The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure
Chapter 259 The Lackey

Chapter 259: Chapter 259 The Lackey

Bad luck that hunting yielded no game was tolerable, but encountering a fierce beast could have cost a life!

When Song Chongjin was just a half-grown lad, he had already gone up to the mountains to provide for himself and his sickly mother, while I, to this day, apart from laboring in the fields during the farming season, only took on various short-term jobs for a few months to pay the compensation for injuring He Dawei.

I hadn’t learned any manners or social cues and spoke and acted solely on my own impulses.

Any time I had an issue, big or small, I would go looking for Song Chongjin, never once considering whether it might be an inconvenience. How could I have been so oblivious back then?

My face burns with shame at the thought of it.

It wasn’t right to bother Song Chongjin, and in that moment, I didn’t know who else to turn to—I couldn’t speak of such matters to anyone else.

So I wandered silently and unwittingly to the place where Song Chongjin and I had once roasted meat together.

Looking at the remnants of the fire pit, still faintly visible, I felt an acute embarrassment wash over me—back then, I had the audacity to share Song Chongjin’s game even though I would only bring a couple of sweet potatoes or the like to the table.

Back then, I thought, why differentiate so much among brothers? But now it occurs to me that maybe it was just Song Chongjin not holding it against me.

Sitting in our old spot, I carefully reviewed my behavior over the past few months and felt deeply ashamed of myself.

"What are you doing here?" Suddenly, Song Chongjin’s voice rang out from behind me.

I turned around to see Song Chongjin looking utterly exhausted, his clothes covered in dust and torn in several places, revealing blood-stained wounds beneath.

"Nothing, I was just sitting here. What happened to you? How did you get hurt? I haven’t seen you around these past few days, did you go into the mountains? That medicine you sent over a few days ago, my older brother used it, and it worked wonders—Doctor Ma said that with proper care, he might be able to stand again! I forgot to thank you last time—" I hurried to my feet.

Song Chongjin’s impassive gaze fell on my still reddened eyes and the awkward way I stood up, unconsciously bracing my knees and wincing in pain.

He settled himself on a rock and bluntly asked, "What foolish thing have you done this time?"

"You... how did you know I did something stupid?" I was taken aback, first by surprise at Song Chongjin, then I couldn’t help but slap myself on the cheek lightly. It served me right for not keeping my mouth shut.

"If you don’t want to talk, then I’m leaving!" Song Chongjin had no interest in dealing with my issues. From my appearance, I must have been hit hard; there were even marks like those left by a broom. What foolish thing had I done to get a beating from my own mother?

The one who got a beating was me, not Wang Yongzhu, and he had no interest in probing further.

"Don’t go... I..." I hesitated, then decided it was best to consult Song Chongjin.

I mumbled through the recounting of the events of the past two days. When I finished, I looked anxiously at Song Chongjin, "Do you think I’m really useless? I haven’t been any help to my family, and now I’ve even caused my little sister’s dye to be ruined..."

"You are quite useless!" Song Chongjin bluntly nodded.

"You..."

"Isn’t it true? Isn’t the Wang Family now relying on your sister and mother to stand firm? Without your sister, would your family have the mountain goods trade? Without her, would your father and brother have the money for treatment? Without her, would you get the chance to be flattered by others outside?"

"I..." I bowed my head.

"You surely could see the ill intentions Li Jinzhi harbored, but you only wanted her to witness the good life the Wang Family now enjoys in hopes she’d regret her actions. Unfortunately, lacking the same cunning and strategies, you were outmaneuvered! Let me tell you, scheming against others really isn’t your thing! From now on, you’re better off just being your sister’s lackey, doing whatever she tells you to do!" Song Chongjin’s mocking tone was ice cold.

"I know now, I’m just afraid that from here on out, my little sister will be disappointed in me and won’t care about me anymore. What should I do?" No matter how thick-skinned I was, it was still skin, and although Song Chongjin’s words were harsh, I wasn’t angered. In fact, I wanted to continue being my sister’s lackey, but I feared she might not want me anymore!

"Heh heh..." Song Chongjin scoffed.

This question is good, asking myself how to please my little sister?

Why don’t I just ascend to heaven then?

Song Chongjin was too lazy to speak and stood up to go home.

Wang Yongping followed behind him, nagging nonstop. Chongjin’s head, aching from several sleepless nights, was about to explode, so he simply dropped a line, "You might as well pester your little sister with this effort instead of bothering me—"

And he walked straight off.

Wang Yongping scratched his head, muttering, "Pester my little sister? Right, I’ll pester my little sister, apologize to her, take a beating without striking back, take scolding without talking back..."

Having convinced himself he had a great idea, Wang Yongping instantly revived, limping all the way home.

Upon returning home, Wang Yongping promptly made amends to Wang Yongzhu, then stuck by her side, never leaving her for a step.

Every day, as soon as his eyes opened, he waited outside Wang Yongzhu’s door, a grown man fetching face wash water, serving meals—anything related to Wang Yongzhu, he rushed to do it.

It was enough to make the whole family’s eyes pop out.

Wang Yongzhu had never taken this seriously to begin with. With Old Granny Zhang around, Wang Yongping had acknowledged his mistake. It was just a matter of giving him the cold shoulder for a few days.

After just two days, Wang Yongzhu couldn’t stand it any longer. Who could bear having someone follow you around every day, keeping an eye on you at all times?

In the early morning, they would prepare washing water, so eager they seemed about to wring out the towel! After serving meals right into the hands, they’d bring over tea in a bowl as soon as you finished eating.

Anytime you move, they immediately come over and ask what you would have them do.

If you don’t let them follow, they stand far away, looking at you with a pitiable and pathetic expression.

Wang Yongzhu couldn’t take it anymore and kicked Wang Yongping out of the door, telling him to roll far away during the day and allowing him to return only at night!

That finally bought a few days of peace.

As soon as the dyed cloth was ready, Wang Yongzhu couldn’t wait any longer and went to town early in the morning, carrying the freshly dyed fabric.

Wang Yongping naturally wanted to follow. Old Granny Zhang, who initially disapproved of him, feared he might ruin things.

It was Wang Yongzhu who felt it was still good to bring Wang Yongping along, also a chance to see his behavior after days of reflection.

Only then did Old Granny Zhang relent, not forgetting to threaten before they left, "Going to town, don’t cause any trouble for your sister! Whatever your sister tells you to do, you do. If she doesn’t tell you to do anything, just be quiet and behave yourself! If you mess up your sister’s business, you might as well not come back, hear me?"

Wang Yongping nodded hurriedly, almost swearing an oath.

The siblings arrived in town and went straight to the Cloth Store.

At the entrance of the Cloth Store, they heard some noise inside, a voice that seemed familiar—Li Jinzhi?

What is she doing at the Cloth Store?

Wang Yongping’s facial muscles twitched at the sound of Li Jinzhi’s voice, and all he wanted to do at that moment was rush inside and drag that wretch out.