The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure
Chapter 224: Gloating over Others’ Misfortune

Chapter 224: Chapter 224: Gloating over Others’ Misfortune

Seeing Wang Yongfu regain his drive, his zest for life returning, Wang Yongzhu finally felt relieved. It seemed time to find a suitable excuse to get Wang Yongfu to take the Muscle and Bone Strengthening Water.

Lying on the kang bed, Wang Laozhu watched his listless eldest brother, who, after just one sentence from his eldest daughter, had been reinvigorated, and his own heart also relaxed, finally, he was thoroughly reassured.

Once the matter of securing the quality of the goods was settled, the rest were minor issues, such as drying and the like; Lady Jiang unusually took the initiative to volunteer for the task.

Being always meticulous, entrusting her with this task assured Wang Yongzhu, so of course, he agreed.

Lady Jiang, her face flushing with excitement, finally felt grounded in the Wang Family. From now on, their third branch wouldn’t have to feel inferior anymore; they could also contribute to the household and support themselves.

Now that the business affairs were arranged, all that was left was to wait for the news to spread and start collecting the goods.

Having organized these affairs, the members of the Wang Family busied themselves.

Only then did Wang Yongzhu have time to dig out that dye recipe. With a few days still left in preparing, he needed to find the time to complete the task.

At the top of the recipe was one for an indigo dye. Indigo was the most common color in this era, only the blue wasn’t deep enough, and the color tended to either be dull or fade easily.

However, the demand for this color was the greatest in this timeline; it was the most worn color among commoners because it was the most accessible dye.

Yet, finding a saturated blue that didn’t fade when dyed was exceedingly rare.

The raw material for indigo was a plant called Persicaria tinctoria, which is suitable for growth in most places and is also a traditional Chinese medicine. It matures around May or June when the leaves turn blue and are then ready to be harvested.

After harvesting, Persicaria tinctoria would resprout new shoots, and could be harvested again in three months.

It was now the end of June, so it was just in time, or else one would have to wait another three months.

The recipe thoughtfully included an illustrative guide to Persicaria tinctoria. Wang Yongzhu looked at it: the leaves are oval, the stems purple-red, and it blooms pale red flowers.

He memorized this quietly in his heart and then prepared to go up the mountain.

Now was the time when there should be some on the mountain; he could also check if there were any other dyer’s plants from the recipe.

Strapping on his carrying basket, bringing along provisions and water, and taking a sickle, Wang Yongzhu planned to head for the mountains.

Fortunately, Old Granny Zhang had gone to the village entrance early in the morning to drum up business for her family, Jindou and Wang Yongping had gone to the neighboring village to announce too.

Wang Yongfu was full of energy early in the morning, gathering the children under the jujube tree to start their lessons.

Wang Laozhu also lay under a chaise longue by the jujube tree, listening and occasionally mumbling a few words.

The Little Beans stood still and listened attentively.

Even Jinguan, who usually couldn’t sit still, had become much more sensible these past few days. He didn’t dare to act rashly, mainly because whenever he thought about misbehaving, the sharp looks from his dad and brother would sweep over him.

Without the backing of his parents, Jinguan was now very well-behaved.

Wang Yongzhu greeted them and was about to leave when Jinhoo expressed concern, "Old cousin, it’s not safe for you to go up the mountain alone. Let me accompany you!"

Wang Yongzhu put on her bamboo hat, slung the basket on her back, and waved her hand, "You guys better pay attention and learn from your dad! Don’t make excuses to be lazy! I will check when I get back! Don’t worry, I am not going far, just to the slope behind to look for something and then I’ll return."

Nowadays, in the household, Wang Yongzhu’s word was law, aside from Old Granny Zhang; no one dared to oppose her, so they could only watch helplessly as Wang Yongzhu left the house.

Wang Yongzhu had not taken many steps out the door when a few old ladies stopped her, "Second Young Miss Wang, did your sister-in-law really come back to divorse your brother? Is she planning to remarry?"

"Yeah, oh dear, you really agreed to it? If it were me, I’d break that wench’s legs! She married into our family, so she’s ours whether she’s alive or dead. Even if Yongfu has died, she would have to stay and guard his spirit. Why should she be allowed to marry some other man?"

"I don’t understand what you’re saying," Wang Yongzhu feigned ignorance. The matter of Lady Lin causing a ruckus about divorcing Wang Yongping had happened just a day or two ago. The family certainly wouldn’t have spread the word themselves, so who let it out? How come it seemed like everyone knew? Could it be her mother who talked?

"Stop pretending! When Lady Lin came to your home that day and made such a scene, there was crying and shouting in your house—who didn’t hear it?" one of the old ladies said bluntly.

Wang Yongzhu then realized that on the day Lady Lin had returned, there must have been those gossipy old ladies who enjoyed nothing better than to eavesdrop from outside their own courtyards.

However, the gloating tone of these people was quite displeasing to hear. Wang Yongzhu didn’t want to waste time talking with them and simply nodded her head, ready to leave.

One of them grabbed hold of her, "I say, Second Young Miss Wang, what’s wrong with you? Why have you gotten so thin? It can’t be that you’re worried about your family’s decline and your mother’s inability to provide a dowry, fearful that you won’t be able to marry, hence the weight loss? It’s pitiful, it truly pains your auntie’s heart. How about I find someone for you?"

Before Wang Yongzhu could react, a relative of the Wang Family Clan spat out, "Old Granny Wu, stop entertaining those crooked ideas about our Wang Family’s young lady! Let me tell you, keep that filthy, stinking talk away from our Wang Family’s young lady. If you don’t, I’ll tear up your sordid mouth!"

While scolding, she gave Wang Yongzhu a knowing look, signaling her to leave quickly.

Though Wang Yongzhu didn’t fully understand, based on the clan aunt’s words, it was clear that Old Granny Wu wasn’t someone decent.

She nodded gratefully and hurried off.

But Old Granny Wu wasn’t ready to let it go and continued with her unpleasant talk, "What’s the matter? Even if the Wang Family’s daughters are so precious, Second Young Miss Wang certainly can’t afford to be! Goods that have been returned from a marriage proposal—if before, there was her Scholar brother to support her, perhaps someone would have to pinch their nose and take her for the sake of the Scholar Master’s face and dowry. Now, the Wang Family’s Scholar has also run off, and the Wang Family has declined. They probably can’t even come up with a dowry. Do you still think you can marry into some respectable family?"

"Old Granny Wu, what maggots are you chewing on—" the Wang Family Clan aunt’s face turned livid.

"What, did I say something wrong? The Wang Family is now like a phoenix that has lost its feathers, not as good as a chicken. Their daughter returned by the in-laws, their son cuckolded, their wealth gone—what’s left of this broken family? My mouth is on my body, and you’re telling me not to speak? With the Wang Family’s reputation, I’d like to see which proper and respectable family would dare to marry into theirs? Whatever the Wang Family does, I will say—"

Silent, Wang Yongzhu fished out a sickle from her basket and suddenly held it to Old Granny Wu’s throat. With just a little effort, a line of blood appeared, and beads of blood soon welled up.

"Go on, let’s see if your mouth is quicker, or my knife!" Wang Yongzhu said with a smile, pressing a bit harder.