The Eldest Daughter of a Rural Family
Chapter 334: Defend the Eight Front Teeth (8)_1

Chapter 334: Chapter 334: Defend the Eight Front Teeth (8)_1

Old Scholar Fang came again.

Shen Song Ming looked at him, "What are you still doing here?" In his eyes, his courage was greater than an elephant’s. But when it came to courting Pei Qin, he genuinely lacked the guts! That man had lost eight front teeth, would he lose any less? There were no dental implants in ancient times.

Old Scholar Fang wanted him to take Pei Qin with him on a trip to Fu City, "... The Qian family can even navigate the Sir Magistrate’s connections in Runing Prefecture. If Young Master Shen were to go once, he could also avoid some unnecessary trouble."

Last time, Shen Song Ming hadn’t managed to make the trip on time. This time, with time to spare, he was ready to take a detour on his way back to meet Meng Dinglun. Taking Pei Qin with him was unnecessary; without her, he could play his role even better. So, he told Old Scholar Fang, "I will take care of this matter myself; there is no need for you to go through Meng Dinglun! Although he is the Magistrate of Runing Prefecture, he wouldn’t dare trouble Wu Dongsi too much!" Wu Dongsi was his uncle’s student, and he had already informed him. With his uncle’s backing, Wu Dongsi was eager to seize the opportunity to climb the ranks and would dare to challenge Meng Dinglun.

Hearing his tone, Old Scholar Fang frowned and sighed inwardly. Qinqin, so intelligent a girl, was she going to be ruined by him?

Shen Song Ming only used honorifics when talking business or when he had a certain agenda in mind.

Seeing that he had no intention of bringing Pei Qin, Old Scholar Fang also felt slightly relieved. It was better not to involve Qinqin, to avoid the Sir Magistrate thinking of her as something to Shen Song Ming. But this was not a solution. If Qinqin were to insist on her way, who knows if she might do something foolish like directly following Shen Song Ming. Perhaps he should return home and continue planning for the future.

In the town, people noticed Shen Song Ming’s frequent visits. Apart from staying in the inn at night, he spent most of the daytime at Pei Qin’s home, either there or at the workshop, and rumors began to spread quietly.

Zou Xing felt uncomfortable when he heard the gossip. Shen Song Ming was the Magistrate’s family’s Young Master, and if Pei Qin really set her heart on him, it would be better for her to marry a rich man in the county city. At least it would be secure, and if she faced difficulties at her in-laws’ home, they could be her support.

The gossip was even more intense in Back Mountain Village. Taiping Mountain had signed a contract with Zhang Dacheng’s family of four to become long-term workers, as their farm was small and couldn’t produce enough food each year. In the past two years, their child fell ill and the family’s savings were depleted. The child passed away, and they were left in debt.

After assessing them, Pei Qin found Zhang Dacheng and his wife to be honest folks. Although their parents were a bit difficult, their natures were pure, so she signed a contract and hired them.

Seeing no hope for her family, Grandma Miao spread rumors that she saw Shen Song Ming carrying a chest to Pei Qin’s house in town, unsure if he was staying at their place.

With such words out, the villagers naturally gossiped. They knew Shen Song Ming was staying at the inn, but his close relationship with Pei Qin was somewhat baffling.

"If they weren’t intimately involved, would a man and a woman stick together daily? Just like her mother, disgraceful, thinking about men at such a young age! Lest she ends up unwed, still in mourning, and bearing an illegitimate child!" Grandma Zhang spitefully cursed in the village.

The villagers thought her words were too harsh, probably because Pei Qin had prospered, with the sweet potato plantation and the Government’s reward pending, and because their family hadn’t managed to marry Pei Qin, she felt resentful. Some who couldn’t stand it mentioned, "Had they decently proposed marriage back then and joyfully welcomed her into their family, today they could’ve been the ones prospering! Too bad they lacked the vision to see the big fish right before them, and drove her away instead!"

Many families harbored such regrets. Qian Dog even said that knowing Pei Qin’s success today, he would have sold all his lands to marry her if he could. But now, it was too late for such talk, as ordinary families were truly out of reach for her.

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