Springtime Farming: A Happy Wife At Home

The farmer’s wife couldn’t believe her luck. She had two groups of people visiting simultaneously, and she saw a golden opportunity to profit from it.

However, she felt a bit uneasy about the situation. She awkwardly addressed the guests, “You mean the roosters and rabbits? Both groups brought them here themselves, so I prepared them for cooking. They aren’t from my farm. But don’t worry, I’ll have one rooster ready for you soon.”

The two well-dressed servants arrived with a wagon and seemed very generous, showing no concern about the fate of the chickens.

The Young Master, dressed in a mink coat, smiled and glanced at the room. “Why go through so much trouble? Let’s just ask our guests if they mind sharing some of their food with us.”

The suggestion took the farmer’s wife by surprise. Before she could respond, one of the pageboys slipped a small sum of money into her hands.

The farmer’s wife’s eyes lit up with delight as she accepted the silver, saying, “Alright, just wait a moment.”

She went inside and approached Qiao Xuan and Shao Yunduan, the two guests. Understanding the situation, she didn’t demand that they give away their food for free.

Recognizing the hardships of traveling, she empathized with the Young Master and his servant who appeared tired, hungry, and cold. It seemed like a good idea to lend them a helping hand. Moreover, Qiao Xuan and Shao Yunduan seemed like refined people who wouldn’t consume too much food anyway. It was a kind gesture to assist them on their journey, and she believed that such good deeds would be repaid in the future.

And the more there was to eat, the livelier the atmosphere would be, right?

But the farmer’s wife had no intentions of letting them share her belongings for free. As a gesture of gratitude, she decided to give them one of her hens when they left.

“These hens just laid eggs, and their meat is so tender! It’s sure to be delicious!” she exclaimed, feeling a tinge of remorse for the hen but also comforted by the money she received from the pageboy.

Though she had no idea of the exact amount, she knew it was substantial – enough to be worth the value of 20 or 30 chickens.

The unexpected eloquence of the farmer’s wife surprised both Qiao Xuan and Shao Yunduan, and they burst into laughter.

After a quick exchange of glances, Shao Yunduan nodded and proposed, “In that case, we can share half with them.”

The farmer’s wife was overjoyed. “That’s great! Thank you, Old Master and Madame Qiao. You are good people, and you will be blessed!”

Qiao Xuan chuckled and praised, “Sister-in-law, you truly have a way with words! You’re so lucky!”

In high spirits, the farmer’s wife went to fetch the dishes.

Meanwhile, the Young Master approached Qiao Xuan and Shao Yunduan and courteously thanked them, saying, “Thank you for your generosity!”

Qiao Xuan observed the Young Master, who appeared to be not yet 20 years old. His long and narrow eyes, thin lips, and fair complexion gave him a delicate appearance, but he seemed pale and thin, as if recovering from a prolonged illness.

The purple mink coat accentuated his weak and pale appearance even further.

Qiao Xuan smiled at the Young Master. “Young Master, there’s no need to thank us. It’s not an act of charity; the farmer’s wife mentioned she would give us a hen.”

The Young Master was taken aback and chuckled, covering his mouth with his fist. “You’re absolutely right.”

Shao Yunduan gestured for him to proceed, saying, “Please, go ahead.”

Grateful, the Young Master smiled and nodded. “Thank you very much.”

Shao Yunduan returned the smile but remained silent.

As the Young Master ate at the side, it was evident that the two servants couldn’t compare to his refined demeanor.

Songshi was eating in the kitchen, so the two of them followed the woman’s arrangement and went into the kitchen with bowls.