Picking Up a General to Plow the Fields Chapter 9

WARNING- there's no chapter 8 as it is a notice in the raw

The two family’s relationship

   李三合两口子相视一眼，知道瞒不过去，李三合便如实说了。

Li San Ge couple looked at each other, knowing they couldn’t hide it from/ hoodwink her.  Li San Ge told her honestly.

   他还没说完，张婶便气道：“梅子你搞什么！他们姐弟妹四个多可怜，咱们帮不了忙就算了，你怎么还能要人家的东西呢？这么些鸡蛋不知攒了多久才攒到的，可怜见的，你看看你！唉，快退回去！”

He haven’t finish speaking, Aunt Zhang already anger said: “Mei zi what were you doing! Those four siblings is really pitiful, it’s fine that we can’t help them out/ we can’t help them out is one thing, why did do still want their stuff? These eggs, don’t know how it took them to save this much, what a pity, you… look at you! Oh, quickly return them!”

   赵氏不乐意了，顿时沉下脸色道：“娘，您这是什么话！我哪里做错了您这么说我！咱们家帮了他们那么多我收这么几个鸡蛋过分吗？再说了，又不是我去要的，是芳洲自己送来的！我也说了不要，是她硬要塞我手里的！怎么全都成了我的不是！我真不明白您怎么就那么帮他们呢，咱们家又不是什么大富大贵的人家，禁得起这样帮吗！反正我是不会去退的，这事儿我也不管了，你们谁爱退谁退去！我真是里外不是人了！我为了什么呀？还不是为了这个家，我也没说收了这些鸡蛋自己藏起来偷偷吃了！”

Mrs Qiao was very unwilling. Her face sunk: “mother, what are you saying! What did I do wrong for you to talk to me like this! Our family helped them out so much and I just accept some eggs is over the top? And  it wasn't me who asking for it, it was Lian Fang Zhou herself who gifted it. I did say no need.she then forcefully stuff it into my hand. How did become it's all my fault/completely my fault. I don't understand why do you help them that much. Our family aren't those rich noble family, prohibited to help like this anyway I wouldn't return it. And this matter i won't manage/bother it . Who ever love to return it then who return it. I'm really an inside outside not human. What did I do this for? I done it for the family. I didn't say I accept these eggs to hide it and secretly eat them.

   赵氏说着不觉委屈，眼眶一红，猛的将篮子往地上一放，扭身跑进了屋里。

Mrs Zhao felt aggrieved,  eyes reddened, fiercely placed the basket on the ground, turned to run inside the house.

   李三合见母亲气得脸色都有点变了不由也有些恼火，当下忙道：“娘，她不懂事您别跟她一般见识！您可千万别生气！等回头我叫她给您赔不是！这鸡蛋，这就叫阿娟给连家弟妹们送回去。”

Li San Ge saw that his mother was angered til her expression couldn’t help changed with a tinge of fury, immediately rush to say: “Mother, she’s immature, no need to stoop to her level! You really shouldn’t be angry/ Please don’t be angry. In a moment I’ll get her to apologise to you! These eggs, let ah Juan return them the Lian sibling.

  “唉！”张婶叹了口气，说道：“娘没有生你媳妇的气，她说的做的也没错，只是在咱们家就错了！回头你好好的说给她听，让她明白是怎么回事就行了。三合啊，当年你爹帮人扛木材摔伤了腿，养了将近一年的伤下不得地，干不得活，你连家叔婶帮了咱们多少？那时候咱们穷，没钱给你爹抓药，我去她家借钱，事后才知是你连婶把自己的嫁妆都变卖了给咱们凑了钱，不然你爹的腿可就废了！这些你都没忘记吧？”

“Ugh/Ah!” Aunt Zhang sighed again, said: “Mother isn’t angry with your wife, what she said is also not wrong, it’s only that our family is wrong! Later you better explain to for her to listen, just let her understand the situation. San Ge ah, that year your father help someone lift some timber and broke his leg,  rested for nearly a year and couldn’t stand up/get on the ground(literal), couldn’t work, how much did your Lian family’s uncle and aunt helped us out? At that time we were poor, have no money to get medicine for your father, i went to her house to borrow money, afterward i found out your Aunt Lian sold her own dowry to scrape the money, or else your father’s leg would be crippled! You didn’t forget this right?”

   “娘！”李三合道：“我怎么会忘记呢？您和爹都教过我和阿娟的，我不会忘！连叔连婶是好人，现在他们家遭了难，咱们帮忙是应该的！”

“Mother!” Li San Ge said: “How could I forget> You and Father already taught(literal)/told  Ah Juan and I. I wouldn’t forget! Uncle Lian and Aunt Lian are good people, Now their family is in difficulty, it’s right that we should help out!”

   “你能这么想就对了！”张婶叹道：“这做人得讲良心，老天爷都看着呢！老话说滴水之恩当涌泉相报，咱们啊，其实也帮不了他们多少，不过就是搭把手罢了！若是这样都还要收人家的东西，自个心里怎么过意的去？你让爹娘老脸往哪儿搁！”

“If you can think like this then that’s right!” Aunt Zhang relieved: “Being a person must live with conscience, God is watching! There’s an old saying, a drop of water shall be returned with a burst of spring. (means -Even if it was just a little help from others, you should return the favor with all you can when others are in need), actually we can’t them much, but can only give them a hand! Since it’s like this and still accept their things, how can our heart not feel terrible? Can your parents still have some face!”

   “娘，您说的都对！我都知道，您放心吧！主要是咱家的这些事梅子她并不知道，等我告诉她她知道了就好了！”李三合忙又劝了张婶一阵，道：“我这就叫阿娟把鸡蛋给连家送回去吧！”

“Mother, you are right! I already know, you can be at ease! Mainly it’s that Mei er doesn’t know about this family matter, once I tell her, and she knows it’s fine!” Li San Ge persuaded Aunt Zhang again for a while, said: “I’ll tell Ah Juan to send the eggs back to Lian family!”

   “还是我亲自去一趟吧！”张婶叹道：“阿娟去了只怕她未必肯收！我还得好好跟她说道说道，往后可不许再这样了！”

“It’s better that I personally make the trip!” Aunt Zhang sighed: “If Ah Juan go, afraid she might not take them back! I need to talk to her,  in future to not be like this!”

   张婶说着，便提着那一篮子鸡蛋去连家。

Aunt Zhang said, then carried the basket of eggs to Lian family.

   她来到连家的时候，连芳洲姐弟妹四个正在吃晚饭呢。

When she arrived to Lian’s home, at that time the four siblings were having dinner.

   瞧着那半锅汤汤水水没见多少米的红薯稀饭，张婶便不由得有些心酸。

Seeing the half pot of water with not much of rice sweet potato porridge, Aunt Zhang couldn’t help feel sad.

   连芳洲姐弟妹几个见张婶来了连忙起身招呼，连芳洲笑着叫了声“张婶”，一见她手中提着的篮子便明白是怎么回事了——

When the siblings saw Aunt Zhang, they hurriedly stood up to greet, Lian Fang Zhou happily called “Aunt Zhang”, Once she saw the basket of eggs, she understood what was the matter---

   “芳洲！”她还没有来得及开口，便见张婶脸一沉，说道：“你这丫头这是什么意思？瞧不起你叔你婶子怎的？什么时候咱们两家变得这么生分了！你若是还认我这个婶子，这鸡蛋你好好收起来，往后该叫帮忙的只管去叫，再也不准送东西了！不然的话，这鸡蛋我拿走，往后你也再不要登我们家的门了！”

“Fang Zhou!” She didn’t have the time to open her mouth, when she saw Aunt Zhang face sank and said, “What is the meaning of this, girl? Looking down on your uncle and aunt is it? When did us two family start being aloof? If i am still your aunt then you better put away these eggs, in future if you need help, just say so, not allowed to send stuff anymore! Or else, I’ll take these eggs and in future you don’t need to step a foot through our house door!/enter our house!”

   “……”连芳洲一时有些说不出话来，半响方勉强笑道：“婶子，我——”

“......” for a moment Lian Fang Zhou couldn’t say anything, after a while she reluctantly/forcefully smiled: “Aunt, I---”

   “你就说吧！这鸡蛋你收是不收！”张婶瞪向她。

“Just say it! These eggs, you take or not take!” Aunt Zhang glared at her.

   连芳洲嘴里发涩，心里沉甸甸的，胸口还堵得慌。

Lian Fang Zhou’s mouth felt numb, heavy heart, chest stifled/suffocated with panic.

   她还能说什么呢？

What else could she say?

   “收，我收下就是了！”连芳洲连忙点头：“婶子，你和李叔真是大好人，将来我一定会好好报答你们！”

“Take, I’ll take it!” Lian Fang Zhou hurriedly nodded: “Aunt, you and Uncle Li are really good people, in future I will definitely repay you guys back!”

   “这就对了！”张婶脸色这才缓了下来，将篮子小心放下，笑道：“以后的事儿啊以后再说。若是哪天你们发了财，我也不介意你们报答的！呵呵，好了，这些鸡蛋留着吃吧，你们姐弟妹几个正是长身体的时候，该吃点好的！若粮食没了，去婶子那里说一声。婶子会给你们想办法的！”

“Now it’s right!” then Aunt Zhang’s face loosened up, and carefully put down the basket, smiled: “talk about future matters in the future, if there was a day you make fortune/got rich, then i don’t mind you repay us! Haha, ok, leave these eggs to eat them yourself, You siblings are at your growth period, should eat better! If there’s no more food, come tell aunt, aunt would help you think of something!”

   连芳洲自然不会将这么大的难题抛给别人家，却不想拂张婶的好意，点点头笑道：“如果有困难，我会去找婶子的！”

Of course/naturally Lian Fang Zhou will not push such a big problem to someone else, but she doesn’t want to brush off Aunt Zhang’s kindness, so she nodded and smiled: “If there’s difficulties, I will find aunt!”

   “这就对了嘛！哎我可告诉你啊，这是婶子最后一次说这话了，若你再这么生分，婶子就真的生气了！”得了连芳洲的回答，张婶这才满意的去了。

“Now that is right!” Ah I tell you, this is aunt last time saying this, if you ever be aloof again, aunt will really be angry!” Once she got Lian Fang Zhou’s reply, Aunt Zhang then contently left.

   “张婶他们可真是好人！”连泽说道。

“Aunt Zhang and the others are really good people!” Lian Ze said.

   “是啊！”连芳洲轻叹，眸光有些幽沉，缓缓说道：“张婶他们不过是邻居，却对咱们这么好，有的人分明是骨肉至亲，却恨不得把咱们往绝路里逼！阿泽，你说对那种良心被狗啃了的人，咱们要客气吗？”

“Yes!” Lian Fang Zhou lightly sighed, her eyes seem slightly deep/heavy, slowly said: “Even though Aunt Zhang and the others are only neighbours, but they treat us very well, some people are clearly blood-related, but can’t wait to force us into ruin! Ah Ze, tell me towards these people who conscience being gnawed by dogs, should we be polite?”

   连泽一听这话便觉有事要发生，目光一紧，道：“姐你想干啥？”

Once Lian Ze heard these words, then felt like something is about to happen,his view tighten (I think this meant his eyesight is only on/restricted to LFZ): “Sister, wwhat are you thinking of doing?”

   连芳洲微微冷笑：“等会儿你就知道了！好了，先吃饭。”

Lian Fang Zhou faintly smiled coldly: “In a while you’ll know! Okay, first eat dinner!”

   吃过饭收拾干净，连芳洲便交待连芳清和连澈乖乖的待在家里，叫连泽道：“咱们俩去一趟大伯父大伯母家！”

After dinner and tidying up, Lian Fang Zhou then told/order Lian Fang Qing and Lian Che to obediently stay at home. Called Lian Ze: “us two make a trip to Uncle and Aunt’s home!”

   “去他们家？干什么？”连泽一愣。

“Go to their home? To do what?” Lian Ze stared blankly.

   连芳洲笑道：“当然是去拿回原本属于咱们的东西了，还能是去给他们送银子不成！”

Lian Fang Zhou   smiled: “of course to go get what was originally our things. Or should it be sending / gifting them money

   “姐姐说的是——”

“What Sister is saying----”

   “那上千斤的稻谷！”连芳洲哼道：“哪能这么便宜了他们！”

“those over thousands catty of paddies!” Lian Fang Zhou snorted/harrumphed : “How could we let them off lightly!”

   连泽眼中一黯，低声道：“姐姐，还是算了吧！大伯父和大伯母是不可能还给咱们的！”

Lian Ze eyes darken, quietly said: “Sister,  let's just leave it! Uncle and Aunt wouldn't return them to us!”

   当时自家那三亩水田的水稻一成熟，大伯父和大伯母便急匆匆的去收割，自己只当他们是好心帮忙，谁知道他们收回来之后，只给了自家那三四小口袋，剩下的一千多斤竟然全部私吞了！

At the time when the three acres of paddy fields’ rice matured, Uncle and Aunt hurriedly harvest, they themselves  thought they were kindly helping out. Who knew after the harvest, they only gave them three four bagful, and the rest one thousand were privately pocketed.

   一想起这事连泽既懊悔又愧疚：大伯父、大伯母是什么样的人他又不是不知道？怎么就会认为他们是好心呢！

Once Lian Ze thought about this matter he felt both remorseful and guilty : what kind of people are Uncle and Aunt, it's not he doesn't know. Why would he think that they were kind-hearted!

   他不是没去问过，可才一开口就被大伯母给骂回来了。这事儿，也就只能这样算了！

It's not like he never asked,  but once he open his mouth/mentioned it, Aunt will then give out /yell. This matter, it could only be left it at that.

   连芳洲却是胸有成竹，淡淡说道：“那可未必由得了他们不给！走吧，到时候你别出声，我来说！”

However Lian Fang Zhou has everything thought out, lightly/indifferently said: “they however may not have the choice to not give! Let’s go, when the time come, don't  say anything, I'll do the talking!”

   你们这些狠心的人，都不给我投票！

You heartless people, not allowing me to vote(i think it this mean that they don’t allow her to have a say about)

   见连芳洲执意要去，连泽劝不住生怕她吃亏也只好跟着一起去。

Seeing Lian Fang Zhou persistent to go, and Lian Ze couldn’t persuade her, he was afraid that she'll be at an disadvantage /suffer a lost, decided to go together with her.

Chapter end