The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure-Chapter 55 - This Matter Was Handled Unethically
55: Chapter 55 This Matter Was Handled Unethically
55 -55 This Matter Was Handled Unethically
Not until Song Chunye came up with an idea did everyone in Qilidun know how desperately infatuated Wang Yongzhu, the eldest unmarried daughter of the Wang Family, was with Song Chongjin, so much so that she abandoned all the demureness expected of a young lady.
The economic status of the Wang Family was notable in Qilidun.
Old Granny Zhang was infamous for spoiling her daughter to such an extent that she became plump—quite an accomplishment in the countryside.
It was certain that her future dowry would be quite substantial.
Everyone began to set their sights on this Wang Yongzhu.
Song Chunye would often take advantage of Song Chongjin’s absence from home and run over to brainwash her younger sister every now and then.
Song Chunhua, who was easily swayed, was coaxed and persuaded until she finally agreed.
She even exchanged the betrothal gifts with the Wang Family while Song Chongjin was away.
Because her own family was poor, they sent over just two dried cured rabbits as the betrothal gift, but what the Wang Family sent back was indeed generous.
Not to mention the eggs, flour, meat, wine, and sugar, there were also several sets of clothes and shoes made for Song Chongjin.
Mother Song, who initially thought that the Wang Family Young Lady was too homely to match her son, was somewhat satisfied.
After all, having a daughter-in-law from a wealthy family meant their own livelihood might improve, right?
Her son could have an easier life, and her family could enjoy some benefits too.
What Song Chongjin returned home to was Song Chunye telling Song Chunhua about how they had divided up the betrothal gifts sent by the Wang Family.
The eggs, flour, meat, and wine had been respectfully given to their parents by Song Chunhua.
Song Chunye had shamelessly taken the sugar back to her own home, ostentatiously declaring it as payment for her hard work and matchmaking fees.
As for the clothes and shoes made for Song Chongjin, they had been divvied up by his two aunts, who argued that his stature was similar to that of his cousins, and therefore such fine clothes should rightfully be worn by the elder siblings first.
Even the shoes had been claimed.
A wedding had been arranged, and Song Chongjin, the person directly involved, hadn’t laid a finger on even a single thread.
Instead, other members of the Song Family each gained tangible benefits.
The Song Family became increasingly eager, thinking that if the engagement alone warranted such plentiful gifts, what kind of riches would the actual wedding bring? freēnovelkiss.com
Multiple carts?
By then, the dowry they received could well suffice to welcome several more daughters-in-law into the family.
The Song Family felt guilty, knowing they hadn’t handled the matter honorably.
If Song Chongjin found out, he would surely disapprove.
Although they could control Song Chunhua, they still felt apprehensive about Song Chongjin, the young upstart.
Even the Song Family Patriarch had once commented that after all, the boy was the offspring of a Noble Patron.
Despite currently being in a desperate state, if one day he were to be summoned back to acknowledge his ancestral lines, such excessive demands might provoke the Noble Patron to wrath, and no one would be able to bear the consequences.
Because of this, the Song Family didn’t dare to be too outrageous.
They had become accustomed to the subsidies from Song Chunhua over the years, and both the men and women in the family had grown accustomed to idleness and disliked doing any work.
Life had been getting harder by the year.
Now to expect them to return the spoils they had acquired was akin to gouging out their hearts!
In order to claim ownership of these trinkets, the Song family decided that no matter what, they had to make Song Chongjin acknowledge the debt!
Inside the house, Song Chunye was instructing Song Chunhua, “You must keep the engagement with the Wang family a tight secret, and don’t let Chongjin find out just yet!
I had someone whisper in the Wang family young lady’s ear, telling her to find an opportunity to throw herself into Chongjin’s arms in front of everyone—then, even if Chongjin disagrees, he won’t be able to refuse!
You must remember this; otherwise, if this good marriage prospect is ruined, who else would foolishly promise their daughter to your family?
If it comes to that, Chongjin might end up a bachelor for life!
Would you, as a mother, bear that?”
Naturally, Song Chunhua could not bear the thought; she depended on her son and was looking forward to holding grandchildren.
However, she still felt uneasy inside, “But what if Chongjin finds out and wants to call off the engagement?
I can’t argue with him!”
“Nonsense!
You’re his birth mother; he has to listen to you!
Besides, it’s not like we’re harming him; this is for his own good!
If it were anyone else, I wouldn’t bother with such concerns!
Running around and not a soul appreciates my efforts—” Song Chunye half truthfully, half falsely complained.
Song Chunhua immediately caved in and weakly apologized to Song Chunye.
Counting on the dowry that Wang Yongzhu would bring over, Song Chunye naturally made every effort to ensure the success of the affair.
Her eyes darting around, she came up with another piece of advice for Song Chunhua: “If Chongjin really refuses, don’t be afraid!
Just start with crying, then causing a scene, and finally threatening to hang yourself!
Use the threat of death to pressure him!
Isn’t he always so dutiful?
You don’t need to do anything else; as soon as he disagrees, start to seek death, claim you won’t take your medicine, curse him for being unfilial, say that you’ve ruined your health giving birth to him, and yet he won’t listen to his mother.
Stop eating for a few days, and see if he doesn’t cave in.
I guarantee that after you make a scene like this a couple of times, he’ll comply.
Trust me, I’ll be right!”
Song Chunhua whispered in a low voice, “But I am not seriously ill anymore; I’ve said I don’t need to drink that herbal medicine.
You insisted on making me pretend to take it.
Those herbs could be brought back to my parents to nourish them—are they doing well?”
If it were just the earlier instances, Song Chongjin had already completely realized the shamelessness of his maternal relatives; such actions did not surprise him because that’s just how the Song family was.
However, regarding the issue with the tonics, Song Chongjin genuinely felt cold-hearted.
The fruits of his hard work, even arranged for at the risk of his life, which he thought were for replenishing his own mother’s health, had actually been given away to someone else by his mother.
Listening to Song Chunye, it seemed they were given to the Song family parents, but Song Chongjin could almost be certain, guessing nine out of ten times, that Song Chunye had most likely pocketed them herself.
Soon enough, he heard Song Chunye cough unnaturally twice, “Anyway, when the time comes, just threaten Chongjin with your life.
If he’s truly dutiful, he won’t dare disobey you!
Once you’ve really married off the bride, you’d better give me a big red envelope for matchmaking.
Got it?”
Song Chunhua agreed repeatedly.
Song Chongjin couldn’t stand it anymore and directly climbed in through the window, startling both of them.
That was the first time Song Chongjin became so furious that he driven Song Chunye out the door and had a big fight with Mother Song.
Mother Song was actually planning to follow Song Chunye’s advice, to cry, cause a scene, and threaten to hang herself.
But before she could finish crying, Song Chongjin bluntly said that if they disagreed to annul the engagement, he would die right before Mother Song’s eyes; life had no meaning to him anyway.
His own affairs were being concealed by his mother, which implied she had great dissatisfaction with her son, intent on forcing him to his death.
Without Song Chunye’s instigations at her side, and frightened by her son’s words, Mother Song’s mind cleared a bit.
She dared not persist in her nonsense and reluctantly agreed amidst her sobs.
Having agreed to annul the engagement and to return the betrothal gifts, they discovered that nothing was left; Song Chongjin and Mother Song had not seen a single thing from the engagement arrangements.
Even if she was confused, Mother Song knew there was something underhanded about this, her face flushed with embarrassment, yet she dared not go back to her parental home to demand it.
She merely beseeched her son weakly to let it go and suggested they purchase items to make up for it themselves.
Song Chongjin didn’t say much; all the other items were negotiable, and what was paid for in silver coins could be bought back.
But the few sets of clothes and shoes sent over by the Wang family were something money couldn’t buy.
