Chapter 57 Chapter 57 I Kill a Pig
In the backyard of the county magistrate's mansion, the county magistrate's wife was drinking tea and looking at the account book when she heard that the old lady of the Yao family's carriage had startled the horses.
The county magistrate's wife was shocked and asked hurriedly, "How is Madam Yao now?"
"I heard that it's not good. Madam Yao was frightened and fell ill after returning home." The housekeeper who came to report said, "The maidservant beside Madam Yao went to Huichun Hall today and asked Doctor Xu to come and see Madam Yao."
The servant of the county magistrate's mansion happened to go to Huichuntang to buy medicine. He recognized the maid who served Madam Yao and learned about this.
When he came back, he told him and he hurried over to report to his wife.
He knew that his wife wanted to please Old Madam Yao and had been visiting her frequently recently. Naturally, he had to tell his wife about this when he learned about it.
The county magistrate's wife asked, "Do you know why Madam Yao's carriage startled the horses?"
The housekeeper shook his head: "I don't know, the Yao family didn't say."
The Yao family has strict rules. Servants will not easily reveal information about their master's family, and they cannot ask anything.
The county magistrate's wife thought about it, and told someone to tell her husband at the yamen about this. She also ordered the servants to help her change her clothes and prepare the gifts. She was going to the Yao family villa to visit the sick old lady Yao.
Old Madam Yao came here from the provincial capital half a month ago.
Although she did not reveal any information when she came, the county magistrate of Shanping County knew about it. When Madam Yao came to Shanping County, the county magistrate's wife even made a special visit to her.
After receiving the news, County Magistrate Zhang came over quickly.
When he heard that something happened to the old lady of the Yao family, he was shocked. If something went wrong, he would probably end up in his position as county magistrate.
When he saw his wife, he told her, "Go over there in a bit and pay more attention to see if Old Madam Yao needs any help. Don't let anything happen to Old Madam Yao."
The county magistrate's wife knew what was going on, so she said, "I know."
Madam Yao's status is not ordinary. If something happened to her somewhere else, it would be fine, but it happened in Shanping County. If the Yao family blames them, they will be in trouble.
The county magistrate's wife quickly packed up and took a car to the villa where Old Madam Yao lived.
When they arrived at the villa, the county magistrate's wife learned that the wife of the head of the Wang family was also there.
The Wang family was a prominent family in Shanping County. Their descendants were quite ambitious and had two successful candidates in the imperial examinations. The family had a strong culture of reading and was highly respected by scholars.
The old lady of the Wang family and the old lady of the Yao family are full sisters and have a very good relationship.
Back then, one married into the Yao family in the north, and the other married into the Wang family in the south, and they spent most of their lives like this.
The reason why Old Madam Yao came to Shanping County this time was because Old Madam Wang had a serious illness at the beginning of the year, and the illness lasted for several months and she was still not fully recovered.
Upon hearing the news, Old Madam Yao, concerned about her sisters, came all the way from the city to see her.
After the county magistrate's wife asked someone to report it, she was quickly led in.
The villa where Old Madam Yao lived was actually the property of the Wang family. Because Old Madam Yao came, the Wang family cleaned it up for her to live in.
Old Madam Yao likes quietness, and the environment here is quiet and peaceful, which is very suitable for the elderly to live in.
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In the room, Mrs. Wang was asking about Mrs. Yao's health with concern.
Old Madam Yao went out of the city to burn incense today, but on her way back the horse pulling her carriage got frightened on the way, causing her to suffer greatly.
When the Wang family learned about this, they were terrified.
Mrs. Wang came to visit the old lady as soon as possible.
The old lady of the Wang family was in poor health, and they did not dare to let her know. They asked someone to hide the matter from her and only let Mrs. Wang come to take a look.
Hearing that the county magistrate's wife was coming, Mrs. Wang frowned and said, "Aunt, you are not feeling well. Why don't I send someone to send her away?"
Although she knew why the county magistrate's wife came, Mrs. Wang was still a little unhappy.
After all, they were just afraid that something might happen to the old lady of the Yao family here, which would affect County Magistrate Zhang's future promotion.
Madam Yao said, "No need. Since she's here, let her in."
She patted Mrs. Wang's hand with a calm expression, showing a kind of open-mindedness and tolerance that sees through the world.
When the county magistrate's wife entered the room, she first smelled the odor of medicine in the room. She felt uneasy and didn't know how ill the old lady of the Yao family was.
Then she saw Mrs. Wang sitting on the embroidered cushion in front of the bed and quickly smiled at her.
The Wang family enjoyed a very prestigious status in Shanping County, and the atmosphere of reading was very strong in the family. Mrs. Wang's husband was a juren, and many scholars wanted to become his disciples.
Unfortunately, Mr. Wang had high standards, and few scholars in Shanping County caught his eye, so he had not accepted many students so far.
Old Madam Yao was sitting on the bed, leaning against a pine pillow.
The magistrate's wife looked over and saw that her face was pale, with a headband on her forehead. She looked a little haggard, no longer as wealthy and peaceful as she had been when they first met.
She became more and more worried. After stepping forward and paying her respects, she asked about Madam Yao's health with concern.
"Thank you for your concern, it's nothing serious." said Old Lady Yao.
The county magistrate's wife expressed her concern and was relieved to find that apart from looking unwell, Old Madam Yao was not seriously injured.
As long as Madam Yao is okay, that's all.
She was also tactful and knew that the old lady had just been frightened and needed to rest well. After putting down the gift for visiting the old lady, she quickly said goodbye.
After the county magistrate's wife left, Mrs. Wang, who was sitting by the bed, said, "Aunt, you are not feeling well, why do you need to see her?"
She looked down on the county magistrate's wife. She was too sycophantic and had been visiting Old Madam Yao at the villa recently. She knew what she was up to without asking.
Madam Yao smiled and said, "I'm fine too. It's just that Madam Lu and the others are too nervous."
Madam Lu wiped the old lady's sweat and said, "It's not that we are nervous, it's just that the situation was too thrilling." She turned to Madam Wang and said, "You don't know, the horse got scared on the way and just ran around, the driver couldn't stop it, the carriage was shaking so badly that even we couldn't stand it, let alone the old lady at her age..."
Speaking of this, she was terrified. Her heart still beats wildly whenever she thinks of it.
Madam Lu patted her chest and continued, "Later, the horse suddenly knelt down, and the carriage couldn't withstand the impact and was about to fall to the side. Fortunately, a girl held the carriage."
Mrs. Wang was stunned when she heard this. "Hold the carriage?"
Why does this sound weird?
The carriage that Old Madam Yao was riding in belonged to the Yao family. It was a specially customized carriage. The carriage was extremely heavy, and with the force of the horse pulling it, it would be difficult for even a strong man to hold on to it, let alone a girl, right?
Madam Lu nodded, "It was indeed that girl who reached out to hold the carriage and straightened it."
Mrs. Wang was stunned when she heard this.
Old Madam Yao on the bed couldn't help but laugh when she saw this. "You can't believe it? If I hadn't experienced it myself, I wouldn't believe it. How can someone be so strong?"
"Yes." Mrs. Wang agreed, "If you said it was a man, I would believe it, but you said it was a girl..."
Old Madam Yao added, "I heard from my husband that she is still a young and pretty girl."
Lao Chang is the coachman.
Mrs. Wang was very surprised and said, "No matter what, she saved my aunt today, so we have to thank her very much." Then she asked, "Where is that girl from? I have to bring some gifts to thank her in person someday."
The girl saved Old Madam Yao and was also the benefactor of their Wang family.
Madam Lu shook her head and said, "We don't know."
"You don't know?" Mrs. Wang was surprised. "How could you not know?"
"She walked away after she fixed the cart. She walked so fast that we couldn't stop her." Madam Lu said, "But judging by her clothes, she should be from a nearby village. She should be going to the city to buy things today."
Mrs. Wang felt a little regretful after hearing this. There were too many villages near Shanping County. If she searched them one by one, it would take a lot of time.
Besides, doing so would seem like a big fuss and would draw too much attention, which would not be good for the girl.
Even so, she still said, "It doesn't matter. Since they are from a nearby village, they should come to the city to buy things. I'll have people pay more attention to them."
As for the beautiful young girl the old lady said, Mrs. Wang couldn't imagine how beautiful she was.
She had seen those girls from the countryside. They were not as pampered as the girls in the city. They had to work in the fields, exposed to the wind and sun, and their skin was tanned and rough. Even those who were pampered by their families had to do some housework inside and outside the house, and few of them could be kept delicate and beautiful.
Even if a country girl is pretty, there will be some discounts on her appearance. She should be a girl with slightly dark skin.
Hearing this, Old Madam Yao felt better and said with a smile, "Then I'll trouble you."
Mrs. Wang smiled and nodded, knowing that her aunt was grateful to the girl and hoped to thank her in person. It seemed that the girl would have great luck in the future.
Of course, she was also grateful in her heart. Given Old Madam Yao's age, if the carriage really overturned, she would suffer a lot, and she was afraid that the Yao family would be unhappy.
**
With more than three hundred taels of silver in his hands, Yu Li felt much more at ease.
It is true that money is a person’s courage. If you have money in your hands, you will not be afraid.
After receiving the day's wages every day, Yu Li spent even more lavishly on shopping. Every time, his backpack was filled to the brim and almost couldn't hold any more.
As time goes by, you will always meet some villagers who go to the county town to buy things.
People in Qingshi Village had seen her several times in the county town, sometimes on the road, sometimes in stores buying things.
Occasionally in the afternoon, someone would see her walking in from the village entrance carrying a heavy basket.
Over time, everyone knew that Yu Li must have found a job in the county town.
Otherwise, why would she always go to the county town? The Fu family wouldn't have so many things to buy, right?
When everyone was chatting, they couldn't help but wonder what kind of job Yu Li had found in the county town?
That evening, when Yu Li went to fetch water, he met a group of middle-aged women chatting under a tree.
Now she has to go out before dawn, so she has to fetch water, chop wood, water the vegetable garden, and do other things within her ability in the evening.
The ladies in the village like to sit under the shade of trees with their needles and thread, working and chatting at the same time.
Seeing Yu Li passing by with two buckets of water, an old lady stopped her and asked, "Mother Li, I heard that you have been going to the county town a lot recently. Did you find a job there?"
Yu Li stopped and nodded seriously.
Another lady asked curiously, "Li Niang, what kind of job are you looking for?"
Many people around looked over, curious about what kind of business Yu Li had found in the county town that allowed her to buy so many things every day.
Of course, maybe she didn’t buy it herself, but the Fu family paid for her to buy it.
Because the Fu family generously helped Yu Li to recuperate, allowing her to take tonic medicine worth two or three hundred coins for more than half a year, it further confirmed the rumor that the Fu family was rich.
So when they saw Yu Li buying things, although they were envious, they did not think about Yu Li making money.
Those families with daughters all wanted to know how Yu Li was doing in the county town and whether their daughters could find a job there.
Apart from working in the fields and doing odd jobs during the slack season, the country people have no extra income.
Not every girl knows how to do needlework. If her work is not good enough, the embroidery shop will not accept her, so she can only help with the work at home.
In their impression, Yu Li seemed to be able to do nothing except working hard.
She wasn't as good at needlework as Yu Yin, and her brain wasn't very flexible, so it was hard to imagine what kind of work she could find in the county town.
In the eyes of the country people, the county town is very big and it is not easy to find a job. The men in the village only look for physical jobs and cannot find other jobs. The girls don’t know what kind of work to find.
At this moment, seeing that Yu Li had found a job in the county town, no matter how much money he could make, at least he could earn some pocket money.
No matter how much it is, it's yours.
When a girl gets older, she should save some money so that she will have money to use when she gets married.
When they asked, Yu Li answered, "Kill the pig."
"What?"
In an instant, everyone thought they had heard it wrong, and a look of surprise appeared on their faces.
Thinking they didn't hear clearly, Yu Li repeated calmly: "It's killing pigs."
Everyone: “…”
Very good, they finally confirmed that they had heard it correctly, she was indeed talking about killing pigs.
"You, you are doing the job of butchering pigs?" The person who spoke was a little unsteady in his voice. "Can you kill pigs?"
Yu Li nodded: "Of course."
She has been slaughtering pigs for almost two months now, how could she not know?
Someone soon realized what was happening and said, "No, why are you looking for this kind of job? Isn't this a physically demanding job? You're just a little girl..."
"I have strength." Yu Li replied.
“…”
Yes, the ladies finally remembered that Li Niang was very strong.
Killing pigs is a strenuous job and one cannot do it without strength.
That's the truth, but - butchering pigs is not a job that a girl should have anything to do with, right? Looking at her pretty face, I thought that she actually went to butcher pigs...
Everyone still found it hard to accept and looked dazed.
Seeing that they had nothing to ask, Yu Li left with the water.
After she walked away, they finally reacted and started chatting.
"The work that Li Niang does...is not something that ordinary people can do."
"Yeah, I wonder how a girl like her could find a job as a butcher? What does she think?"
"I heard that butchering pigs is very profitable. Uncle Jiao from the next village used to be a butcher. He could earn dozens of coins for killing a pig. The Jiao family built a blue brick and tile house because of their butchering business. It's quite enviable."
"But Li Niang can't kill a pig by herself, right? Even if she gets a few dozen coins, she has to share it with others."
"really……"
Those who had originally planned to refer to Yu Li to see what kind of job she was looking for in the county town and also wanted their daughters to go with her immediately gave up the idea.
Their daughter can't do it.
Not to mention their daughter, even grown men can't do it. Killing a pig requires not only strength, but also skills and courage. It is not something that ordinary people can do.
How could Yu Li be so bold? She actually dared to kill a pig.
Everyone admired him very much.
-
Soon, the news that Yu Li had found a job slaughtering pigs in the county town spread throughout the village.
Everyone who heard it looked dazed and couldn't believe it.
If it was some son who went to kill pigs, they wouldn't think it was a big deal, but Yu Li was a girl, how did she find a job as a butcher?
The news soon spread to the Yu family.
Old Madam Yu was stunned. She turned around and asked, "Old man, did you hear that? Li Niang, that damn girl, found a job as a pig butcher in the county town."
Mr. Yu nodded to indicate that he heard it.
Old Madam Yu was incredulous and muttered, "No wonder this damn girl is so brave. She even dared to kill a pig. Isn't it normal for her to beat people?"
Not only did he hit people, he also disobeyed his elders...
Is there anything else she dare not do?
Wang was passing by and happened to hear the old lady's words. She suddenly said, "Mother, Li Niang actually went to kill pigs. Will she be furious and come back with a butcher knife one day to chop anyone who makes her angry?"
Old Mrs. Yu: “…”
Old Mrs. Yu almost wanted to hit someone.
She said angrily, "What do you mean? Do you think Li Niang will come back with a knife and chop us?"
Wang looked innocent, "Mom, that's not what I meant. I meant that Li Niang is very brave. It turns out that she is also a butcher. We'd better not provoke her in the future, otherwise one day she will bring back a butcher knife..."
She was speaking from her heart.
Now the third branch of their family really didn't dare to provoke Yu Li. They would avoid her as far as possible when they saw her. If they couldn't avoid her, they would immediately give in and just hope not to provoke her.
But this is not necessarily the case for a large house.
She did not forget that there were two scholars in the first house. They were detained in the county town to study and had never returned. They were probably unaware of Yu Li's lethality.
If they were to take action against Yu Li someday, it would be fun to watch.
I don’t know if the family has been divided, but Wang can’t stand seeing the eldest wife doing well.
If the Yu Jingde brothers ever become successful, she would not only be unhappy, but would be very upset.
Old Mrs. Yu held her breath in her chest and almost suffocated.
She wanted to scold Wang, but the Yu family had already split up, and Wang was the head of the third branch. She was no longer under the control of her mother-in-law, so she was not really afraid of her.
An old lady who has lost her housekeeping power is like a tiger with its claws pulled out. There is nothing to be afraid of.
In the kitchen, Yu Qin, who was cooking, heard the noise outside and felt a little dazed.
Li Niang actually went to work as a butcher? Isn't this a butcher?
How dare she?
Thinking of Yu Li's delicate appearance, Yu Qin felt confused.
Yu Li has changed so much now that she is so beautiful that she can't recognize herself. She feels that every time she sees her, she becomes more beautiful, so beautiful that she begins to feel inferior.
In the past, Yu Qin thought that she was the most beautiful girl in the Yu family.
She is also the most beautiful and elegant girl in the village. The girls in the village are dark, earthy and rough. How can they compare with her?
Only now did he realize that he was nothing in front of Yu Li, who had been completely transformed.
However, when she learned that Yu Li actually worked as a pig killer and had to associate with those smelly pigs every day, Yu Qin felt that no matter how beautiful she was, it didn't matter.
How dirty is this?
Yuqin felt a little sympathetic towards her. She didn't know why she would look for such a job. Wasn't she suffering in vain?
After dinner, Yu Qin saw that it was getting dark, so she went to the yard to collect clothes. She happened to see Yu Li passing by.
Unable to hold back, she took the initiative to call out to the person: "Li Niang."
Yu Li stopped and looked at her calmly.
Meeting her gaze, Yuqin's heart began beating uncontrollably and she felt a little scared.
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