The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure
Chapter 485 - 483 Recommendation

Chapter 485: Chapter 483 Recommendation

Unexpectedly, the townsfolk who accompanied Wang Yongzhu to the Wang Family in town last night were boasting in the village this morning, praising the Wang Family for knowing how to handle things and treat people generously and promptly.

When the more talkative villagers asked, they found out that everyone who went with Wang Yongzhu yesterday had received a reward of a taels of silver each.

A taels of silver! Everyone was green with envy.

Seeing that the Wang Family had opened their doors, the villagers gathered at the gate to ask all sorts of questions, trying to find out what had happened.

Even the Wang Family Patriarch, who had spent half of last night worrying, later tried to inquire about the situation from those who had gone with them, but since they were all in the courtyard, he didn’t catch everything they said; it was all quite vague, and that left the Patriarch unable to sleep.

Anxious about the matter, as soon as he had finished his duties at home, he rushed to the Wang Family to get a clear understanding.

On the way, he encountered Wang Laozhu and asked him a few more questions. Wang Laozhu knew only the few sentences Wang Yongzhu had casually mentioned, which were even vaguer than what those who had accompanied her had said.

The Wang Family Patriarch stamped his foot in frustration, "Zhuzi, if even you don’t have the details, never mind, I might as well go to your house and ask Yongzhu myself!"

The speaker thought nothing of it, but the listener took it to heart.

Wang Laozhu’s face fell instantly, and he silently smoked his pipe without a word.

The Patriarch couldn’t concern himself with that and strode ahead, not even bothering to wait for Wang Laozhu.

Wang Laozhu, feeling dejected, took a couple of puffs of his pipe and hunched his back as he headed to the fields.

After reassuring the hastily arriving Wang Family Patriarch and letting him know that the Qian Family had no intention of troubling the Wang Family, the Patriarch finally felt at ease.

Looking around the courtyard and not seeing Song Chongjin, he asked, "I saw Chongjin here yesterday; has his eye condition improved? Why don’t I see him? Hasn’t he returned?"

Old Granny Zhang interjected, "Blessings from the heavens, his luck was good, and the heavens could not bear to watch such a pitiful child become disabled for the rest of his life. The doctor they found was truly miraculous—just a few prescriptions and his condition improved substantially. Later, they said he needed one more ingredient, which luckily our county city had. Recently, our Yongzhu took him back to the city to find that ingredient, and they finally neutralized the poison! I was just saying that once things settle down, we must go to the temple to burn incense and fulfill our vows."

"Right after the detoxification, he came home to this commotion. After running back and forth to town, he just got back early this morning, utterly worn out. I hurriedly told him to rest in his room. Is there something you need him for? I’ll have Yongzhu call him."

Upon hearing this, the Wang Family Patriarch felt relieved as well. No one could bear the thought of seeing such a young man become blind.

"It’s nothing, nothing! I’m just concerned. It’s good that the child is alright. He must have been greatly weakened by the poison, so let him rest well. We can’t let his health deteriorate. Although Chongjin’s background is unfortunate, he is a young man destined for good fortune, having found such a righteous family like yours. It’s his blessing indeed," said the Patriarch.

The Wang Family Patriarch proceeded to compliment Old Granny Zhang, praising her for raising her daughter well and for her steadfastness during Song Chongjin’s blindness.

Now, throughout the surrounding ten miles, the virtuous fame of the Wang Family’s daughter had spread everywhere. Everyone envied Song Chongjin for his stroke of luck in finding such a good wife.

Consequently, the reputation of the unmarried daughters of the Qilidun Wang Family had improved, and as the Clan Leader, he walked with pride and a more radiant face.

Moreover, the County Lizheng had hinted in conversation a few days ago that every ten years, each town in the county nominates prominent local figures to the county, and those who make significant contributions could even be recorded in the county annals, immortalized for eternity.

For years, Qilidun had seen no notable figures, except for Wang Yongan, who in his youth achieved the status of Scholar, thereby gaining some limelight. Now, there was Wang Yongzhu, a remarkable maiden from a boudoir, who stood up to shoulder the entire household’s livelihood in times of family difficulties and remained loyal to her blind fiancé. She too deserved to be reported.

It would indeed enhance Qilidun’s reputation, and if they were lucky enough to be included in the county records, it would be an outstanding achievement.

Since there was no certainty about the matter yet, the Wang Family Patriarch could not declare it openly, he could only selectively share the flattering comments.

Old Granny Zhang was praised to the skies, feeling exhilarated beyond measure. In the past, everyone would say behind her back and to her face that she seemed shrewd but was actually foolish, preferring her sons less while doting on a daughter who would eventually marry and leave home.

A daughter is someone else’s family after all; what good is doting on her? To support her and provide for her for over a decade, and in the end, still have to give away a sizeable dowry, was nothing but a losing deal.

Moreover, because of her affection for her daughter, she had alienated her sons and daughters-in-law. People said that when she grew old and was no longer able to work, her days of hardship and suffering would follow.

But now, even the Wang Family Patriarch had come to praise her way of raising her daughter. Who else could boast such glory as she? Raising a bunch of sons combined didn’t bring as much face as having a daughter who earned respect for herself.

Concerning her second son, that bastard, when he became a Scholar, everyone praised his intelligence and said that the Wang Family’s ancestral grave was producing green smoke, implying that it had nothing to do with her, his own mother.

The frustration she had been holding in all those years, she could finally vent now.

Tomorrow, no, this afternoon, she must go to the village to spread the word, to let those who had gossiped about her behind the scenes for years listen.

Having seen off the Wang Family Patriarch, Old Granny Zhang felt her spine twice as straight today! Her walk even carried a brisk, forceful air.

Once outside, the Wang Family Clan People crowded around her, showering her with praises and seeking to curry favor, the undertones of their conversation aiming to draw closer. They hoped she would think of them whenever there was a good opportunity like the one from yesterday.

Old Granny Zhang, however, was capable of holding her ground; even as she was filled with sweet flattery, she firmly did not agree to any family’s requests on behalf of her daughter.

That left those in the Wang Family who had hoped to scrape some benefits having to leave disappointed and unmentioned.

The issue with the Qian Family had been resolved, and as for the aftermath, they would have to wait until Lady Yu had calmed down.

But according to the news from Song Chongjin’s subordinates, the Qian Family was now buzzing with activity; Lady Yu had entered the business arena once more, taking the seal into her own hands and interfering in business matters.

At first, Qian Dahao failed to react, and being confined by Lady Yu in his residence, unable to go anywhere, he was indeed suppressed by her for a moment.

However, having been a prominent figure in the business world for many years, once Qian Dahao came to his senses, one could fear that the real internal strife within the Qian Family was about to begin.

These were no longer matters for Wang Yongzhu to worry about.

Counting the days, this trip had exceeded the initially promised time due to the incident of Song Chongjin’s poisoning.

Therefore, after Song Chongjin had rested for a night, the very next day Wang Yongzhu dragged him onto the carriage, and the two of them, driving the carriage carrying silver and the cloth that they had promised to the women of Chongzi Gully, rushed towards the mountains in haste.

They had only caught sight of the houses in Chongzi Gou from a mile or two away in the mountains when Song Chongjin and Wang Yongzhu saw, from afar, a familiar figure darting down from the big tree at the entrance of the village and sprinting toward the carriage.

Who else could it be but Wang Yongping?