The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure
Chapter 398 Golden Hairpin

Chapter 398: Chapter 398 Golden Hairpin

This display of grandeur had everyone who had dined there giving the thumbs up, saying the Old Wang Family had style and pomp.

At the main table in the courtyard naturally sat the Lizheng, Clan Leader, and several esteemed elders, accompanied by Wang Laozhu, Wang Yongfu, and a few peers from the clan.

Shopkeeper Wu, Benefactor Wu, Wu Zhongbao, as well as Steward Lu and Guan Yifei sat at the table beside them, joined by Wang Yongping and Wang Yonggui.

Wang Yonggui, usually a slick talker, now truly had his moment to shine. With his gift of gab, the atmosphere at the table was consistently pleasant.

An engagement ceremony required a betrothal gift and a marriage agreement, after all.

Song Chongjin had prepared the betrothal gifts early on, adhering to the customs of rural families with only a few extras.

The most precious among them was a golden hairpin contained in a case. The hairpin, made from gold wire, was crafted into a plum blossom with tightly clustered petals, and right at its center lay a pink pearl the size of a pinky fingertip, emitting a soft glow.

Shopkeeper Wu and the others, seasoned as they were, all had their eyes narrow at the sight of the pearl.

This pearl was rare indeed, but such a large, perfectly round pearl with lustrous sheen was even more scarce.

In the provincial capital city, it would be considered top-notch, yet here it was in Qilidun.

Everyone covertly exchanged glances, then all smiled and praised how today’s protagonists were a match made in heaven, a couple of talent and beauty.

Not to speak of the worldly people like Shopkeeper Wu who were amazed at the sight, even the young ladies and wives, and even the old women, their eyes went red with envy and jealousy as they looked upon the hairpin.

Such a beautiful hairpin, and made of gold at that, how much would it be worth?

Was it Song Chongjin trying to impress his future in-laws by pretending to be richer than he was?

Or had the Wang Family paid for it themselves for the sake of face?

Lady Lin and Lady Jiang couldn’t take their eyes off it, and Old Granny Zhang had wiped her hands on her clothes several times before daring to reach for the case, fearful of accidentally dropping it.

Old Granny Zhang naturally knew that the hairpin was bought by Song Chongjin with his own earned money, not a cent from the Wang Family.

Hence, she was even more pleased.

Her daughter had a good eye; she had picked an excellent son-in-law, a man who would cherish his wife.

The marriage agreement had naturally been written up by the Lizheng and several dignified elders, who had also signed their names; this too was unique to Qilidun.

If before the Lizheng had been somewhat reluctant, offering his consent only out of social obligation, his expression changed after seeing the hairpin, and with Shopkeeper Wu and others coming to offer congratulations, there was not a hint of reluctance anymore, as he kept smiling, his attitude excellent.

Especially today, as Song Chongjin wore the green robe newly made by Wang Yongzhu, and with his long-held wish granted, the gloom that used to cloud his features was considerably lifted.

His lips slightly upturned and his eyes exuding joy, he looked handsomely unmatchable.

Wang Yongzhu, sitting inside the house, played with the hairpin Song Chongjin had given her, a trace of a smile crossing her eyes.

Jinhua and Zhu Ye, along with several other maids from the Wang Family Clan, were keeping Wang Yongzhu company in the house, looking enviously at that hairpin and Wang Yongzhu’s outfit for the day.

Her crimson outfit made her skin look particularly fair and her demeanor radiant, her head adorned with a hairpin bestowed by the palace madams, flashing an impressive ruby shine.

A country girl would be lucky to see a few hair ornaments or to afford a couple of silver hairpins; the chance of encountering such jewels and pearls set in gold was next to none.

They could only gaze at it from a distance, not even daring to touch.

In their hearts, they envied Wang Yongzhu for being so favored, with four brothers at home to keep her from being wronged, and now she was to have a handsome son-in-law live with her.

How could someone be so fortunate?

Wang Yongzhu naturally saw the jealousy in the hearts and eyes of those girls and could only feel helpless.

She had originally thought that an engagement was just a meal to invite people over and a marriage contract to be drawn up. That’s it.

But somehow it didn’t matter whether it was Wang Laozhu and Old Granny Zhang, or Song Chongjin, they all wanted to make a big event out of it.

Wang Laozhu wanted to use this joyous occasion to wash away the bad luck of a broken engagement from years past.

Old Granny Zhang felt sorry for her daughter. The last time the engagement was planned, the betrothal gifts were carried from the Wang Family to the Song Family, and Song Chongjin wasn’t even home. What kind of engagement was that?

This time, it had to be done with great flair and pride, surpassing all the other girls in the village.

Song Chongjin, feeling guilty, naturally wanted to give Yongzhu the best he could afford.

The three of them were in agreement, and Wang Yongzhu didn’t have much say in the matter.

Watching the hustle and bustle outside, Wang Yongzhu thought to herself that after this, she wondered how much more resentment she’d stir up.

※※※

The news of Wang Family Girl’s engagement to Song Chongjin had already spread throughout Qilidun.

Those who were on good terms with the Wang Family, or even those who were just acquaintances, had all received invitations.

When the villagers had free time, they naturally had nothing much to do, so the rural women were all too happy to have something to gossip about, showing great interest in the engagement.

Even though Song Chunhua was lying in the house, there were inevitably two old ladies standing outside, speaking loudly enough for Song Chunhua to hear, clearly on purpose.

"Hey, did you hear? The Wang Family really splurged this time. They bought almost half a pig, over a dozen big grass carps, and even ordered a slab of tofu. I heard they even hired a chef from a restaurant in town to do the cooking..."

"Of course I heard. Since early morning, there were firecrackers going off at the Wangs’, hundreds of them!"

"Old Granny Zhang, she’s really willing to spend anything for her daughter this time!"

"Isn’t that the truth? Not like some who are worse than a beast, they wouldn’t even eat their own kind. But some people can sell their own son!"

...

Song Chunhua felt disoriented. Was Chongjin really getting engaged to Wang Family Girl?

She hadn’t eaten in two days, lying on the bed without any strength.

Ever since they had sold Song Chongjin, the Song Family had gotten some silver to pay off gambling debts, and there was even some silver left over. For a few days, the grain at her place was totally consumed by the Song Family. With no choice, she thought about what her nephews and brothers had said earlier, that as long as they had a bowl of rice, she, as their unmarried aunt, would definitely have one too.

She went to the Song Family after running out of food at home, and the face of her sister-in-law turned ugly.

Her parents still cared for her after all, allowing her to cook for those working in the fields for the Song Family, so she would have something to eat.

After she finished cooking and brought it to the fields, it was quickly devoured by everyone, and she was lucky if she could keep a single steamed bun for herself.

Song Chunhua wasn’t picky, considering that times at her maiden home were tough, a far cry from the past, and being able to eat her fill was good enough.

Then she cooked for the Song Family during the day, and at night her nephews and nieces said they were worried about her and accompanied her back to her home to stay. One day they complained about a shortage of quilts at home, the next day they admired her jacket, and the day after that they had their eyes on something else.

Every few days, her nephews and nieces cleared out anything of value from her room.

But after the autumn harvest, when the Song Family sold their grain, her parents gave her ten jin of grain and sent her back home, saying there was no reason for an unmarried daughter to cling to her parents’ house, eating their food every day.

For the sake of old times, they gave her some grain to get by at home for now.