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Song Yuntang calmly took in the expressions around her and remained unfazed. “A ruined reputation is still better than becoming someone’s concubine.”
“In our peasant household, so long as there’s food on the table and clothes to wear, being a concubine isn’t even considered shameful,” Song Jinbao said sternly. “Don’t you want a better life? With our family’s standing, becoming a concubine to Young Master Huang is the best marriage we could possibly arrange for you.”
Song Yuntang shook her head with an easygoing smile.
“I’m not interested. Even if I wanted a life of wealth and comfort, I’d earn it with my own two hands—not by marrying into it.”
Song Jinbao was nearly driven to laughter by sheer exasperation. He slammed his hand on the table.
“What a joke! With how delicate and lazy you are, you can’t do anything right—what skills could you possibly have to make a good life for yourself?”
When Song Yuntang had first been sent back to the Song Family, the kitchen would fill with smoke every time she tried to cook, her food turned to charcoal, she couldn’t do farm work, and doing laundry left her hands chafed raw. She was all talk, couldn’t carry a thing, and only ever complained about the poor food at home. Every now and then, she’d sell off a piece of jewelry in town just to bring back a bit of meat for the table.
So hearing her boast so shamelessly now, not a single member of the Song Family believed her—except Song Yuntang herself.
“I’ll manage just fine. No need for you to worry, Father.” Her apricot eyes gleamed faintly; though her tone remained cool, there was a new firmness in her gaze.
It was the first time in three years that Song Yuntang had called him “Father” to his face. To say it didn’t stir something in Song Jinbao would be a lie.
After a brief moment of surprise, his tone softened slightly.
“Have you truly thought this through?”
His face remained serious as ever.
“I have,” Song Yuntang replied without hesitation.
Song Jinbao hesitated a little, then finally nodded.
“Alright!” He looked toward Song Jinyuan. “Eldest, tomorrow you’ll go with me to Shili Village first. After we return, we’ll water the fields.”
As head of the household, his decision was final.
This scene took Song Yuntang by surprise.
Twelve taels of silver as the betrothal gift was no small sum—enough to cover the entire family’s expenses for four or five years. At the very least, it should have been easy for Second Brother to find a wife. Yet, didn’t everyone in this family despise her? Why hadn’t they sold her off for that silver?
Her boldness in calling him Father just now had not been in vain.
Silent until now, Song Jinsheng glanced at Song Jinbao. “Father, the Huang Family is the landowner of Shili Village, and Old Master Huang is famously difficult to deal with. If we break off the engagement, might they retaliate against us?”
Lost in thought over Song Yuntang’s address of “Father,” Song Jinbao finally snapped back to reality, furrowing his brow again.
“Second Brother’s concerns are not without reason,” he said. Then, recalling his earlier agreement to Song Yuntang, he added, “But a forced melon never tastes sweet. At worst, after breaking the engagement tomorrow, I’ll go personally to apologize to Old Master Huang and Young Master Huang.”
Zhao Qiao’e sighed and stood up.
“Let it be then. Since it’s still daylight, hurry and wash up to get to bed—lighting lamps wastes money.”
The others dispersed, though each privately thought Song Yuntang was a meddlesome troublemaker.
If the Huang Family really made an issue of this, their future days wouldn’t be easy.
…
Early the next morning, after breakfast, Song Jinbao and Song Jinyuan left for Shili Village. The two brothers, Zhuzi and Zhuanger, filled the family’s water jars before heading to the village school. Song Yuntang wasn’t idle either; she grabbed a woven basket from the woodshed, stuffed it with the clothes and jewelry packed yesterday, and prepared to leave.
Zhao Qiao’e hurriedly stepped forward to stop her.
“Tang’er, where are you going with your things? You know perfectly well how the Lin Family feels. Why seek trouble for yourself? Besides, if you go to the Lin Family, Zhaozhao’s situation won’t be any better.”
Hearing this, Song Yuntang’s face, which had somewhat softened toward the Song Family, hardened once again.
“I’m not going to the Lin Family.”
Second Brother, Song Jinsheng, came out of his room, also wearing an unfriendly expression.
“If you’re not going to the Lin Family, then where? You say you won’t marry Young Master Huang, and Father even let you break off the engagement. What more do you want? Offend the Huang Family and still go stirring trouble at Master Lin’s residence? Are you really determined to make the whole family miserable before you’ll stop?”
Liu Xiangyun, sitting in front of the house doing some needlework, quietly urged, “Tang’er, life is hard enough for all of us. Please don’t make things difficult for Father and Mother.”
Song Yuntang was almost laughing with frustration at the people before her. So basically, whenever she tried to go into town, they assumed she was climbing the Lin Family’s ladder or making things worse for Lin Zhaozhao?
She tightened the strap of the basket on her shoulder, her expression indifferent.
“I said, I’m not going to the Lin Family. I’m just going to town to sell these clothes and jewelry, then I’ll come right back.”
Zhao Qiao’e looked surprised. “Why would you sell your clothes and jewelry when everything is fine?”
“They’re just in the way and an eyesore.” Saying this, she bypassed Zhao Qiao’e and headed out of the courtyard.
Zhao Qiao’e still wasn’t convinced and called after her, “Have your Second Brother go with you. You’re just a girl; Mother won’t feel at ease with you running around outside alone.”
Song Yuntang replied with a casual, “Whatever,” and kept walking toward the village entrance.
Zhao Qiao’e hurried inside and handed a neatly wrapped bundle of copper coins to Song Jinsheng.
“Go ahead. On your way back, buy some brown rice—the household’s rice jar is almost empty.”
Song Jinsheng nodded, pocketed the coins, then jogged to catch up with Song Yuntang.
…
The two siblings reached the village entrance. Expecting Song Yuntang to keep walking, they were surprised when she sat down beneath the large banyan tree by the gate. She took the basket off her shoulder and frowned as she rubbed the sore, chafed skin left by the strap.
Having grown used to life as a noble young lady, her delicate, tender skin was indeed quite fragile.
Song Jinsheng sneered.
“Weren’t you going to the town? Already too tired to walk?”
Song Yuntang ignored him.
He didn’t press further but squatted beside her and continued, “Our family isn’t wealthy, but we’ve never mistreated you. Yet you keep talking about going back to the Lin Family. Do you even have any loyalty?”
Song Yuntang still said nothing.
Song Jinsheng glanced at her sideways. “If you ever think about doing something reckless again, just tell me. I’ll cover for you so we can end it all at once. That way, you won’t keep making Father and Mother uncomfortable.”
If he weren’t worried she might actually do something foolish, he wouldn’t have bothered tagging along to the town and embarrassing himself.
No need to guess—Song Yuntang was definitely headed for the Lin Family. This wasn’t the first time.
Song Yuntang gave a cold smile. “So after, should I send you a thank-you dream?”
“That’s not funny!” Song Jinsheng grew a bit anxious. “Do you really want there to be a next time?”
Song Yuntang didn’t answer. She stared off into the distance as a cattle cart passed the village entrance, then stood up to reach for her basket.
But when she reached out, she grasped nothing. Looking up, she saw the basket already on Song Jinsheng’s back.
He looked toward her with a disdainful expression. “Come on, Ancestor. Only us brothers are so easygoing. Anyone who marries you in the future is really going to have a tough time.”
Watching Song Jinsheng’s figure walk ahead, Song Yuntang was momentarily stunned before hastily catching up. “Then I wish you, Second Brother, an early marriage to a virtuous and capable sister-in-law.”
Song Jinsheng paused in his steps, glanced back at her, but saw no trace of awkwardness on her face.
Did he mishear that “Second Brother” just now?