The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure

Grandma Wang Zhang's eyes squinted with delight, and she cradled the Yellow Pine Mushrooms in her hands, turning them over and over, joyfully saying, "It's all thanks to my Zhuzhu's good fortune. It's because she went up the mountain with them that they had the luck to find this treasure. Otherwise, with their own abilities, after so many years of picking pigweed, they haven't brought back a single grass root for old mother! My daughter, you truly are a lucky star!"

Ming Zhu...

Even though Grandma Wang Zhang had inadvertently spoken the truth, Ming Zhu could only feign ignorance and just complained about her hunger, "Mom, I'm hungry. Is there anything to eat?"

Grandma Wang Zhang carried the Yellow Pine Mushrooms into the kitchen, "Mom has saved some food for you, come and eat quickly, you must be tired today! My poor daughter, how can you endure such hardship? Sit down quickly, let your third sister-in-law make you an Egg soup to nourish you—"

Ming Zhu quickly waved her hand, "No need, mother, I'm starving. I'll eat whatever there is! And Jinpan and the others—"

She couldn't dare to receive any special treatment anymore; otherwise, what would become of the goodwill?

Grandma Wang Zhang was reluctant at heart. Normally, people ate only twice a day, but now, during the busy farming season, if they didn't eat well, they couldn't get the fieldwork done. That's why she would make three meals a day, and only those who worked in the fields got to eat; those who didn't naturally had to go hungry.

However, her unmarried daughter was an exception. Of course, she couldn't let her precious daughter starve. As for those little Debt-Collecting Ghosts, what was there for them to eat? As long as they didn't starve to death, that was enough!

But looking at her daughter's pitiful gaze towards her, Grandma Wang Zhang couldn't stand firm and could only impatiently yell out into the courtyard, "Didn't hear what your eldest aunt said? Are your ears just for show? Come on in and eat! All day long, all you know is eat, eat, eat, whatever you do is useless, what you eat is never enough. What kind of karma did I create in my past life..."

The little beans stopped crying, wiped away their tears, and scurried into the kitchen.

While Grandma Wang Zhang complained with her mouth, her hands moved quickly, dividing the food for four people, as usual giving the most to Ming Zhu, a bun and an extra pancake.

Jinguan got half a bun, while Jinhua and Jinpan shared the other half.

This was a reward for the three little beans' contribution in collecting the Yellow Pine Mushrooms.

The little beans wolfed down their food while feeling gratitude towards their eldest aunt; had it not been for her speaking up for them in front of their grandmother, having a bun to eat would have been wishful thinking—a scolding would have been a more likely treat.

Ming Zhu could only try hard to turn a blind eye, eating while coaxing Grandma Wang Zhang, "Mom, I heard that these Yellow Pine Mushrooms are quite valuable. Tomorrow I'll take Jinguan and the others up the mountain to pick more, gather half a catty, sell it for money, and buy new clothes for you and dad to wear."

Although the Wang Family's financial situation was considered okay in Qilidun, they could only ensure that the entire family wasn't starving, and occasional surpluses were saved by Grandma Wang Zhang, with the family's clothing being patched and re-patched year after year.

Only Ming Zhu had a new set of clothes every year because of Grandma Wang Zhang's affection for her.

Hearing her daughter say this, Grandma Wang Zhang's face bloomed with smiles; no wonder she was most fond of this unmarried daughter who always considered her parents.

Without hesitation, she agreed, "Yes, yes, yes, mom will wait for Zhuzhu to sell the mushrooms and get mom a new dress to wear."

Meanwhile, the little beans had already devoured their buns in record time and also swiftly cleaned up the dishes. They didn't dare to rest and obediently went back to the yard to chop pigweed.

Ming Zhu, feeling a pang of guilt, thought to herself that as the eldest aunt, compared with them, she was like a useless being.

Then she remembered the devout and eager looks on the faces of the little beans when they ate the egg on the mountain; she had promised them mushroom soup upon returning home. If she broke her promise, how could she expect them to help with mushroom picking?

With her own physical stature and constitution, to fulfill the task of gathering half a catty of mushrooms seemed like it would take an eternity!

After thinking for a moment, she said, "Mother, everyone says these Yellow Pine Mushrooms are a rare delicacy, but just how rare are they? Shall we try some tonight?"

Old Granny Zhang frowned with concern and gently patted her eldest daughter's hand, chiding her, "Zhuzhu, these Yellow Pine Mushrooms are precious goods, why should we people of the mountains eat them for no good reason? Wouldn't that be shortening our lifespans? Don't worry, the mushrooms you picked will be sold for money, and it will all be yours. Listen to your mother, in a few days, when the market convenes, I'll help you sell them. I estimate they could fetch a Half String Money, and I'll save it for you for your marriage preparations."

This speech truly reflected Old Granny Zhang's tender maternal love, all aimed at considering the best for Wang Yongzhu.

However, Ming Zhu had other plans - thoughts of a dowry were mere illusions; after all, that Song Chongjin did not want to marry her, and she did not wish to marry him either.

Completing the task at hand was most important—doing so might deepen Little Bean's fondness for her and, who knows, might even boost the friendliness of the remaining villagers. Thus, come what may, she had to bring out the Yellow Pine Mushrooms today to buy some goodwill.

As for the Yellow Pine Mushrooms, as long as she had the System, and she worked hard, would there be a shortage?

Regardless, she was still touched by Old Granny Zhang's wholehearted loving mother's heart toward Wang Yongzhu.

Moved in her heart, she said, "Mother, I know you're doing all this for my own good. But haven't you always told me I'm blessed? Don't worry, I'll climb the mountain again tomorrow and picking this many Yellow Pine Mushrooms will be a breeze! Besides, you care for me and I care for you. Let me honor you properly and let Mother taste these expensive mushrooms that only city folk can afford! Mother—" To achieve her goal, Ming Zhu felt she had dropped all her inhibitions. Even with her formidable stature and physique, she assertedly took Old Granny Zhang's hand and began to cajole.

Old Granny Zhang, already having a soft spot for her eldest daughter, was swayed by such cajoling and hand-holding, she promptly agreed, "Alright, alright, as you wish, it seems I must have owed you in a past life—"

Having said that, she still felt a pang of regret and ultimately, under Ming Zhu's eager gaze, she reluctantly picked out two or three of the smallest Yellow Pine Mushrooms and set them aside.

She then quickly locked the remaining Yellow Pine Mushrooms in the cabinet, turned around, and irritably shooed Ming Zhu out of the kitchen, "Once you've eaten, hurry back to your room to change your clothes—"

Ming Zhu wasn't upset but left the kitchen in high spirits.

As she walked into the courtyard and saw the three Little Beans, she changed the direction of her steps towards her room and approached them. Only when she checked that Old Granny Zhang was still in the kitchen, did she quietly announce, "Your granny agreed that we're having mushroom soup tonight—"

The Little Beans' eyes gleamed with excitement, feeling that their elder cousin was the best person in the world. Following her not only meant a full stomach but also a taste of mushroom soup—a lavish treat they could only have dreamed of before.

With this thought, the three Little Beans became instantly enthusiastic. Jinhua, being a girl and more attentive, spontaneously volunteered Jinguan to fetch water and prompted Jinpan to get the towel, while she accompanied Ming Zhu back to her room, swiftly wrung out a washcloth, and offered it to her elder cousin to wipe off the sweat.

This meticulous attention made Ming Zhu feel quite awkward. She quickly wiped her face and hands, and Jinhua, thorough as ever, hung the washcloth to dry and promptly passed the basin to Jinguan to be emptied.

All was done smoothly, giving Ming Zhu no time to react.

By the time she came to her senses, Jinhua was already offering to help her elder cousin out of her clothes.

Startled, Ming Zhu valiantly defended her dignity, and amidst Jinhua's disappointed gaze, she changed out of her clothes faster than ever before. She hadn't even recovered her composure when she saw Jinhua picking up the dirty clothes and heading out.

When Ming Zhu came out and saw, Jinhua was already adeptly washing her clothes by the well.

Ming Zhu was too embarrassed to let the Little Bean wash her clothes and hurried over, intending to take over herself.

Jinhua refused her, "Elder cousin, you've worked hard today, go back to your room and rest. Leave these minor chores to me. From now on, consider your laundry my responsibility."

Ming Zhu...