Chapter 2: A Tremendous Misunderstanding

Zhao Qiao’e stood there, watching Song Yuntang’s retreating figure, her daughter’s words still echoing in her mind. A strange unease settled over her heart.

For the past three years, she had never known how to properly interact with this daughter. If she spoke too harshly, she feared offending her; too gently, and she worried it would have no effect.

She barely exchanged a few words with her family on a regular basis, so when it came to understanding what was truly in Song Yuntang’s heart, they could only guess based on her actions.

That’s why—children raised by one’s own hand would always feel closer.

Zhaozhao was so sensible. Even after being taken into the Lin family, she was quickly accepted by them. They even praised Zhao Qiao’e for having raised such a good daughter.

Now standing outside Song Yuntang’s window, Zhao Qiao’e sighed and tried to reason with her in a patient, earnest voice. “Tang’er, even if you cut ties with our family, the Lin family will never take you back. They’re all focused on Zhaozhao now. You’d best give up on that idea while there’s still time.”

Inside the room, Song Yuntang raised an eyebrow, feeling somewhat baffled.

“When did I ever say I wanted to return to the Lin family?”

Looking at Song Yuntang feigning ignorance, Zhao Qiao’e immediately felt a pounding headache. She had no idea when this daughter of hers would finally come to her senses.

“You may not have said it, but as your mother, I more or less understand what’s going on in your heart.”

She wanted to say more, but recalling Song Yuntang’s fragile pride, she looked up at the sky and decided to drop the subject.

“Forget it. No matter how much I say, you’ll only think I’m favoring Zhaozhao. They say even a wretched life is better than a good death—just don’t do anything foolish again. Your father and your Big Brother and Second Brother will be back from the fields soon. I’m going to prepare their meal.”

Once Zhao Qiao’e’s figure disappeared from the window, Song Yuntang began tidying up her belongings while calculating her next steps.

The Lin family had raised her for so many years and, to their credit, hadn’t completely forgotten that bond. When they sent her back to the Song family three years ago, they had at least let her take some clothes and jewelry with her.

Over these past three years, even though Song Yuntang never uttered a word, she had quietly pawned off some of her jewelry whenever she saw the family struggling to put food on the table—offering her support in both overt and discreet ways.

She might have been proud, but her heart had never been unkind.

Because she couldn’t bear to let go of the Lin Family—whom she had called Father, Mother, and Big Brother for so many years—Song Yuntang often wanted to go to town just to catch a glimpse of them. She longed to be accepted by them again. Yet the Lin Family, out of consideration for Lin Zhaozhao’s feelings, had been deliberately avoiding her. Despite this, she repeatedly sought them out, causing headaches for both families.

Lin Zhaozhao, on the other hand, didn’t do much at all—she merely brought a few cheap pastries to visit the Song Family, said a few words about how she missed them, and that was enough for the entire family to offer her their hearts. Every time she left, they’d stuff her with chickens and eggs, nearly emptying out the whole chicken coop just to fill her carriage headed back to town, as if they feared Master Lin’s household might let her go hungry.

There were seven members in the Song Family: apart from Song Jinbao, Zhao Qiao’e, and Song Yuntang, there were four brothers.

The eldest, Song Jinyuan, was twenty this year. He had been married for a year to a woman surnamed Liu, who was now four months pregnant.

The second, Song Jinsheng, was eighteen. Zhao Qiao’e had originally planned to hire a matchmaker to arrange a marriage for him after the autumn harvest. But with this year’s poor yield, the plan would likely be delayed by a year.

The fourth and fifth were twins. Their names were given by the village schoolteacher, Mr. Xu, in exchange for two catties of pork from Song Jinbao. The elder twin was named Song Chengzhi, and the younger was Song Chengliang. Both were eleven and currently studying at the village school, considered the family’s greatest hope.

In the past, precious food like eggs was reserved solely for the younger brothers still in school to help nourish them. If any were left over, Zhao Qiao’e would take them to town to exchange for a few copper coins to help support the household. No one else in the family had the privilege of eating them.

As for chicken—unless it was the New Year, no one even dreamed of tasting a bite.

Lin Zhaozhao seemed to understand the Song Family’s situation even better than their own flesh-and-blood daughter. Yet when it came to taking things from them, she never hesitated in the slightest.

Gazing at the half-empty trunk containing only a few remaining garments and some modest jewelry, Song Yuntang couldn’t help but sigh.

“Are you stupid or what?”

It was unclear whether she was speaking to herself or to the original Song Yuntang, who had already lost her life.

Given her current identity as a farmer’s daughter, these silks and satins were clearly no longer appropriate. Rather than letting them rot at the bottom of a chest, she might as well sell them in town while they were still wearable and get a bit of silver she could keep in hand.

With that thought, Song Yuntang packed up all her clothes and jewelry, planning to carry them to town and sell them when the opportunity arose. She would then buy one or two sets of simple cotton clothing more suitable for her current life.

Whatever money remained would be her starting capital. Even if things with the Song Family fell apart completely, she wouldn’t be starving right away.

…

“Mother, we’re back!”

As the voice rang out, the Courtyard suddenly filled with commotion. The three men—father and sons—who had been out working in the fields returned, carrying hoes and balancing buckets on shoulder poles. Along with them came the eldest daughter-in-law, Liu Xiangyun, now four months pregnant.

“Mother, the mountains are completely barren lately. We couldn’t even dig up a handful of wild vegetables.”

Liu Xiangyun set the basket down on the long table by the kitchen door, rubbing her lower back as she glanced toward Song Yuntang’s room. A sense of unfairness welled up inside her.

Still acting like some pampered young lady from a wealthy family—everyone else in the household was busy working, and she was the only one doing nothing!

But since her father-in-law, mother-in-law, and the brothers hadn’t said anything, she, as the eldest daughter-in-law, naturally couldn’t be the one to raise the issue.

From inside the kitchen came Zhao Qiao’e’s voice.

“If you couldn’t dig any up, then so be it. Go wash your hands and rest for a bit. Once Zhuzi and Zhuanger get back from the village school, we’ll eat.”

Zhuzi and Zhuanger were the nicknames of the brothers Song Chengzhi and Song Chengliang. Before Master Xu from the village school gave them their formal names, the family had always called them that.

Liu Xiangyun responded with a simple “Mm,” washed her hands, and returned to her room.

…

For dinner, they fried two eggs. One was shared between Zhuzi and Zhuanger, the other between Liu Xiangyun and Song Yuntang.

But Song Yuntang didn’t eat hers. She picked up the half-egg in her bowl and placed it into Liu Xiangyun’s.

“You have it.”

With that, she ignored the surprised glances from everyone at the table and lowered her head again, spooning up the watery porridge that barely had a grain of coarse rice in it.

Liu Xiangyun looked first at Song Jingyuan, then at her father- and mother-in-law. She didn’t dare touch the remaining half-egg in her bowl.

Seeing this, Song Jinbao said calmly, “If Tang’er gave it to you, just eat it.”

Since the oldest in the family had spoken, Liu Xiangyun finally smiled and looked toward Song Yuntang.

“Thank you, Tang’er.”

Song Yuntang paid her no mind, continuing to spoon the bland porridge into her mouth with a calm expression.

It wasn’t that she was trying to please anyone—she simply understood how difficult pregnancy could be.

Half an egg meant little to her, but for Liu Shi, a pregnant woman, proper nutrition mattered far more.

After the meal, Zhao Qiao’e took advantage of everyone still being at the table to glance at Song Jinbao beside her and said, “You should head to Shili Village with our eldest tomorrow.”

Song Jinbao frowned. “What for?”

Zhao Qiao’e cast a look toward Song Yuntang. “Go to the Huang Residence and return the betrothal gifts they gave for Tang’er.”

The moment she spoke, not only was Song Yuntang taken aback, but the five men of the family and Liu Shi were also all stunned.

“Call off the engagement?”

Zhao Qiao’e nodded. “Yes, better to do it now before someone ends up dead over it. It’s just not worth the risk.”

A sharp glint flickered in Song Jinbao’s eyes as he turned his gaze to Song Yuntang.

“While we were away, what trouble did you stir up again? Do you have any idea how much damage a broken engagement does to a girl’s reputation? Can’t you just behave for once and let your mother and me catch our breath? If only you were more like Zhaozhao—”

He was cut off by Zhao Qiao’e’s deliberate cough, and Song Jinbao quickly clamped his mouth shut.

Song Jinyuan and Song Jinsheng exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with helplessness. This younger sister of theirs truly wasn’t as sensible as Zhaozhao. Zhaozhao had never once made things difficult for their parents.

Even the young twins, Zhuzi and Zhuanger, shared a subtle glance, their eyes full of disdain for Song Yuntang.

Ever since their Sister Zhaozhao had left, their mother’s burden had grown heavier, and they often had to tiptoe around Song Yuntang’s mood. It was as if the whole family was catering to some pampered Xiaojie(young lady).

Liu Shi, for her part, showed no visible emotion, though she couldn’t help feeling a little regret deep down. That betrothal gift was worth twelve taels of silver—how long would the family have to toil to earn that much?

Besides, if she had married into the Huang Residence, there was a good chance some benefits would’ve trickled back to her maiden family.