The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure
Chapter 786 - 785: Eager to Return

Chapter 786: Chapter 785: Eager to Return

Wang Yongzhu suddenly had an epiphany and began to admire the predecessors from Yingzi Gully a bit. After all, although the cave was large, it housed roughly seventeen or eighteen families, with about a hundred people constantly seeing each other every day. It was definitely easy for friction to arise.

If they wanted to quarrel, they would go outside the cave to do it. When they came back inside, they would put on an amicable demeanor, which also helped prevent the escalation of conflicts.

Naturally, one had to go all out when quarreling. But if halfway through the argument they realized, "Oh dear, it’s getting late, I need to go back to cook," the momentum would be lost.

After cooking, to come back out and continue the argument? Then the mood just wouldn’t be right, would it?

This predecessor was indeed an interesting person.

The women returned, and the men had already chopped the firewood and laid it out to dry outside the cave.

Several hunters, bare-chested, were busy splitting wood.

The tea leaves that had been brought back earlier, were now being roasted.

The children and elderly who stayed in the cave had also helped to cook the rice and wash the vegetables.

They were just waiting for the women to return and showcase their culinary skills.

After lunch, Wang Yongzhu announced her departure, saying she had been away from home for several days and was worried about her mother. With Zhang Yinbao overseeing everything, she felt reassured and decided to check on things at home, planning to return to the mountains in a few days.

Zhang Yinbao, seeing the harsh conditions of Yingzi Gully, especially the need to make do in the cave at night, thought that it would be bearable for a day or two, but over a longer period, even a man like himself would find it hard to endure, let alone a delicate young lady.

He promptly nodded in agreement, "You go back without worries! I’ll take care of things here! Rest assured, I won’t let them down!"

Zhang Yinbao recognized that Wang Yongzhu’s reason for staying was not because of the tea leaves. It seemed more like she was concerned about the hunters, so he immediately made his promise.

What did Wang Yongzhu have to worry about now? After all, she had done her part, and whether or not it was completed was out of her hands.

She was eager to go back and try the new tea she had picked from the Tea Mother Tree, and she couldn’t forget the original agreement to create new colors, as it was crucial to maintain the relationship with Consort De in the Capital City.

She couldn’t afford any further delays!

Wang Yongping and Jinhoo, who had come with Wang Yongzhu, hadn’t even left Yingzi Gully when they turned around and sold the goods to Boss Zhang, earning more than a dozen silvers, not to mention that Jinhoo had also received a large gold ring.

He was afraid to accept it and wanted to hand it over to Wang Yongzhu.

But Wang Yongzhu comforted Jinhoo, saying it was his fair reward. If he hadn’t brought the wild tea to Guan Yifei, how could today’s business have happened?

Zhang Yinbao’s profit from this endeavor could not be measured in money alone.

If he knew how to be a good person, he would definitely give Jinhoo a generous gift. This gold ring was just a trifle.

It seemed that the Wang Family’s mountain goods business would never be a concern again.

Clinging to the gold ring with an excitedly flushed face, Jinhoo said, "Is it... really for me?"

Wang Yongzhu nodded, "The ring is worth some money, so when you go back, don’t show it off. Otherwise, it’s not good if people get envious."

Jinhoo, reminded by her words, hurriedly nodded, "I’ll hide it, and tell no one! Not even my parents!"

After speaking, he looked at Wang Yongping, "Uncle Four, you can’t tell either!"

Wang Yongping opened his mouth, "Why can’t you even tell your father? Are you saving up for a private stash to get married or what?" He said the last part teasingly.

Jinhoo’s face turned a deep purple as he looked pleadingly towards Wang Yongzhu, "Auntie—"

Wang Yongzhu glared at Wang Yongping, "Why are you teasing the child? Isn’t it fine for a child of his age to have some personal savings? Besides, how do you explain such a big gold ring when you get home? What do you say? If he handed it over, who knows whose hands it might end up in? It’s better to keep it a secret; it saves trouble for everyone! Moreover, since the ring is from Boss Zhang to Jinhoo, it’s his, and he can do what he pleases with it!"

Though Wang Yongping was somewhat disapproving, given the current state of the world, where could children have their own property before marriage if their parents were still around?

Back in the day, before he was married, the money he earned naturally had to be handed over to the family.

After all, his sister’s words must be right, just listen and it will be fine!

Jinhoo looked at Wang Yongzhu with gratitude, thinking to himself that what his father said was right, wasn’t it because of his aunt’s care that he dared to propose that condition?

Wasn’t he the one who hated most to become the kind of person who took advantage of his aunt’s generosity without restraint?

How, without realizing it, had he almost become that kind of person?

Since his aunt allowed him to think it over, and to wait till he had more experience in a few more years before going out to see the world,

why couldn’t he take advantage of these years to save up some silver, so that in the future he wouldn’t spend his aunt’s money anymore?

His aunt had already given enough for the Wang Family, for two generations of them!

If he had any conscience, should he make something of himself in the future, he must repay his aunt properly, instead of expecting his aunt to help him with everything.

This time at Yingzi Gully, Jinhoo saw a lot and felt many emotions.

He finally washed away some of the impatience from his character, and calmed down.

Wang Yongzhu, sensing something, took another look at Jinhoo, and seeing him mature over the past few days, she too felt quite comforted.

Driven by an eagerness to return home, the three of them urged the horse carriage to fly swiftly.

Having just passed Yang Family Village, they saw another horse carriage ahead also running at breakneck speed.

Wang Yongping couldn’t help but mutter, "That’s a town carriage, looking at the direction, it seems it’s heading to our Qilidun? Has someone come to visit their relatives?"

Nowadays, life in Qilidun had improved somewhat, and occasionally, carriages from the town would visit the village, so everyone did not find it strange.

Following the carriage, Wang Yongping watched as it entered Qilidun, took a turn and stopped in front of his own house.

Then, he saw a stranger, a robust man about thirty years old, jump from the carriage.

Following him, he saw a familiar figure.

Wang Yongping couldn’t help but exclaim, "Brother-in-law?"

Wang Yongzhu, upon hearing this, immediately lifted the carriage curtain and looked ahead, her eyes meeting Song Chongjin’s as he looked back at her.

Song Chongjin, who always kept a cold expression, showed a trace of a smile.

Wang Yongzhu, both shocked and overjoyed, quickly jumped from the carriage and ran to Song Chongjin, "Why have you come back?"

Noticing Yang the Mute behind Song Chongjin, she hurriedly greeted him, "Uncle Yang—"

Yang the Mute returned her smile with a nod, made a few hand gestures, indicating that he had accompanied Song Chongjin back.

The doorway was not the place to talk. Wang Yongping was about to give the coachman some silver to send him on his way,

but Yang the Mute had already efficiently climbed back onto the carriage, took a few bundles down, and handed the coachman a handful of copper coins, settling the account.

Wang Yongping didn’t know the background of this Uncle Yang, but the man carried a certain presence about him.

Yet the tasks he handled were quite neat.

After all, if his sister called him uncle, it was definitely correct for him to do the same.

He immediately stepped forward to greet him, while trying to take over the bundle on Yang the Mute’s back, "Uncle Yang, you must have had a tough journey, here, let me take that bundle for you!"