Country Maiden: Fields and Fortune-Chapter 119

118, Heartless and Unfeeling (1 more update)

Xie Zhinuan pulled out a pouch and took out three hundred-tael silver notes, stepped forward and stuffed them into Yuan Xiujie’s hand, “I can’t take you in, and you probably don’t want to stay in the village either. Here’s three hundred taels of silver. Having money will help you along the way, take it!”

“…”

Yuan Xiujie looked at Xie Zhinuan in astonishment.

This beautiful, gentle sister had shown him the warmest and kindest side of the world.

And the most considerate.

“Sister Xie…”

“Take it, I don’t lack this bit of silver. With the silver, first give your mother a proper burial, and you must take good care of your younger brother and sister. The outside world is vast indeed, but dangers lurk everywhere. Remember not to flaunt your wealth and don’t trust anyone easily. Aside from yourself, many are ready to stab you in the back!” She patted Yuan Xiujie’s shoulder, “Dumb boy, take care!”

Xie Zhinuan would say no more.

She called Routuan and Dahuang to go home.

She thought to herself that she had encountered too much that day and needed a drink, or she might not be able to sleep.

The affairs of the dumb boy’s family were not something Xie Zhinuan wanted to meddle in, only to sigh in resignation.

A child without a mother…

It’s hard.

Yuan Xiujie watched Xie Zhinuan’s retreating figure, then looked back at his three younger siblings.

“Let’s go, to our maternal grandparents’ house!”

Xie Zhinuan returned home, fed the chickens and Dahuang, Routuan, scooped out some crabs and bayberry wine, sat under the eaves, drinking wine and eating crabs.

Raising her bowl to the evening sky, she declared, “Cheers!”

After drinking herself into a stupor, dazed, with the full moon above, a mule and a dog by her side, Xie Zhinuan smiled softly, “I raise my glass to invite the moon, its reflection and mine in the wine makes three!”

“No, that’s wrong, it’s one mule, one dog, and one person!”

“Hahaha!”

She laughed foolishly.

Then, staggering to her feet, she lurched into the house and collapsed on the kang, falling into a deep sleep.

Above the roof, a shadow lingered for a long while before leaping away, disappearing into the darkness.

Yuan Xiujie, carrying his mother’s body, led his three siblings through the night to the Ai Family village and knocked on the Ai family’s gate.

“Who is it?” An impatient voice called from inside, and soon someone came to check the door.

The man opened the door and was met with the stench of blood.

“Uncle!” Yuan Xiujie called out.

“…” Uncle Ai was stunned, “Dumb, dumb boy?”

His mute nephew could talk now?

R𝑒ad latest chapt𝒆rs at freewebnovёl.ƈom Only.

“Uncle, my mother is dead. I’ve carried her here, hoping to bury her in the Ai family plot…”

“Bang!”

Before he could finish, the door was ruthlessly shut; from inside, a voice called out,”Dumb boy, don’t think of your uncle as heartless. It’s just that your mother married out-when a daughter is married off, she’s like spilled water. Take your mother and go back to the Yuan family!”

Yuan Xiujie’s heart was calm, this was the outcome he had anticipated.

If only the Ai family had been a bit more dominating, the Yuan family wouldn’t have dared to grind down his mother like this.

“What about my maternal grandparents, what do they say?” Yuan Xiujie asked again.

“I am the head of this household…”

“Let them get lost quick, a Yuan family daughter-in-law has no reason to be buried in our Ai family!”

“Exactly, scram!”

“…”

Yuan Xiujie stood at the door, his three shivering siblings behind him. It was anger, and also disappointment.

Dogs in the neighboring houses barked furiously, and people got up to watch the commotion.

“Do my maternal grandparents also think this way? Do you really want to cut ties with us?” Yuan Xiujie shouted.

It was as if his face had been stripped away and trampled upon the ground for all to step on.

“Get lost!”

A hoarse and aged shout came from inside.

Hearing this, Yuan Xiujie carried his mother’s body and led his three siblings away, their steps uneven.

They all knew that in this world, only Xie Zhinuan would provide them with a large sum of silver they had never seen before, and likely would never earn in their lifetime, at a time when they were destitute and had no one to depend on, telling them about the hardships of these current times.

Chapter 120