Chapter 367 Extra Chapter: Song Erniang (Part 9)
Song Erniang continued to recount what had happened to her.
From the moment she resolved to die and boarded the bridal sedan chair to her father's threat that he would kill her mother if she dared to commit suicide.
Then began Song Erniang's real suffering.
"That man was cruel and did a lot of bad things because of his military achievements. His four wives who died before him were all tortured to death by him."
I was his fifth wife. He said that the daughters of wealthy families were nothing special, and once the lights were off, they were no different from ordinary farm girls.
He would beat and verbally abuse me constantly, and every time he came back, it was the beginning of my torment.
He burned me with candlelight, pricked me with needles, and made me kneel in the snow wearing only a thin layer of clothing in the heavy snow.
Torture of me became his greatest pleasure.
Later... he committed a crime, a capital offense, the kind that resulted in his home being confiscated.
All the women in the family were either sold off or sent to the brothel. My mother felt sorry for me and spent a lot of money to buy me back.
Long Hanshi, actually I am a commoner. Even though my mother bought me back, I am still a commoner.
I thought that I had already suffered a lot, and although I had lost my identity, I should at least be able to live a peaceful life.
Who knew my father wasn't human?
Because of his involvement in that incident, my father was stripped of his title and became a commoner. But he was unwilling to accept this and still wanted to be reinstated. So he thought of giving me away as a gift.
My mother felt sorry for me, and I didn't want to be just another object in his hands anymore, so I wanted to run away.
Later, my mother gave me the little silver she had left and some valuable jewelry, and also helped me find someone to get me a travel permit and a new identity.
That's how I became Song Erniang and came to Suzhou.
You know what happened next.
Long Hanshi, I'm not as innocent as everyone thinks. I used to be bad too. I deserved my bad life!
"So don't pity me, I'm not a good person, really! I hate my former self." Song Erniang said with a smile.
Long Hanshi didn't know what to say.
Indeed, he was very surprised when he heard what Song Erniang said in person.
But despite his surprise, he didn't dislike Song Erniang at all.
On the contrary, he felt that Song Erniang was very honest, at least she could face her past with composure.
Unlike him...
“Song Erniang, you don’t need to say that. Maybe you were a bit bad before, but you have been punished. I think if your sister forgives you, everything before can really be wiped clean.”
As long as you are doing well now, that's enough; or as long as you are doing well now and will continue to do well in the future, that's enough.
Don't think about other things...
We don't have much time to live, so if we think about so many things, we won't be able to survive.
You still need to live your life well from now on.
"I'm not good at speaking, but I think that's the truth!" Long Hanshi stammered.
Song Erniang smiled and said nothing more.
The two of them walked towards the village.
After entering the manor, Song Erniang took the handrail of the carriage from Long Hanshi.
“Long Hanshi, you are a good person, we all know that. You are different from me. I... I really never thought about those things.”
Thank you for taking care of me during this time. From now on, you don't need to send me firewood anymore, I really...
Anyway, thank you!
After finishing her sentence, Song Erniang pushed the cart toward her own courtyard.
Long Hanshi stood there blankly for a long time, until the dogs in the village started barking before he came to his senses.
Just now, Song Erniang said that she no longer needed to deliver firewood to her. What does that mean?
If I don't bring her firewood, am I supposed to go chop it myself on the mountain? Or am I supposed to buy it from someone else?
That's not worth it at all. Selling wontons already doesn't earn much; if we buy firewood on top of that, we'll earn even less...
No, that's definitely not what Song Erniang meant.
Song Erniang must have had another meaning, but what was it? I just can't figure it out!
It's all my fault for being so stupid. I can't even understand these two sentences. I'll go home first and think about it carefully. Maybe I'll figure it out if I think about it carefully!
Long Hanshi then hurried home.
Just then, his sister came to visit him and brought him a lot of things.
"Honest boy, I brought you a lot of things today, remember to eat them!"
"By the way, I have something else to tell you. The thing I mentioned to you before has been settled." Long Hanshi's sister was overjoyed.
"Settled? What has been settled?" Long Hanshi hadn't yet figured out what it was.
I don't think I asked my sister to do anything for me...
"What else could it be? It's about your sister telling you about arranging a marriage for you!"
My sister took care of this matter after she went back last time. Today, the matchmaker came to tell me that she has someone in mind. She said that the girl from that family is eighteen years old and lives with her father. She was looking for a son-in-law to live with her family.
The requirements have been lowered this year; they say that in the future, as long as one child takes the daughter's surname, it's fine.
That girl is so honest and kind! I think you should check her out!
"Really... why aren't you saying anything!" Sister Long Hanshi stared at Long Hanshi.
Long Hanshi stared blankly at his older sister.
What did you just say, sister? I've found you a nice girl...
But why, when my sister talked about this, did I picture Song Erniang smiling as she recounted her own story?
After a long silence, Long Hanshi seemed to understand something.
From childhood to adulthood, he always listened to others—his parents, his sister, his master…
The only time I disobeyed my master, it had serious consequences.
But now... he still wants to listen to himself this time.
"Sister, no need! I don't want to look anymore, I don't want to look at a match right now," Long Hanshi said softly.
Upon hearing this, Long Hanshi's sister's smile immediately vanished.
"You don't want to see me? Are you planning to spend your whole life alone like this?"
"I don't know! Sister, can't you let me think about it some more? Maybe I'll be able to get married soon?" Long Hanshi looked at his sister.
"With your workaholic lifestyle, how are you going to settle down and start a family? You..."
"I can't control you anymore." Sister Long Hanshi was also a little angry.
"Okay, sister, please trust me just this once, okay? You can't force things. Let me think about it some more!"
"Sister, let me see you out!" Long Hanshi said, half-pushing and half-dragging his sister out of the courtyard gate.
After watching his sister's carriage leave, Long Hanshi thought for a moment, then went back to wash his face. After thinking about what was on his mind, he walked towards Song Erniang's courtyard.
When Song Erniang, who was holding a water ladle, opened the door and saw Long Hanshi, she was also startled.
"you?"
“Song Erniang, you say you’re not a good person, then let me tell you, I’m not a good person either! Do you want to hear my story?” Long Hanshi asked boldly.
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