How did Anton Chekhov portray Russian village life in “Peasants”?

In his 1897 work "Peasants," Anton Chekhov portrayed Russian village life by rejecting the contemporary literary convention of depicting the peasantry in a sentimentalized and debrutalized manner.1

Instead of relying on a complex plot, Chekhov presented a series of brilliant, realistic sketches that offered an accurate and unvarnished look at the conditions of the time. By avoiding idealized portrayals, he provided a stark, sociological account of the hardships and realities faced by rural inhabitants, which created a significant stir in Russia upon the story's publication. This approach was consistent with his broader reputation as a master of realism, known for probing beneath the surface of life to reveal the secret motives and often difficult truths of his characters.12