The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure-Chapter 27 - is a clear-sighted person

27: Chapter 27 is a clear-sighted person.

27: Chapter 27 is a clear-sighted person.

Wang Yongfu opened his mouth and consoled, “Little sister has had her engagement broken off, it must be tough on her heart.

It would be good for her to take a stroll at the market and clear her mind.

As her elder brother and sister-in-law, what is there for us to nitpick about?”

Lady Lin was so infuriated that she almost fell backward.

Her own man was good in every aspect, except for being too honest.

Why couldn’t he think about the fact that they only had so much money at home, and that in a couple of years, Jindou would need to start looking for a match?

Was marrying off a daughter as easy as just talking about it?

The house was becoming too small to live in as well.

It wouldn’t do for a son to get married and still cram into a single room with his parents and brothers, would it?

Jindou was the Wang Family’s eldest son and grandson, the future pillar of the household, the one to carry on the Wang Family’s lineage.

If the family’s money wasn’t spent on him, but all on a little girl who would eventually be married off, would that make any sense?

Knowing she couldn’t reason with Wang Yongfu, Lady Lin turned over in anger and went to bed.

Wang Yongfu, not understanding why his wife suddenly got angry again, climbed into the kang and groped Lady Lin twice, only to be pushed away by her.

He awkwardly touched his nose and lay down as well.

In the next room, the three Jindou brothers couldn’t sleep.

They too wished to go to the market.

Aside from Jindou who had been to the market once, the rest of the little beans had never been there.

Listening to Jindou talk about the bustling market and all the delicious and fun things there, Jinhoo and Jinpan’s eyes sparkled, secretly hoping that one day they could also go to the market…

In the third room, a few family members were also whispering about the market.

“Mom, is the market fun?

Is it really lively?

Are there lots of tasty foods?

And beautiful hair flowers?” Jinhua asked softly, her eyes full of longing.

Lady Jiang’s gaze became distant as she looked at the ceiling, speaking slowly, “Of course.

The town’s monthly big market is a major event for the neighboring villages within ten miles.

On that day, people from nearby will go to sell their eggs and other goods to trade for necessities like oil, salt, and sewing supplies.

I’ve heard there are peddlers who come around with fashionable items from the county city, such as hair flowers and hairpins.

If you’re lucky, you might even catch an out-of-town troupe and enjoy a play…

Lady Jiang’s words made the little beans yearn even more.

After a moment of silence, Jinpan bit her finger and asked, “Mom, did you ever go to the market before?”

A spark appeared in Lady Jiang’s eyes, which then darkened.

It was a long while before she said, “It’s late, let’s sleep…”

The little beans seemed to sense that Lady Jiang’s mood was off, and didn’t dare to ask any more questions.

They fell silent, and soon the sound of their snoring filled the room.

Only Lady Jiang seemed to have had her sorrows stirred, tossing and turning throughout the night without sleep.

Ming Zhu felt as though she had only just fallen asleep when Old Granny Zhang woke her, “Zhuzhu, get up, hurry up, or we’ll miss the market.”

The market?

Ming Zhu was startled, and her muddled brain finally awoke.

She quickly flipped out of bed and started her morning routine.

By the time she was ready to leave, she noticed it was still dark outside, and only a few sparse stars were twinkling in the sky.

Old Granny Zhang had already packed the goods she planned to sell at the market into a carrying basket.

Lady Jiang had prepared breakfast as well, picking out two steaming buns to wrap up and filling a bamboo tube with water ready to hand to Ming Zhu.

Old Granny Zhang went back into the kitchen, took out two baked sweet potatoes from the stove, wrapped them in leaves, tied them with two blades of grass, and handed them to Ming Zhu, “It’ll be a rush in the morning, have these to tide you over.”

Ming Zhu took the sweet potatoes, looked at them, and then rummaged in the inner room to find the small basket that Jinpan and the others usually carried.

She placed her things inside and put it on her back, doing her bit to help Old Granny Zhang.

Everything ready, they were about to leave when Lady Jiang, hesitating, seemed to want to say something.

Old Granny Zhang went ahead to open the courtyard gate, while Ming Zhu, who was trailing behind, tried to catch up.

A look of determination flashed across Lady Jiang’s face, as she clutched at Ming Zhu’s clothing.

Ming Zhu turned around, puzzled, “Sister-in-law?

Is there something you need?”

Lady Jiang fumbled out a small package from a corner, her voice small and hesitant, “Sister, I…I embroidered two handkerchiefs, could you help…help me sell them…sell them in town?”

The more she spoke, the quieter her voice became, her head hanging low in shame.

Ming Zhu thought, this sister-in-law is really timid, to be so hesitant over such a small matter. freeωebnovēl.c૦m

Taking the package, she was non-committal, “I’ll try, but let me say this upfront, I don’t know what they’re worth, and I can’t guarantee they’ll sell.

Don’t blame me later!”

Lady Jiang quickly shook her head, “No, not at all, sister!

Even if they don’t sell, I’ll be grateful.

Don’t worry, I won’t ask you to sell them for nothing.

If they do sell, I’ll give you half the money—”

Ming Zhu’s eyebrows rose.

She hadn’t expected this, her seemingly meek and reticent sister-in-law who had almost no presence in the Wang Family.

Yet she was astute and had her own reckoning.

She knew that if she let Old Granny Zhang sell the handkerchiefs, she wouldn’t see a penny from it.

On the other hand, by entrusting them to her, her niece-in-law, and offering half the profits, the former Wang Yongzhu perhaps would have agreed.

With this thought, her view of Lady Jiang changed a little, but outwardly she remained indifferent, “Let’s see if I can sell them first.

Who knows if they’re even worth anything?

Alright, I’m off.”

With those words, she hurried out of the courtyard, following in Old Granny Zhang’s wake.

It was still dark outside, and Ming Zhu guessed it was around three or four in the morning.

The village was already bustling; lights were on almost everywhere, with every household preparing for market day.

Guided by the scant light spilling from the houses, Ming Zhu followed Old Granny Zhang toward the edge of the village with uneven steps.

At the entrance of the village, under the locust tree, a few stones were gathered with a torch stuck amongst them, casting shadows of several people moving around.

Old Granny Zhang reached the stones first, waved to Ming Zhu, and when she came over, pulled her to sit on a stone by the road, “Eat something quickly or you’ll have no strength for the journey ahead.”

At the village entrance, many people were waiting, but few were eating.

For the mountain folk, a few dozen miles weren’t much, and they were used to going to the market early to sell their goods and eggs, then returning with the essentials to eat just the same.

Only those from well-off families would eat something as a boost.

Everyone naturally recognized Old Granny Zhang and her precious daughter, and thought it strange; Wang Yongzhu was usually lazy and spoiled, known for nothing more than chasing after the Song Family Boy, never lifting a finger for work, and sleeping in late.

She was famously indolent.

Why was she up so early today, apparently prepared to trek the long road for market day?

How could Old Granny Zhang allow this?

Remembering the rumor that spread through the village just the day before about Wang Yongzhu being rejected by the Song Family Boy, the onlookers exchanged glances.

Coincidentally, today there was another family from the village who had an ox cart going to market and were willing to take a few passengers for a small fee.

If it were up to Old Granny Zhang, she certainly wouldn’t sit in an ox cart; it was better to save the money, why waste it on such luxuries when one could walk just fine?

But with her beloved daughter, Zhuzhu, wanting to go to market today, she was genuinely worried whether her girl could make it to town.

Even if she did, she feared it would be dark by then.