Chapter 22: Only One Can Study

Everyone looked at Liu Xiangyun. Song Jinyuan was the first to notice the reddened half of her face.

“Xiangyun, what happened to your face?”

Liu Shi covered her face. “It was Miss Fenghong who hit me.”

Song Jinbao frowned. “Why would Miss Fenghong hit you?”

“After Miss Lin arrived, I went to my uncle’s house to ask Changbai to call Mother from the mountains. When I returned, I saw her sitting in the hall, and her maidservant had taken out the pastries and candied fruits Táng’er gave me and displayed them on a plate.”

Liu Xiangyun looked aggrieved.

“I know Father and Mother care about her, but even though it hurts, I wouldn’t fall out with her over some food.”

“She said she was thirsty, so I boiled water for her. Then she said her horse was hungry and that the coachman was a man, so it was inconvenient for him to enter the courtyard, and asked me to feed it.”

“I’ve never fed a horse before, and I’m pregnant, so I’m afraid something might happen. So I said I wasn’t feeling well and asked if Miss Fenghong could feed it instead, and I would stay with her in the hall.  As a result, Miss Fenghong slapped me and said that Miss Lin letting me feed the horse was being kind, and that I shouldn’t be ungrateful.”

Hearing this, everyone looked surprised.

They never expected such a twist in the story.

Zhao Qiao’e glanced at Song Yuntang’s room, remembering what she had said earlier, and felt incredibly guilty.

“So Táng’er came to find you as soon as she got home because she saw you feeding the horse?”

Liu Shi nodded. “Táng’er saw the red mark on my face and asked who hit me. I didn’t want to make a big deal out of it at the time, so I didn’t say anything. She guessed.”

“But she also pushed Zhaozhao. My aunt and I saw it with our own eyes,” Song Changbai said.

He had a pretty good relationship with Lin Zhaozhao before. In his impression, Zhaozhao was considerate, sensible, kind, and sincere. He really didn’t want to believe that she would be such a bully.

Liu Shi shook her head. “You know better than I do how upright Táng’er is. Although she grew up in a wealthy family, she’s very straightforward in her words and actions. Although I didn’t see her push anyone, I still want to say something for Táng’er. Sometimes, what you see with your eyes isn’t necessarily true.”

Song Changbai again defended Lin Zhaozhao. “Perhaps Miss Fenghong didn’t act on Zhaozhao’s orders.”

Liu Shi’s next words completely shattered Song Changbai’s thoughts.

“I wish that were true, but Miss Lin threatened me afterward, saying that if I told anyone, she would break my brother’s legs.” She looked at everyone. “That’s why I didn’t say anything in front of her. I’m telling you all now because I don’t want Táng’er to be misunderstood.”

“My brother isn’t good to me, but my parents depend on him for support. If Miss Lin really breaks his legs, it won’t benefit me.”

Everyone looked at each other, their eyes full of disbelief.

All along, they thought that Zhaozhao, who was simple and kind, wasn’t as harmless as she appeared.

On the contrary, they had many misunderstandings about the silent and cold Táng’er.

Song Jinsheng pondered, “Whenever Zhaozhao came, we always saw her being bullied by Táng’er. Now that I think about it, something doesn’t seem right.”

Song Jinbao sighed. “I said things weren’t that simple.”

Fortunately, they didn’t blame Táng’er without knowing the facts, otherwise, she would have been very heartbroken.

Song Jinyuan looked at the red mark on his wife’s face with heartache. He wanted to touch it but was afraid of hurting her.

“Does it still hurt?”

Liu Xiangyun shook her head, her face red.

“It’s much better, but it’s still a little burning.”

“I’ll go to the well at the village entrance to get some water. I’ll use cold water to apply to it later.”  With that, he went out with a bucket.

Looking at Song Jinyuan’s hurried departure, Liu Xiangyun felt half of her grievances disappear.

Zhao Qiao’e, full of guilt, came to Song Yuntang’s window and said somewhat embarrassedly, “Táng’er, I apologize. I misunderstood you.”

From inside the room, Song Yuntang’s light voice came.

“No need to apologize. It’s not the first or second time. Maybe there will be more in the future.”

Zhao Qiao’er’s heart ached. She quickly shook her head.

“No, Mother will only believe you from now on.”

If she had known Lin Zhaozhao was like this, she would never have believed her.

“Whether you believe me or not, I don’t really care,” Song Yuntang’s tone remained indifferent.

This family had been good to her, but every time Lin Zhaozhao came, this kindness would be disrupted by her intentional or unintentional actions. She didn’t like this feeling of not being trusted.

Zhao Qiao’e knew that her words today had chilled Song Yuntang’s heart, but saying too much now would be futile.

“From now on, Mother will prove it to you.”

Song Yuntang didn’t speak again.

She was thinking about the agreed date to collect the silver needles from the blacksmith’s shop; it seemed to be three days later.

Once she got the needles, she could ask the medical clinic in town if they needed a physician. After all, she didn’t have much reputation yet, she was young, and a woman, so gaining patients’ trust wouldn’t be easy.

This world was still unfair to women.

At noon, they ate porridge and wild vegetables again, but this time, a small piece of chopped dried meat was added to the porridge, making it more filling.

Zhuzi, while eating, looked up at Song Yuntang. “Sister, after I gave Mr. Xu the letter you gave me today, he asked me to thank you.”

Song Yuntang hummed. “I know.”

Seeing her indifferent expression, Zhuzi’s face wrinkled. Who angered this ancestor again?

He turned to Zhao Qiao’e.

“Mother, we’ll have a break from farming the day after tomorrow.”

A break from farming also meant preparing for the next half-year’s tuition.

With two children, tuition was a considerable expense, especially this year with the poor harvest. After paying the tuition, their family expenses would probably be cut off.

Zhao Qiao’e paused her eating, looked up at them, and said with some difficulty, “The harvest was poor this year. I discussed it with your father last night. For the next half-year, we can only afford tuition for one child.”

Zhuzi said without hesitation, “Let Zhuangzi go. I’ll stay home to help Father, Mother, and brother.”

Zhuangzi quickly shook his head. “I won’t go. Brother studies better than me. Brother should go.”

Song Jinbao looked at them both, feeling uncomfortable. He had already tried his best, but he still couldn’t afford to send both children to school.

“Alright, let’s not argue about this now. Let’s eat.”

“Okay.”

After the meal, Song Yuntang returned to her room, while Song Jinsheng went to Song Ma’zi’s house as he had done yesterday.

After a nap, at the end of the afternoon, the sun was already setting. Song Yuntang put on her gloves and a sun hat and went out with a basket.

Zhao Qiao’e, who was doing needlework in the room, saw Song Yuntang opening the courtyard gate and asked, “Táng’er, where are you going?”

Song Yuntang slowed down.

“To the mountains. I’ll be back before sunset.”

Having said that, she had already disappeared at the gate.