The Transmigrated Farm Girl's Journey to Wealth

Wang Defa was annoyed at being ignored. "What's wrong? Can't I even get you to pour me a glass of water?"

“You didn’t see how exhausted I am. If you had spent half a day cutting crops in the fields, you would know how much I want to die right now. Wang Defa, I’m your wife, you should have some compassion for me. I’m not even living as well at your house as I am at my parents’ house. Have I been complaining? I’m just really too tired right now. If you can help yourself, then help me. If you can, please have a drink with me too.”

Wang Defa: So, in the end, I ended up pouring water for you?

I was originally going to criticize Cui Hehua a bit more, but it's just working in the fields; which girl in the village doesn't work in the fields? Back then, Fang Xiaoning not only worked in the fields, but she also cooked all the meals at home, fed the pigs, and washed all the clothes before returning to the Fang family home.

She's quite comfortable now; at least she just needs to get out of bed.

Judging from her half-dead state, she was probably really exhausted. After all, capable people like Fang Xiaoning are rare.

He sighed, got up, poured himself a glass of water, and poured another glass for Cui Hehua. "Drink a sip before you sleep."

Cui Hehua rolled her eyes, struggled to get up, and gulped down a cup of water without leaving a drop. After finishing, she tossed the cup onto the kang (heated brick bed) and started snoring.

Wang Defa looked at her with some disdain. How could such a vulgar woman be worthy of his elegant and charming appearance?

Cui Hehua was unaware that Wang Defa had grown to dislike her, and even if she did, she didn't care. All she wanted now was to escape the Wang family and become a wife in the city as soon as possible. If she continued to be tormented like this, she estimated she would go mad.

During the meal, Wang Defa glanced at Cui Hehua, who was still sleeping, and after thinking for a moment, decided not to wake her, thinking that she could eat before going to the fields later.

When Song called her to get up and do chores, she said, "Mother, I haven't eaten yet."

"What do I care if you don't eat? Do you expect me to feed you?"

Cui Hehua was starving, but she patiently asked, "Mother, I still have to harvest wheat this afternoon. I won't have the strength to work if I don't eat. Is there anything left at home?"

Looking at her, Song thought for a moment, and in order not to give her an excuse to be lazy, she still gave her a cornbread.

"Eat quickly, eat as you walk, there's still a lot of work to do in the fields. You're the laziest person in the family, all you do is sleep and eat. Everyone else works in the fields like you, but who else is like you?"

If you're not born to be a pampered lady, don't pretend to be one. Everyone knows who's who!

These words were incredibly harsh. The others looked at her with schadenfreude. Cui Hehua forced back her tears, gnawed on the hard cornbread, and walked towards the edge of the field with her head down.

Wang Defa never bothered with women's affairs. They were all short-sighted and foolish, and they were his mothers anyway. Let them say a few words; it wouldn't hurt them. It was all for their own good.

At this moment, Cui Hehua felt an unprecedented loneliness. She longed for someone to care for her, to love her, to comfort her, and to hold her in someone's palm.

Wang Defa would never treat her like that. He never cherished her.

She was missing her two old flames a little.

That evening, no one from the Song family, who had planned to cause trouble, showed up. Why? Because the old man had strained his back while harvesting rice that afternoon and was now in bed resting; any movement caused him excruciating pain. The matter with the Song family had to be put on hold for the time being.

During dinner, Song Feng told his family about hiding the silver. Su Shi immediately waved her hand and said, "Don't tell me how you hide it. I'll give you all the copper coins I have on me later. Hide them however you like."

She didn't trust herself, afraid that the old house would intimidate her and she'd blurt something out. She knew nothing, so it was best she had nothing to say!

"Me too, sister-in-law. I'll give you the money in a bit. Don't call me and Mom tonight, you and brother. We don't want to know anything."

Both of them lacked confidence in themselves.

Fang Xiaoning was impressed. The old man was amazing; even after so many years apart, his influence was still so strong.

Looking at Song Feng, he joked, "Why don't you pretend you don't know either, and I'll hide it myself!"

Song Feng: ...

Su felt inexplicably ashamed; she really was less capable than a child.

By the light of the kerosene lamp, Fang Xiaoning carefully counted their savings: 63 taels, 6 mace, and 37 wen. She took out 300 wen for change that day, and wrapped the rest in a cloth bag. "Give me the jar."

He stuffed the entire bag of silver into the jar, then took Song Feng out the door.

Hearing the noise, knowing she was going to hide the silver, the mother and son, who didn't want to know anything, unconsciously pricked up their ears. Where was their daughter-in-law (elder sister-in-law) planning to hide it?

"Xiao Ning, where do we hide?"

Song Feng stood in the woodshed, staring at her with a completely bewildered expression.

Fang Xiaoning went out and got a shovel, shoveled out some of the firewood from the innermost part, walked in with difficulty, moved some more firewood, and looked at the position, quite satisfied.

"dig."

Upon receiving the order, Song Feng began to work. His wife had found a good spot; who would have thought they hid the silver under the woodpile, not at the very back or the very center, but somewhere in between?

"Dig deeper."

"Ai!"

Song Feng dug at least a meter deep before Fang Xiaoning told him to stop. She put the jar into the hole and continued filling it in.

"This soil looks a little different."

"It's okay, it'll be the same if we do it tomorrow."

Fang Xiaoning was relieved. If Old Man Song could still be found, she would accept her fate.

The autumn harvest is the busiest time of the year for every family; whether they eat thin porridge or dry porridge for the rest of the year depends entirely on it. Of course, after deducting the grain for tax payments, they will sell the new grain to buy coarse grains and old grains, which are much cheaper.

At this time, grain shops would come to collect rice. Every household would bring out their grain to sell, and crowds of onlookers would gather around. In Zaoshu Village, there were two families who didn't sell their grain: the Song family and the Fang family.

Everyone knew that the Song family had made some money from their stall. As for the Fang family, they also knew that their daughter helped them out, and that Fang Youcai, being greedy, refused to sell and wanted to keep the food for himself.

After the autumn harvest, it's the quietest time of the year.

At this time, the able-bodied men from each household would go to the town or county to find work. Even carrying burlap sacks could earn them 20 coins a day, which would add up to a considerable sum in a month.

Meanwhile, the Song family began building their house. Because Song Feng also had business to run, he delegated everything to the village chief—the purchase of all materials, the payment of workers' wages, all to the village chief. He paid the village chief 35 coins a day. To save trouble, the workers were provided meals and paid 20 coins a day, the same price as manual laborers outside.

Song Feng had only one request: to help look after his family and prevent any trouble caused at the old house, ensuring no one in his family got hurt. Also, the person he hired had to be diligent and reliable; no slackers or cheats allowed.

The village chief readily agreed; it was simply his duty. As for his wages, that was easy enough—he could simply refuse them when it was time to be paid.

[PS: Verification done! Please support me! Mwah! ( ? 3?)?]