The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure-Chapter 1445 - 1444: Only One Sentence Is True

Wang Yongzhu glanced at it, conveniently put it into her sleeve pocket, and then took out a fifty-tael silver note, gesturing to Old Granny Wu to hand it to the second young master of the Yuan Family: "I don’t take advantage of others, so this fifty taels of silver as the indenture money is returned to the second young master." 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

The second young master of the Yuan Family had no face to receive this money, covered his face with his sleeve, and left.

Old Granny Wu placed the silver note in front of Lady Yuan, sneering: "Lady Yuan, make sure to keep this well, don’t say later that our madam didn’t give the silver!"

A nearby female relative commented: "We can testify! Madam spent fifty taels of silver to buy it! The second young master of the Yuan Family personally gave the indenture!"

Lady Yuan’s face turned blue and then white, gritting her teeth as she accepted the silver note.

After handling this matter, Wang Yongzhu looked at the sky, it was almost time.

Only then did she walk to the middle of the courtyard, glanced around, "I came a bit hastily today, if there’s anything disrespectful, Lady Yuan, please don’t be offended! I’m young and can’t keep my cool. As soon as I hear someone slandering me, I can’t sit still."

"Lady Yuan, you need not blame yourself; after all, being older means you might overlook some matters in the backyard due to lack of energy. Although I’m young, I am most considerate of others!"

"Furthermore, we will still interact daily in the future. My husband is new here, needs to manage county affairs and horse farm matters; we will need Lord Yuan’s support in the days to come. We’re one family, so we won’t speak like two families. I won’t pursue this matter, it ends here! As a gesture of face for Lord Yuan."

"Alright then, it’s getting late. We will take our leave and not disturb Lady Yuan further! We should arrange for Lady Yuan and the ladies to gather another day!"

Having said that, she was about to leave.

All the women quickly followed behind.

After taking a couple of steps, Wang Yongzhu suddenly remembered something, paused and turned back: "Oh, I nearly forgot something!"

Seeing everyone looking at her, she finally smiled: "In all the gossip spreading around, most of it is false, but one thing is true! I am indeed jealous! Under no circumstances would I allow a second woman beside my husband other than myself!"

"Today, I’ll make my stance clear here, for all you ladies to hear and help spread the word for me! Just say I said that if anyone fancies my husband and wants to offer herself, or think of sending herself to be a slave or maid, feel free to find me at the back courtyard of the County Yamen."

"As long as they first sign a death indenture to be a maid or slave, and then are sent to the farm to work for decades until they die after me, there’s hope! I hope everyone enthusiastically signs up, the more the merrier~"

After speaking, she supported Old Granny Zhang, and without looking back, led a group of maids and old grannies, as well as Jinchai, away like a breeze.

All the women stared at each other for quite a while before they came to their senses.

They clicked their tongues in wonder and eagerly followed after.

The whole courtyard was left with only Lady Yuan and the servants.

After a while, a servant mustered up the courage to step forward: "Madam? Madam?"

Seeing Lady Yuan not responding, a gentle push sent Lady Yuan rolling her eyes and fainting...

The servants of the Yuan Family swarmed over, causing complete chaos.

Meanwhile, over at Wang Yongzhu’s side, their carriages were making their way back to the back courtyard of the County Yamen.

The women following behind squeezed into the carriages, discussing the actions of the County Magistrate’s Lady today.

"Who would’ve thought, our madam has quite a straightforward personality!"

"Exactly! I love hearing what she says! I thought southern women all liked taking concubines for their men! Didn’t expect there to be a madam like her!"

"And think about the previous one, not only did she arrange concubines for the County Magistrate, she even urged our men to take concubines! She’s simply inhuman!"

"If my man even dares to have those thoughts in the future, I’ll do just like madam, have those little sluts sign death indentures, then send them to the farm to plow and plant wheat!"

"Brilliant! That’s a great idea! We’ll all do the same from now on—"

...

These women all suddenly regarded Wang Yongzhu as one of their own.

You must know, this Northwest region is bold among both men and women, and due to war and poorer living conditions compared to the south, concubines are rare.

Yet, the wives of the last two County Magistrates, unknown what background they came from, kept talking about rules, women’s virtues, saying things like women are naturally a step lower than men, should voluntarily take concubines for their men, and treat men as gods.

Bah! Weren’t we also raised by our parents? Why should we consider men so highly? I married a man, not a Buddha!

Hence everyone felt extremely repulsed, especially when their own men, swayed by the County Magistrate, actually started considering it.

Didn’t that just earn everyone’s hatred?

So, Wang Yongzhu’s statements truly resonated with the hearts of these women.

They all thought that just for the Madam’s words today, they must help publicize them, and also spread the Madam’s magnanimous behavior from today.

Over there, Jinchai was brought onto Old Granny Zhang’s and Wang Yongzhu’s carriage.

She shrank into a corner, warily watching the two.

Wang Yongzhu, however, smiled warmly at her, and suddenly asked: "Do you know why I want to send you home?"

Jinchai’s heart tightened, seemingly realizing something, she excitedly said: "Are you actually not planning to send me home? Were you just putting on a good face in front of people outside? Are you not planning to sell me?"

With that, she even scared herself: "If, if you dare sell me, I’ll fight you to the death! I’ll hang myself in front of you, and I’ll leave a blood letter saying you forced me to death—"

By the end, Jinchai was incoherent, not even knowing what she was saying.

Wang Yongzhu shook her head: "Look at you, why don’t you trust people? I said I’ll send you back, so I definitely will! Even if you cry and scream that you don’t want to go back by then, you can’t!"

Upon hearing this, Jinchai, for some reason, shivered.

Wang Yongzhu then leisurely said: "Do you know what’s going on with your family now?"

Jinchai’s ears perked up.

"Do you know, when your mom heard the news, she went back to settle accounts with your dad, the two fought like mad dogs, and your dad accidentally pushed your mom, causing her to hit the corner of the table and turn into an idiot. Your dad also got beaten by your mom, breaking his legs and arms. Your grandparents, in caring for your mom, secretly neglected your dad, and later were set up by him, losing their eyesight."

Upon hearing this, Jinchai was dumbfounded.

Though she knew her family’s situation might not be good now, she never imagined it would be like this.

Recalling Wang Yongzhu’s words about sending her back, she immediately understood.

Desperately shaking her head: "I don’t want to go back! I don’t want to go back!"

Wang Yongzhu pretended not to hear, going on: "You should know, your dad offended so many people, but they hesitated due to the words left by the official responsible for the case back then and didn’t take action against your dad. But your parents can’t leave Qi City County now, either. Your family’s mutual revenge plots against each other are even more thrilling than those people taking action themselves."

"I suppose you’ll see it with your own eyes once you return!"

Jinchai went completely limp; just thinking about what awaited her back home was too much for her, and she fainted with fear.

When Jinchai fainted, Old Granny Zhang finally spoke: "Bah! Still thinks she’s a pampered lady, as if she has the luxury of being selective?"

On the other hand, she worried: "Daughter, is doing this really alright?"

Wang Yongzhu smiled, stretching lazily: "I was just scaring her! It’s been a year or two, those people’s families had long been dealt with by subsequent County Magistrates. Otherwise, letting them persist would, over time, rekindle the flame and become a tumor again."

"But Wang Yongan and his family, some are sick, some blind, and there’s still an idiot. No amount of silver is enough to squander. And after his arm was broken by Lady Qian, Wang Yongan’s hand didn’t heal well, he can’t even write or transcribe for people."

"Now they barely make ends meet relying on Lady Qian’s parents taking odd jobs outside for them. When Jinchai goes back, if her family still has a conscience, and if she endures the hardship, she could get by. After a few years, she might marry into an ordinary family and live in peace."

"If they harbor ill intentions, and Jinchai is self-centered, life will indeed be lively!"