The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure
Chapter 498 - 496

Chapter 498: 496

Wang Yonggui lay on the kang bed, shaking his leg idly as he watched his wife in such a disappointing state and drawled, "It’s not even dark yet, it’s a bit early for dreaming! It’s about time to cook dinner. Alright, stop fiddling with those bracelets, they’re not going to grow legs and run away, are they? Go and get started on dinner, before you make Mom mad and she takes them back."

Upon hearing this, Lady Jiang, frightened, quickly withdrew her hands into her sleeves and hurriedly stood up to go cook.

At the doorway, she felt something amiss, caressing her bracelets tenderly, "These are silver bracelets, I can’t let them get tarnished by cooking fumes." Saying this, she slid them off, wrapped them in cloth, tucked them into her bosom, and then bustled off to the kitchen.

In the kitchen, Lady Lin was lighting the fire with a stern face. Seeing Lady Jiang enter, she pursed her lips, "Oh dear, sister-in-law, today you really struck it big. Following your brother-in-law Laosi who hasn’t brought home a bride yet, you’ve gotten such a splendid dowry. Now, you seem to have more prestige in the eyes of our in-laws than anyone, with those heavy silver bracelets given so readily. Even that maid Jinhua might end up with silver earrings because of you. Yet I, as the eldest sister-in-law, didn’t even get a touch. Seems like in the future our main branch of the family might even have to look up to you and the other sister and brother-in-law—"

Lady Lin dared to speak her mind only in front of Lady Jiang. Earlier, Wang Yongfu had given her a good scolding and told her to behave before rushing her to cook, leaving her feeling quite vexed.

Lady Jiang had just received the bracelets and was at the height of her joy. They were genuine silver pieces. Along with the silver pieces the head of the family had given her, and her fixed monthly allowance from the past two months, Lady Jiang felt financially secure and her backbone a bit straighter.

Moreover, everyone knew very well why Lady Lin didn’t get any bracelets.

Therefore, she treated Lady Lin’s comments as if they were a passing breeze and cheerfully continued to cook without mention.

The next morning, they sent for a matchmaker as soon as it was light out. After breakfast, they took along two packages of cakes and the two jin of meat they had cut early in the morning at the village entrance.

They had bought a big green fish weighing about ten jin the day before, cleaned it, rubbed a thin layer of salt over it, then hung it with straw rope under the eaves to be blown dry by the wind all night. It was just right to take along.

After Old Granny Zhang had said a few more pleasant words, the matchmaker finally boarded the carriage. Wang Yongfu, dressed in his ninety percent new indigo clothes, appeared stable and honest. He drove the horse carriage leisurely towards Chongzi Gou.

Wang Yongzhu had agreed to Guan Yifei’s request for the Yellow Pine Mushrooms and also tidied up before heading into the mountains.

Reaching the cave, indeed, it was the right time to harvest the Yellow Pine Mushrooms.

Wang Yongzhu carefully lined the bamboo basket she had brought with a layer of tree leaves, then layered soft pine needles on top before gently placing the harvested Yellow Pine Mushrooms on them, arranging them neatly.

Then she sprayed them with a diluted Gene Evolution Liquid to keep them fresh.

After finishing picking, she sprayed the Gene Evolution Liquid on the mushroom beds as well to promote the growth of new Yellow Pine Mushrooms.

Next, she covered the basket with leaves. Just as Wang Yongzhu was about to carry the basket home, she suddenly remembered, didn’t she have some kind of storage box?

She quickly summoned Xiao Tiantian, "Xiao Tiantian, there won’t be any problem with putting the Yellow Pine Mushrooms in my storage box, will there?"

Xiao Tiantian’s voice sounded a bit feeble, "Please rest assured, host. The storage box has a preservation function. Fresh vegetables, fruits, and plants can be kept in the box without losing nutrients and moisture for fifteen days."

That’s wonderful.

Wang Yongzhu placed the Yellow Pine Mushrooms into the storage box and carried the empty basket down the mountain.

She had been so busy these days that she had no time to bother with Xiao Tiantian, and unexpectedly, Xiao Tiantian hadn’t been bothering her with reminders to complete tasks, a complete turnaround from its usual behavior.

That indeed seemed a bit odd.

With this in mind, Wang Yongzhu chatted with Xiao Tiantian as she walked, "Xiao Tiantian, can you see if Song Chongjin’s affection for me has increased?"

Xiao Tiantian emitted a grating "zzz—" sound, causing Wang Yongzhu to involuntarily frown.

"I’m sorry, Host!" Xiao Tiantian quickly realized her mistake and apologized pitifully.

Wang Yongzhu paused her steps, and with a sense of helplessness, she asked, "What happened?" With such a system, what else could she do but endure?

Xiao Tiantian burst into tears, "Host! We are in last place again! The hosts of other systems have all leveled up to level 6 or above, and there’s one system host who has already reached level 9. They say she has steamed a pile of buns with her target and has become the number one landlord in that plane, wealthy enough to rival nations. Her fields are almost equivalent to half the land of that country. If she completes her final love target mission, ’Love is More Precious than Gold,’ she will reach full level."

"And I... I’m only level four... I’ve become the bottom-ranking system... My ＄‰※○..." Xiao Tiantian’s last few words became a jumble of unintelligible noises, and Wang Yongzhu did not understand a single word.

"Your what?"

"That was the reward for the first system to complete its tasks, the highest-level upgrade program. Upon loading this program, there is a possibility of evolving into a Third-Level Intelligent Brain under the leader’s command, which is the ultimate pursuit and dream of our systems! Now, it’s completely shattered!" Xiao Tiantian replied listlessly.

Then, she continued mournfully, "The system is very upset right now and does not wish to operate any of its programs. It requests some time to rest; otherwise, the system is too disheartened to work and cannot be of any help to the host..."

Wang Yongzhu...

The words of comfort she had wanted to offer were swallowed back and transformed into one word: "Scram—"

Xiao Tiantian scurried away with her fragile system heart.

Wang Yongzhu’s ears were blessed with peace and quiet.

With a cold laugh, Wang Yongzhu really wanted to remind Xiao Tiantian, the silly system, that the so-called host, who reportedly allowed her system to level up to nine and owned fields equalling half a country’s land area, probably wouldn’t live until the day she reached full level.

According to the news Xiao Tiantian revealed, the planes these hosts were invested in were mostly similar to the one she was in.

What did it mean for a Farming System host to have land that comprised half a nation’s territory?

No ruler of any plane would allow such a person to exist.

That host might still be smugly believing success was within reach, but she was likely already the fish on the chopping board, about to be carved up at any moment.

After all, aside from its incessant chatter, Xiao Tiantian’s system hadn’t done anything of substance; taking a break might be for the best.

By this time, Wang Yongzhu had already reached the top of Qili Slope, looking down at Qilidun. The village basked in the sunlight, tranquil and serene.

It was best not to spoil such days!

By the time Wang Yongzhu reached the foot of the mountain, it was almost dark. Most villagers had gone home, and she occasionally bumped into a few on the road. When they saw Wang Yongzhu, they greeted her, and noticing her empty bamboo basket, they teased her a bit.

They joked about how she still went up the mountain despite collecting so many wild products at home.

They teased that perhaps having gathered so many wild goods made her picky, to the point of turning a blind eye to ordinary mountain products.

Wang Yongzhu simply smiled, didn’t argue, agreed with a couple of remarks, and continued on her way home without pause.