Chapter 3: Nonsense

My little rascal is great, my little rascal is awesome, my little rascal is so affectionate and heartwarming.

Compared to Captain Song, whose parents were always distant and fearful of him in his past life, the nickname "Little Rascal" is just so much more endearing.

Song Jin was already used to her mother's temper. Under her mother's roar, she closed her eyes and fell asleep almost immediately. When she woke up again, a faint light shone through the cotton gauze window paper, casting shadows of peach tree branches in front of the house that swayed gently in the breeze amidst the chirping of cicadas and birds.

Footsteps were light outside; the little maid was carrying out her daily routine of cleaning and washing.

In wealthy landlord families, there are always several maids and servants, and the Niu family is no exception.

Not to mention the day laborers, their household had four contracted maids and servants: the reliable and steady Xiaomei, Xiao'er who was missing half an ear, the strong but simple-minded Amao, and the lame, six-fingered Xiaoduo.

Four people can't make two normal people

Song Jin yawned as she got out of bed, her loose hair a mess, the hair bun on her head wobbling precariously, as if it might fall apart at any moment. She casually undid her hair, opened the window, and leaned out.

"Little Mei, Little Mei, please boil some water for me; I want to take a bath."

She came home too late yesterday, and with her mother watching her like a hawk, she was too lazy to wash up. She just tied her hair up, changed into her pajamas, and went to sleep. Now, she woke up feeling sticky and uncomfortable, and Song Jin, who had been enjoying the good life for too long, couldn't stand it anymore.

Ah, this place is so much better. They didn't have these kinds of conditions back then.

Boiling water for a bath? Just roll around in the water! If you're lucky, you might even fight a mutant fish. As for catching a cold, if it doesn't kill you, go all out! Just thinking about it brings tears to my eyes.

As the pillar of the family, Xiaomei was very calm and reliable. She smiled and said, "The hot water is ready and the tub is filled. It's just the right temperature for a bath. I added herbs as Madam instructed. Miss, please soak for a while to relax your muscles and joints."

Song Jin shrank back: "My mother's up? What's she doing? She's not in the woodshed picking sticks, is she?"

Xiao Mei chuckled, "How could that be? Miss, you worked so hard to hunt the deer, and Madam was afraid of wasting such a good thing. She and Xiao Er marinated the venison overnight and hung it up. Before dawn, they went to Old Yang's house in the tannery. She's in a very good mood."

Hearing this, Song Jin felt relieved and quickly became smug again: "I knew it! My mother is so happy to have such a filial daughter like me."

Xiao Mei: "Of course! Madam only has you as her child, Miss. Who else would be happy if not you? But..."

Song Jin: "But what?"

Xiao Mei smiled: "But if you keep moving like this, who knows what will happen when Madam comes back and sees this messy face?"

"..."

To make hunting easier, Song Jin always wore clothes in green, gray, and blue when she went into the mountains, and even stained her face with leaves. She had washed it on the way back last night, so it wasn't noticeable in the darkness, but now that it was daylight, it was a complete mess of colors.

Song Jin stopped her banter, propped herself up against the window with one hand, and darted out of the room, rushing towards the bathroom to get ready before Niu Tielan returned, so she could present her clean and tidy daughter.

**

This wasn't Niu Tielan's first time visiting Old Yang's house.

The Yang family used to be hunters in the mountains, living a life of hardship and relying on luck. When they were lucky, a deer could feed them for several years; when they were unlucky, a venomous snake could take half their life.

He lost half his foot after being bitten by a snake that year, which depleted his family's savings. When the area needed workers for irrigation canal construction, he took the opportunity to work there, clearing land and repairing irrigation ditches. He also had a skill in tanning leather, and with that, his family has accumulated land, built houses, and their lives have improved significantly over the years.

But that was only on the surface. In reality, he had a scholar in his family, and he was extremely frugal, wanting to split every penny in two.

Old Yang warmly welcomed Niu Tielan, a big spender: "I'll definitely take good care of this hide for you. Would you like a full hide?"

In front of acquaintances, Niu Tielan didn't put on airs. However, with her slender figure and fair skin, she appeared delicate even when standing still, but this impression vanished the moment she opened her mouth.

Niu Tielan said casually, "Two pairs of deerskin boots, two thick gloves, two cloaks, one large and one small, plus a leather trunk. You calculate how much you need. If it's not enough, I'll have Xiao Duo bring it over for you in a bit."

As she spoke, she added the specific dimensions.

Old Yang was a little surprised: "You've done so much? What, have Jin Jin and Xiao Yan finalized their marriage?"

Although Old Yang was no longer a hunter, he had spent decades in the mountains and was very experienced. He taught Song Jin a lot and often helped them with these things, so he knew the mother and daughter's situation very well.

Of these sizes, one belonged to Song Jin, and the other was definitely not Niu Tielan's; it was more likely that of a larger man. He deduced from this that...

Niu Tielan glanced at him and said, "What nonsense! I don't know anything about this marriage. Don't spread rumors and tarnish Jinjin's reputation."

Old Yang almost choked on his saliva.

Reputation? What reputation? This girl has a reputation?

Is it the kind of reputation that led to him almost destroying the town mayor's house single-handedly at the age of six, cleaving a wild boar in two at the age of eight, carrying a tiger with his bare hands at the age of ten, and killing a robber single-handedly at the age of fifteen?

Of course, that's not the key point. The key point is...

"Although it wasn't explicitly stated, everyone knows about your two families' affairs. If it weren't for your money when Old Yan was sick, he would have died long ago. How could he have achieved his current success? Now that Yan Sheng has passed the preliminary examination and is about to become a Xiucai, you've put in so much money and effort. Do you really have too much money to burn?"

Old Yang frowned, looking puzzled.

In the past, when the Yan family was in trouble, Niu Tielan would always be there for them, running errands and being incredibly helpful. But now that the Yan family has risen in status and is about to become officials, she's become indifferent.

What a weirdo

Niu Tielan sneered, offering no explanation, only a disdainful tone: "Not a single thing you said today pleased me, except for that last sentence, which was right: I have too much money to burn. I still have a deer leg stewing in the pot, so I'm going back now. You keep working on the hides and calculating the ingredients, and stop gossiping and spouting nonsense."

After saying that, she put down the venison and turned to leave.

Old Yang stared wide-eyed at her slender figure, so out of place in his dilapidated house, then at his wife, then at the person, still puzzled.

"What did I do to offend this woman? Who's gossiping? What did I say wrong?"

Old Yang's wife rolled her eyes at him and said irritably, "Get back to work, you're nothing special."

Old Yang: "Hey, hey, hey, what do you mean 'not'? I'm the head of the family, the head of the family!"

Old Yang's wife: "Alright, alright, you're the head of the household, hurry up and get to work. Your eldest son's tuition is due next month."

Old Yang: "What do you mean 'my eldest son'? Then isn't he your eldest son?"

...

The couple married at fifteen and are now over forty. After more than twenty years together, their affection for each other is deep. Even their most ordinary bickering is full of warmth and everyday life.

It was the most common playful squabble between an ordinary couple. Niu Tielan listened to the sounds of the couple's playful fight from afar. The annoyance on her face gradually subsided, and a slight smile appeared on her face, which was quickly replaced by a cold expression.

An ordinary couple

Too distant a word

Niu Tielan could never have that kind of life in her own life, so she hoped her children could live that kind of life.

She initially thought the Yan family's son was quite good; he was handsome and gentle, and he got along well with Jinjin. Even if his family's circumstances were poor, it didn't matter. Forget about him marrying into the family; she was happy if Song Jin married into the family and started her own household.

That was her meaning, and the Yan family tacitly agreed. The two families maintained this understanding over the years, and as the two children grew up, the Yan family's fortunes improved.

This was originally a good thing, but the Yan couple acted like petty people, putting on airs as soon as their lives improved. While this could be considered somewhat human nature, merely making Niu Tielan a little annoyed, their veiled disparagement of her own child completely dampened her enthusiasm for the marriage.

However, the Yan family is the Yan family, and Yan Sheng is Yan Sheng. Niu Tielan still intends to give him another chance, to see if he can handle it after the academy examination in two days.

They can handle it; the young couple lives happily ever after, who cares about that shameless old man upstairs?

If she couldn't handle it, Niu Tielan's daughter shouldn't have to put up with that cowardly behavior.

But Niu Tielan's Qi

The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. Her pale face flushed red with anger, and as she walked down the street, she resembled a peach blossom in March, drawing stares from everyone.

"Tie Lan, are you feeling any better?"

Niu Tielan's anger was dispelled by the greeting. She subconsciously covered her mouth and coughed twice, then looked up at Mayor Lin and Song Xingzhi walking towards her from the opposite direction.

"I'm feeling better, Mayor Lin. Why are you so busy so early?"

Mayor Lin glanced at her complexion and was relieved to see that she was better than yesterday. He thought that if she really angered someone to the point of serious injury, his house would be reduced to ruins again.

He smiled and said, "This is Mr. Song Xingzhi from the capital. He's here to select promising students. It's just unfortunate that Yan Sheng has gone to the county academy; otherwise, he might have caught your eye and gone to study in the capital."

Niu Tielan coughed heavily twice, then said weakly, "Mayor, what are you saying? I'm just a woman, how would I know about these things? But Jinjin is at home, and she's close to that Yan Sheng kid. Why don't you go and talk to her? Maybe you can call her back."

Mayor Lin's face stiffened: "No, no, I still need to show Mr. Song around. You're not fully recovered yet, so don't come out in the wind. Go back inside and rest."

Niu Tielan coughed a few more times, weakly bowed to the two men to say goodbye, and then walked away with unsteady steps.

As she swayed unsteadily, Song Jin, with her disheveled, wet hair, came bounding over from the opposite side. She was clearly out to greet her mother, but who knew, maybe she was out for revenge...

Mayor Lin's expression changed drastically instantly. He grabbed Song Xingzhi's hand and hurriedly left, only stopping after they had walked quite a distance; his back was still cold.

Song Xingzhi was unaware of Mayor Lin's worries. Today, he wore a dark green robe adorned with peonies, his black hair tied up in a crown, and a folding fan gently waving in his hand. Even after being pulled along the way, he remained elegant and refined, reciting poetry as he spoke, exuding a graceful and unrestrained charm.

"A fair maiden is the object of a gentleman's affections..."

"Truly worthy of someone from the capital, his compliments are so different." Unlike him, thinking of the figure he had just seen, and recalling past events, Mayor Lin wiped the fine sweat from his brow, sighing with lingering fear.

"Mr. Song, though a beauty is beautiful, she should not be admired from afar."

It is absolutely forbidden to desecrate it.

Look at his house, that huge hole in it, that's where that brat tore it down. Now that brat's grown up, his destructive power has increased many times over.

However, Mr. Song didn't detect the lingering fear in his voice; he only heard a sigh, a sigh of regret for what he couldn't have.

Song Xingzhi glanced at Mayor Lin's wrinkled old face, and at the fine sweat that had appeared on his forehead after running only a short distance, his gaze carrying a hint of disdain.

Oh dear, a beautiful woman like that isn't something anyone can just get easily.

This old man looks so honest, how can he be so shameless?

After complaining about Mayor Lin, Song Xingzhi turned back and looked at Niu Tielan's blurry figure in the distance. The thoughts he had suppressed last time resurfaced, and he began to feel restless again.

He was handsome and charming, and indeed he was charming, but fortunately, he wasn't vulgar; these things required mutual consent.

But how should I put it?

He was young and vigorous, charming, somewhat wealthy, and somewhat educated.

This widow is beautiful, very beautiful, extremely beautiful.

They're a perfect match, a perfect match in every way, they're just waiting for him to make time.

Song Xingzhi brandished his fan, a smug look on his face, which was quickly replaced by a sharp glint in his eyes. He suppressed his thoughts and continued talking to Mayor Lin, subtly inquiring about the town's situation.

"Mayor Lin, Linxi Town is situated with mountains in front and water behind, offering convenient access by both land and water, attracting many merchants every day..."