Chapter 2: Wangshu
Zhang Zhaodi rushed anxiously to the village entrance for the transaction, but there was already no one there.
Su Yaoguang was worried about her body and kept following her. After confirming the toothman had left, she secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
“Oh dear, Yaoguang’s Mother, who are you looking for?” A woman with lingering charm walked over with a smile, pinching her handkerchief.
Zhang Zhaodi saw this person and her face was full of disgust.
“None of your damn business. If you’re not causing trouble, don’t come looking for a scolding.”
“How are you still so rude? You had a bad temper when you were young, and your temper is still bad now. By the way, I heard your daughter bought a son-in-law who lives with the wife’s family. I also bought one, but not as a son-in-law who lives with the wife’s family, but as a long-term hired hand. After all, I have a son, so no need for a son-in-law who lives with the wife’s family. My Hui’er needs to study, and the work at home always needs someone to do it.”
Zhang Zhaodi was too lazy to listen to what that woman said, pulled Su Yaoguang and walked back, cursing as she walked: “I’ll deal with you when we get back.”
Su Yaoguang turned back to look at Zhong Lanhua.
“What kind of long-term hired hand did your family buy?” She hadn’t seen Zhong Lanhua there earlier. Could it be that after she left, Xiao Yanci was bought by her?
“What did you say to her?” Zhang Zhaodi pinched the soft flesh on Su Yaoguang’s arm. “Useless thing, didn’t I tell you not to talk to people from their family?”
Zhong Lanhua said something from behind, but Zhang Zhaodi’s cursing voice was too loud, and Su Yaoguang didn’t hear it. However, she already had a premonition in her heart.
Zhang Zhaodi was furious. As soon as she got home, she said her head hurt and went back to her room to rest.
Su Yaoguang quickly settled her down, then went to find the barefoot doctor in the village, asked him to come and check on Zhang Zhaodi, and by the way, give that boy a check-up and get some medicine.
That boy looked severely injured, but at this stage he wouldn’t die. If he died, he wouldn’t have been forced like that by the madam of the brothel.
As for whether he stays or leaves after waking up, it’s up to him. Su Yaoguang didn’t want to force anyone.
In her previous life, Su Yaoguang didn’t force Xiao Yanci either. She asked him if he wanted to leave, but he didn’t. She thought they were in love, but it turned out to be her own wishful thinking.
“This boy has severe external injuries, but luckily no internal injuries. As long as he recuperates well, he can get out of bed in ten days or half a month,” the doctor said. “I heard you bought a son-in-law who lives with the wife’s family. It must be him.”
“Thank you, Uncle Lin. But Uncle Lin, how is my mother’s condition?”
“Your mother is just overworked. As long as she worries less and labors less, she won’t decline day by day. This is a heart ailment. You should comfort her well.”
After seeing off Doctor Lin, Su Yaoguang heard Zhang Zhaodi’s coughing and immediately went in to pour her a glass of water.
Zhang Zhaodi glared at her, and she smiled sweetly with a fawning face.
“Mom, don’t be angry. Uncle Lin said he looks badly injured, but it’s actually not serious at all. He can get out of bed in ten days or half a month. Think about it, I bought him for ten copper coins, and the check-up and medicine cost just one hundred copper coins. What a great deal. I’m not unworthy of being your daughter; I’m just so good at saving money.” Su Yaoguang nodded in self-approval.
Zhang Zhaodi wanted to scold her, but seeing her smiling so obsequiously, she couldn’t bring herself to do it. After her husband went to the army and never returned, these years it had been just her and her daughter depending on each other. This time she was seriously ill and kept dreaming of that dead ghost man, increasingly worried that she would be taken away by him, so she made her take out all the savings to buy a son-in-law who lives with the wife’s family.
According to the current laws and regulations, the household registration of a son-in-law who lives with the wife’s family falls under the wife’s family, with the woman as the head of the household, and the woman in charge.
“If he gets better, we’ll call it even. If he doesn’t, see how I deal with you.” Zhang Zhaodi poked her forehead and said.
Su Yaoguang knew Zhang Zhaodi just sounded fierce, but in the end would let her do as she pleased. She hugged Zhang Zhaodi’s waist and leaned on her shoulder: “Mom, I only need you.”
A flash of sadness passed through Zhang Zhaodi’s eyes.
This silly daughter, could she accompany her for a lifetime?
She worked as a midwife, and others despised her as unclean, so her daughter was already fifteen and still no one had come with a marriage proposal.
After waiting for Zhang Zhaodi to fall asleep, Su Yaoguang went to the wood shed, sat by the bed, and looked at the boy wrapped up like a dumpling.
Suddenly, the always-closed eyes snapped open, like a sharp blade unsheathing.
“Who are you?”
Su Yaoguang pointed to the side: “I’m Su Yaoguang. This is my home. You’re now in Anning Village. Today I bought you for ten copper coins. Once your injuries heal, you can leave if you wish. If you have no place to go, we can become brother and sister and address each other as such from now on.”
In her previous life, after he was taken back, news of his death spread not long after. Some said he was abused terribly but refused to yield and serve guests. At that moment, she was shocked.
She thought, such a stubborn boy who would rather die than compromise his principles, his nature couldn’t be too bad.
Since someone was needed to soothe her mother’s heart, this person could serve as her temporary shield. Once her mother’s health improved, she would explain that she didn’t need a man.
“What’s your name?”
“…”
“If you don’t say, I’ll give you a name. In the future, I have to call you something. Should I call you Little Mute?”
“Zhou Wangshu.”
“Alright, Wangshu.” Su Yaoguang knew he was very guarded and prompted him first before doing things. “You can’t move right now, so I’ll feed you the medicine.”
Zhou Wangshu watched Su Yaoguang use the spoon to feed him the medicine.
His appearance was different from Xiao Yanci’s gentle elegance; his features were sharply sculpted, with a high nose bridge, rosy thin lips, and eyes like peach blossoms. There was a red mole at the corner of his eye, and when he looked at her in his current weak state, it always gave off a seductive, fox-like charm.
No wonder the madam took a liking to him.
Su Yaoguang had bought a man who was nearly dead for ten copper coins and even called a doctor for him. The villagers all loved to watch the excitement, and each one wanted to know what would happen next.
She carried the water basin toward the riverside. The people washing clothes there saw her coming and crowded around one by one.
“Yaoguang, is that little husband you bought still alive?”
Su Yaoguang said with a beaming smile, “Of course he’s alive. Not only today, but he’ll live on in the future too. Uncle Lin came to check and said he won’t die.”
“Then you got a great bargain.”
A slender figure carrying a washbasin walked over.
Su Yaoguang looked at that figure, her gaze turning icy cold.
Jiang Yihuan.
Zhong Lanhua’s daughter.
Her archenemy.
Zhong Lanhua and Zhang Zhaodi had never gotten along since they were young, so she and Jiang Yihuan had been rivals from childhood to adulthood. No, it was more like she had been unilaterally schemed against by Jiang Yihuan.
Jiang Yihuan was always frail and weak like a willow branch, putting on a show of fainting on the spot from the slightest touch. In this village, she was the villain who bullied Jiang Yihuan.
She had thought that marrying Xiao Yanci meant she finally won one round, but in the end, she lost completely.
Jiang Yihuan walked over and deliberately chose a spot next to Su Yaoguang to wash clothes.
“Huan Huan, I heard your family bought a long-term hired hand. He’s really handsome and literate, is that true?”
Jiang Yihuan said shyly, “Yeah, I guess. He looked pretty pitiful, so my mom took him in.”
