Farm Tough Girl

Chapter 104: Chapter 105: Becoming the Number One Scholar Despite Being Good-for-Nothing_1 Chapter 104: Chapter 105: Becoming the Number One Scholar Despite Being Good-for-Nothing_1 The maid’s thoughts Mrs. Liang naturally couldn’t fathom, delightedly taking the money after selling the design, proud of how clever she was to have effortlessly made two silver coins, she swayed her hips and hummed a tune as she left the Embroidery House.

Who would have known that as soon as she stepped out, she ran into Xiangcai, who exclaimed in astonishment, “Mrs. Liang, you have some spare silver to buy embroidery from such an expensive place?”

The Golden Silk Embroidery House was the most expensive in Chatu Town, typically only frequented by daughters and ladies of prominent families in town. Although they often went there to sell their own needlework, everyone was currently working on embroidery for Madam Liu, so who had the spare time to make and sell their own embroidery? Hence, at first glance, Xiangcai didn’t even consider that Mrs. Liang was there to sell needlework.

Mrs. Liang jumped in fright and stammered, “You, I, I just went in to take a look.”

Xiangcai eyed her suspiciously, “Your family can actually afford embroidery? You’d even hate to keep the ones you embroider yourself, right?” Being from a farming family, wasn’t everyone dressed from head to toe in clothes they’d patched and sewn themselves? Who would have spare silver to buy readymade goods?

Mrs. Liang scowled and snapped at Xiangcai, “My kid will be going to private schooling soon, and I must buy him some things that will help him look the part. I can’t have people looking down on us, can I? Just because we’re poor, we can’t buy good stuff? Why do you have to be so contemptuous?”

Only then did Xiangcai believe her. Mrs. Liang, after having three daughters, finally had a son, who was incredibly precious to her. She’d give him the best of everything, even sending him to private school. It made sense that she’d buy something expensive for him. However, Mrs. Liang’s attitude still genuinely irritated Xiangcai.

“How can you talk like that? We’re all neighbors. Is there a need to be so mean-spirited? I was just asking, wasn’t I? Which family isn’t struggling to make ends meet? If you really want your son to dress up well, you don’t need to waste money here. Wouldn’t buying some quality fabric and sewing it yourself save more?” Xiangcai retorted indignantly, her well-intentioned concern mistaken for interference.

Mrs. Liang brushed her off with noncommittal answers and turned to leave, “I’ve got to go buy some meat and such. You go on with your browsing.”

Xiangcai had no intention of accompanying Mrs. Liang; the two had never gotten along and being together would just be irritating for both of them.

After everyone had finished their shopping, they gathered at the prearranged spot. Muniang was already waiting there, and then they all headed back to Tupo Village together.

“Dabao’s Mother, you bought so much rice? That’s really something. There aren’t many families in our village that can afford so much white rice,” Xiangcai said enviously as she boarded the cart, eyeing the small sack of white rice that belonged to Dabao’s Mother.

Tupo Village was poor; not many families could afford to eat rice regularly, typically making do with coarse flour buns as a staple, considering it a treat to have millet on occasion.

Dabao’s Mother smiled shyly, “My Dabao is growing up, and my husband says we can’t shortchange the boy. He specifically asked me to buy some rice for the child to eat. We can make do with coarse buns.”

“Isn’t everyone’s child growing? Still, there aren’t many in our village buying white rice—it’s just that your man knows how to make money,” everyone laughed.

Dabao’s Mother’s face flushed as she said, “What money-making? It’s just enough to fill the stomach.” Her husband was working as a blacksmith in the city and, a few years back, thanks to her aunt’s connections, she found a blacksmith master to take him as an apprentice. In the past two or three years, he had learned the trade well and bravely started his own shop. Recently, he actually made a bit of profit—about two taels of silver a month, which, for the tiny Tupo Village, was quite an accomplishment.

Mrs. Liang snorted disdainfully, “It’s just a few pounds of coarse rice, what’s there to envy? Some people really haven’t seen the world.” Inside, she was actually seething with jealousy.

Embarrassed, Dabao’s Mother smiled, and Muniang purposefully ignoring Mrs. Liang, said to Dabao’s Mother with a smile, “Dabao will have to learn blacksmithing from his father later, right? This is a secure job. In the future, you really won’t have to worry about living.”

Dabao’s Mother smiled, “Yes, Dabao is still young, only five years old. My husband said that in a couple of years he’ll take him to the prefectural city to teach him personally.”

Skills like these were not something just anyone could learn, usually only passed down to one’s own sons.

Not wanting to let it go, Mrs. Liang boasted, “No matter what, he’s just a blacksmith still. Our boy is going to study for official recognition. Next month we’re sending him to a private school.” There weren’t many families in the village who could afford education, and Mrs. Liang was really showing off.

The color drained from Dabao’s Mother’s face. Although she was usually gentle and soft, she couldn’t stand someone repeatedly putting down her son, “My Dabao doesn’t have the ambition to become a Number One Scholar, not like your proud son.”

Muniang gave Mrs. Liang a sharp glance, “There are plenty who study. There are many who are seventy or eighty years old and still taking the Scholar examination. Your son has just started school. Aren’t you thinking too far ahead? Wait until your son actually achieves some official recognition before you start boasting.”

Xiangcai hastily added, “Exactly, what’s there to look down on a blacksmith for? They make an honest living and are much better off than many of us. When it comes time, Mrs. Liang, you’ll have to be careful with your silver coins, because getting official recognition costs you don’t know how much money. Look at the Qiao family; do you realize how much money they’ve spent to support Qiao Yuanzhen’s education?”

Mrs. Liang’s face turned dark, seeing everyone unanimously turning their guns on her, clearly treating her as an outsider rather than a neighbor. Humph, if you’re going to be heartless, I’ll be unjust. If you can’t stand to see me prosper, then I’ll flaunt it in your face!

Dabao’s Mother looked around with grateful eyes, feeling her heart warm.

Muniang had heard of this Dabao’s Mother before. She was the eldest daughter-in-law of the Peng Family, married into the family for five years. Her husband, a blacksmith, was usually in the prefectural city and seldom returned home. Alone, she struggled to raise her son. Although her husband was honest and reliable, her sisters-in-law often caused trouble for her, and her mother-in-law was no kind woman. Life at home was tough, but for her son’s sake, her petite figure endured it all. As long as her son was doing well, she felt content. Muniang admired and sympathized with her immensely.

Xiangcai mentioned Qiao Yuanzhen, reminding Muniang that the provincial examination was drawing near and Qiao Yuanzhen would likely be taking it soon. Qinghe hadn’t come to visit her much recently as she was taking care of Qiao Yuanzhen. Muniang heard that one should move to a quiet inn about a month before the exam to study in peace, and by counting the days, Qiao Yuanzhen should be leaving soon.

As for Qiao Yuanzhen’s official examination, Muniang genuinely hoped he would not pass. It wasn’t out of any personal prejudice against him; she had quickly realized that Qiao Yuanzhen was a restless sort. When impoverished, he probably wouldn’t cause trouble, but if he gained a bit of success, he would most likely leave his long-suffering wife, Qinghe, in the dust. If he could conceive the idea of “selling” Qinghe for money, he surely wouldn’t treat her well in the future either.

(Today there will be a second update.)