The Eldest Daughter of a Rural Family
Chapter 187 A Concubine is Better than a Mistress (5)_1

Chapter 187: Chapter 187 A Concubine is Better than a Mistress (5)_1

Old Scholar Fang didn’t stay long; he went straight back.

Fang Fang pouted in dissatisfaction, muttering quietly, "Why couldn’t he stay for a meal before leaving! He took so much of our cured meat and fish from home!" She had hoped to visit relatives and enjoy a good meal, but in the end, she didn’t even get to eat, not to mention having any nice food.

Si Ya watched them leave, relieved. They had eaten at her expense the day before, so it was only fair to return some goods today. If they had all stayed for another meal, the little they had brought would have been eaten up again! It would have been better not eating at all.

Fang Li felt quite unsatisfied. He wanted to take Sister Peiqin and her siblings to the Fang family at any cost, but no matter how much he pleaded and displayed sincerity, Peiqin remained unmoved, forcing him to leave, discontented.

The villagers of Back Mountain Village knew very well the secrets behind the blood letter left by Lady Fang; it must have been the Fang family who had used some underhanded means to make her cut ties with her family. Otherwise, Old Scholar Fang had said he would no longer acknowledge Lady Fang as his daughter, and for more than ten years, there was hardly any contact. After Lady Fang died, Grandma Fang and Lady Yu came to make a scene, and then Old Scholar Fang brought people over again, nearly driving Qian Wanxiu away.

On the seventh day after Lady Fang’s death, the entire Fang family came to visit, bringing so many gifts—it was clear they wouldn’t ignore Peiqin and her siblings anymore!

The rumors outside grew even more intense, claiming Lady Fang was coerced into breaking family ties by Old Pei’s House, that she had carried the blame for more than ten years, and only after Pei Zongli brought home a rich man’s daughter and son was she finally driven to her death! Otherwise, why would Old Pei’s House snatch away Lady Fang’s blood letter!? It was because they were guilty and feared the truth being revealed!

Speaking of Qian Wanxiu, everyone knew that despite being aware of Pei Zongli having a wife at home, she still married in. By the rules, she would be considered a concubine—and even if she was Pei Zongli’s wife, she still started as a concubine raised to the main wife’s position!

As for whether someone was a concubine or raised to be the main wife, the country folk didn’t comprehend much about these details, nor did they particularly care. However, the fact that Lady Fang had been driven to death was true, and the peasants knew well that wealthy people sought out concubines—the less they understood, the more they gossiped.

The more Old Pei’s House tried to cover things up, the more curious the villagers became to investigate and know more, causing the rumors to spread even faster.

Chang Yonglin’s coachman, upon returning to Chang’s house, also talked a great deal about how pitiable Sister Peiqin and her siblings were, how a concubine had entered the house, pressured the main wife to death, and was still harassing Peiqin and her siblings. He even speculated, stating that since Peiqin was very attractive and her younger brothers and sister weren’t bad looking either, Lady Fang must have also been beautiful, and as a scholar’s daughter who could read, she was probably married off because the elder brother coveted his younger brother’s wife’s beauty and forced himself on her!

His careless words were picked up by quick-tongued maidservants and old women, some of whom were chef’s assistants and went back to their homes daily. They told everyone they met about the mysterious circumstances of the family in Taiping Town, how they had been forced to death, and now only the four lonely siblings remained. They praised Landlord Chang for his charity, mentioning how Young Master Chang had sent silver to help the siblings in their time of need.

Wang Ting mentioned that Peiqin hadn’t come to teach him in the county for many days; even after the heavy snow had cleared, she still hadn’t shown up. Now he knew that such a major incident had happened in her family. Hearing that Chang Yonglin had visited Taiping Town, he also wanted to go.

The adults didn’t agree to his wandering off and had the steward find out more. They sent twenty taels of silver, and several bags of rice, flour, oil, and salt.

Although there was still plenty of rice, flour, oil, and salt at home, Peiqin didn’t refuse the gifts handed out. She thanked them and accepted the supplies.

The steward then inquired about the circumstances of Lady Fang’s death and Pei Zongli’s return with a girl from the Qian family, and the situation therein, then took his leave to report back.

Seeing that the Wang family also brought gifts, some villagers started to show goodwill towards Sister Peiqin and her siblings, bringing dried vegetables, and others brought shoe patterns and embroidery designs.

Hearing that the siblings were studying and reading at home, some adults even let their children come over to play with them.