The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure-Chapter 29 - A Heart Full of Little Ren’s Intentions

29: Chapter 29: A Heart Full of Little Ren’s Intentions

29 -29: A Heart Full of Little Ren’s Intentions

Ming Zhu arrived at the ox cart and naturally refused to ride by herself while making Old Granny Zhang walk to the market.

What kind of person would that make her?

She simply insisted that she was young and urged Old Granny Zhang to take the ride while she would walk.

Old Granny Zhang, reluctant to accept, began to politely refuse.

No matter what Old Granny Zhang said, Ming Zhu was adamant: either neither of them would ride, or Old Granny Zhang would take the cart.

If Old Granny Zhang didn’t ride, neither would she.

Even if it meant crawling, she would crawl to town on her own.

Old Granny Zhang was both touched and reluctant and couldn’t help but crack a smile.

Her daughter must be concerned for her; why else would she insist on her joining her in the cart?

This was her daughter’s way of showing filial piety.

Old Granny Zhang didn’t want to disappoint her precious daughter.

What were two large coins anyway?

At most, they could sell an egg and do with a bit less salt.

Having made up her mind, Old Granny Zhang appeared helplessly delighted and pointed at Ming Zhu, “You child, really don’t give one peace of mind.

Not knowing the cost of household provisions because you’ve never been in charge, these two large coins could buy ten days’ worth of salt.

Sigh—It’s all my fault for spoiling you too much, and I also wonder, with you being this way, what kind of family would be able to marry you off~”

The other two women in the cart with weak legs and not so poor circumstances heard this boast and almost rolled their eyes to heaven.

Old Granny Zhang really knew how to gold-plate her own face.

Who could afford a wife like Wang’s Second Daughter, who spends more than others even for just riding in an ox cart?

Everyone here was from the countryside, scrabbling for food from the soil.

Just not being constantly hungry was a blessing from the heavens.

Did she really think everyone was like the Wang Family, raising a daughter as if she were an empress?

And not to mention Wang’s Second Daughter had been rejected by the Song Family and was still so clueless; families with sons would probably not want a daughter-in-law like her.

Whether Wang’s Second Daughter could even be married off was still a question.

She might end up having to stay with the Wang Family as an old maiden, supported by her brother and sister-in-law, becoming the joke of everyone!

However, everyone knew about the fierce temperament of Old Granny Zhang, and no one would dare say such words out loud for fear of being scolded.

They only exchanged knowing looks amongst themselves.

Then there were the smooth-talking or scheming ones, who doled out pretty flattering words that cost nothing, making Old Granny Zhang’s mood soar as she praised her daughter non-stop in the cart.

Talk of dignified fortune, generous demeanor, and bringing prosperity to husband and children—Ming Zhu felt as uncomfortable as if she were sitting on pins and needles.

Just then, they approached an uphill slope.

Before the driver had to ask, Ming Zhu volunteered to hop off, “Mother, my legs are numb from sitting too long, I’ll walk a bit.”

Old Granny Zhang couldn’t catch her in time, “Ah~ Zhuzhu, why are you getting off?

Come back here.

It’s tiring to walk uphill, why not ride when we have the cart?

We’ve paid for it—”

The cart driver, whose expression had softened because of Ming Zhu’s sensible behavior, suddenly frowned, as if wanting to say something.

“Mother, my legs really are numb.

I’ll just walk ahead for a bit and wait for you at the top,” she said before hurrying off.

Old Granny Zhang wanted to follow, but then thought about the extra coin she had paid; her daughter was foolish and too bashful to ride, opting to climb uphill.

If she followed, wouldn’t it be a huge loss?

After hesitating for a long time, she still couldn’t bring herself to get off and only called out loudly, “Zhuzhu, if you get too tired, don’t push yourself.

Get back on the cart—”

Ming Zhu waved her hand to show she heard, her head down as she climbed uphill.

Fueled by frustration and helped by the effectiveness of the body shaping garment, she quickly passed in front of the ox cart.

Not many steps away, there was a curve with some rocks blocking the edge of the path.

The sky was beginning to lighten when Ming Zhu, feeling her way along the rocks, rounded the bend only to see a dark silhouette standing before her.

With a low cry, she stumbled forward, unable to stop, and crashed into it.

The shadow paused, a hand extended halfway as if to catch Ming Zhu, but then, recoiling as if from a snake, it swiftly retracted, and the figure took several steps back.

Ming Zhu, flustered, was too heavy and too caught up in momentum to steady herself easily, but luckily, she managed to grab onto a nearby rock and barely kept her footing.

She looked up and was taken aback when her gaze met the dark figure’s—it was none other than Song Chongjin!

No wonder he didn’t offer a helping hand—he was probably afraid she’d latch onto him again, wasn’t he?

His attitude caused the questions Ming Zhu had on the tip of her tongue—about why he was scaring people by lurking around in the dark—to go unasked.

As if she had seen nothing amiss, Ming Zhu composed her face, walked up to Song Chongjin without a word, and just stood there looking at him.

After retracting his hand and backing away, Song Chongjin felt somewhat regretful.

What if Wang Yongzhu had fallen?

It would have been his fault.

But the psychological trauma from Wang Yongzhu’s previous pestering was too great—he didn’t dare take a risk, so he stood there, awkwardly unsure of what to say.

As Wang Yongzhu approached and stared at him silently, his own uneasiness grew and he spoke without confidence, “What are you staring at me for?

I—”

Ming Zhu spoke coolly, “You’re blocking the way, please move aside, thank you!”

It was then that Song Chongjin looked back and realized he was standing right in the middle of the path.

Anyone else could have passed by, but Wang Yongzhu, uh, with her size equal to two others, would probably have to make physical contact to get past.

Song Chongjin’s face turned beet red with embarrassment.

Thankfully, the dawn was still dim, and he was in the shadows, so it shouldn’t be too visible.

Wang Yongzhu’s stance was clear—after calling off their engagement, there would be no further entanglement or pursuit.

Indeed, she was true to her word, casting his baseless suspicions in a harsh light.

Torn between embarrassment and annoyance, Song Chongjin mumbled incoherently and quickly moved aside.

Ming Zhu didn’t linger or speak further, bowing her head as she passed by him.

Song Chongjin wasn’t sure if it was his imagination, but as Wang Yongzhu walked past, a warm breeze seemed to follow her, carrying with it the heat of a young girl’s body, leaving him confused and rooted to the spot.

Only when the ox cart caught up and passed by him did he come to his senses.

The owner of the cart recognized Song Chongjin and greeted him warmly, “Brother Jin?

Are you heading to the market too?”

Upon hearing this, everyone on the cart turned to look at Song Chongjin and then back at Old Granny Zhang.

The meanings in their glances were profound.

Old Granny Zhang’s face darkened, and she spat out a curse inwardly at her bad luck—why did they have to run into this no-good son of the Song Family?

Fortunately, her Zhuzhu wasn’t on the cart; otherwise, the situation would have been really awkward.

And there were those quick-witted ones who had been grossed out by Old Granny Zhang’s bragging earlier; now they laughed and said, “Oh my, if it isn’t Little Brother Song!

I noticed Wang’s Second Daughter walking ahead of us; you must’ve bumped into her, right?

What fate you two share!

In my opinion, Little Brother Song, even in the dark you encounter each other; it’s a bond decreed by heaven that can’t be broken apart.

Why call off such an engagement, hmm?

Not to speak out of turn, Little Brother Song, but with your family’s circumstances, finding a bride is truly difficult.

Now that Second Young Miss Wang has been dishonored by you calling off the engagement, she’ll likely not marry.

I think you might as well take the lesser evil—let the Wang Family give a larger dowry and you two marry.

It would keep wealth within the family, wouldn’t it—”

This speech was a blatant mockery of both the Song and Wang families, filled with scorn.