The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure
Chapter 369 - 370 Jealousy

Chapter 369: Chapter 370 Jealousy

In the courtyard, Song Chongjin was holding two pheasants and a rabbit in his hands.

Seeing Wang Yongzhu come out of the kitchen, he nodded at her, then handed over the game to Old Granny Zhang, "Auntie, I caught these early in the morning on the mountain, to add a dish for the family."

Old Granny Zhang was grinning from ear to ear, oh, these were good stuff.

The Song kid was considerate, coming to help and bringing things with him, not eating for free, a fine young man from Qilidun indeed.

She began to look favourably upon Song Chongjin, taking the game to the kitchen for Lady Jiang to prepare.

At the same time, she asked Jinhua to pour some tea.

Wang Yongzhu noticed that Song Chongjin had changed into a blue cloth jacket, the hem of his pants still showing traces of being wet by dew, even his hair was half wet.

She knew he must have gone up the mountain in the middle of the night.

She couldn’t help but say, "Why bring things with you when you come to help? Did you go up the mountain late at night? Aren’t you afraid..." Then, seeing Song Chongjin drinking tea with a faint smile on his face, she decided it was better not to finish her sentence.

"If you bring things again tomorrow, don’t bother coming," was all Wang Yongzhu could say.

Song Chongjin readily nodded, "I understand."

A trace of a smile flickered in his eyes. Was Yongzhu worried about him?

At dawn, Lady Jiang and Lady Lin had already brought breakfast to the table.

A basket of steamed buns, a big bowl of thick white porridge, a bowl of finely chopped pickles drizzled with a few drops of sesame oil, and a pan of green onion scrambled eggs, all smelling delicious.

In a little while, everyone would be putting in hard work, and only during these few days in the year and during the New Year were they allowed to eat their fill.

Even Lady Sun received two buns and a bowl of porridge.

Because of the scrape on her face from Lady Lin’s broom the day before, Lady Sun had hidden in her room and not gone out. After everyone else had finished eating, she found some leftovers Lady Jiang had saved in the kitchen to make do with.

She had been starving for a while.

Since arriving at the Wang Family’s place, she had not had a filling meal, and now, smelling the aroma of the white porridge, she could not hold back any longer. Ignoring the heat, she bit a big mouthful of bun and then gulped down a mouthful of porridge.

The scalding thick white porridge turned her face red, but she was reluctant to spit it out.

After finally swallowing it, her throat felt a burning pain, forcing her to eat slowly, in small bites.

She glanced surreptitiously at the unfamiliar man who had shown up at the Wang Family’s place.

Originally, she had inquired about the Wang Family’s household. Wang Yonggui had briefly mentioned a few details, and she only remembered that Wang Yongzhu had a fiancé.

Only after arriving at the Wang’s did she learn that this fiancé had previously called off the engagement. But then seeing that the Wang Family had become prosperous and that Wang Yongzhu could make money, he came back.

Hearing the Wang Family repeatedly mention the Song Brothers, Lady Sun realized that this man was probably Wang Yongzhu’s former fiancé who had since regretted calling off the engagement.

The harvest season was approaching, perhaps this man was here to curry favor with the Wang Family, offering his help, wasn’t he?

Lady Sun dared not look directly but stole glances, only to discover that Wang Yongzhu’s fiancé was a strikingly handsome young man—an uncommon sight.

Lady Sun had seen much during her years in the town, having encountered scholars from all over who came to study in Jing County. Naturally, there were no shortages of dashing gentlemen and charming scholars.

But she had never seen a man as attractive as the one before her.

Lady Sun couldn’t help but feel a surge of envy. Wang Yongzhu was just an ordinary girl like her, a mere country maid. How could she be so fortunate?

That old hag, Old Granny Zhang, doted on her like she was the apple of her eye, cherishing her more than anyone else in the family combined.

Merely dying a piece of cloth carelessly, to earn favor in the eyes of the palace ladies and then stumble upon a noble patron to start her business.

In the Wang Family, a girl’s word was law; everyone listened to her.

That would have been enough, but to top it off, she had such a handsome fiancé who now doted on her constantly.

How much virtue had Wang Yongzhu accumulated in her previous life to have such good fortune in this one?

I’m also a country girl, the only daughter of my parents, but all they ever did to me was beat or scold me.

When our family fled the disaster and arrived in the county town, they claimed they had no silver for medical treatment when sick? It was just a minor illness that would have passed on its own with a little endurance.

But at that time, my parents acted as if they couldn’t even leave their bed—wasn’t it just to force me to sell myself to get them silver?

Lady Sun knew that back then they had set their sights on a little beggar boy who was also fleeing the disaster, intending to take him in as their son.

So, I, their own daughter, was forced by them to become a maid for someone else, all so they could use the silver from selling me to support that stray beggar from outside.

My heart grew bitter—since my parents were willing to forsake me for a stranger, I might as well act as if I had no parents. I took the chance while making medicine for them the last time and threw in a wild grass that I heard in the village could knock down a cow if ingested.

As expected, my parents were gone after drinking the medicine.

Thinking of all I had suffered and then looking at what Wang Yongzhu was enjoying, Lady Sun’s long-suppressed emotions filled her gaze with envy and malice that she herself did not even recognize.

Wang Yongzhu had noticed a long time ago but pretended to be unaware.

Song Chongjin, however, quickly picked up on it as well, turning his head to meet Lady Sun’s gaze that she had yet to retract.

Lady Sun had never seen such eyes before—black and cold, a single glance felt like stepping from the dog days of summer into the depths of winter, sending a chill down her spine.

Lady Sun reflexively squeezed out a smile that she used to reserve for guests; in the past, matched with her good looks, new clothes, and makeup, she would have had a certain charm.

But now, wearing faded and washed-out clothing, her hair disheveled and a crusted cut from the previous night still evident on her face, her skin sallow and dark, such a smile was frightening.

Song Chongjin managed to maintain his composure, expressionless as he averted his gaze.

Meanwhile, Lady Sun dared not look around anymore. After finishing her millet bun and white congee, touching her finally full stomach, she went back to her room to prepare.

Soon, everyone had finished eating.

Wang Laozhu, with the men of his household and Song Chongjin, headed to the Wang Family Ancestral Hall to pay respects to their ancestors.

Old Granny Zhang, accompanied by her daughters-in-law, as well as Jinhua and Lady Sun, went to the fields to start the preparatory work.

Wang Yongzhu stayed at home, and before leaving, Old Granny Zhang reminded Wang Yongping to keep an eye on her and not let her into the kitchen.

Wang Yongzhu couldn’t help but find this amusing.

After seeing off her family, Wang Yongzhu checked the sky, took some copper coins from the house, and headed out.

Wang Yongping, leaning against the doorframe, asked, "Little sister, where are you going?"

"I’m off to buy some vegetables. Everyone has been working hard these past few days; they need some nourishment. Fourth Brother, take good care of the house. I’ll be back soon," Wang Yongzhu said as she walked towards the village entrance.

From a distance, she could see the entrances of the Wang, Song, and Li family ancestral halls all bustling with activity.

A group of men sang ancient tunes, first to pay respect to the Heaven, asking for its blessing of favorable winds and abundant harvests for Qilidun year after year.

Then, they paid homage to their ancestors, asking for their protection over their descendants.

Finally, they displayed the prepared offerings—paper representations of sacrificial animals and various fruits—before Heaven and the ancestors for their viewing pleasure.

Only after pouring libations into the earth would the ritual be considered complete.

Once finished, the offerings would be taken down.