The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure
Chapter 237: Selling Oneself (Extra - for every 700 monthly tickets)

Chapter 237: Chapter 237: Selling Oneself (Extra Chapter for every 700 monthly tickets)

"Even if we called off the engagement, why have you been getting so close with the Wang Family? Just a while ago, Mother asked you, and you always said calling off the engagement wronged the Wang Family Young Lady, that you needed to compensate them! The Wang Family are strangers, once the engagement is broken, we have nothing to do with them! With all that intention, why didn’t you think of compensating your maternal grandfather’s family? Because of that uproar, his family doesn’t even communicate with us anymore; how can you be so selfish? Are you determined to offend all the relatives on this side too?"

"These past few days have been even better; you actually sent the wolf you hunted down on the mountain to the Wang Family! Why? Even if it’s to compensate them, you’ve done quite a lot for the Wang Family already, I heard it from your aunt. Without you, that Wang Family Young Lady wouldn’t have had anyone interested! Whether the engagement is off or not, it doesn’t make much difference! Do you really need to go this far in aiding them? The wolf skin and meat, those are such good things, didn’t you think of home? Didn’t you think of your maternal grandparents?"

"They are old now, exactly when they need nourishment, if you had brought that wolf skin and meat back, made a couple of mattresses for your grandma and grandpa, given the wolf meat to your uncles and cousins to strengthen them, wouldn’t that have been good? But no, everything went to the Wang Family! That Maid and the Wang Family, are they higher up the ranks than your own mother and your maternal grandparents?"

"Not to mention anything else, but with such a fine hunt, why didn’t you think of your mother? Mother is frail, and they say wolf meat is highly nourishing when eaten; but you, my child, you didn’t think of your mother at all. Mother raised you all these years, and to think, now Mother can’t even taste a bite of meat, what is the point of Mother living..."

With that, she started sobbing again.

Song Chongjin, who had been scowling all along, suddenly laughed, "Then according to what Mother says, what should I do to be filial to Mother?"

Mother Song paused in her crying, her eyes lit up, it seemed that the big sister’s tactic still worked.

The big sister said, to deal with Song Chongjin, you can’t use force, nor should you threaten suicide, just cry! Keep nagging and crying by his ear, if once doesn’t work, cry twice! If a month doesn’t work, cry for two! Eventually, you will make the child filial through tears.

Indeed, after only half a month of crying, she had finally made the child come to his senses.

Now wiping her tears with a handkerchief, her mouth was already curling into a smile: "Mother doesn’t have any other demands, Mother just wants to taste the wolf meat, also send some to your maternal grandfather’s family, so he doesn’t hold it against us anymore! If you could sew a wolf hide mattress for your grandpa, he wouldn’t keep complaining about leg pain during the New Year festivities, and there are your uncles and your aunt’s family too – they are our genuine relatives, flesh and blood, we can’t neglect them. Mother has calculated; if you go to the mountains and hunt another seven or eight wolves, that should fairly cover everyone..."

The last shred of hope in Song Chongjin’s eyes completely extinguished, his pupils darkened without a trace of light.

After what felt like ages, his lips curved slightly, his gaze, however, remained icy cold, devoid of any warmth: "Mother, what do you think of me becoming someone’s live-in son-in-law?"

Mother Song was elated, still rambling about how to divide the wolf meat among her parent’s and siblings’ families when killed.

Suddenly hearing her son start like that, she was taken aback: "What did you say?"

Song Chongjin smiled slightly and repeated: "Your son is incompetent, lacking the ability to go to the mountains to hunt seven or eight wolves and allow Mother to distribute them among her family. Truly, I am ashamed to have disappointed my mother! After much thought, I only have one option: to become a live-in son-in-law at the Wang Family, hoping they consider my lifelong servitude to them and present the wolves that the Wang Family Young Lady hunted down a while ago as my bridal price to Mother, fulfilling your filial piety towards your maternal family. It would also cement our bond as mother and son. Since ancient times, there have been those who sold themselves to bury their parents; although I have no father to bury, I can at least sell myself to be filial to my mother!"

Mother Song’s mind was a muddled mess; she seemed to understand every word Song Chongjin said, but she didn’t comprehend what he meant.

What live-in son-in-law? What selling oneself? What fulfilling?

It took a good while before she grasped the meaning and almost fainted: "What... what nonsense are you spouting? When did Mother ask you to become a live-in son-in-law? And selling yourself to fulfill obligations? Are you trying to anger Mother to death? How can you be worthy of your father?"

Song Chongjin’s expression was cold: "There’s no other way, it’s all because your son is useless and can’t meet Mother’s demands. To be filial to Mother, I am willing to be a live-in son-in-law! I have no father’s surname to carry on anyway, becoming a son-in-law would be fitting, and I wouldn’t have to worry about the extinction of anyone’s family line!"

Mother Song heard this, was her son really set on becoming a live-in son-in-law?

He couldn’t catch his breath, his eyes rolled back, and he fainted.

Song Chongjin, with remarkable speed, stepped forward, pinched Mother Song’s philtrum, and actually pinched her awake.

As Mother Song regained consciousness, she grasped Song Chongjin’s arm, trembling as she asked, "Chongjin, don’t be foolish! Must I give up the wolf hide and the wolf meat as well? You absolutely must not consider becoming a live-in son-in-law! Doing so would tear at your mother’s heart..."

Song Chongjin helped Mother Song to lie down on the bed, and he decisively pulled his hand away from hers, "Mother, rest assured, to show filial piety to you, I am willing to do anything! Even if I become a live-in son-in-law, I will still take care of you. As long as I have a bite to eat, mother won’t go hungry! I believe the Wang Family would also allow me to support you. So please be at ease! Rest now, I will go to the Wang Family tomorrow to discuss it!"

Saying that, he turned and went back to his room.

Mother Song sobbed uncontrollably...

Until the morning Song Chongjin left the house, Mother Song had been crying. Hearing footsteps, she truly thought Chongjin was heading to the Wang Family and wanted to stop him, but then she remembered what they had discussed the previous night, and couldn’t help but hesitate.

If it were as her son had said, and the Wang Family could offer such a generous dowry, then her son wouldn’t be at a disadvantage marrying into the Wang Family!

Given their circumstances and her son’s status, it really wasn’t easy to find a wife - otherwise, her son wouldn’t have remained unmarried for so long. Only the Wang Family was willing to arrange a marriage with them.

This roundabout journey, if it was destined to be connected with the Wang Family, then there was no other choice.

At the very least, once her son joined the Wang Family, and they had sons and daughters with the Wang Family young lady, by pleading with them, one of the children could carry on Song Chongjin’s family name. This way, the lineage wouldn’t be cut off!

The reputation might suffer, but isn’t this the only option? With our conditions, having a daughter-in-law is already good enough! We can’t have him remain a bachelor for life, can we?

Moreover, her son had assured her that even if he became a live-in son-in-law, he would still provide for her and not skimp on her food and clothing.

Thinking this way, becoming a live-in son-in-law to the Wang Family didn’t seem so unacceptable after all.

News that the Wang Family wanted to do business in forest products was known throughout the village; even Mother Song had heard bits and pieces from her eldest daughter, saying something about the Wang Family turning over a new leaf and becoming wealthy.

If the Wang Family truly became rich, being in-laws, they surely wouldn’t be stingy. Otherwise, how would that look? As long as her son and daughter-in-law could loosen their purse strings a bit, her own life would be much better.

By then, if she had a little more to spare, she could show more filial piety to her own parents!

The more Mother Song thought about it, the better she felt about this idea. Aside from the unseemly rumors, what mattered most was the substantial benefit, wasn’t it?

Therefore, she stopped crying, wiped away her tears, and decided to go and discuss the matter with her eldest sister and parents.

Song Chongjin, who had been standing under a tree not far from the entrance, watched as Mother Song came out of the house, running joyfully in the direction of the Song Family, and lowered his gaze.