Farm Tough Girl
Chapter 466 - 466 467 A Lifelong Bet_1

Chapter 466: Chapter 467: A Lifelong Bet_1 Chapter 466: Chapter 467: A Lifelong Bet_1 Qingmei was dressed in a dark moss-green cotton Luo skirt, her hair neatly arranged, adorned with two silver hairpins. Such attire made her look every part the matron, and Muniang found it somewhat unfamiliar to behold. Reflecting on a year ago when Qingmei was nothing more than a timid young girl, Muniang had never even considered her an adult. Yet now, in the blink of an eye, she was married—although to such an unreliable man—that Muniang couldn’t help but feel a hollow ache inside.

“Mu,” Qingmei softly called out with a hint of pallor on her face that suggested Lord Lu Ziquan had not treated her well.

In fact, Qingmei felt too ashamed to face Muniang. She remembered how Muniang had advised her and sought a good family for her to marry into, all still vivid in her mind. Yet Qingmei, failing to appreciate the good intentions, had stubbornly chosen the most difficult path, ruining not just her own life but also breaking Muniang’s heart.

Now brimming with grievances, even if she couldn’t find someone to confide in, she longed for comfort. In this world where her own kin couldn’t be relied upon, and her husband even less so, she realized that looking back, the only person who had ever truly cared for her was Muniang. So even though she felt intensely ashamed, she had decided to swallow her pride and seek her out.

Although Muniang initially still felt resentful, seeing Qingmei in such a state left her with only pity.

“You still recognize me as your sister, then? When I tried to advise you back then, you thought I had ulterior motives. I took great pains to reason with you, yet you chose to believe the lies of that bastard Lu Ziquan. Look where it’s gotten you. You’re miserable, and it pains me to see you like this.”

Muniang scolded with a stern face, her words carrying a tone of reproach, yet they only deepened Qingmei’s feeling of heartache.

Tears instantly filled Qingmei’s eyes, and she plunged into Muniang’s embrace, sobbing, “Mu, I’m sorry. I was completely blind and bewitched to have trusted someone like Lu Ziquan. Now, looking back, I realize how foolish and helpless I’ve been. I’ve been filled with regret every day. If only back then, if only…”

Speaking thus, Qingmei herself couldn’t help but choke up with sobs.

Muniang’s heart softened, and she couldn’t maintain a harsh tone, gently stroking Qingmei’s hair, “You’re too naive, my girl, letting yourself be easily deceived. If it were a trivial matter, it would be different, but this is your entire life we’re talking about. Now that you’re in such a state, there’s no turning back. Even I, what can I do to help you?”

Muniang’s voice was filled with helplessness, and as Qingmei cried bitterly, Muniang knew better than to offer more consolation. Understanding that Qingmei had suffered a great deal, she needed to cry it out, so she let her weep.

After a good while, Qingmei finally stopped crying and wiped her face with a handkerchief.

Only then did Muniang ask, “Does Lu Ziquan still torment you? If he continues to mistreat you, I’ll go complain to Lord Lu.”

That was the only thing Muniang could do for Qingmei, to mix mercy with strength when dealing with Lu Ziquan, at least to spare Qingmei from some suffering.

Nodding, Qingmei replied, “During the New Year, Qingya came to deliver gifts, and since then the young master has not bullied me much. I’m doing… quite well.”

‘Quite well,’ indeed. It wasn’t that Lu Ziquan openly abused her anymore, but even if he didn’t target her, there were plenty of others who did. Ziqin alone was a formidable adversary, constantly causing trouble for her and tripping her up. The servants in the mansion looked down on her too—after all, she was an unfavored concubine. Who would show her any kindness?

Qingmei now faces difficulties with food and accommodation there, sometimes not even getting anything to eat, and often having to cook for herself.

However, these grievances, Qingmei did not want to share with Muniang, firstly, not wishing to burden Muniang with excessive worries, and secondly, wanting to keep a little dignity for herself.

Did Muniang not understand Qingmei? This girl had always liked to hide her hardships, just now her speech even paused for a moment, it was obvious that she was not having an easy time, but at least Lu Ziquan no longer mistreated her, and that alone was considered good. Muniang thought about last New Year when Qingya mentioned Lu Ziquan made her kneel in the snow with barely anything on, that was not just about enduring hardship, but outright trying to kill her!

Muniang smoothed the stray hairs on Qingmei’s forehead and then said, “In a few days, I will go myself and have a discussion with Lord Lu, to have him assert some authority on your behalf, so that you won’t have to suffer too much. After all, this is not something you can endure for just a moment or two.” It was a lifelong gamble.

But this last sentence, Muniang could not bring herself to say, fearing it would only upset Qingmei.

Qingmei hurriedly said, “No need, no need, Lord Lu doesn’t like to meddle in the affairs of the back court, and he is also busy with official duties. It wouldn’t be good to bother him for such a trivial matter because of me, and besides, Mu, you have already troubled Lord Lu too much for my sake, it’s not right to keep doing so.”

Muniang did not argue with Qingmei about this, knowing the girl was embarrassed by it, and decided to secretly seek out Lord Lu to talk when the time came. After all, Lord Lu’s relationship with their family was not insignificant, and this was a matter Muniang had to trouble him with.

“How come you were able to come out today? Did Lu Ziquan let you out?” Muniang only just remembered to ask.

Qingmei nodded, “The young master said that I’ve been married for so long, always staying indoors, which must have been dull. Since my family can’t be relied upon, it’s better to have more interaction with a sister like you.”

Even Qingmei herself did not believe these words, feeling a blush of shame as she spoke them. Lu Ziquan only decided to let her visit more frequently with Mu after the affair with the Jade Ruyi confirmed her wealth and generosity, thinking of the close relationship between Qingmei and Mu as a good opportunity to curry favor, which would naturally benefit him as well.

Muniang, being a shrewd person, naturally understood this point. In fact, she had this intention when she first sent the Jade Ruyi, to whet Lu Ziquan’s appetite, not just generously giving away such valuable items without reason.

While for her, the Jade Ruyi was nothing particularly extraordinary, in Chatu Town not many households could own one, and even if they did, it would be treasured as a family heirloom. But when leaving Marquis Chen Mansion, she had packed three cart loads of things, including six Jade Ruyis, which Muniang did not know what to do with.

“That’s perfect, when you have free time, come to Mei Garden to see me, you can watch a play when you’re bored, how nice,” Muniang said with a smile.

Seeing that Muniang was not angry, Qingmei felt relieved and nodded, being able to get out more often would certainly be good.

But Muniang soon thought of how she would have to move to Qinghua City in a few months, and then what would Qingmei do?

Muniang felt helpless, but still did not dwell on it too much, thinking that things will straighten out when the boat reaches the bridge. Better to wait for that day to come, currently, she had no good idea.