The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure
Chapter 303 Cling On

Chapter 303: Chapter 303 Cling On

It didn’t take many kowtows before blood seeped from her forehead, yet she was unaware, "Little sister! Little sister! I’m here to apologize, to say I’m sorry! Please remember the times I held you, the times I took care of you, and speak a few good words for me! Little sister, I know you are the kindest, you surely won’t stand by and watch me return to the Lin Family to face my death! Little sister, if not for anything else, do it for the sake of Jindou and the others. If I could go back to the Wang Family, wouldn’t it make the daughters-in-law sound more honorable—"

"Enough!" Jinhoo couldn’t bear it anymore and strode up to Lady Lin, "You don’t need to ask anyone for help, it’s useless! None of us from the Wang Family will ever forgive you! Feel your conscience and ask yourself, when you came back demanding Divorse, think of the things you said—if it were you, would you forgive? When you wanted to get rid of Dad and us, fearing we might drag you down, you said and did everything to cut ties. Now it’s too late for regrets!"

With that, she pushed Lady Lin backward.

Already hungry and exhausted, Lady Lin was just holding on by willpower; pushed by Jinhoo, she fell to the ground with an expression of agony.

Jinhoo reached out to help her, but stopped mid-way.

Clenching her teeth, she turned and said, "Old Granny, can we give her two steamed buns?" No matter what, she was the one who had given birth to her; she couldn’t just watch her starve to death.

Old Granny Zhang’s face darkened, but before she had the chance to speak, Wang Yongzhu nodded, "Sister-in-law, get two buns for Jinhoo, and a bowl of water as well."

Lady Jiang agreed and hurried to the kitchen, snatching two mixed-flour buns and filling a bowl with rice soup to pass to Jinhoo.

Jinhoo thanked them, placed the buns and bowl beside Lady Lin, then turned around and closed the courtyard gate with her own hands.

Outside the gate, Lady Lin initially called out twice, but after a short while, her voice quieted down.

At breakfast, everyone in the Wang Family ate without much appetite.

Old Granny Zhang, annoyed, tapped her bowl, "What’s with all the long faces? I am putting it out there—if any of you side with Lin Xinghua, don’t regard me as your mother. Pack up and get out now; go live with Lin Xinghua! What’s happening? You feel sorry for Lin Xinghua now, can’t bear to see her suffer? Have you forgotten what she said and did? Back when our Wang Family faced our toughest times, she eagerly came to demand Divorse. Did she show any pity for you then? I’ll let today’s buns and rice soup pass, seeing it’s for the sake of Jinhoo and your three brothers. But if I catch any of you giving our Wang Family’s food to that wretched Lin Xinghua again, then you might as well not eat!"

The room fell silent, no one daring to speak.

It was Wang Yongfu who finally spoke, his voice a dull echo, "Mother, don’t worry! I have seen through her; I won’t be deceived again!"

Jindou and his brothers also bowed their heads and said, "Granny, we understand!"

Lady Lin sat weakly on the ground, watching Jinhoo place a bowl of rice soup and two buns in front of her, then she turned and closed the door herself.

Her heart chilled instantly, and from somewhere, she mustered the strength to knock on the door twice and call out.

But there was no response from inside the courtyard.

Leaning on the door, Lady Lin felt both tired and hungry, the aroma of the rice soup and buns wafting to her nose, making her stomach painfully empty.

Unable to resist, Lady Lin picked up the rice soup and gulped down half a bowl in one breath, wolfing down the two buns and finishing the remaining soup, she even licked the bowl clean.

Only then did she feel revived.

She knew the Wang Family would not forgive or accept her, but the thought of returning to the Lin Family scared her to death.

Now, she had nowhere else to go, nor did she dare venture elsewhere; clenching her teeth, she knew her only chance at survival lay with the Wang Family.

Even if they didn’t accept her, she couldn’t give up, as this was her only path to survival. Regardless of whether the head of the family and the children forgave her or not, she had no choice but to cling to the Wang Family.

With this thought, Lady Lin gathered her spirit again. Now that she couldn’t enter the Wang Family, she had to find a place to settle down.

Looking around, the pile of firewood outside the Wang Family Courtyard would provide shelter from the wind and rain. Now that it was summer, it was bearable to sleep outside at night, despite the many mosquitoes. But she was used to being bitten by mosquitoes every day at the Lin Family.

Lady Lin did as she thought, tucking the bowl in her bosom and going to the nearby haystack to pull down some straw to make a temporary nest under the firewood stack.

By this time, the sun was high in the sky, and the commotion caused by Lady Lin naturally caught the attention of the villagers.

The Wang Family was already the center of attention, and everyone knew about Lady Lin’s divorce from Wang Yongfu. People scorned her openly and behind her back, for they had never seen such a woman—who, with grown children, would leave her husband and children behind, just because the man had become disabled.

Ever since the Wang Family had turned their fortunes around, some people had said that if Lady Lin found out, she would surely be green with regret.

Especially a while ago, when Wang Yongfu’s legs recovered, and he could stand up again, heaven knows how many people were thankful to Lady Lin for abandoning her husband and children back then.

One by one, they began to size up their own eligible daughters at home, hoping they could marry into the Wang Family and enjoy a life of comfort.

In the past, everyone had their eyes on Wang Family’s Fourth Child and on Jindou and Jinhoo, who were all unmarried young women. But now, those women who had returned home after a divorce, and the widows too, were all tempted.

Wang Yongfu wasn’t old either; and even if he was a bit older, what was there to fear? The Wang Family was wealthy. Marrying into that family was like falling into a nest of blessings, with no worries about food or clothing.

Several families with poor conditions even thought about marrying their unattractive daughters into the Wang Family.

Now, seeing Lady Lin, this shameless woman, returning, it was clear she must have heard about the Wang Family’s rise and Wang Yongfu’s recovery, and she regretted it!

Phew! One spot for one person; the Wang Family had its gains and losses counted, and at the moment, there were only five spots available. Heaven knows how many people were watching.

If Lady Lin came back, and if she used some trick to reconcile with Wang Yongfu, what would happen to their own daughters who had been waiting so long?

Some old grannies who had already set their sights on Wang Yongfu for their daughters, nieces, or grand-nieces, began to gather around in small groups.

"Oh, isn’t this Lin Xinghua? Didn’t you divorce Wang Yongfu? Why have you come back? They didn’t even let you in through the door?"

Seeing the Wang Family’s gates, usually open by this time of day but firmly shut today, someone started to mock.

Lady Lin, feeling guilty, didn’t respond and kept on pulling at the straw.

These women, aunties, and neighbors, had nothing better to do and already looked down on Lady Lin. Seeing her remain silent only made them even more impolite in their remarks.

"I’m telling you, Lin Xinghua, how do you still have the face to come back? When the Wang Family was at its lowest, you abandoned your husband and children to go back to your parents’ home. I heard you wanted to remarry. Now that you’ve heard the Wang Family is doing well, you’ve come scampering back?"

"Look at what you’re saying, she’s not stupid. A divorced woman remarrying for a second time, what kind of good man could she marry? Just look at what she’s become now; it tells you the kind of life she’s had since the remarriage!"