Becoming the Villain's Discarded Wife
Chapter 20 Going Back to Mother’s Home_1

Chapter 20: Chapter 20 Going Back to Mother’s Home_1

As the first light of dawn barely touched the sky, the diligent families of Lihua Village were already preparing their dry food, getting ready to go up to East Mountain to pick chestnuts. Even if they had been busy on the mountain the entire previous afternoon, they didn’t see it as much of an issue. What’s the harm in being a bit tired?

Although they were somewhat weary, at least they would have food!

When Nanzhi went to Ms. Liu’s house to borrow the Donkey Cart, she just so happened to run into her family, who were well-prepared and about to head out.

Seeing Nanzhi and Gougou dressed in tattered clothes today, Ms. Liu was taken aback for a moment. It was normal for everyone to wear old clothes while working, but were their clothes today not a bit too worn out?

Looking at the patches over patches, it was almost comparable to a "hundred-patch robe."

After a moment’s thought, she couldn’t help but ask, "Girl, why are you wearing these clothes today?"

Nanzhi had already sensed the strange look in Ms. Liu’s eyes and, upon hearing her question, she finally understood the reason and just smiled and said, "I plan to visit my maternal family today, so I came to borrow the Donkey Cart from Auntie."

Ms. Liu of course knew that Nanzhi had borrowed money from her maternal family for her in-law’s funerals. She nodded her head in understanding, "What’s this talk of borrowing? If you need it, just come and take it."

After a pause, she added, "You’re a good child, after all. Even though times are tough for everyone right now, make sure you leave enough food for you and your son."

Nanzhi nodded with a smile, "Eh, I know."

Ms. Liu called over her youngest son to help Nanzhi with her things. She watched as the mother and son slowly led the Donkey Cart toward the village entrance and nodded in satisfaction.

"Mom, what are you smiling at?" Shen Yuntian watched his mother grinning at the retreating figures of Ms. Lin and her company. A shiver ran down his spine - there was something off about his own mother.

"Why is Sister-in-law Lin dressed like that today?"

Hearing her youngest son’s muttering, Ms. Liu rolled her eyes, unable to comprehend how someone usually so clever could not see the obvious. He must have gotten his father’s slow wits.

Thinking of her husband’s behavior from the previous night, she huffed before turning to call everyone in the yard to set off.

Shen Yuntian’s mind was at a loss; was his mother looking down on him?

He glanced at his own worn clothes, then as if a lightbulb went off, he touched his nose and hurried to catch up with his family.

"Mama, are we going to Grandma’s?" Gougou sat up straight next to Nanzhi, his little face smeared with dust.

He remembered that at grandma’s house, he had two brothers who were really fun to play with.

"Yes, we’re going to Grandma’s."

Nanzhi steered the little donkey, feeling somewhat pensive. She had originally dressed a bit nicer, thinking it was just a simple visit to relatives with Gougou.

It wasn’t until she was about to leave that it dawned on her - although she was bringing food to her maternal family this time, if she dressed too well, wouldn’t that be a clear signal to others that her own family had food reserves?

So, she hastily went back with Gougou to change into their most tattered clothes.

Seeing Gougou’s usually clean and innocent little face not quite fitting the image, she grabbed some charcoal dust and smeared it on his face until she was satisfied before heading out.

Now, Gougou looked almost exactly as he did when she first came to see him - a forlorn and pitiable child.

Lihua Village and Stone Village were more than ten miles apart. The Donkey Cart creaked and swayed for half an hour before they reached their destination.

Due to its geographical location, Stone Village was worse off than Lihua Village. With a drought lasting more than half a year, Stone Village, sandwiched between lands with no rivers, relied on only three wells for survival.

The crops in the fields, lacking water, grew sparsely and couldn’t even compete with the weeds.

On the way, Nanzhi hardly saw anyone. The few she did encounter were so emaciated that she could not recognize them.

It was getting light out. Had it been Lihua Village, most people would have been working the fields by now, but Stone Village was as quiet as a ghost town, not even a cricket’s chirp could be heard.

"Mama."

Gougou was a bit scared and shuffled closer to Nanzhi, clutching at the hem of her clothes tightly with one small hand, as if this could make him feel less afraid.

"Gougou, behave, we’re almost there," Nanzhi whispered in comfort, although she herself was feeling a bit nervous.

When they finally reached the Lin Family’s front door, Nanzhi hesitated for a moment before knocking.

After a while with no response, Nanzhi started to wonder if there was anyone home, but just as she was about to turn away, she heard the wooden door open a crack.

A small head peered out from the gap, and upon seeing who was there, exclaimed in a crisp voice, "Auntie."

Gougou’s eyes lit up at the sight of the little child, and he scrambled down from the donkey cart, shouting, "Brother Doudou."

The one who opened the door was Doudou, the youngest son of Nanzhi’s eldest brother. Doudou, two years older than Gougou, had last seen Nanzhi more than a year ago when she had come back to borrow some silver.

"Doudou, are the adults at home?"

Upon hearing Nanzhi’s words, Doudou nodded and opened the door wider so she could enter: "They’re at home."

The doors of the farmhouse were always left wide open, so Nanzhi followed the two children and drove the donkey cart into the yard.

When the Lin Family heard the noise, they all came out of the main house. They were taken aback to see Nanzhi with Gougou, but they didn’t say anything, just called them inside.

"My girl..." Ms. Lin felt a twinge in her nose at the sight of her daughter and pulled her aside to sit down.

"What are you doing, old woman? There’s nothing wrong with the child!" scolded Mr. Lin, somewhat displeased at his wife’s display.

A child’s return was a happy event; what was this crying and wailing about?

Lin Dacheng and Lin Ercheng looked at their younger sister’s state and felt a pang in their hearts. Their sister, a widow living with her child, must be enduring hardship in these trying times. Looking at their young nephew, who was no different from a beggar, they knew that although they could barely feed themselves, at least their children had enough to eat.

As for the two sisters-in-law standing to the side, Sun Cui and Chen Qiulan, their expressions turned sour.

It was their turn to cook for the family, and they were well aware of how much food was left in the house. All that remained was half a bag of dark flour in the kitchen and the less than two hundred catties of sweet potatoes in the cellar.

Life was difficult enough for their own families, and seeing Nanzhi and Gougou like this, they feared the two had come seeking refuge.

Ms. Lin well knew the thoughts of her two daughters-in-law and, without waiting for Nanzhi to speak, took her hand and said, "My girl, it’s good that you’re back. Don’t worry, your father and your two brothers can still support you and the child."

Nanzhi felt a painful sting in her nose, and before she could utter a word, she instinctively burst into tears, only managing to cry out, "Mother!"

Naturally, mother and daughter embraced and wept bitterly. Although Nanzhi’s crying was uncontrolled, and she soon gave up resisting when her tears flowed freely, perhaps influenced by the emotions of her previous self. It seemed better to let it all out.

She felt truly pitiful. She had just been accepted into the university of her dreams when she found herself transported to a life where even food and clothing were a struggle, and she became a widow.

Mr. Lin puffed on his empty dry tobacco pipe, fretting over the situation.

While he was happy that his daughter and grandson had returned, he feared it might be unfair to Dacheng and Ercheng’s families.

"This..."

Mr. Lin looked towards his two sons, hesitating.

Sons know their fathers best. Lin Dacheng, seeing his father’s concern, spoke up first: "Just let Nanzhi stay with us. Ercheng and I can support her."

Meanwhile, Gougou, hearing his uncle’s words, tilted his head curiously towards Doudou, "Brother Doudou, who is Fatty?

Doudou looked at Gougou with a mischievous smile and pointed at Nanzhi, saying, "It’s Auntie. Dad said that Auntie used to be chubby, so we called her Fatty."

Nanzhi, who had been crying her eyes out, suddenly stopped, feeling as if even her running nose had come to a halt at those words.

"Let the little auntie stay," Sun Cui, seeing her husband’s look and feeling a bit of heartache herself, also chimed in.