flstandardbreds Chapter 368 The Hunter's Little Darling 26
Chapter 368 The Hunter's Little Darling 26
Tu Shen asked Aunt Zhao, who lived nearby, to take care of Xie Qingyu.
Zhao Da Niang's three daughters had all married down the mountain, and she had no one to talk to at home. So Tu Shen paid her to come and help.
He was worried about Xie Qingyu being home alone most of the time.
It's not safe up in the mountains, not only because of animals but also because of people.
He sometimes needs one or two days to go hunting, although he usually comes back within a day now, it's still better to have someone accompany Xie Qingyu.
Otherwise, no one would cook for her.
However, Tu Shen probably didn't expect that when he wasn't home, the first trouble Xie Qingyu faced wasn't from outsiders or animals, but from Tu's wife.
Old Mrs. Tu was in poor health. According to Tu Shen, she walked slowly and didn't do much work.
She arrived today with a swagger and an air of self-importance; even though Xie Qingyu couldn't see her, she could hear her brisk footsteps, so much so that she didn't immediately realize it was Butcher. It was only after Aunt Zhao greeted her that Xie Qingyu realized it was her.
"Aunt Tu, you've come to see your granddaughter-in-law?" Aunt Zhao greeted Aunt Tu.
Tu Shen had only just left when she happened to arrive. Xie Qingyu didn't think her arrival would bring anything good.
"How much does Brother Shen pay you for working here every day?" Butcher Tu glanced at Xie Qingyu and asked Aunt Zhao, who was standing to the side.
Butcher's tone was unpleasant, but Aunt Zhao could understand what she meant. "I just came to help because I live nearby. I won't give you any money. Brother Shen is a kind-hearted boy. When he hunts a few big game on the mountain, he always thinks of sharing some with us. I was just killing time, so I came to keep Qingyu company. Or you can come and keep her company too. I'm worried that Qingyu won't like my cooking."
They've lived together on the mountain for decades, and Aunt Zhao knows Butcher very well.
Asking her to do any work is absolutely out of the question. I was just saying that to provoke her.
As expected, Butcher Granny didn't respond to this. "I'll say a few words to her. You go somewhere else first."
"How can that be? Brother Shen told me to keep an eye on her. She's blind and can't be bullied." Aunt Zhao could tell at a glance that Granny Tu was up to no good and was afraid that Xie Qingyu would be bullied by her, so naturally she didn't want to leave.
Butcher didn't expect Aunt Zhao to stay, but that didn't stop her from putting on a great show.
It's only right for a grandmother to lecture her granddaughter-in-law.
"Come here, I'm asking you, did Brother Shen pay a pig to marry you?" Butcher asked, seemingly suppressing her anger.
Upon hearing this question, Aunt Zhao gasped in shock.
Even if it's not easy to find a wife in the mountains, it wouldn't cost more than a wild boar. Besides, there are quite a few young girls who want to marry Tu Shen, since he's a skilled hunter and a great provider.
Xie Qingyu nodded and asked, "What's wrong?"
"How can a blind man like you be worth a wild boar?" The butcher was furious.
You know, although there are few families in the mountains, there are some who are willing to marry Tu Shen without any dowry. How could they bring back a blind man and a wild boar?
"Shouldn't you ask your grandson? If your grandson thinks I'm worth it, then of course I am. Besides, he wouldn't have been able to marry me without a wild boar." Xie Qingyu's tone was serious, as if she were taking her grandmother's question very seriously.
But it was precisely this attitude that made Granny Xie so angry that she raised her hand.
A wild boar! That's enough to exchange for so much grain. He wouldn't have to worry about food all winter. That's how he gave it away.
If you listened to her and married Er Ya, one pig's leg would be enough; you could give her the rest.
Granny Xie felt a pang of pain on her face. Clearly, she had endured the news until Tu Shen left home before coming to question Xie Qingyu, and she wouldn't let Xie Qingyu off so easily.
"Don't you even know if you're worthy?" Butcher Granny said.
“Even Brother Shen was willing, and he brought her back himself. Auntie, you shouldn’t interfere. Now that she’s been married, do you expect her to be sent back to you?” Aunt Zhao spoke up for Xie Qingyu, afraid that the young girl would be too shy to talk back to Granny Tu.
"What kind of talk is that? Let your son spend a wild boar to marry a blind woman and see if you'd be willing," the butcher woman scolded.
Aunt Zhao's face froze.
Everyone in the area knows she has no son. She only had three daughters, which damaged her health and made her unable to conceive again. Now, all three daughters are married.
Butcher's words were deliberately meant to stab Zhao Da Niang in the heart.
“My son won’t marry her, but it’s fine if Shen-ge marries her. So what if she’s a wild boar? From now on, all the game Shen-ge hunts will be for her. This whole house belongs to her, not you. What’s your hurry?” Aunt Zhao’s tone turned cold, and she was almost about to shoo people away.
"Grandma, the wild boar that Tu Shen gave me was hunted by himself. Why are you so agitated? You don't want that wild boar, do you? Tu Shen gave it away to marry me. If you want one, find someone to marry you and make him give you a wild boar." Xie Qingyu's tone was sincere as she gave Old Lady Tu advice on how to get a wild boar.
"You!" When had Butcher ever been spoken to like that by a junior?
She had trained both of her daughters-in-law very well. Even when her eldest son left, her eldest daughter-in-law didn't dare to say anything when she came to collect her things.
Now Xie Qingyu is actually cursing me like this.
"You son of a bitch, you filthy whore who gave birth to you but no one raised you!" Granny Tu was so angry that she wanted to hit Xie Qingyu in the face, but Aunt Zhao immediately came over and separated the two of them.
"Why did you even resort to violence? It's not good for a grandmother to want her granddaughter-in-law's dowry and even resort to violence. It doesn't sound good to outsiders." Aunt Zhao looked at Butcher with a smug expression.
Unexpectedly, Xie Qingyu, such a gentle and delicate beauty, was so good at witty comebacks. Seeing how furious Tu Pozi was, Aunt Zhao was very happy.
"Auntie, why is it taking so long?" Just as Aunt Zhao was about to retort, a voice came from the doorway.
Aunt Zhao looked up and saw a young girl. Her clothes were neat and without patches. She had a smile on her face and seemed quite kind. However, her eyes were darting around the yard, which made her feel a little uncomfortable.
However, she called Butcher Auntie, so it's unclear where they were related.
Aunt Zhao didn't know, but Xie Qingyu recognized the voice as Ma Erya's.
"Who are you?" Aunt Zhao asked.
"I am Ma Shiqing, hello auntie," Ma Erya introduced herself.
Aunt Zhao was completely confused; she had no idea who Ma Shiqing was.
“This is my niece from my maternal family,” said Granny Tu. “We’re all family.”
"Qingyu, it's been a long time. I didn't expect we were relatives." Ma Erya seemed to be showing some familiarity.
"She couldn't stay at home, so she came up the mountain to seek refuge with me. I decided to give her to Brother Shen. You know that's enough." Only now did Granny Tu reveal the purpose of her trip.