Across the fence, she could clearly hear the old woman’s joyful voice, “Granny Wang, if your granddaughter marries my nephew, it definitely won’t be a mistake.”
Chen Kuo Cang was not surprised by his elder sister’s sudden outburst of rage.
He was used to it.
His sister, steady as she was in public, was often emotionally unstable at home.
However…
Chen Kuo Cang listened calmly to his sister’s incessant nagging and accusations, seeing that she seemed to have completely forgotten the sorrow of her broken engagement. This was for the best.
He pursed his lips, his youthful face showing a degree of rationality that did not match his age.
After Chen Yuanniang finished her tirade, she unceremoniously took the malt candy. She patted the round hair bun tied on her younger brother’s small head, her tone carrying a hint of a sisterly ferocity. “Speak up, how did you hide this? Did Grandmother buy it for you secretly?”
Chen Kuo Cang’s frame was skinny, but his face still had a bit of puffy roundness, making him look like a likable seven or eight-year-old child. However, his gaze was very indifferent, and he calmly dealt with his sister’s baiting questions.
“No, I traded the mushrooms I picked for it.”
Failing to tease her brother, Chen Yuanniang gave up the idea and simply broke the malt candy apart. She took the large piece for herself and gave the small one to her brother, saying righteously, “Don’t say your sister doesn’t dote on you. Here, I’m sharing with you. Look for yourself—where else in the neighboring villages would a sister be willing to share her candy with her brother? In the future, remember to be filial to me!”
Chen Kuo Cang: “…”
His sister’s ability to talk nonsense and turn the tables was becoming more impressive by the day.
But he didn’t hold it against her. For someone of his psychological age, such trifles didn’t stir his emotions.
Moreover… in her previous life, she really was the type of person who gave all the good things to him while shaking her head and saying she wasn’t hungry. In this life, things being like this was good. Chen Kuo Cang silently tucked away the remaining small piece of malt candy, saving it for her to eat next time. He hoped she would always remember to keep the best for herself. If she didn’t, he would bring it to her himself.
This was what he owed his sister.
Chen Yuanniang had no idea of her brother’s complex thoughts. This boy had been precocious since childhood, and from time to time his gaze would turn deep, as if he were thinking of something unknown. At first, Mother and Grandmother feared he was a simpleton. After all, he was a posthumous child, and his face was blue and purple from being squeezed during birth. Everyone said he wouldn’t survive. Who would have known that as he grew, not only did his features become handsome, but he was also much more intelligent than the grandsons of those gossiping families.
When Yuanniang was little, she fought with people quite often because they mocked her brother. Now? Talk about a slap in the face.
Thinking of this, she felt much better and began to focus on the task of eating the candy.
She wrapped the large piece of malt candy in oil paper and smashed it against a wooden pillar. When she opened the oil paper again, the malt candy was broken into many pieces. She picked up a piece the size of a fingernail and put it in her mouth, sucking hard. The sweet candy flavor saturated her mouth, making her squint with happiness, and even her heart felt broad and generous.
Consequently, her reaction to her brother’s earlier offense was merely tapping his head with her index finger, rather than jumping up to hit him.
“Sister, breaking the engagement isn’t necessarily a bad thing.”
Listen to that—is that how a human speaks? What did he mean by saying breaking the engagement was a good thing? Wasn’t it embarrassing for her? What benefits could there be?
Hmm…
Wait.
As her reason returned, Chen Yuanniang belatedly remembered the courtyard full of compensatory gifts.
So many silk fabrics, arranged in crate after crate in the courtyard. One bolt of silk cost seven or eight guan, while the betrothal gifts for marrying a woman in the countryside were only three to five guan. Take Sanniang, for example; her family was a rare wealthy household in the village with many fields and people, yet they only received five guan in betrothal gifts.
Not long ago, when she went to the market, she couldn’t even bear to buy a ten-wen portion of gourd soup. She could only inhale deeply when passing a roadside inn, letting the scent of meat enter her nose to trick her stomach.
But now, her family suddenly had so much wealth and silk!
From now on, she could eat meat and candy whenever she wanted.
She could also buy many velvet flowers and wear a different one every day; she would never be mocked by Wu Taoniang for that again. No, wait—there were also many gold and silver jewelry pieces among the compensatory gifts. She remembered there was a butterfly hairpin that looked just like the real thing; when she picked it up, the butterfly’s wings even vibrated!
She had never seen such exquisite jewelry. Its craftsmanship far surpassed the silver jewelry Wu Taoniang used for showing off.
There seemed to be land deeds and field deeds among the compensation, as well as many jiaozi—one thousand guan! If converted into copper coins, they could probably cover the entirety of their dilapidated little courtyard.
One guan was one thousand wen.
This was wealthier than any other household in the village.
Their family was finally going to rise up!!
In the future, it would be her turn to show off. Thinking about the potentially alternating green and red complexion on Wu Taoniang’s face made her want to stand with her hands on her hips and laugh out loud.
Moreover, with money, Mother could frequently take medicine to nurture her body, Grandmother wouldn’t have to do farm work every day until her fingers were covered in deep cracks, and her brother could go to school and not waste his great talent.
She could also be like the young ladies in the city, wearing bright long beizi made of fine cloth with flowers and grass embroidered from the collar down. She could eat gourd soup and oil fritters every day, have rice for every meal, and never have to eat blanched wild vegetables again.
She didn’t know what city ladies did every day. In the countryside, young ladies dug for wild vegetables, washed clothes, cooked, and occasionally helped with farm work.
People said city folk were precious and refined. Maybe they didn’t dig for wild vegetables, but dug for flowers instead?
Yes, that must be it. Wu Taoniang said her cousins who lived in the city buried flowers when they had nothing better to do, or sometimes picked flowers and tinkered with them.
Then she would dig for flowers too!
But what kind of flowers were delicious? She couldn’t dig for nothing. Unfortunately, the season was wrong. If it were spring, she could pick locust flowers.
Chen Yuanniang was already lost in her fantasies, her thoughts wandering far away, completely emerging from the shadow of the broken engagement. Seeing her like this, a relieved expression appeared on Chen Kuo Cang’s youthful face. He couldn’t help but sigh that his simple-minded sister was easy to coax; she wouldn’t even stay sad for long.
While they were chatting in the shed, the Wei family’s servants were already preparing to take their leave. It was inconvenient to stay long, and the food her family could provide was certainly no match for the fine meals they could get in the county. Just looking at the Wei family’s old woman adorned in gold and silver, it was clear they were accustomed to delicate food and drink.
But for some reason, they left behind seven or eight biaoshi.
The dozen or so biaoshi were split into two groups. One group followed the Wei family’s servants, while the other remained at the Chen house.
Some of them stood by the earthen wall, some stood before the fence made of wooden stakes and vines, and a few others sat on the ground, likely taking turns standing guard.
The biaoshi hired by the Wei family wouldn’t be subpar. Every one of them was in his prime and physically robust. They didn’t even need to speak; just standing there like fierce deities was enough to make people turn pale with fear.
Chen Yuanniang also found it hard to relax, feeling constantly uncomfortable.
But she didn’t know what Grandmother was thinking, and she didn’t dare ask in front of others.
However, she still had to work because it was time for the midday meal. Especially now that there were seven or eight more strong men at home, and the rice vat was already empty. On ordinary days, they would just wash the dug wild vegetables, throw them into a coarse pottery pot to stew, chop up some home-grown radishes to toss in, and make do with a meal. Though it tasted bad and lacked oil, it at least kept them from starving.
But such fare wouldn’t be enough for those martial biaoshi. Furthermore, they were considered guests.
Thus, Granny Wang gave Yuanniang sixty copper coins and told her to go to Sanniang’s house to exchange them for one dou of rice. Sanniang’s family farmed a lot of land and harvested much rice, so they should have surplus grain. They wouldn’t be like her own family, who had already finished their rice and were just waiting for the harvest to fill their bellies.
The bamboo basket filled with copper coins had already been moved into Granny Wang’s room. Standing at the door, Yuanniang listened to the sound of the copper coins clinking as her grandmother counted them. What appeared before her eyes was that large basket of copper coins, and she felt a strange tension that made her swallow.
She truly felt her family’s wealth now.
Grandmother used to buy rice only one sheng at a time, always sighing and lamenting, clutching her heart in pain. At night, the creaking of her tossing and turning would pass through the thin earthen wall and reach Yuanniang’s ears clearly.
When had her family ever been so extravagant? And sixty wen was not even a pittance compared to the full basket of ten guan of copper coins. Not to mention there were still those one thousand guan in jiaozi.
The family was truly different now.
Chen Yuanniang was so shocked she couldn’t snap out of it for a long while. When she finally jolted awake, she clutched the heavy money pouch and wanted to jog to Sanniang’s house, only to be called back by her grandmother.
“Stupid girl, where did you leave your brain? You didn’t even think to take the rice bag.”
Realization dawned on Yuanniang. She gave an “oh,” went to the rice vat to get the gunny sack for the rice, and then jogged out the door.
Sanniang’s house was only a hundred zhang away, not far at all, but people kept calling out to her on the road, asking this and that. After all, with over twenty people, donkey carts, and flatbed carts carrying a mountain of chests and bamboo baskets in such a grand fashion, everyone in the village working the fields had seen it. And when those people left, the carts were empty, which meant everything had been moved into the Chen house. Although they didn’t know what was inside the boxes, the quality of the wood looked good, and they were even lacquered, gleaming with a moist luster in the light. The boxes alone were likely worth a lot of money.
To this end, the villagers returning from their midday rest were buzzing with discussion, saying all sorts of things.
But most of those on the road were trying to curry favor.
In the past, because the Chen family had no grown men and was poor, even though people didn’t dare bully them at will due to Granny Wang’s fierce and overbearing nature, they always looked down on them when speaking, or used half-joking sarcasms. Never before had they been all smiles upon meeting.
Chen Yuanniang had always wanted these people to respect her family, but now that she saw it, it only made her skin crawl and gave her goosebumps.
She brushed them all off with a couple of vague sentences and then jogged along, pretending not to hear those calling her name.
In this way, she arrived smoothly at Sanniang’s house, just as they were having their midday meal. She explained her purpose, and Sanniang’s grandfather took charge and accepted the money while Sanniang’s grandmother went to weigh the grain. Since Sanniang’s family had not yet split the household, the money exchanged had to go to her grandfather and grandmother. The other aunts and uncles were envious, but since they couldn’t get their hands on it, they simply began to tease Yuanniang.
“I heard a nobleman came to your house and brought lots of money and silk. Is it true or false?” It was Sanniang’s second aunt speaking, always looking for excitement.
Another young lady with her hair in twin buns cut in, “That’s not it. Granny Sun said her engagement was broken, and that was just alms given to her.”
This young lady with the twin buns was Sanniang’s youngest aunt, You-niang, who was famous for being lazy and gluttonous. She also had high standards and hadn’t married even though she was nearly twenty, so she was often mocked in private, leading her temperament to become warped.
The second aunt’s words were merely indiscreet, but the youngest aunt was far too offensive, making Sanniang’s parents frown. However, they couldn’t overstep their bounds and discipline her in front of an outsider.
It was Sanniang’s grandfather who took a white flour steamed cake and gave it to Yuanniang. “It’s still warm. Try your grandmother’s cooking. You-niang’s words aren’t pleasant to hear, so don’t take them to heart.”
You-niang was Sanniang’s youngest aunt.
Chen Yuanniang, however, did not take it. She had her pride, and besides, her family was no longer lacking in such things. There was still a pile of preserved meat sitting in their courtyard that hadn’t been put away yet—what did a mere zhengbing matter?
Facing her elder, she spoke very politely, “Thank you, Grandfather, but I’m not hungry.”
Then she turned to look at Sanniang’s third aunt and youngest aunt. Keeping a straight, pretty face and feigning ignorance, she said, “Those are matters for the elders. I’m not clear on them. If you’re curious, just ask my grandmother.”
At the mention of Yuanniang’s grandmother, every one of them fell silent. That fierce old woman—who would dare provoke her? If they really went and asked, they would surely get a tongue-lashing.
This Yuanniang looked like a pretty, delicate girl, but she was actually quite black-hearted.
When Sanniang’s grandmother finished weighing the grain, Chen Yuanniang didn’t show any attitude. She said her goodbyes with perfect etiquette, showing not even a hint of displeasure. She walked back gracefully, not caring whose face might be ugly with anger.
Sure enough, as soon as she left, Sanniang’s youngest aunt immediately said indignantly, “What is there to be so proud of? Just a member of a destitute household. Originally they couldn’t even afford rice. She should be ashamed of having her engagement broken.”
Sanniang’s second aunt replied cryptically, “What does a broken engagement matter? I heard her courtyard is now filled with silk fabrics and copper coins. It’s better than eating for free because one can’t get married.”
Sanniang’s grandfather slammed his hand on the table. “Shut up!”
Only then did it become quiet.
A large household has its disadvantages.
But the news of the Chen family’s sudden wealth after the broken engagement indeed spread to everyone. Some even said the boxes were filled with gold—all sorts of absurd rumors. Who knows how many people were so jealous their very organs ached.
Some people also developed crooked ideas because of this.
One didn’t necessarily have to resort to murder for wealth; there were perfectly legitimate ways as well.
For instance, proposing marriage.
When Chen Yuanniang reached home, she happened to run into the old woman from next door bringing a thuggish-looking but tall and handsome young man. The man was also carrying a tea and fruit box.
Across the fence, she could clearly hear the old woman’s joyful voice, “Granny Wang, if your granddaughter marries my nephew, it definitely won’t be a mistake.”