Chapter 224

Ding Jiajia came out of the kitchen with five other women, sitting quietly and obediently among them, not drawing any attention.

She usually stayed home preparing medicinal herbs and rarely went out, so she was unfamiliar with most of the village women. Suddenly being the focus of everyone’s attention made her fair face blush red.

Aunt Zhang thought she had hit the mark and looked at Ding Jiajia with contempt, as if she were indiscreet.

Qin Yilin, hearing about bringing Jiajia along, reacted like an enraged hen and sarcastically said, “What are you implying? Does your Chunhua stay locked up at home all the time? Oh, my mistake, your house doesn’t even have a second door.”

She only truly understood the saying “Propriety is not for commoners” after coming to Shanshui Village.

Farmers were busy with their work. During busy seasons, everyone, young and old, men and women, would pitch in. Following the etiquette of wealthy families would mean losing at least half the labor force!

Not to mention, the idea of “keeping a low profile” wouldn’t work.

Yet, the Zhang family had the audacity to mention avoiding suspicion with Jiajia while taking their daughter everywhere.

So only other families’ daughters needed to avoid suspicion, not theirs.

In the past, Shuiqing would find a long-term solution, like adopting Ding Jiajia as a sworn sister or having her parents adopt Jiajia as a goddaughter, so the two families could stay connected.

But realizing Jiajia was Wenhua’s love interest and that Jiajia might not dislike Wenhua, she couldn’t do that. Otherwise, Wenhua would resent her for being a hindrance.

She needed to be supportive, not a liability!

“Even if Wenhua goes to help, Jiajia would still be with her parents. If that requires avoiding suspicion, our village girls wouldn’t be able to go out and work anymore.”

Aunt Li found this unacceptable.

Her Tiantian didn’t need to work in the fields, but during busy times, she still had to bring food and water, and she regularly picked vegetables or mushrooms. According to the Zhang family’s standards, she’d have a bad reputation too!

“Zhang’s second wife, don’t just spout nonsense! Our girls already have enough restrictions, and you’re making it harder. Are you trying to make life unbearable for the village girls?”

Aunt Zhang chimed in: “Do you watch Chunhua this strictly? Then why does she often hang around my house?

I see Chunhua and Jiajia are about the same age. If anyone needs to avoid suspicion, Chunhua shouldn’t be wandering around either; she should stay inside all day.”

“Oh, so married women like us shouldn’t show our faces either?”

Aunt Zhang’s second wife didn’t expect her comments about Ding Jiajia to backfire, with everyone criticizing her instead!

Zhang Chunhua bit her lip, blaming her mother for offending everyone.

But the Hu family’s protection of the Ding family annoyed her.

She glanced at the blushing Ding Jiajia in the corner.

Had she been in contact with Hu Wenhua?

She needed to find out!

“My mother didn’t mean it that way. We arrived early, and Aunt Ding and Jiajia were already here, and Jiajia made lunch for Aunt Shuiqing’s family.

My mother was curious about how the two families became so close and was concerned about propriety, especially since Aunt Shuiqing’s son is young but still has several others around. My mother meant well.”

Zhang Chunhua then looked at Ling Ran and Bai Ziqian.

Bai Ziqian was a bit younger, but Ling Ran was about Jiajia’s age. Her words would make the village women suspicious.

That would be perfect, tarnishing Jiajia’s reputation without affecting Hu Wenhua.

But Ling Ran was really handsome!

Tall, with a cold aura, but just a beggar taken in by Shuiqing. No matter how good-looking, he couldn’t compare to Hu Wenhua, half a master.

Shuiqing realized she had been wrong.

She used to think calling someone a “white lotus” or “green tea” was bad, but now she felt those terms would be a compliment for Zhang Chunhua!

Because, despite the term “white lotus” or “green tea” at least implying beauty, Zhang Chunhua was dark and thin, spoke with a shrill voice, and her movements were awkward and affected. She couldn’t possibly be considered a “white lotus” or “green tea.”

Aunt Zhang, seeing the reaction, put on a smile and said, “Exactly, exactly! I meant well. The girls in the village either work at home or outside. It’s rare to see someone like Jiajia having fun at someone else’s house, so I just mentioned it.”

“We discovered a type of medicinal herb and invited Uncle Ding and Aunt Ding to help process it. Jiajia is here with her parents,” Shuiqing calmly replied after the others had spoken.

She added, “Jiajia isn’t here to play. She knows how to process medicinal herbs, and the herbs she’s processed have sold for quite a bit of money.

Girls’ work isn’t limited to home and vegetable fields. I think what Jiajia does is great; she earns money with her skills.”

Immediately, girls of similar age like Li Tiantian, Zhang Xiaocao, Fan Xiang, and Xu Ting looked at Jiajia with envy!

Who wouldn’t want to earn money with their work?

Not many truly enjoyed spending all day around the stove or washing clothes. They preferred picking mushrooms on the mountain because they could trade them with Sister Shuiqing for other things. This was tangible work!

“Jiajia, you’re amazing.”

“If only I had a skill like yours, I wouldn’t have to worry for the rest of my life.”

“I want to earn money too; I want to buy a hairpin.”

A group of young girls surrounded Ding Jiajia, chattering excitedly.

She looked at Shuiqing, feeling that she had found another person, besides her mother, who would protect her.

Sister Shuiqing is so good.

Fan Sanzhu, watching the shy and delicate girl in front of him, was still in shock.

Wasn’t Ding Jiajia’s face supposed to be covered in pustules? Who was this fair and rosy girl in front of him?

Fan Sizhu quietly said, “Third Brother, Ding Jiajia is really pretty. Why do you three keep saying she’s like a toad?

If I could marry a toad like her, I’d be satisfied!”

Then he started counting on his fingers.

Seeing this, Fan Sanzhu asked irritably, “What are you counting?”

“I’m counting the age difference between us. I just figured out it’s only three years! They say ‘an older woman is a treasure,’ right? How about I tell Mom I’m willing to marry into her family?” Fan Sizhu said excitedly.

As long as the Ding family was willing to wait, it was fine!

Fan Sanzhu was speechless.

He had been shouting with his brothers for so long about Ding Jiajia being like a toad and insisting he wouldn’t marry into her family. If he went back on his word now, wouldn’t it be embarrassing?

But his younger brother didn’t care at all and was even delighted…

Sun Jinhua, hearing that Ding Jiajia could earn money processing medicinal herbs, regretted it immensely.

This was like having a hen that laid golden eggs!

If they married Ding Jiajia into their family, they wouldn’t have to worry about money anymore.

It didn’t even matter if it was a matrilocal marriage; after all, she had many sons! Marrying into the Ding family would mean one less mouth to feed at home.

She could have her son secretly give her money in the future.

Looking at Ding Jiajia’s fair face, she became more and more satisfied.

Such a pretty girl, when Dazhu and Erzhu returned, they would surely like her too.