The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure-Chapter 17 - The Annoying Rural Love Story
17: Chapter 17: The Annoying Rural Love Story
17 -17: The Annoying Rural Love Story
Old Granny Zhang immediately beamed with joy.
Since she married into the Wang Family, she’d never been slighted, but her old daughter’s infatuation with the Song Family Boy had forced her to lower her head before the Song Family, and how that had stifled her!
If it weren’t for her old daughter, the Song Family Boy, with no land, a sickly mother, and not even knowing who his real father was, would he even be worthy of becoming her Wang Family’s son-in-law?
But now, thank goodness, her daughter had finally come to her senses!
“Zhuzhu, as long as you understand, that’s good.
Don’t worry, I’ve been keeping all these things for you.
In the future, I’ll find you a son-in-law who knows your warmth and cold, and marry you off with great honor!” In Old Granny Zhang’s eyes, her old daughter was perfect in every way—it was just her poor judgment that was the issue.
Now that she seemed to have overcome that, she was fit to marry even the Emperor.
Ming Zhu nodded indifferently, her mind occupied with the new tasks the System had just released, “Host, first congratulations on reaching Primary Level in the aspect of food; in life, clothing, food, shelter, and transportation are indispensable.
Please strive to upgrade the other levels as soon as possible!
Now announcing daily tasks: Task 1: Clean the house, maintain a bright and spotless living space, reward upon completion: Points 1; Task 2: Prepare a meal that not only is edible but garners the sincere praise of the family, progress 0/12; Task 3: As a host living in ancient times, how can you not possess the skill of fine needlework?
Primary Level Task: Neatly mend a piece of clothing to earn Points.
Task duration: Please complete within half a month, otherwise, it will be considered a failure of the task!”
With her mind full of new tasks, Ming Zhu had no interest in anything else.
She said to Old Granny Zhang, “Mother, I’m going back to my room.”
She took a couple of steps before stopping, remembering something.
She caught the probing gaze of Song Chongjin, which he hadn’t managed to withdraw in time.
Upon seeing her turn around, Song Chongjin’s expression remained unchanged as he lowered his eyelids, concealing his thoughts.
But Ming Zhu didn’t think much of it.
She merely remembered that the previous day, Song Chongjin had spared her the misfortune of falling into a manure pit, and she had agreed to reduce the betrothal gifts by two eggs.
She raised her voice and said to Old Granny Zhang, “Oh right, Mother, thanks to Song Chongjin yesterday, I didn’t fall into a manure pit.
I agreed to reduce the betrothal gifts by two eggs, remember to give him two eggs later.”
Old Granny Zhang nodded agreeably, “I know, go back to your room.
You’ve had a rough day yesterday; rest for a while longer, and I’ll have Jinhua serve your breakfast in a bit.”
As soon as Ming Zhu went inside, Old Granny Zhang’s face darkened, her nose and eyes skewed in dissatisfaction.
She looked at Song Chongjin with discontent in every gaze.
Frowning, she rummaged through the basket for a bit before rolling her eyes and said, “Song Family Boy, our Zhuzhu is willing to break off the engagement because she’s kind-hearted and unaware of the ways of the world.
It seems your mother hasn’t told you, so let me explain it to you today.
In Qilidun’s old customs, if one family breaks off an engagement after it has been settled, especially if the male party breaks the engagement and tarnishes the reputation of the girl’s family, preventing her from marrying well, the man’s family must compensate double the betrothal gifts!”
Song Chongjin frowned, thinking that even if he didn’t break off the engagement, it’d be hard for Wang Yongzhu to marry off anyway.
It looked like Old Granny Zhang felt that breaking the engagement had lost the Wang Family face, and now she was seeking compensation.
He was somewhat troubled; his family was not affluent to begin with, otherwise his mother wouldn’t have arranged this marriage behind his back.
From the received betrothal gifts, a small part had already been given to the matchmaker as a thank you on the same day, and some had gone to pay the doctor’s bills.
Today, part of the returned betrothal gifts comprised money he had earned from hunting over the past few days and had to replenish.
Even that had left his finances stretched thin.
If he now had to return double the betrothal gifts, where would he come up with the full amount all at once?
Could it be that he wouldn’t be able to call off the betrothal after all?
In the courtyard, Song Chongjin’s worries weighed heavily on his heart.
Ming Zhu inside the room also felt so frustrated she wanted to bang her head against the wall.
“What the hell is this?
I just got inside the house and haven’t even clarified the new mission before I hear the System’s voice again, “Host, as you traverse solo through this world, do you feel particularly lonely at this moment?
With a future so uncertain, only able to trudge through alone—the taste of that must be difficult.
Do you toss and turn at night, dwelling on it?
Have you ever fantasized about having a pair of strong arms to support you, a robust embrace that belongs to you!
A love that is exclusively yours to hold you…”
“Shut up!
I don’t need it!” As soon as Ming Zhu heard this, she realized something was off—wasn’t this the same tune her aunt used to force her cousin to go on blind dates before she traversed?
She could recite it from memory, it was so familiar!
She reflexively rejected it first!
“Host, to ensure your psychological and physiological health after traversing, and for the peace of the universe and the world’s hope, the System hereby issues a special mission: In the sky, two birds wish to fly wing to wing; on the ground, two trees wish to intertwine as one.
The Village Romance Story mission commences, to harvest a love that is uniquely yours.
Mission target: Your fiancé Song Chongjin.
Mission Phase One: Attain a positive friendship level with Song Chongjin and receive three points; reach Friendly status and receive one hundred points.
Achieve Intimacy and earn a thousand points, reach Close Confidant and receive five thousand points!
Attain Heart-to-Heart level and receive ten thousand points, and for the highest achievement, Love Stronger Than Gold, if completed, you will receive one hundred thousand points!
This mission is mandatory and must be completed, or double points will be deducted and your traversing privileges will be revoked!
Host, for the happiness of your latter life, and for your dreams, don’t take this lightly!
Go for it, young girl!”
Ming Zhu felt like vomiting blood!
Your M!
What kind of crap mandatory mission is this?
I had just taken steps to retract the betrothal with Song Chongjin, with the words already out there.
And then you come out with a mission requiring me to foster a romantic relationship with him!
Not to mention, the point rewards are so generous and the penalties so severe that it’s very hard for Ming Zhu to even think of refusing!
She held back her irritation, “Why does it have to be him?
Can it not be anyone else?” Was she expected to farm until she dropped dead?
“Host, you must trust the System.
According to this plane’s gene compatibility, your genetic fusion rates are up to ninety-nine percent—a match made in heaven, a fate destined by the stars!”
Ming Zhu was starting to suspect that this was a fake Farming System—could it actually be some red-string-of-fate matchmaking system?
Which farming system takes care of its host’s marital affairs?
Not even novels would dare such to imagine such a far-fetched concept!
And what is this gene fusion compatibility nonsense?
Ming Zhu made a mental note of the term, planning to ask the System about it later.
“Host, the mother of your body has already begun extorting your fiancé for a double betrothal return, and your fiancé, embarrassed and shy, probably can’t afford to pay!
It looks like you’ll find it hard to retract this marriage.
Host, go and boost that affection quickly!”
When the System turned matchmaker, it was incredibly diligent—more proactive than when issuing regular tasks, it even hurried her along.
With a cold laugh, Ming Zhu thought to herself, the marriage was naturally going to be retracted!
