The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure
Chapter 387: Wash your filthy mouth!

Chapter 387: Chapter 387: Wash your filthy mouth!

"I know that Chongjin from our Song Family has taken a liking to your daughter, and you keep refusing to agree to the marriage. Always stringing our Chongjin along like this, isn’t that tricking him into doing unpaid labor for your Wang Family?"

After saying this, she wiped another tear, presenting the very picture of a victim.

"Exactly, Chun Tao, don’t pretend to be confused when you know full well what’s going on. The Old Wang Family is just leading our Chongjin on, deceiving him into working as an unpaid long-term laborer! Chongjin is young and can’t see through it, but don’t think you can fool us elders! Chun Tao, we’re laying it out here today—how much work Chongjin has done for your family has to be converted into wages for us! Also, call Chongjin out. Where have you hidden him? His biological mother and grandparents, and maternal uncles have all come, and he is still hiding and not showing his face. What does that mean?"

"Chongjin from our Song Family was not like this before, so filial and obedient. What good thing didn’t he send to his grandfather’s house? Now, he doesn’t even help out at his grandfather’s during the autumn harvest; it’s all because you Wang Family have been inciting him!"

Several aunts from the Song Family chimed in, busy agreeing.

Old Granny Zhang’s face had turned livid with anger.

The onlookers couldn’t bear to listen anymore.

"The Song Family really has no shame! This isn’t about looking for a son at all—it’s about extorting money!"

"The whole lot is difficult and shameless. It’s only Song Chunhua, that fool, who runs after them without a thought, not even sparing her own son."

"If she wasn’t so foolish, would things have turned out this way? She got involved with giving birth to a child for a noble patron and then got kicked out..."

...

Wang Yongzhu saw that Old Granny Zhang’s face had turned blue with anger and instantly became furious. She stepped forward, about to speak, but was pulled back tightly by Old Granny Zhang.

"Listen, you can’t get involved in this situation; just stand behind your mother."

Wang Yongzhu could easily break free from Old Granny Zhang’s grip, but seeing the anxious look in her eyes, she silently took a step back, vowing in her heart, how vile of the Song Family! And Mother Song!

Old Granny Zhang was afraid that her daughter’s temper would get the better of her and that she would refuse to listen. If she faced the Song Family head-on, whether they were right or wrong, whether they won or lost the argument, it would likely ruin their reputation.

Now, she also realized her daughter might still care for that Song Family boy in her heart. Chongjin had changed too and was genuinely good to her own daughter—it was as if they were engaged, he was even more attentive than a real son-in-law.

If her daughter said anything today and allowed that wretched Song Chunhua to seize the opportunity to create a scene, their daughter’s future relationship with the Song Family boy could get ugly again.

Luckily, the daughter still cared, listening to her mother’s words.

As long as the daughter was fine, Old Granny Zhang felt at ease.

Feeling smug, she sneered, "I’ve lived nearly fifty years, and I’ve never seen anyone as shameless as your Song Family! You can’t control your own son, and you come to me to demand him back? That’s a huge joke!"

"And you’re asking me for wages? Wishful thinking! Who do you think you are, showing up here to cause a scene? I held back a lot for the sake of that Song Family boy before, but today you’ve come to be scolded! In my life, I’ve seen people beg for food, beg for money, but I rarely see ones begging for a scolding or a beating."

"I’m not satisfied with you all today! If you think I’m afraid, think again!"

"Song Chunhua, do you still have the face to talk to me about marriage? Just a while ago, I announced that I was looking for a match for my daughter. Who was that shameless hag who came begging to me, pleading to sell Chongjin to our Wang Family as a son-in-law? You’ve already forgotten what you said? Do you want me to help jog your memory? You said Chongjin was getting old, and your family was too poor to afford a bride. You said our Wang Family had good conditions and as long as we were willing to take your son, you would send him over. Not only did you have the gall to say that, but you also mentioned that once your son joined the Old Wang Family, his life and death had nothing to do with you anymore. However, you wanted to live on, so you suggested that our Wang Family should give you some extra silver. Weren’t those your words?"

Old Granny Zhang grabbed Song Chunhua by the collar, pointing at her nose and asked.

Under everyone’s gaze, Song Chunhua’s face blushed with embarrassment, wishing she could disappear into a crack in the ground.

Everyone knew all too well.

They all clucked their tongues in wonder; they had never seen such a mother. In these times, only daughters were sold as child brides, and that was because a family could no longer survive, having too many children and needing to preserve the men of the household—it was unavoidable.

But no one had ever seen a woman sell her only son to become a live-in son-in-law, just for money.

Especially when the entire family depended on that very son—who wouldn’t instead find a wife for their son and peacefully wait to embrace a grandson?

Has this woman lost her mind?

"You still talk, knowing full well that our Wang Family looks down upon your Song Family’s status. But because your son is handsome, like how a family with a pretty daughter can demand a higher bride price."

"Didn’t I ask you back then if you had gone dumb from taking medicine all these years? Selling your own flesh and blood, how would you support yourself in old age?"

"And what did you say? You said you’d move back to your parents’ home, use the silver from selling your son to aid the Song Family, and rely on your nephews to care for you in the future?"

At this revelation, the crowd burst into an uproar.

They all began to point and comment on the Song Family and Mother Song; even though the Song Family had no shame, it still hurt to be publicly pointed at by so many.

Mother Song mumbled something, opening her mouth but not knowing what to say.

"How did I respond to you then? I said you were sick! We of the Wang Family can’t stoop low enough to marry into a family whose brains don’t work. Didn’t I also tell you that if you ever brought up marriage in front of me again, I’d beat you every time I see you?"

Mother Song fell silent.

After Old Granny Zhang finished speaking, she grabbed Mother Song by the hair and dragged her towards the ditch.

Mother Song, clutching her scalp, wailed in pain, finally snapping the Song Family out of their daze as they scrambled to intervene.

But the Wang Family wasn’t weak; they brandished their sickles and blocked the Song Family, ready to swing at anyone who dared to step forward.

All anyone could do was watch helplessly as Old Granny Zhang dragged Mother Song to the edge of the ditch, pressed her head down, and forced her into the water.

She held her down for a few seconds before yanking her up by the hair, allowing Mother Song to catch her breath, then dunked her again.

All the while cursing, "Song Chunhua, since your mouth is so foul, wanting to ruin my daughter’s reputation, I’ll give you a good wash of that dirty mouth today!"

"Will your mouth still be as filthy in the future?"

The ditch was filled with water that was about to be drained from the fields for harvesting. Over the last few days, with the constant traffic of people washing their hands and feet, cattle bathing and drinking, it appeared dirty and yellow.

In no time, Song Chunhua was sputtering with snot and tears streaming down, an appalling sight.

The Song Family members could not get across and did not dare to charge forward; they were all afraid for their lives, so they bluffed, shouting, "Zhang Chuntao, stop it! If she dies, her son Chongjin will see this and never forgive you!"

"Yes, you’re trying to harm our Chunhua. I will report this to the authorities..."

...