangguang might get angry and divorce her.

Kong Xiangguang went to the old house. He apologized to Mu Shuyun, "Mother, I'm sorry, please don't be angry. It's all because your son is useless and can't control this woman."

Mu Shuyun was still angry, but looking at her sincere son, she felt a pang of heartache.

Her son was caught in the middle and in a difficult position. But she decided to let it go for the sake of her son and grandson, and endured it.

Kong Xiangguang sat in the old house for a while, then left with his eldest son, Kong Jianjun.

After returning home and quickly washing up, I went to Kong Jianjun's bed and cuddled my eldest son to sleep.

Wang Cuihua was stunned. She couldn't understand why he had separated from her and hadn't said a word to her.

Wang Cuihua was frightened. She took her youngest son to her bedroom and tried to put him to sleep.

The child fell asleep soon after, but she couldn't sleep.