A Good Country Wife
Chapter 471 - 465_1

Chapter 471: 465_1

Opening the carriage window, she gazed at the village that seemed somewhat familiar, unsure if it was some vague memory left by her predecessor that made her feel this familiarity. While Lin Yue’s maternal home was indeed in Shanglin Village, this was actually her first visit.

Shanglin Village seemed poorer than the Zhao Family’s village. In reality, the Zhao Family’s village was about the same in the past, but it became more prosperous after Lin Yue’s family grew wealthy. They were not of the sort to grow rich callously—they thought of giving back appropriately to their hometown, offering higher wages. Moreover, their family’s business brought plenty of work, which stimulated the villagers’ livelihoods. Now, the Zhao Family’s village could be considered a relatively prosperous one, and a good many of the villagers were grateful to Zhao Erhu’s family.

"Mistress, we’ve reached the entrance of the village, just moments away from your grandmother’s house," Lin Yue was still lost in a reverie when the servant driving the carriage reminded her.

As Lin Yue noticed more people around, she lowered the curtain of the carriage window. Shanglin Village was a rather poor place, seldom visited by anyone of status. Lin Yue’s family’s carriage entering the village was particularly conspicuous, and the villagers gathered around to size it up curiously.

"Wow, that carriage looks quite grand. I wonder who’s sitting inside it, and why they’ve come to our village," one villager remarked enviously.

"You don’t know? This is Lin Fuan’s daughter, the one who married into the Zhao Family’s village as a concubine to a widower. Everyone thought she was doomed to a miserable life, but somehow, she ended up quite fortunate. That widower somehow became wealthy. Just look at the display now, truly enviable. She’s probably returning to visit her parental home," another villager replied. He had once gone to Zhao Erhu’s family to work, so he recognized the servant who drove the carriage as belonging to Zhao Erhu’s family. He also caught a glimpse of a woman sitting inside the carriage, leading to his guess.

"I see, she’s quite lucky, then. Speaking of Lin Fuan, he too is blessed, having produced a Scholar son, and now his daughter is living well. Truly a life of good fortune."

"Tsk, what do you all know? It’s not Lin’s lady who is visiting her family home. The wife of Genfa’s house is her elder sister, and I heard she’s fallen seriously ill these past few days. So someone was sent to inform the Zhao Family’s village, and Lin’s lady must have come for that. As for her parental home, only you lot seem in the dark; most villagers know that when Lin’s lady talked of her family, she was actually sold by Uncle Fuan to Zhao Erhu. I heard a contract was signed, severing any relation with her own family forever. Haven’t you noticed that Lin’s lady never returned home after her marriage? That’s the reason behind it."

"How could it be? The Fuan family was never that poor, and they even have a Scholar son. How could they sink so low as to sell their daughter?" One person, upon hearing this, found it hard to believe.

More than one person present knew about Lin Yue’s past and chimed in, "Indeed, the Fuan family wasn’t that destitute. It’s just that a girl eventually needs to be married off, and since Lin Fuan’s Scholar son was still studying in the academy, which required a considerable sum each year, who would willingly marry into the Zhao Family, a widower who had already lost two wives? What if they died too? The Fuan family was tempted by the sizable dowry, so they virtually sold their daughter without a second thought for Mrs. Lin. Now that Mrs. Lin’s marital family is wealthy, she probably still holds a grudge against her father. No matter how well-off she becomes, the Lin Family won’t have a share of it."

The villagers had little else to discuss daily, so naturally, this bit of novelty sparked spirited conversation. They chattered excitedly, most looking down on Old Lin Fuan’s actions, with some believing that the bonds of kinship should not be broken.

Lin Yue, unaware of the villagers’ gossip, soon arrived at Lin Genfa’s home. The carriage stopped, and a young girl helped Lin Yue alight. Looking at Lin Yue’s attire, one could see she had the air of a wealthy lady.

"Father, grandmother, Auntie has arrived!" Lin Xiaoxiang was working in the courtyard when she saw Lin Yue approaching from the carriage and shouted into the house excitedly, hurrying over to greet her with joy. In Lin Xiaoxiang’s heart, this aunt was the kindest, treated her well, and despite her own mother’s disparaging words about Auntie in the past, Lin Xiaoxiang was still delighted to see Lin Yue arrive.

It was Lin Yue’s first time in Shanglin Village, and her first visit to Zhao Yunxiang’s marital home as well. The courtyard looked severely dilapidated, not just the house, but the yard too was cluttered with all sorts of rubbish. According to reason, their family’s life shouldn’t have been so difficult. She had given Zhao Yunxiang fifty taels of silver, a not insignificant sum, ample to buy land and repair the house. Yet now, it appeared that not a bit of it had been put to good use. Moreover, from what Lin Yue knew of Zhao Yunxiang, despite being unpleasant, she was hardworking and would normally keep her house in orderly fashion. So why did it look like this? Perhaps she really was gravely ill, unable to manage household affairs. If that were indeed the case, she must have been sick for quite some time.

"Xiaoxiang, are you piling up firewood there? Such heavy work for a young girl, aren’t you tired?" Lin Yue smiled at Lin Xiaoxiang running over, thinking that Xiaoxiang really had a hard life in this household. Although it had been a long while since she interacted with Zhao Yunxiang, Lin Yue remembered how Zhao Yunxiang used to treat Lin Xiaoxiang—with little affection, harsh discipline, calling Xiaoxiang a waste of money. Lin Yue thought of her own past suffering, which was somewhat akin to Xiaoxiang’s. Both were looked down upon by their families for being girls, seen as financial drains, with little to no rights of their own.

"Not tired, I’m used to it. This bit of work is nothing. Auntie, please, come into the house and take a seat," Lin Xiaoxiang said cheerfully, pulling Lin Yue toward the house.

Lin Yue already felt a bit of pity for Lin Xiaoxiang and, seeing the girl’s sensible demeanor, grew even fonder of her. She allowed Xiaoxiang to lead her inside. By then, Lin Genfa and his mother had heard the noise and came out.

"Oh! Your aunt has come over, please, come inside and have a seat," Lin Genfa was about to say something when his mother beat him to it, greeting Lin Yue joyfully.

"Yes, sister-in-law, please come inside and sit down," Lin Genfa said awkwardly. He had sent someone to send word to the Zhao Family’s village since Zhao Yunxiang’s condition seemed to be getting worse. It was proper to notify her parental home. At first, he thought it would be Zhao Dahuo and Zhao Erhu who would come over, but instead, Lin Yue arrived.

Lin Yue was quite surprised seeing Lin Genfa’s appearance; he looked as if he had aged a decade in just a few months, with so many white hairs sprouting on his head. "Brother-in-law, it’s been a while. What’s wrong with elder sister? Why did the person who sent the message say she’s seriously ill? What illness does she have?"