Rebirth: After Becoming the Villainess-Chapter 188: Alas, It’s Hard to Go from Luxury to Frugality

Chapter 188: Chapter 188: Alas, It’s Hard to Go from Luxury to Frugality

Song Lianhe was truly hungry.

While she was unconscious, her body’s functions were dormant, so she hadn’t felt hunger.

But after being tormented by that Tiger Beak until she threw up, and then getting infuriated by Old Man Luo and Nanny Gui, she was physically and mentally drained. It was only normal that she’d be hungry!

She sat on a small stool in the kitchen, holding a large porcelain bowl and wolfing down dough drop soup.

A plump auntie in a purple robe brought her another bowl.

"Slow down. There’s no rush. If it’s not enough, there’s more."

"Thank you, Sister Mi."

Just as Song Lianhe was about to take it, a sword blocked her way.

She looked up and met Zhong Shimin’s gaze.

"You’ve been on an empty stomach for too long. You shouldn’t eat your fill."

"..."

Song Lianhe was a physician. How could she not know such common sense?

She just couldn’t help herself. Besides, Sister Mi’s dough drop soup was so fragrant that after one bowl, she couldn’t resist a second.

"Hmph. A woman who deceived the Young Master has the gall to sit here eating dough drop soup? Food is scarce these days. We’re giving her something we barely get to eat ourselves... I’d rather feed it to the dogs!"

Hearing the muttering behind her, Song Lianhe turned around.

Behind her was a young maid stoking the fire.

She was tall and looked younger than Song Lianhe, with a well-proportioned, athletic build and healthy, wheat-colored skin.

Her name was Da Xi. She was in charge of the kitchen fire and hadn’t given Song Lianhe a single pleasant look since Zhong Shimin brought her here.

Song Lianhe just smiled, not taking it to heart at all.

Zhong Shimin, however, noted her reaction but also said nothing.

Her hunger and thirst sated, Song Lianhe stood up, patted her little belly, and said sincerely to Sister Mi, "Thank you, Sister Mi."

Sister Mi beamed. One look at her and you could tell she was a kind-hearted person. "Come to the kitchen whenever you’re hungry."

"Okay."

As Song Lianhe walked out of the kitchen, she could still hear Da Xi complaining, "Sister Mi! Why are you even bothering with her? That woman from Ling’an is obviously no good!"

Song Lianhe chuckled and turned to the man following her.

"This is amusing. How did a rumor I myself know nothing about get spread around here so convincingly? They’re even saying I used a child in my belly to trick him into marriage... Do you take Zhou Cangyan for a fool, or a pushover? Even if I were truly pregnant, would he care? Would he just let me threaten him?"

’I can’t believe anyone would fall for such a crude lie!’

The man wore a mask, hiding his expression, but his eyes were cold. "What if he is in love with you?"

Song Lianhe froze for a moment, then burst out laughing. "Zhou Cangyan? In love with me?" She waved her hands dismissively. "No way. The one he likes is someone else."

Zhong Shimin couldn’t be bothered with her and led her to a side room. "This is your room."

Song Lianhe looked around and said with a self-deprecating laugh, "And here I thought it would be a prison cell."

"Yes, so did I." 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

With that, he turned and left.

"Tch. So unlikable!"

She tutted twice, then pushed the door open and went inside. The room wasn’t large, but it was reasonably tidy. Against one wall was a large, shared bed, big enough for three or four people.

She stared blankly, suddenly missing Shuang Ye a little.

It was the first time since Song Lianhe had transmigrated into the book that she had no one by her side. She had to do everything herself, even find the kitchen when she was hungry...

’Sigh. It really is easy to go from a simple life to a lavish one, but hard to go from lavish back to simple.’

’I wonder how they’re doing in Ling’an City. They must have been terrified when they heard I was abducted, right?’

’And Yan Wen... I wonder if he passed his exam...’

Lost in thought, Song Lianhe climbed onto the bed to rest for a bit, but a furious roar made her jump.

"Who told you you could come into my room? Get out!"

Song Lianhe looked in confusion at Da Xi, who had just stormed in. "This is your room?"

"This is my room and Sister Mi’s!"

Song Lianhe blinked a few times, then nodded. "Mm, then from now on, it’ll be a room for the three of us."

She was someone who could look on the bright side. Having been abducted to such a remote place, not sleeping in a cell was already a blessing. What did it matter if she had to share a room with others?

But Da Xi couldn’t see it that way!

Even though Song Lianhe was of noble birth and the Young Master’s wife, infidelity was the ultimate taboo. Even a mere kitchen maid like Da Xi would look down on her for it!

Living under the same roof with such a person was an insult to her!

Without another word, she lunged forward and roughly pulled Song Lianhe off the bed. "You’re not welcome here!"

"Let go of me!"

Song Lianhe was furious now too. ’I let you have your say earlier, but now you’re pushing your luck!’

She wasn’t as strong as Da Xi, but she was a physician!

She simply reached out and poked a spot on Da Xi’s ribs. Da Xi yelped as if electrocuted, her hand flying open in pain. "You... you... you know witchcraft!"

Song Lianhe rubbed her arm where Da Xi had grabbed it. "Listen here, young lady. I might be staying here for a while. It would be best if we could live in peace. But if you keep pestering me and looking for trouble, don’t blame me for not being polite."

She took off her shoes, climbed directly onto the bed, and pulled the blanket from the corner over herself.

Da Xi was only a girl of fourteen or fifteen. Provoked like this, her tears immediately started to fall.

Song Lianhe, under the blanket, turned over impatiently, then suddenly sat up. "I’m not trying to be rude, but you’re the one picking a fight, and you think you’re in the right? What, you start crying when you can’t win? Is this a contest to see who can cry the loudest?"

Da Xi glared at her with red-rimmed eyes. "You don’t deserve the Young Master! The Young Master belongs to my big sister!"

"Your big sister?" Song Lianhe looked at her suspiciously. "Cheng Xidian?"

"Pah! She’s not my big sister!"

’It’s obvious this kid hates Cheng Xidian, too.’

’The enemy of my enemy is, for now, not my enemy.’

Song Lianhe’s impression of her instantly improved. So, she sat cross-legged on the bed, propped her chin on one hand, and asked with keen interest, "Tell me about your big sister and Zhou Cangyan. What’s their story?"

Da Xi wiped her tears away forcefully and lifted her chin. "When the Young Master was on campaigns, he would take my big sister with him wherever he went! He loved to eat the meals my big sister cooked and drink the wine my big sister brewed!"

"Oohh," Song Lianhe said, understanding now. "Your big sister is a cook."

Da Xi got a little flustered. "My big sister is not!"

"Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mean it in a demeaning way. There’s nothing wrong with being a cook. Whether it’s a cook or a maid... even a humble kitchen girl who tends the fire, it’s just a different division of labor. No one is more lowly than anyone else."

Da Xi was taken aback when she heard this. It was the first time she had ever heard someone say that no one was more lowly than anyone else...

Song Lianhe spoke lightly, as if making small talk. Her voice was slightly nasal and lazy, pleasant to the ear, like someone humming a lullaby next to you.

Da Xi abruptly came to her senses. ’What am I thinking?’

She quickly shook her head and continued in a firm voice, "My big sister and the Young Master grew up together as childhood sweethearts. He even taught my big sister how to ride a horse, shoot a bow, and read..."

"Stop."

Song Lianhe cut her off, amused. "You’ve been talking for ages. Who exactly *is* your big sister?"

"She..."

At the mention of her big sister, Da Xi’s eyes gradually dimmed.

"She... she might never come back."

"Hm?"

"She went missing trying to save the Young Master."

Song Lianhe was slightly taken aback. She hadn’t expected that outcome. Seeing the young girl so heartbroken, she felt a pang of guilt. "I’m sorry, I didn’t know she had..."

Da Xi suddenly looked up at her, her gaze firm. "My big sister isn’t dead! She’ll be back sooner or later! Even though the Young Master married you, he’s actually been waiting for my big sister. He only has room for my big sister in his heart!"

"Uh, little sister, you might be mistaken..." Although she knew the atmosphere wasn’t right for a lecture, Song Lianhe, in the spirit of rigor and responsibility, said with a smile, "The person your Young Master likes is named Song Xilan."