The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure
Chapter 381: Scaling the Wall

Chapter 381: Chapter 381: Scaling the Wall

Song Chongjin was finally satisfied and nodded. He glanced around Wang Yongzhu’s room and saw a wooden comb placed by the pillow on the kang bed.

He couldn’t help but walk in and pick up the wooden comb.

There were still a few strands of long hair on the comb, swinging leisurely, stirring a movement in Song Chongjin’s gaze.

Noises came from outside, and Song Chongjin’s hand twitched. He quickly put the comb back in its place and hurried out.

It turned out to be Wang Laozhu; he too had noticed that something was off with his two sons and his eldest daughter-in-law, and when his wife rushed home after hearing something from Lady Lin, he became worried that something had happened at home. He called Eldest Brother over and questioned him, and immediately stamped his foot in frustration.

Disappointed that they didn’t meet his expectations and worried about his wife’s temper, hearing that the commotion was in his eldest daughter’s room, it could have turned everything upside down.

This kind of family scandal, every household would only cover it up, fearing that it would ruin their own reputation if it spread.

Therefore, the more he thought about it, the less at ease he felt, and he followed closely behind to return home.

When he arrived home, it was eerily quiet. After asking Laosi a few questions, he felt somewhat relieved.

Old Granny Zhang saw Wang Laozhu come back and knew exactly what he was worried about.

To this old man, the Wang Family’s reputation was of the utmost importance.

She couldn’t be bothered with him.

But Wang Laozhu approached and said a few words, "A harmonious family prospers, don’t let the matter of a woman get so out of hand that everyone outside knows about it."

He also asked Wang Yongzhu what he planned to do with Lady Sun.

Wang Yongzhu stood in the courtyard, glanced at the room where Lady Sun was locked up, and deliberately said with annoyance, "What to do? After causing such a mess, lock her in a room, starve her for two days before dealing with it! These days we’re busy with the autumn rush, who has time to deal with these trifling matters? Anyway, she can’t escape while she’s under our roof, just give her water every day, make sure she doesn’t die of thirst! After the harvest is over, we’ll sell her to someone in the mountains."

Wang Laozhu thought Wang Yongzhu’s arrangement was good and didn’t say a word.

Lady Sun, locked in the small room, couldn’t help but shiver when she heard Wang Yongzhu’s arrangement.

She didn’t know what Song Chongjin had done to her, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t make a sound.

Now that her hands and feet were tied up, if she really were to be starved for a few days as Wang Yongzhu had planned, and then sold off to the mountains...

The thought alone was terrifying!

No, she couldn’t stay at the Wang Family Courtyard any longer!

Because of this incident, everyone had a grim expression during dinner, except for Wang Yonggui.

He didn’t hide his joy at all. As for how to deal with Lady Sun, he had no objections.

By now he had discovered where Lady Sun had hidden her private stash of money—those were silver notes.

When night fell and everyone was asleep, he planned to sneak in and steal those silver notes...

The more he thought about it, the more delighted he felt inside. If it weren’t for the current tense atmosphere at home, he would have laughed out loud.

The children, unaware of what had happened, sensed that something was off among the adults.

Looking left and right, even though they were eating meat, they dared not show any sign of joy.

Old Granny Zhang looked at her Laosan’s smug expression and couldn’t bear to watch.

Looking at Eldest Brother Wang Yongfu with his troubled face, the contrast was striking.

"If you didn’t know better, you might think the Eldest Brother’s concubine was stolen by Laosan."

Lady Jiang had heard about it in the afternoon as well, Lady Lin told her, of course, nothing good came of it. In between the lines, she was saying Lady Jiang was useless; not to mention she couldn’t keep her husband in check, she couldn’t even manage a concubine, letting her steal their uncle...

Despite Lady Jiang’s soft nature, having been given a piece of Lady Lin’s mind, filled with insinuations and veiled criticism, and then having to deal with several children on top of that, even the kindest temperament would be set aflame.

"I may not be as adept as the Eldest Sister at managing men, but why didn’t Lady Sun seduce Laosi instead?" With one remark, she left Lady Lin red-faced and thick-necked, huffing away angrily.

Song Chongjin noticed the tense atmosphere in the Wang Family, finished his meal, and very perceptively excused himself.

Nobody tried to insist he stay.

As soon as Song Chongjin left, Wang Laozhu knocked his tobacco pipe on Wang Yongfu and Wang Yonggui’s shoulders: "Useless fools, causing such an indecent scandal! You’re going to lose the Wang Family’s face that we’ve maintained for generations!"

Wang Yongfu took the scolding, not daring to talk back, feeling wronged to no end.

Wang Yonggui responded with a grin, "What’s so shameful about it? Nowadays, with our family’s improving circumstances, it’s feasible for the Eldest Brother to take a concubine. If we bring one home, is there no worry she’ll cause trouble and demand a Divorce to return to her family?"

Lady Lin turned pale upon hearing this.

The faces of Jindou and Jinhoo changed as well.

"You’ve all started to get carried away after a few days of good living, haven’t you? Haven’t earned a few pennies yet, but you’re already thinking about buying several concubines, are you? Should we buy a couple for your father as well, and maybe they can bear him a few little brothers and sisters to raise? Shut your mouth for me and roll back to your room to play dead!" Old Granny Zhang was now displeased with everyone aside from her daughter.

After these words, who dared to speak? They all bowed their heads like quails, quietly washing up and resting without mentioning anything further.

They were too tired from the rushed harvest in the field; no matter what was on everyone’s minds, as soon as they lay down on the kang, they couldn’t hold on any longer and soon fell into a deep sleep.

Peace reigned over the Wang Family Courtyard.

Until the moon reached its zenith.

In the midnight hour, cries of crickets echoed from within the Wang Family Courtyard.

Outside the courtyard, crickets chirped as well.

Soon after, a dark shadow scaled the wall of the Wang Family Courtyard, nimble and deft, landing on the ground with the grace of lightness, making not a sound.

Under the starlight, the shadow carefully listened at each room, then heard a scratching at the door of Lady Sun’s small room.

After a pause, it made its way towards Lady Sun’s room.

Approaching the small room, the figure knocked gently on the door, then, pushing it open, saw Lady Sun’s face illuminated by moonlight, filled with surprise and delight.

The door closed quickly, followed by a rustling for a while, and then silence fell.

At that moment, the door to the third chamber creaked open.

Wang Yonggui tiptoed out of the third room, looked around the courtyard to see nobody there, and walked over to Lady Sun’s room, his voice low, "Ahfu—Ahfu, are you asleep yet?"

There came no sound from Lady Sun’s room.

Wang Yonggui asked a couple more times in a low voice, still no response.

He then gingerly tried to push open Lady Sun’s door, only to find it wouldn’t budge.

Exerting a bit more force and still unable to open it, he paused and then whispered, "Ahfu, I know you’re angry with me today. I shouldn’t have spoken to you that way or hit you! But can’t you see, given the situation, what else could I have done? I certainly couldn’t have hit my Eldest Brother, could I? He’s just recovered, and if I caused him any harm, what would become of it?"

"You’ve always been the most obedient and considerate of Sanlang’s feelings, so why are you throwing a tantrum now? Rest assured, Sanlang is here for you. Just bear it for a few days, wait until everyone’s anger subsides, and I’ll plead on your behalf. Then this matter will pass!"

Inside there was still no answer, and the door remained firmly closed.