Transmigration: From Farmer To Empress
Chapter 112 Mu Zhongqing Returns_1

Chapter 112: Chapter 112 Mu Zhongqing Returns_1

Having finished watching the play, Lady Du planned to take her children home, since they had been away for the better part of a day. She didn’t know what Wei’er, that girl, could be up to at home. Maybe, if they got there a bit early, she could help her.

While they were walking, a sudden shout of joy up ahead rang out, "Oh my, is that you from the scholar’s house?"

Upon the sound, Lady Du stopped in her tracks and lifted her gaze. She saw Third Sister-in-law Mu carrying a basket and accompanied by her daughter Cai Ping. They were standing not far from her. Her husband, Third Elder Mu, was also standing there with a large flower basket on his back.

"Third Brother Mu, you...you’re back..."

Seeing Third Elder Mu, Lady Du could scarcely believe her own eyes. She was so moved that her eyes reddened as if her own man had returned home.

"Yes, indeed. I came back last night. Zhongqing and I returned together..."

Third Brother Mu was well aware of what Lady Du was truly worried about and he playfully voiced her deepest concerns with a grin.

"Uh..." Upon hearing that her husband too had safely returned home, Lady Du couldn’t help but shed tears. The anxiety, worry, fear and other negative emotions which had plagued her for the better part of half a year finally dissipated: "It’s good that you’re back...it’s good...finally back..."

All beings rejoice in good news. With their husbands returning, who wouldn’t be filled with words of joy. Third Sister-in-law Mu, eyes sparkling with delight, teasingly said: "Oh my, look at you. You have already become even more stunning in just these few days. Just look at your outfit, you’re just like a lady of wealth. When Zhongqing sees you, he’ll surely be pleased... Huh? Why are you crying? Could it be you’re not happy that Zhongqing has come back?"

Burying her head low, Lady Du was busy wiping away her tears. However, the tears welled up like broken pearls, impossible to wipe away completely. All her suffering over this period found an outlet in tears all at once.

With the man of the house not yet home and no news or messages, any woman would inevitably start overthinking. Was he ill? Had he met with bandits? Had he found someone else?

In short, various unfortunate scenarios played out in her mind daily, tormenting her until she was emaciated, restless in her sleep and meals, but unable to share her troubles with her children for fear they would worry too.

This suppressed agony, once relieved, resulted in an ineffable feeling of burden being lifted off her shoulders that none but her could fully understand...

Third Elder Mu nudged his wife and corrected her, "Don’t talk nonsense, in brother Zhongqing’s words, that kind of crying of her’s is called ’weeping for joy’. Do you get it?"

Third Sister-in-law Mu gave her husband a side eye and retorted, "Just because you’ve been with the scholar for one trip, you’ve begun to play with words. What’s ’weeping for joy’? It’s nothing but crying out of joy..."

The couple was busy indulging in their sweet banters. To interrupt them, Cai Fei stepped forward and asked, "Third Uncle, do you know where my father is? Why didn’t he come with you to town to find us?"

Third Elder Mu sighed and said, "Zhongqing was rushed off to the county town early this morning. Yesterday morning, people from the County Government Office arrested your grandfather, saying he’s an accomplice in a horse trampling and murder case. He can’t be spared. As soon as your father came back last night, your grandmother made a big fuss. And now, early this morning, before the break of dawn, he has been kicked off to the county town by your grandmother to deal with it..."

"Sister Fei..."

Cai Lian, who had been standing silently to the side, suddenly called out to Cai Fei, her eyes filled with envy as she took in Cai Fei’s silk and satin dress, the trimmed ground-length cloak, the pearl cluster gold inlaid earrings she wore, and the ruby ring on her hand...

"You look so beautiful in these clothes!"

She had only seen such adornments in paintings, and she hadn’t imagined that Sister Fei could actually wear them. She really was fortunate!

Cai Fei was very sensible, pretending not to notice the envy in her eyes. She smiled and said, "Sister Cai Lian, you’re beautiful. You don’t need to wear such clothes to look good. Unlike me, I have to dress up or else I’ll be too ugly to be seen!"

Third Elder Mu saw his beloved daughter eyeing Cai Fei’s clothes with envy, his heart aching so much that he clenched his fists. He too wished to buy his child a beautiful dress, but sadly, all he had left in his purse were a few copper coins. He couldn’t even afford to buy a handkerchief made from fine cotton cloth, let alone a dress made of silk and satin.

He had gone out hoping to earn some money to make life a bit better at home. Unfortunately, they encountered a storm at sea, and they lost all their goods in the water, nearly losing their lives too.

These past few months, he and his brother Zhongqing have been writing letters and selling words to make a living at the entrance of the temple, or helping people carry loads to make money at the dock. They’ve scrimped and saved for several months and barely accumulated enough money for their journey home. Even though they only ate once a day to save money and hardly ever rode in a carriage, opting instead to walk, they’ve still exhausted their meager savings. Where would they get the extra money to buy their daughter new clothes?

Third Aunt Mu knew about her husband’s difficulties. She also felt sorry for their daughter and hurriedly said, "When we sell these black fungi and mushrooms, we can go to the cloth store to see if anything is cheap. We could buy a piece of floral cloth for Lian’er to make new clothes."

Lady Du realized that Third Elder Mu and his wife couldn’t afford to provide their daughter with new clothes. She understood that Third Elder Mu hadn’t earned any money on his trip and as her husband had been with him, he hadn’t either. However, as long as they came back safely, whether they had earned money didn’t matter anymore. Besides, their home business was thriving, and they weren’t bothered about the little money he earned. The ability to live peacefully as a family was more important than anything else.

"I happen to have some leftover fabric here. Why not make a new dress for Lian’er? It would be festive for the New Year if the child could wear it." Lady Du suggested.

Upon hearing this, Third Elder Mu and his wife hurriedly declined, "How could we accept that? Your family has many children, you should keep it for your own children."

Lady Du laughed and said, "They all have theirs, this one is a gift from me, her aunt, to my niece. Third Brother and Third Sister-in-law, there’s no need to decline."

After saying this, she asked Auntie Zhang to bring over the remaining fabric from the two rolls of silk so Cai Lian could choose.

Cai Lian carefully walked over, her eyes wide open with excitement as she looked at the resplendent brocade in front of her, her heart nearly leaping out of her chest.

She had never seen such beautiful things before. In her mind, clothes made of fine cotton were already the best. Clothes made of this silk and satin were something she dared not dream of in this lifetime, they were too far from her reality.

Gently stroking the smooth and glossy silk satin, she was filled with apprehension, fearing that her dirty hands might soil the fabric. She also worried that her rough hands might scratch and damage the fabric...