The Spirited Daughter-in-law and the Mountain Man

Chapter 493: 493 Cuihua said she dislikes the second brother.

Xiao Yishan frowned, “How did this rumor get out?”

“Isn’t it because of your wife? She’s been asking people recently who’s more handsome out of Chuan and your Fourth Brother,” Ding Er shook his head. “I’ve never seen a little wife so bold. Although women do love good-looking men, comparing one’s own husband like this is just going too far! The villagers probably thought that since Su Qingyue only talked about Chuan and your Fourth Brother and completely ignored you, many people would think your wife despised you. After all, those two in your house are better looking than you.”

“That’s the case.” Xiao Yishan slightly relaxed. “It was just a bet between my third brother and my wife.”

“What kind of bet?” Ding Er asked.

Xiao Yishan didn’t feel it was appropriate to mention that if his third brother lost, his wife would make him streak, “Nothing serious, just a joke.”

Zhou Fuquan, seeing Second Brother Xiao being so unconcerned, pulled him aside and whispered, “Second Brother Xiao, it’s not my place to say anything about your household matters. And I don’t believe Su Qingyue is that kind of person. However…”

“However, what?”

“As you know, my wife, Cuihua, is on good terms with your wife,” Zhou Fuquan said softly. “I heard from Cuihua that because the villagers were saying your wife disliked you, when she ran into your wife while washing clothes by the river, she told your wife about it. She even asked your wife if it was true that she looked down on you…”

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yishan’s nerves started to tense up, “What did my wife say?”

Zhou Fuquan shook his head, “Second Brother Xiao, it seems that your wife really does look down on you…”

Xiao Yishan’s heart sank heavily, feeling as if he had been struck by a blunt object.-

Ding Er noticed their secretive behavior and said, “What are you two whispering about? Keeping secrets from all of us, huh? Hey Dashan, didn’t your family preorder a lot of ferns and wild bayberries? Why haven’t the wealthy households in town come to pick them up?”

Zhou Fuquan was more concerned about that, “Could it be that your family was deceived? You’ve taken in so many ferns and bayberries, what if they end up being stuck in your hands?”

Xiao Yishan seemed not to hear them as he carried a full bucket of water and limped home with his crutch.

“Fuquan, look at Dashan, he seems to have lost his soul…” Ding Er stared at his receding figure. “Maybe the Xiao Family really took in too many useless ferns, and others have actually backed out…”

“Yeah.” Fuquan worried, “There are so many, worth dozens of taels of silver. If we had known earlier, we would have advised them not to take them. It would be better to use that money to buy some land…”

“Exactly,” Ding Er shook his head. “Buying some land is much more reliable than helping others gather these odds and ends.”

Wang Qigu, who was off to the side, couldn’t help but make sarcastic remarks with delight, “The Xiao Family deserves to be poor, unlike those born to be rich and noble. Once they took in so many ferns, everyone knew that they had squandered the money they’d earned. Look, just yesterday, the wife of the Xiao Family was telling people that she wouldn’t be taking in ferns and bayberries anymore. It’s clear that the Xiao Family has hit rock bottom and has no money to take in any more!”

Wang Crippled, who happened to pass by, couldn’t stand it any longer. He didn’t want to get involved in other people’s affairs, but lately, the wife of the Xiao Family had paid him quite a bit for carriage rides. “Aunt Qi, why do you need to spread such nonsense?”

“How am I spreading nonsense?” Wang Qi stood up from under the willow tree and put her hands on her hips, “Wang Crippled, you old thing, you’re also surnamed Wang, how could you speak up for the Xiao Family?”

“I just can’t stand you slandering people like this.”

“I’m slandering people?” Aunt Qi sneered, “I think you’re just eating from someone else’s work! The wife of the Xiao Family often hires carriages, which benefits you a lot!”