Divorced woman with child travels through time

Granny Wang arrived in the morning, right after lunch, when Aunt Liu came over, gossiping about her mysteriously, saying, "That old hag came over this morning, how did it go? Did he get ripped off?"

Chen Wenfang laughed, "Of course not! I'm so capable, would I ever suffer a loss? Hehe."

"It's good that we didn't suffer any loss. That scoundrel Wang Jinhua is no good at all. This isn't the first time she's arranged for someone to become her concubine," Aunt Liu said. "That old scoundrel Wang Xiucai is even worse. Let me tell you, that old man took a concubine a few years ago. The woman's family was just trying to climb the social ladder, to get the title of 'scholar's wife.' They practically forced their daughter into the marriage, even paying a dowry of five taels of silver. And then, less than two years after she entered the household, she was gone. That Wang Xiucai didn't show any respect to the woman's family. You can't have a heartless person like that."

Chen Wenfang, peeling peanuts, asked, "Didn't the woman's family come to make trouble?"

"What's all the commotion? The person's gone. Scholar Wang said if you want to cause trouble, then take the person away. I don't want them anymore," Aunt Liu said. "You can't just drag the coffin away, can you? It's better to die without a place to be buried than to be a wandering ghost. That family was persuaded and left later. That woman really committed a sin."

"Tsk tsk tsk, poor thing," Chen Wenfang said, handing peanuts to her son. "Don't worry, I wouldn't consider a family like that. Besides, the child is still young, and I don't want to find someone else. Let's focus on making a good life for him first," Chen Wenfang said with a smile. "Aunt Liu, you're so kind to me."

Aunt Liu said, "It's good that you know what's good for you, then I'm relieved." She patted Chen Wenfang's hand and said, "Before I was pregnant with my eldest child, I had a daughter. When your Uncle Liu and I were fleeing famine, we had nothing to eat, and I miscarried. It was already formed. Sigh, looking at you, it's like looking at my poor daughter." Aunt Liu looked at her as if she were looking at a completely different person. Chen Wenfang looked at her and said, "Don't worry, I understand. I'll live a good life."

He stood up and hugged Aunt Liu, who was startled but then relaxed. He hugged her back and patted her on the back, saying, "I heard about it when I went to Wangjiazhuang to deliver peanut seeds. Now the whole village knows. No one should bother you anymore. Your reputation is huge; it'll be hard for you to get married in the future."

Chen Wenfang laughed and said, "I'm not worried. It's fine not to get married. If I meet a good family, I'll live well. If not, I can raise a child on my own and live well. I need to make money first. Anyway, it's all about making a living." Her big white teeth were shining in her smile, which was as cute as the moon. Aunt Liu also smiled. Indeed, as long as you live a good life, that's all that matters.

In Wangjiazhuang, the matchmaker, Wang, was furious. She bluntly stated that the Chen family's daughter looked down on Wang, the scholar, and that if she were to marry, she would marry a top scholar or a third-place scholar. Someone like him, who hadn't passed the imperial examinations even at his advanced age, had no hope. After seeing the matchmaker off, the scholar and his wife were both seething with anger. Wang, mindful of his scholarly status, refused to swear, but could only sigh, "Truly, petty people and women are the hardest to deal with."

Wang Xiucai's wife, Wang Lishi, couldn't sit still any longer. She stormed to the village's information hub, the old-fashioned little shop, near Chun Tao's courtyard. Hands on her hips, brandishing a handkerchief, she pointed at the willow tree by the river and cursed, "Does she think she's made of gold? Even if we cut her down for firewood, she'd complain about her moisture! Bah! She's shameless! So old and burdened with a child, who would want her? Our Xiucai master only wanted to take her in out of pity, but she's a 'ladder climbing the ladder'! She doesn't even know what kind of person she is, dreaming of becoming a top scholar! What a joke! Bah!" She continued cursing for a while.

The remaining lazy men whispered among themselves, "Who are they talking about?"

"I don't know, could it be that Old Man Wang is taking another concubine today?"

"Is this because the payment wasn't made?"

"It looks like it, otherwise why would you be so angry?"

"Whose daughter did she take? If she were someone in the village, they'd definitely be one of them!"

“I heard from Wang Hongpo (nickname, the matchmaker who loves to wear red) a few days ago that she was arranging a marriage for Wang Erniu’s cousin who had come to visit relatives.”

"Could this be the one they're accepting?"

"Wang Erniu, that protective guy, shouldn't be the one to accept this."

"You don't know, Wang Erniu hasn't seen anyone for almost a year. This person came to stay with relatives."

"I really don't know, tell me quickly," Wang Ximao said, tugging at Wang Laizi.

"I heard her surname is Chen, she's a widow, and she knows a bit about herbs. She can sell them for a lot of money. My second aunt from the Fang family saw her at the market," Wang Laizi said with a smile. "You've never seen five taels of silver before, have you? I heard that Widow Chen's herbs are very effective. She cured the young master of the Ouyang family and was rewarded with a large sum of silver."

Wang Ximao said, "What, five taels?? Give that to a widow, she can afford such a large sum of money."

Wang Laizi said, "That's for sure. My second aunt has been selling vegetables for so many years, and she has a sharp eye. She must have seen a lot of potential. I think that scholar Wang must have taken a liking to this widow Chen because she knows how to make money."

Wang Ximao said, "Good heavens! If we keep this in our room, we'll never have to worry about food or drink."

Wang Laizi laughed and said, "It seems that Widow Chen has high standards and doesn't think she's interested in Old Man Wang because he's too old."

Wang Ximao chuckled, squinting at Wang Laizi, and said in a lewd manner, "A widow, of course, must be young and strong."

Wang Laizi gave him a knowing look and laughed, "Hehe, right, right, the bed is in turmoil, hahaha..."

Thinking about this, Wang Ximao felt a surge of heat within him.