The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure
Chapter 724 - 723: Watch how this old lady cleans you up!

Chapter 724: Chapter 723: Watch how this old lady cleans you up!

"Old lady, you... don’t wrongly accuse me, I... I didn’t have that intention!" the maid finally squeezed out a sentence.

"The hell with that! You didn’t have that intention? If you were really afraid of someone stealing your silver, or that your father would die without a proper burial. Do you see that? What place is that across the street? That’s the Yamen! You came to this street to sell yourself for your father’s burial, thinking because it’s near the Yamen, you just need to shout, and they’ll come, right?"

"Now look what you’ve done, you don’t ask for help from the officials at the Yamen, but you come begging us? And pretending to offer money, who dares to take your funeral silver? Who wouldn’t be pointed at and have their spine broken later on? Who would dare to embezzle even a maid’s money for her father’s burial?"

"If someone with soft ears and a muddled brain might actually get scammed by you, but do you think I would be fooled by these little tricks? I’m telling you, girl, while it’s still light, go to the Yamen and find an official. If you harbor any other intentions, watch how I will deal with you!"

With that, she spat on the ground in front of the girl, stood up straight and proudly grabbed Wang Yongzhu, "Daughter, let’s go home!"

Song Chongjin hurriedly helped Old Granny Zhang up by the arm, following respectfully.

Gu Zikai and Lang Hao stood dumbfounded after listening to everything, admiring Old Granny Zhang profoundly. They looked at the maid kneeling on the ground, her face turning from pale to green, and quickly followed them.

A few onlookers who were scattered around heard everything from the beginning to the end. When they saw Old Granny Zhang and the others leave, the scoundrels near the tea stall stood up, glancing over tentatively.

Ultimately, feeling compassion, they advised, "Girl, the elder sister may have spoken harshly to you, but she really meant well! Be smart and go to the Yamen now, because once the official leaves the Yamen, nobody will protect you!"

The maid’s eyes flickered as she clenched the silver ingot in her hand, got up, and dashed towards the Yamen.

The local ruffians, upon witnessing this scene, uttered words of disgust, spat twice, and walked away in dismay.

All the way home, Song Chongjin, followed by Gu Zikai and Lang Hao, didn’t dare to utter a word, reverently escorting Old Granny Zhang home.

Once Old Granny Zhang entered the yard, Gu Zikai took another couple of glances at Wang Yongzhu before reluctantly heading towards his own home.

Along the way, he overheard Lang Hao mumbling, "My dear mother—Young Master Song’s mother-in-law is quite a formidable person! She scolds so well; her words are like a blade cutting deeply. I swear, she completely stripped that maid selling herself for her father’s burial of her dignity."

Gu Zikai remained silent.

Lang Hao continued, "It’s strange, though. In the past, when those old women in our household scolded, I just felt they were detestable and creating chaos! So how come when I hear this old lady scolding, it’s so pleasant to the ears, and it feels extremely satisfying?"

Gu Zikai’s lips twitched, silently uttering, "Love me, love my dog."

Remembering Wang Yongzhu, he thought that from the first glance, she appeared cheerful and likable, making one happy at the sight of her, always giving the impression that one would want to be close to her.

In his life, aside from family, he never had such feelings towards any other girl outside.

What a pity, Lady Wang was already married!

As a person, Gu Zikai naturally couldn’t do anything as despicable as taking another man’s wife, but he couldn’t control himself, wanting to be near her, believing that just another glimpse would make him happy for a day.

He despised this uncontrollable emotion, yet he couldn’t help wanting to see Lady Wang every morning when he woke up.

With such despicable motives, he approached Brother Song.

Although he considered himself to be in control, he felt immensely guilty inside, feeling that he had wronged Song Chongjin.

Dominated by feelings of guilt and disgust, Gu Zikai entered his yard.

Lang Hao was still rambling on when he was greeted by Mother Lang Hao, who couldn’t help but ask a few more questions after hearing him out.

Upon hearing Mother Lang Hao’s words, he slapped his thigh, "This elder sister is indeed a clear-sighted and straightforward person! Ah, at last, someone with a temperament similar to your mother’s. It’s too late today. Tomorrow, tomorrow I will go and pay a visit!"

When Lang Hao heard this, she also nodded, "It should indeed be so, that Young Master Song in the back courtyard gets along very well with our young master. Although Young Master Song doesn’t say much, he is a steady and reliable person! Considering our young master has such high aspirations and can get along with Young Master Song, we should also interact more with Young Master Song’s wife and mother-in-law. Our young master is here without anyone to help him manage these social relations; we need to worry about these matters more!"

"Son, you are right! Mother will go and prepare two of her best pastries right now, and we’ll pay a visit tomorrow!" Mother Lang Hao, equally decisive, said this and got up to leave.

"Mother, just make two vegetarian pastries, the Song Family is still in mourning!" Lang Hao quickly reminded from behind.

"I know, do I need you to tell me! Go attend to the young master! Why so much talk?" Mother Lang Hao glared at Lang Hao and went straight to the kitchen to get busy.

※※※

In the inn.

Ninth Master Lee ordered with a stern face, "Within three days, I want to buy a house, whether it’s next to that hypocrite Gu Zikai, or right across from him!"

Shopkeeper Wu agreed with his mouth, but his heart was as bitter as if he had eaten Coptis.

On the way back, he guessed that his young master wouldn’t let the matter rest, so he had someone inquire immediately.

As expected, he hadn’t even caught his breath upon returning to the inn when he received the order.

Shopkeeper Wu verbally agreed and added an explanation, "The houses in that area, I’m aware, are inhabited by old residents who have lived there for generations. It’s difficult to find any available property so abruptly. My young master, please be patient a little longer; we must find a suitably large and complete house.

Ninth Master Lee snorted coldly, which Shopkeeper Wu took as reluctant agreement.

Shopkeeper Wu wiped the sweat from his forehead and stepped out, wishing he could slap himself.

What sin had he committed? Serving this young master was much harder than doing business!

※※※

In the small courtyard.

Old Granny Zhang was formally invited by Song Chongjin and Wang Yongzhu to sit down in her room.

Old Granny Zhang wanted to cook, but Song Chongjin firmly stopped her, "Mother, you must be tired today. Leave cooking to Yongzhu and me; we want to honor you today."

Upon hearing this, Old Granny Zhang was delighted, "That’s wonderful, I also get to taste my scholar son-in-law’s cooking skills!"

She indeed sat down with grand posturing in the room waiting to be honored by her daughter and son-in-law.

Wang Yongzhu and Song Chongjin went to the kitchen together, and as Song Chongjin expertly started the fire, he asked, "How was the dye workshop today?"

Wang Yongzhu looked at the ingredients in the kitchen, a handful of garlic chives, a few eggs, and some flour, and decided to make chive and egg pastry pockets.

While kneading the dough, she replied, "The mute uncle who was left in charge is very efficient. The dye workshop is running just as it did before Boss Tian left, and the cloth has been very well-preserved. Seeing that the mute uncle is competent, I’ve decided to arrange for him to go directly to our shop after handing over the dye workshop and the cloth to the Lee Family."

"There’s a small courtyard behind the shop with some rooms suitable for living. We’ll pay him six hundred coins a month, which includes his living expenses, and he’ll get new clothes for all seasons. If he does well, we’ll give him a double salary bonus at the end of the year!"