Transmigrated to Ancient Times with System

Chapter 14 Digging Well

At the Wang manor, Auntie Zhou reported Da Zhuang's injury as soon as she got home.

"Is it serious?" Grandma Wang asked in alarm.

"I don't know," Auntie Zhou said. "But they probably can't continue digging the next few days."

"Must be pretending, I bet he got 'injured' on purpose!" Daughter-in-law Shen butted in opportunistically. "Obviously he knows they can't strike water after boldly boasting, so he's finding an excuse to bow out gracefully!"

"Shut your trap if you've got nothing sensible to say! Go chop straw!"

After scolding daughter-in-law Shen, Grandpa Wang just returned from outside.

"Old man, go help them dig tomorrow."

"Their spot may not..."

"I said go means go, why say so much crap?" Grandma Wang scolded. "Digging could strike water, not digging guarantees none! Lived to your age yet you don't understand this?"

"Alright, alright, I'll go if you insist."

Grandpa Wang sighed sitting on the threshold.

The women run this family.

Henpecked by his wife all life, his second and third sons also obey their wives. Even his deceased eldest listened to Da Zhuang's Mother without a peep when alive.
...

With Grandpa Wang coming to help, the well digging could continue without stopping.

"Little girl, hurry and serve your grandfather some food."

"Ok."

A big bowl of steaming hot millet porridge, a plate of fat white steamed buns, a boiled egg, and a dish of crispy pickled radish.

Grandpa Wang had already forgotten when was the last time he had such a sumptuous breakfast, or rather, he had never had such a sumptuous breakfast in his life.

It seems that although this daughter-in-law was fierce, she was still quite filial to him.

After eating his fill satisfactorily, Grandpa Wang started digging the well. After all, he was getting on in years, and could not work as nimbly as a strong young man, having to come up and rest for a while after digging for about half an hour.

"Wang Er,"

Du Xiao Hui, the neighbor's eldest daughter, timidly called out to Wang Er from outside the yard.

"What's the matter?"

"Um... my mother asked me to come over and ask if you need any help."

"Wait a moment, let me go ask my mother."

Grandpa coming to help was not very surprising to Li Yao, but the neighbors coming to help as well made her quite surprised.

Since ancient times, mother-in-law, sister-in-law, and neighbors were said to be the three most difficult relationships to handle, and her original self had messed up every single one.

The Du family living next door, of course, gained benefits from their proximity, and were scolded by her at least every other day.

Over time, the neighbors avoided her like snakes and scorpions, and the two families became like strangers.

As for why they would suddenly come to help, it was probably because they thought that if water could be drawn from the well, their family could also conveniently use the water.

"Come on in."

Li Yao did not turn down this goodwill.

Du Jia Qing was an honest and hardworking man, and his wife Pang Shi was also very virtuous. Besides, they had no deep hatred to begin with, so she thought it would not be bad to take this chance to mend the neighborly relations.

Not long after, Du Jia Qing came over with an iron hoe, followed by his wife Pang Shi.

"Have some breakfast first before starting to dig."

"No need, no need," Du Jia Qing shook his head vigorously like a drum, "I'll go relieve uncle Wang right away."

With that, Du Jia Qing hurriedly went down the well to take over for Grandpa Wang, and Li Yao could only let him have his way.

However, she did not go back into the house, but chatted with Pang Shi instead, catching up on things.

Pang Shi had never imagined there would be a time when Li Yao was so gentle, and felt very unaccustomed at first, unable to open up in the conversation. It was not until Du Xiao Hui joined in that the atmosphere of the chat improved.

Before they knew it, it was noon, and Du Jia Qing emerged from the mud-covered well.

"We'll go home to eat and come back in the afternoon."

"Why go home to eat?" Li Yao said, "You came to help our family with work, so you should eat here."

"No need, no need."

The couple dashed home faster than rabbits, and were gone in a flash.

Li Yao shook her head helplessly. It seemed her image as a shrew, virago, and fierce wife had already taken firm root in everyone's minds.

Of course, grandpa Wang stayed for lunch.

To help the strong young man recover faster, Li Yao specially stewed pork ribs, adding a few large bones, so that the soup was rich and milky white, and the ribs were soft and flavorful.

A large plate of braised pork with thick sauce and pungent garlic aroma looked mouthwatering.

A plate of stir-fried liver and tripe, tender and crispy.

A plate of stir-fried vegetables, light and refreshing.

After the dishes were cooked, she scooped some of each along with a few buns, preparing to deliver them to the Du family.

Li Yao had originally planned to send Wang Xiao Si, but then changed her mind. That morning, she had noticed the way the neighbor's eldest daughter looked at Wang Er was definitely fishy.

"Wang Er, go deliver this."

"OK."

Since they were just neighbors, he was there in just a few breaths.

Although this Wang Er kid did decently in school, he was a complete clueless straight man. He just put the things at the door and dashed back without even exchanging a few more words with anyone.

But thinking back, Wang Er was only 13 this year...

At this thought, Li Yao suddenly realized she was becoming more and more accustomed to this motherly role.

Unknowingly, she had already started worrying over the kids in every possible way.