Farming for Three Meals a Day [Farming Life] 48

Chapter 48

Li Ran and Liu Xiufeng were weaving linen in the main room when they saw Ye Xi return.

“Where are Father and Brother?” Ye Xi asked, putting down his basket.

Liu Xiufeng wiped her hands, picked up her teacup from the stool, and replied, “They went to the fields. There’s a small pebble beach by the forest, no one wants it, so your father and brother said they would spend two days clearing the stones and tilling the land, maybe plant some cotton there.”

Ye Xi nodded. “That’s good, two harvests a year should be enough for making cotton-padded clothes.”

Li Ran, spinning the spinning wheel, asked, “Are you missing something at home?”

Ye Xi replied, “I wanted to sprout some bean sprouts, we don’t have any peanuts at home, so I came to get some.”

Hearing this, Liu Xiufeng stood up, patted the linen fibers off her clothes, and said, “We planted red peanuts this year, they’re delicious when sprouted. I’ll get you some.”

After saying that, Liu Xiufeng went out with a cloth bag.

Ye Xi brought over the basket he brought, which was filled with jujubes. “The jujubes on the mountain are ripe, very sweet. They’re a bit hard to eat, but they’re good for making wine.”

Li Ran, not standing on ceremony, took a handful of jujubes, rubbed off the skin, and popped them into her mouth. “Your brother loves this kind of wine, I’ll make him a jar later, with some rock sugar.”

Ye Xi had nothing to do, so he sat down and helped Liu Xiufeng spin the thread.

They chatted for a while.

Li Ran started a new topic as she spun. “Have you heard about what happened to Yao-ge’er from the Lin family?”

Ye Xi nodded. “I heard the village chief’s wife mention it on my way back.”

Li Ran sighed. “He was talking about getting engaged to the Cao family, but there’s been no news. Now, with this scandal of his secret affair with a man, how can the Cao family still agree? And the Lin family actually went to their house to cause a scene.”

Ye Xi didn’t say anything. He suspected that the man Yao-ge’er had an affair with was indeed from the Cao family. Now that he had been caught and disgraced, the Cao family was trying to distance themselves, leaving him to deal with the consequences alone. Yao-ge’er must be desperate.

Li Ran continued, “The imperial exam is next month. If that Cao boy becomes a Xiucai, it will be different. He’ll be worthy of marrying a young lady from a wealthy family. How dare Yao-ge’er still go to their house and beg them to marry him?”

Ye Xi pursed his lips. “It’s their family’s business, we outsiders don’t know the details, let them deal with it.”

Liu Xiufeng returned with the peanuts, heard their conversation, and snorted. “I heard about this from Mrs. Wang in the village, she said Yao-ge’er heard that the Cao family asked a matchmaker to propose marriage to the Liu family in town, and that’s why he panicked and went to cause a scene.”

Ye Xi asked, “The Liu family? The one that runs the restaurant in town?”

“Yes, that wealthy family. The Cao family probably thinks that since they have some land and are relatively well-off, and their son is taking the imperial exam next month, if he becomes a Xiucai, he should marry a young lady from a wealthy family. Why would they want a disgraced young man?”

Ye Xi sneered, it was uncertain whether that Cao boy would even become a Xiucai, and he was already thinking about marrying into a wealthy family. They were truly not good people.

At that moment, Yao-ge’er and his parents were sitting in the Cao family’s main room, refusing to leave. Even though Mother Cao had said all sorts of harsh and cruel words, the Lin family still wouldn’t budge.

She had no choice but to soften her tone. “Even if you stay here, it’s useless. My Bin-ge’er is not a suitable match for your family. Besides, we never said we would marry your Yao-ge’er.”

Mother Lin became angry, slammed the table, and scolded, “You shameless liar, trying to put all the blame on our family. Why don’t you ask your precious son if he said it himself!”

Yao-ge’er sat beside them, his eyes red and swollen from crying, looking pitiful. “I was an innocent young man, tricked by that Cao Bin. He promised to marry me, saying he would ask his family to propose marriage, so I believed him and waited. I even gave him my body and did those shameful things with him. Now he’s denying everything!”

Mother Cao saw that Yao-ge’er was not easily fooled. She knew he was scheming and cunning, and if he married into their family, their life wouldn’t be peaceful.

She sneered, putting her hands on her hips. “Young man, don’t put all the blame on my Bin-ge’er. Men are always sweet-talking and have many tricks to deceive people. But why did he only deceive you? Isn’t it because you’re not virtuous and easily fooled? You gave him your body after a few sweet words and now have the nerve to blame our family!”

They were going to propose marriage to the Liu family in town, and the Liu family had already agreed, just waiting for the betrothal gifts and the wedding date to be set. With such a good marriage prospect, why would they need this Lin family’s son?

Father Lin, hearing this, became furious and stood up, about to hit Mother Cao. “You shameless woman, twisting the truth! If it weren’t for your good-for-nothing son deceiving our Yao-ge’er, how would things have turned out like this? Although your family didn’t officially propose, you knew about this marriage. If you didn’t agree, you should have told us earlier, instead of stringing us along. Now that you’re aiming for a higher branch, you want to discard our family? No way!”

“Yes, you can’t just do as you please. If you don’t marry our Yao-ge’er, then compensate us! Twenty taels!” Mother Lin shouted.

Mother Cao’s temples throbbed. “Twenty taels? Are you crazy? That’s enough to buy land and a cow! Is your son made of gold? Daring to ask for twenty taels from our family! The Ye family only asked for two taels of silver as compensation, how can your son compare to Xi-ge’er from the Ye family?”

Yao-ge’er was enraged, he hated being compared to Ye Xi, why was he always considered inferior?

“Cao Bin and I met many times. That night we were caught, he abandoned me and ran away, is that the behavior of a man? I kept it a secret, wanting to save face for everyone! Now that you’re forcing me into a corner, I’ll expose everything! Your son, Cao Bin, a scholar, having secret affairs with an unmarried young man at night, doing shameful things! Let’s see if your family still wants to keep your reputation!”

Mother Cao’s face turned pale at his words. Cao Bin, just returning from the private school, was planning to sneak back to his room, but hearing this, his legs trembled.

Yao-ge’er saw him and sneered, “Brother Bin, do you still want your reputation? That night you abandoned me and ran away, do you know how heartbroken I was? But you were heartless, and I was devoted, and I bore the burden alone, not revealing a word about you. If you really don’t want me anymore, then my heart is dead, and I’ll expose everything, let everyone see what a heartless and unfaithful scholar you are.”

Cao Bin was terrified.

Mother Cao was furious and pointed at Yao-ge’er, scolding, “You little bitch! You dare to threaten our family! Go ahead and tell everyone, without any proof, no one will believe you. When my Bin-ge’er becomes a Xiucai and an official, we’ll sue you for slandering a future pillar of the imperial court! You’ll be dragged to jail and beaten!”

Cao Bin, hearing his mother’s words, put on a brave face. “Yes, you’re slandering me without proof, I’ll definitely sue you! My granduncle is an official in the government office! If this goes to court, let’s see who wins.”

Yao-ge’er sneered coldly, deciding to go all out, he puffed out his chest and patted his stomach.

“Then let’s both die! Since I’m carrying your child, I won’t be able to marry anyone anyway. Even if I die, I’ll die at your Cao family’s house, so my child can be recognized and buried in your Cao family’s land.”

Cao Bin was so frightened that he almost collapsed, holding onto the door frame for support. “How… how is that possible? You’re a young man, how can you get pregnant so easily…”

Mother Cao also panicked. “You’re not a young woman, there are many young men who never get pregnant in their entire lives, how can you get pregnant so easily!”

Yao-ge’er smiled softly. “Brother Bin and I met many times, perhaps he’s just that potent, or perhaps I have a connection with this child, so it came to my belly. If you don’t believe me, you can ask a doctor to check.”

The Cao family naturally didn’t dare to do that. If they asked a doctor, the news would get out, and it would be a disgrace. Yao-ge’er from the Lin family didn’t care about his reputation anymore, but the Cao family still did.

Mother Lin now had leverage and said triumphantly, “What, are you not acknowledging your own flesh and blood? If you don’t, we’ll sue you.”

Yao-ge’er took out a sash from his sleeve. “This is Brother Bin’s sash, he dropped it when he ran away that night. I’ve been keeping it. If I take this sash and my pregnant belly to the government office, anyone with eyes will know what happened.”

He glanced at Cao Bin and continued, “With Brother Bin’s behavior, he can forget about taking the imperial exam next month, and it’s uncertain whether he can even keep his Tongsheng status. What a disgrace for a scholar, having a secret affair with a young man, running away, abandoning his pregnant lover, and marrying someone else. Your Cao family will be the laughingstock of the surrounding villages.”

Cao Bin’s face turned pale, looking at the once gentle and lovely face, he felt a chill down his spine, feeling trapped.

Mother Cao deflated, what could she do? This little bitch, with his pregnancy and the evidence, had them cornered.

Yao-ge’er sat back down on the main chair in the main room and asked softly, “Brother Bin, will you marry me?”

Cao Bin gritted his teeth and nodded. “Yes.”