The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure
Chapter 394 Long-held Dreams Become Reality

Chapter 394: Chapter 394 Long-held Dreams Become Reality

That evening, news of Song Chongjin being sold to the Wang Family as a live-in son-in-law rapidly spread throughout the village.

All night long, nearly every household stayed awake, gossiping despite their exhaustion from a day’s work.

Some believed the Song Family had struck it rich—One hundred taels! How many families could never earn that much in their entire lives!

Others thought the Song Family had acted dishonorably, especially after seeing that Song Chunhua had barely touched the silver before it was snatched away by her family members.

After all, it was money from selling their son, and to have sold him for such a high price without getting a penny for themselves—it was truly disgraceful.

There were also those who called Song Chunhua foolish.

Rejecting such a filial son, forcing him to be sold, using the silver to patch up the Song Family’s never-ending debts—it seemed as if her time serving as a maid in a wealthy household had addled her brain.

Some envied and were jealous of Song Chongjin, too. Wow, to sell oneself for such a high price! One hundred taels! If only they had known the Wang Family was so wealthy and generous, they would have sold their own sons long ago and used that money to marry off their remaining sons.

Those in the village with sons who also planned to send them to the Wang Family as live-in son-in-laws were kicking themselves in regret at home.

More than a few young women and brides secretly wept, their dream lovers snatched away by Wang Yongzhu’s clutches, her triumph now a reality.

At night, many a pillowcase was soaked with silent tears.

Song Chongjin and Wang Yongzhu overnight became the most despised individuals among the unmarried youths of Qilidun.

Early in the morning, as Song Chongjin worked in the fields with the Wang family, he was met with gazes of sympathy, pity, and jealousy along the way.

Countless young women, under various pretenses, passed by him, hoping for an opportunity to offer him comfort.

Unfortunately, Song Chongjin dutifully followed behind Wang Laozhu, asking for advice on farming techniques and completely missed those earnest looks from the young women.

Old Granny Zhang, on the other hand, saw everything and felt both angry and proud.

The finest young man in the village now belonged to her daughter!

On one hand, she was infuriated that these young women had no shame, crowding around even when they knew he was already claimed by her daughter.

The emotions of a new mother-in-law were truly complicated!

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Meanwhile, Mother Song, clutching the Letter of Severance, returned home in a daze. She didn’t make or eat dinner, lying on the bed while tears flowed endlessly.

She wondered why she wasn’t happy.

All her life, she had been the laughingstock of the village, unable to raise her head because of her son. It was because of him that she couldn’t lift her head high in the village or at home, scolded by her parents and ridiculed by family members.

She had often thought that without this son, even if she had been used by a Noble Patron, who would know? If she had married off to some far place, she would probably be living a comfortable little life with a husband and children, surrounded by grandchildren, just like her sister.

But it was because of Song Chongjin that she had no hopes for her life.

She wanted to hate, yet dared not to!

Now, her long-held dream had become a reality—Song Chongjin really became a live-in son-in-law at the Wang Family.

Recalling the words Song Chongjin said to her, he knew she didn’t like him and felt burdened by him, which made it hard for her to hold her head up in her family home over the years.

He said he knew that in her eyes, he was worth less than her nephews.

He also said he was aware of the Song Family’s need for silver, and this final act of filial piety was to sell himself to the Wang Family and use the silver to give her face in the Song Family as repayment for raising him.

What was she thinking at that time? Her heart had been glad then.

Although there was a hint of melancholy, and a feeling that was indescribable, as if truly agreeing would mean completely losing her son.

She hesitated for a moment, but ultimately, she agreed.

Because she knew that Song Chongjin, with his dark complexion and soft heart.

Should anything truly happen to her in the future, she believed he wouldn’t just stand by and watch his own mother die.

Even if he became a live-in son-in-law, if the Wang Family really forced him not to take care of her, their reputation would be ruined.

Actually, when it all came down to it, whether her son became a live-in son-in-law or not, it wouldn’t make a difference to her.

Hadn’t her parents, older sister, and brother and sister-in-law already made the stakes clear to her?

It was just that Song Chongjin would definitely be heartbroken and might ignore her for a while, but with time, he would get over it.

Men, after all, only feel sorrow for a moment; it’s nothing too serious.

Hadn’t she been persuaded?

So why, as she lay in bed, did her heart feel so empty?

When she was home alone in the past, and Chongjin went hunting in the mountains and didn’t return for days and nights, she never felt this way, right?

Mother Song cried all night long, and in the morning, forcing herself to get up, she went to the next room.

Pushing open the door, the room was empty except for a kang bed, a bow hung on the wall, several ropes, and a few traps.

On the kang, aside from a faded thin quilt, there were a few dusty garments, and in the corner, a rice container, which by now she had either sneaked home or turned into steamed buns to send to the Song Family’s fields for her relatives to eat.

The original dried game that hung from the rafters had also been sent to her family’s home, leaving only a few empty ropes that swayed with the wind.

This was Song Chongjin’s room.

Mother Song had been in here before, always with her heart in her throat, only thinking about hiding some food, afraid that Chongjin would see her, and she had never really taken a good look around.

Now, gazing at it, she found the room terrifyingly empty.

In her own room, because she was frail, there was a large wardrobe next to the kang, filled with clothes for all seasons, especially winter garments, which were padded with thick cotton, and a rabbit fur mat and hand warmer.

There were also several thick cotton quilts inside, which would keep her absolutely warm in winter.

On the kang table, there were a teapot and teacups.

In the drawer of the kang table, there was a small jar, which contained some preserved fruit because she complained that the medicine was too bitter, and Chongjin would never forget to bring her some every time he bought the medicine.

Every day without realizing it, whenever they ran out of food, she’d just mention it to Chongjin, and the next day, there would be rice in the container again.

If she felt unwell or coughed, there would be medicine brought back the next day.

When the weather got cold, a thick cotton-padded jacket bought by her son would appear on the kang, only for her older sister to like it and take it away the following year, or for her to give it to her mother as a sign of filial piety.

Now, Mother Song belatedly realized that in the future, with her son not at home but living with the Wang Family, who would take care of her?

The silver had been taken by her parents, and in her hands was only the two taels of silver that she had saved and that nobody knew about.

But what could she do with those two taels of silver? She knew that the tonic she ate every month cost quite a bit of money.

With her son around before, she didn’t have to worry about anything, but now, what was she to do?

Looking at the room again, Mother Song clutched her chest and collapsed onto the ground, sitting down with a thud.