The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure-Chapter 28 - Goddamn Wang Family Ni!
28: Chapter 28 Goddamn Wang Family Ni!
28 -28 Goddamn Wang Family Ni!
So she let Ming Zhu sit down and eat her bun while she went over to ask people how much it would cost to get a ride.
Old Granny Zhang’s reputation for being fierce was well-known throughout Qilidun, and with her standing by, even the most talkative dare not speak out.
But the moment Old Granny Zhang walked away, those gossiping busybodies immediately crowded around, “Second Young Miss Wang, how could your mother bear to let you come out and hurry to the market so early in the morning?
Could it be because you were dumped by the Song Family—”
What the heck?
Second Young Miss Wang?
Ming Zhu felt as if she had been struck by lightning, nearly failing to hold onto the bun in her hand.
She was astonished that in the eyes of others, she had such a down-to-earth name and had yet to come up with a reply.
When suddenly she heard a furious curse, “Who said my Zhuzhu was dumped by the Song Family?
Bullshit!
It’s clearly that little bastard from the Old Song Family who’s not worthy of my Zhuzhu!
What’s so great about their Song Family?
If it wasn’t for the fact that the Song Family’s kid had a bit of good looks, would my Zhuzhu have ever liked him?
Now, our Zhuzhu looks down on them, naturally, we can’t let the Song Family cling to the Wang Family.
My Old Wang Family’s money wasn’t brought by a strong wind; it’s just right not to fill the bottomless pit of the Song Family.
I’m even relieved!
Having called off the engagement with the Song Family, of course, we can find a better match for our Zhuzhu!
It’s none of your damn business!
Shut your damned mouth, or else I’ll slap you with a big fat ear!”
It was Old Granny Zhang who, although she had gone to negotiate the price with the ox cart driver, knew very well that those idle chatterboxes in Qilidun never had a good word to say, and her innocent child Zhuzhu could be easily bullied if not careful.
Sure enough, after a short while, those idle gossiping women had come to stir up trouble.
The woman who was scolded turned red-faced, wanting to retort but unable to contend with Old Granny Zhang’s fierceness, let alone the several sons of the Wang Family.
Moreover, with the Wang Family having the most people in Qilidun and the clan leader being the Lizheng, a basic rank officer from the Wang Family, it just wouldn’t do to make a fuss with Old Granny Zhang.
She could only mutter to herself and walk away disgruntled.
Which of the other women daring to speak up all shrank to one side and started complaining in hushed tones.
Ming Zhu pretended to hear nothing, while Old Granny Zhang would not take it to heart.
They were all those who had been defeated by her sharp tongue—only daring to mutter behind her back, none had the courage to say it to her face.
Therefore, she went to bargain with the ox cart driver without worry.
The ox cart driver was speechless, it was just a matter of giving a lift on the way, and for fellow villagers, it was two coins per person.
His ox cart wasn’t large either, fitting only about four or five people.
Any more and the ox couldn’t pull it, and he felt his price was already very fair.
But he had the misfortune of dealing with someone like Old Granny Zhang who was unreasonable, insisting on paying only one coin to have him take her daughter.
Who in the village didn’t know about the infamous Second Young Miss Wang?
Lazy, fat, and shamelessly throwing herself at men, her reputation was far from good.
Especially that look she gave when she took the torch—oh my dearest mother—her size is triple that of ordinary people!
If she got on, he feared there wouldn’t be room for anyone else in his cart.
So he insisted on charging five coins to take them to town; anything less just wasn’t worth it.
Old Granny Zhang would have none of it, she wasn’t even willing to offer two coins, let alone five—was he robbing her?
So they started to argue.
“Aunt Zhang, be fair and think about it, your Second Young Miss’s size is triple the ordinary, if I take her, I probably can’t carry anyone else.
Doesn’t my ox need energy to walk all the way to the town and eat grass?
If it were someone else, I would charge six Large Coins, but considering we’re from the same village, five Large Coins is already a bargain—”
God damn it, one is like three!
Ming Zhu felt as if another arrow had pierced her chest, convinced that today was definitely not a good day to go out.
They hadn’t even reached the edge of the village, and she had already been stabbed in the heart twice.
How was anyone supposed to live like this!
“Nonsense!
My Zhuzhu is what you call well-endowed.
Where in the entire village can you find such a well-endowed and fortunate girl?
Who else would bother with your broken cart if they had any spare money?
It’s only because we give you some business.
And you dare to put on airs!
I spit on that!
It’s the ox doing the work, not you, so why are you shouting?
Is it all about the hay?
When we get back, my boy can cut a few baskets for you, and that’s that.
Fine, I’ll give two Large Coins at most, take it or leave it!” Old Granny Zhang was artful in speech and simply did not want to pay so much.
After all, it’s just hay, and with so many lazy boys of her own, she could easily have them cut a few baskets to cover the fare.
“No way, at least four Large Coins!” the cart owner stubbornly resisted.
“Three!
Not a coin more, otherwise we’re not riding!”
“Fine, three it is.
But Aunt Zhang, let me be clear upfront, when the cart starts climbing the hill, Second Young Miss Wang will have to get down and walk a bit.
Otherwise, I’m afraid we won’t make it up the slope—”
…
Ming Zhu felt utterly despondent!
She looked down at her rotund figure and pretended not to hear, focusing on munching her bread.
She was so engrossed in eating that she nearly choked when Old Granny Zhang smacked her on the shoulder.
Luckily, she still had a bamboo tube in hand.
After taking a couple of sips of water, she managed to swallow the bread, which had brought tears to her eyes.
It was getting dark, and Old Granny Zhang didn’t notice as she handed Ming Zhu two Large Coins, only admonishing her, “You’ll get on the cart later and sit up front.
Don’t mind what others say, we’ve paid our fare.
Why should you have to get off and walk when we reach the slope?
You just sit there comfortably; that’s all that matters.
We’ll pay the rest when we reach the town, you hear?”
Ming Zhu nodded and wiped the tears at the corner of her eyes with her sleeve as she took the money.
She obediently followed behind Old Granny Zhang, making her way to the Ox Cart.
Hiding in the shadows behind the locust tree was Song Chongjin, who had arrived early.
A few days prior, he’d gone up the mountain and caught some game.
Aiming to sell it at today’s big market, he wanted to earn some money for his mother’s medicine.
Seeing Wang Yongzhu and Old Granny Zhang approaching from a distance, he hid behind the tree as it was getting dark; nobody took notice.
He saw everything: the village gossips stirring trouble, Old Granny Zhang’s protective nature toward her daughter, and how Wang Yongzhu said nothing, just hanging her head and nibbling on bread.
Then later under cover of night, she secretly wiped away those two glistening tears.
He saw it all.
Especially against the backdrop of the firelight, those tears seemed to hover persistently before his eyes.
It was then that he fully understood the damaging remarks Old Granny Zhang had made about Wang Yongzhu’s reputation and its impact on the Wang Family’s name.
If one spoke of regret, he was adamant he had none.
He did not like Wang Yongzhu; she was not the kind of wife he had envisioned for himself.
He imagined a wife who would be gentle and virtuous, capable of managing a household, enduring hardships, and showing filial piety to parents.
Not someone like Wang Yongzhu, spoiled by her family, lazy and gluttonous, with no modesty whatsoever.
Yet, Song Chongjin couldn’t explain the guilt that gnawed at the bottom of his heart, entangling him, preventing him from letting go.
He watched as Wang Yongzhu boarded the cart amidst the mocking gazes of the onlookers.
The rest of the people heading to the market shouldered their goods and followed the cart, setting off.
At first, Song Chongjin intended to quicken his pace so that he could get to the town first and sell his game for a good price.
But at that moment, he slowed his steps, keeping a reasonable distance behind the Ox Cart, as if…
as if to compensate for the slight twinge of remorse he felt inside.
