The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure
Chapter 433 Two Masters

Chapter 433: Chapter 433 Two Masters

Upon hearing the commotion, Wang Yongzhu couldn’t help but look towards the tall man, and if she wasn’t mistaken, this must be Hunter Qin, the master who taught Song Chongjin hunting.

Feeling somewhat embarrassed by Wang Yongzhu’s gaze, Hunter Qin, annoyed, called out to the room, "Everyone has heard, what are you still hiding in there for?"

Following Hunter Qin’s voice, the door of the side room opened, and a middle-aged literati in a green robe stormed out, looking frustrated.

With a pale face and a slightly frail figure, he wore an unwelcoming expression of arrogance, merely glancing at Wang Yongzhu out of the corner of his eye before huffing, "Whose daughter is this, so lacking in manners? To blurt out the matter of seeking a son-in-law so casually? It’s simply a disgrace, a disgrace to scholars..."

Wang Yongzhu could tell right away that this was Shopkeeper Zhang.

Song Chongjin was still driving the carriage and hadn’t entered yet. There were only three people in the courtyard: Hunter Qin, with a stern face and arms crossed over his chest, seemed to be enjoying the show.

Shopkeeper Zhang gave Wang Yongzhu a glance, then acted as if his eyes hurt, shielding his face with his sleeve and spouting nothing but nonsense about disgraces and inconceivabilities.

Wang Yongzhu looked around the courtyard. It was quite spacious, with several osmanthus trees planted. Now the sweet scent of osmanthus wafted through the air, and the tiny yellow flowers covered the stone table and benches beneath the trees.

Without waiting for the two men to say anything, Wang Yongzhu walked straight to the stone table, casually brushed the osmanthus off the bench, and sat down comfortably.

Only then did she respond calmly, "I don’t quite understand the gentleman’s words. Aren’t I just stating the facts? Isn’t Song Chongjin now our Wang Family’s son-in-law? Isn’t it just bad luck that he was born without knowing his own parents and was adopted by someone like Song Chunhua, making his life miserable?"

"To repay her for raising him, he was sold to our Wang Family to be our son-in-law. This is surely an act of filial piety, so how could it be disgraceful? I may not be well-versed in reading or writing, but I do know that books teach people about reason and filial duty. Song Chongjin has learned to read and write to repay his mother by selling himself, which makes for a fine tale! How is this unreasonable? I really don’t understand. Maybe the gentleman could explain it to me?"

Shopkeeper Zhang was left speechless by Wang Yongzhu’s words; his face flushed with anger, just in time to see Song Chongjin driving the carriage into the courtyard.

Song Chongjin, seeing Shopkeeper Zhang with a ’I have something to say’ expression, simply pretended not to notice.

After parking the carriage and untying the mule, he led it to a corner of the courtyard to be tied up, and brought a bucket of water for the mule to drink. Only after he had finished tending to everything did he slowly make his way over to Wang Yongzhu.

Halfway there, Shopkeeper Zhang stopped him, "Are you out of your mind? Even if you resign yourself to this, you shouldn’t settle for a sharp-tongued, troublesome village woman like her! Do you not care about your future anymore? To actually become a son-in-law for a village woman, do you still want to continue your studies? You might as well not have read all those years of books!"

Song Chongjin’s expression darkened, "Shopkeeper Zhang, your words are too presumptuous. Chongjin has always been a country man, who, merely by a fortunate mistake, was mistaken as a true descendant by the Noble Patron and thus came to recognize a few words. What future could I possibly have? I have never even considered further education! With no steady property of my own, in order to repay the kindness of being raised, I am indebted to Yongzhu’s Family, who were willing to spend one hundred taels to let me be their son-in-law. Such great benevolence, akin to being reborn, really it’s I who am unworthy of Yongzhu. Having spent their money and now living in their house, besides giving myself in marriage, I truly do not know any other way I could repay this kindness."

Shopkeeper Zhang’s face instantly turned weirdly stiff, wanting to say something but unable to find the words, he just angrily gestured at Song Chongjin and then went aside to catch his breath in silence.

It was only then that Song Chongjin, as if nothing had happened, approached Wang Yongzhu, "Yongzhu, let me introduce to you, these are the two masters who mistakenly believed I was a true descendant of the Song Family and taught me all my skills and literacy. This is Master Qin, and this is Master Zhang."

He then turned to Hunter Qin, "Masters, this is my future wife, Wang Yongzhu."

Wang Yongzhu rose with a smiling face, bowed to the two masters, and deliberately held up the date cake in her hand, "This is my first visit, we country folks don’t know much about proper etiquette, nor am I aware of what the masters like, so I bought some date cakes. I’ve heard they enrich the blood and boost energy, and they are best for elderly folks. Would the masters like to try some?"

As soon as she said that, Shopkeeper Zhang bristled, "You country woman, whom are you calling old?"

Wang Yongzhu looked over, feigning contrition, "Oh dear, I apologize, Master Zhang, I wasn’t referring to your age; please don’t take it to heart..."

While turning her head towards Song Chongjin, she continued, "Brother Song, it’s all because I’m inexperienced. In the countryside, only women dislike being told they are old. I had no idea that in the city, even men dislike it when others mention their age. Brother Song, rest assured, I will remember this from now on and will never say the masters are getting on in years..."

Song Chongjin struggled to contain his laughter, unable to hide the amusement in his eyes, and earnestly replied, "No worries, both masters are generous and won’t mind such things with us."

Having said that, the two exchanged knowing glances.

Shopkeeper Zhang, when he spoke, it was always elaborate and refined. The people he associated with were all educated, and they also tended to speak with subtlety.

Not to mention, he also owned a bookstore in town and was regarded as a respectable person when he stepped out.

He had never encountered someone like Wang Yongzhu, whose words sounded soft and gentle, but the barbs hidden within were so uncomfortable that you wouldn’t know where to begin if you wanted to retort.

And to become visibly upset would only make him seem petty.

Suddenly, his gaze upon Wang Yongzhu was as if he wished he could spit fire.

It was Hunter Qin whose mind was sharp enough to understand that this girl Song Chongjin brought along seemed cheerful and blessed, but as soon as she opened her mouth, it became clear that she was no simple character.

Her words were pointed and laden with hidden meanings, all carefully designed to distance Song Chongjin and himself, as well as their hidden master, from each other.

It was a clear stance that Song Chongjin no longer had any connection with them.

Heaving a sigh, Hunter Qin realized that if he continued to beat around the bush, they might end up talking in circles until dark without getting anywhere. It might be better to be straightforward.

"Chongjin, the reason we asked you to come today is also because of the matter we discussed last time," Hunter Qin got straight to the point.

"The matter you talked about last time concerning the Song Family, about your origins; we went to investigate it afterward and indeed it is as you said. The child Song Chunhua gave birth to did die outside. Even now, the child’s Ever-Bright Lantern is still being lit in the temple. It’s said that every year Song Chunhua sends Silver Coin to the temple through someone to ensure that the monks keep it lit..."

Wang Yongzhu and Song Chongjin exchanged a look, indicating that Song Chunhua had never forgotten about the child over the years and had kept the Ever-Bright Lantern burning for almost twenty years without ever letting it go out...