Carefree Farmwife: Training the Husband, Raising the Bun - Chapter 108

“Why didn’t you invite her in to sit? Now that your head is clear, you should interact more with people in the village. That way, if something happens in the future, neighbors can lend a hand.”

Madam Li was thinking about how Erlang was gone, and with no man left in the household, Ying Su had to raise a child alone, it truly wasn’t easy.

Ying Su’s heart was a mix of emotions; everything in her mouth tasted bland, like chewing wax. She set down her chopsticks and said to Madam Li, “I need to go out for a few days. Please help me look after Huzi.”

Madam Li was baffled. “Go out? Where to?”

After a moment’s thought, Ying Su decided there was nothing to hide. “My family came looking for me. I want to go back and see them.”

It took Madam Li a long while to recover. She too put down her bowl and chopsticks. “You… you mean your family? Cuihua, you still have family?”

Ying Su nodded. Madam Li’s face lit with joy. “I thought you had no one left! That’s wonderful. Do you want to take something back with you? I can help you pack. Oh, right, where is your home?”

One could see Madam Li was truly happy for Ying Su, even a bit overjoyed.

Huzi’s ears perked up, his dark eyes shining. But hearing from Ying Su’s tone that she didn’t plan to take him along, his little face grew forlorn.

“It’s not far, just Xiling Village. I don’t need to pack anything. I’ll leave tomorrow,” Ying Su said quietly.

Huzi asked pitifully, “Mommy, can I come with you?”

Ying Su didn’t answer. Madam Li quickly interjected, “Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of Huzi for you.”

After breakfast, Huzi, still sulking, went off to the academy with Dazhuang, Madam Li pulled Ying Su aside, hesitated, then asked, “Cuihua… all these years, I never asked. Whose child is Huzi, really?”

Ying Su was silent for a while before answering, “He’s not Erlang’s.”

Madam Li’s face paled slightly. She had long suspected, but hearing it directly was still a shock, “Then… do you plan to bring him home with you?”

What she worried about was that when Ying Su had first left home, she was still a maiden. Her family might not accept that she had borne someone else’s child and was now a widow. If she had remained unmarried all these years, she would simply be considered an old maid, but still marriageable. Without the burden of a child, she could have remarried easily.

“Huzi is my child. No matter where I am in the future, I’ll bring him with me.” Ying Su’s voice was firm. She had never thought of Huzi as a burden. On the contrary, because of him, she felt her whole heart had softened.

As they were speaking, a loud, urgent knocking came at the door, so forceful it seemed it would break the door down. Along with it came Feng Qiufang’s anxious voice, “Sister-in-law! Sister-in-law, are you home?”

Madam Li heard she was being called and was puzzled. Why would Feng Qiufang come looking for her?

As soon as she opened the door, Feng Qiufang grabbed her hand, agitated, and pleaded, “Sister-in-law, I’ve been searching for you! You must help us, help our Yin-ge’er… I beg you…”

Madam Li glanced at Ying Su, equally confused. “What’s wrong? What happened to Yin-ge’er?”

Feng Qiufang said in a rush, “Yin-ge’er went to a classmate’s home to admire an orchid, but somehow the flower got ruined! Who knew it was so valuable, worth a hundred taels of silver for a single plant! They demand Yin-ge’er pay for it, or they’ll send him to the authorities!”

Her eyes brimmed with tears, showing how urgent the matter was. She continued, “The silver you gave last time has already gone to Master Kong at the academy. Yin-ge’er was just about to have a promising future, and now this disaster! If this really gets taken to the county office, he won’t even keep his student status this year.”

“This…” Madam Li’s face turned troubled. She had just given Feng Qiufang twenty taels. Now there weren’t even fifty left in the household, how could they possibly take out a hundred all at once? And besides, that silver was earned by Chuncao and Dalang; she had no right to decide such a matter.

Last time, she had taken out twenty taels in one go. Though Chuncao and Dalang hadn’t complained, as a mother-in-law she couldn’t keep doing this.

Seeing her hesitation, Feng Qiufang anxiously wiped her tears. “Sister-in-law, Yin-ge’er is your own nephew. You must help!”

“It’s not that I don’t want to help. But first, the family simply doesn’t have that much money. Second, all the household silver is earned by Chuncao and her husband. I need to discuss it with Dalang.” Madam Li spoke truthfully. After a pause, she hesitated, then added, “Couldn’t your father raise the hundred taels? He’s run a general store in Shili Town for so many years, he should have saved that much.”

Feng Qiufang, who had been crying, suddenly broke down completely at these words. Covering her face, she sobbed, “My father…” She gasped, choking on tears. “To be honest, he refuses to lend me the money. My younger brother controls the household, and they won’t agree…”

At this, Madam Li sighed heavily. For years, Feng Qiufang and her husband had helped at her father’s shop in town. Yin-ge’er and Yunyao had grown up there, close to their grandfather. Yet now, when Yin-ge’er’s future was at stake, they refused to give a single coin. Truly chilling!

Feng Qiufang’s sobs turned weaker and weaker. They had indeed broken someone’s orchid, and if it reached the county office, they would have to pay. Yunyao’s dowry had already gone to bribe Master Kong, and since she wasn’t yet married into the Cao family, it would be shameful to borrow money from them.

Her father was truly ruthless. For years, she and Li Zhi had watched the shop in town for him, looking respectable but earning next to nothing. Yet all the money was reserved for her brother. The moment he heard Yin-ge’er had ruined the Zhang family’s orchid, he had kicked their family out of town and refused to lend even a penny.

The more she thought about it, the more miserable she felt, sobbing until she could hardly breathe. Madam Li worried she might faint and hurriedly soothed her, “Don’t cry, don’t cry. There’s always a way. Let’s think carefully. Come in and sit down first.”

She helped Feng Qiufang inside. Ying Su brought a basin of clean water for her to wash her face.

Hearing Feng Qiufang repeatedly mention orchids, Ying Su was reminded of the Jianyang Butterfly Orchid she had dug up from the mountains last time. She wondered what kind of orchid Li Yin had ruined. But judging from the fact it appeared in this little town, it probably wasn’t anything too rare.

She rose and walked to the flowerbed on the right side of the courtyard. A smile appeared on her face, the Jianyang Butterfly Orchid she had planted was growing well among the weeds, even sprouting flower buds.