Chapter 64: Strong-Willed
Zhong Lanhua grumbled as she entered the door, seeing there was no firewood in the yard, her anger soared, and she rushed into the room to find Jiang Yihuan.
Jiang Yihuan was combing her hair.
She had washed her hair and needed to apply the best osmanthus hair ointment so that her hair would emit a pleasant osmanthus fragrance.
When Zhong Lanhua pushed the door open, she looked over in confusion, "Mother, what’s wrong?"
"That Zhang Dachun next door hasn’t brought us firewood again, are you just going to let it slide? Without firewood, how are we supposed to cook?" Zhong Lanhua said unhappily, "If he won’t bring it, you need to get it yourself. Whether it’s sweet-talking him into doing it or doing it yourself, it’s up to you!"
"Mother, don’t worry, if Zhang Dachun doesn’t bring it, someone else will." Jiang Yihuan fiddled with her hair and said confidently, "The firewood will be delivered soon."
Upon hearing this, Zhong Lanhua was pleased and relaxed her expression, "Smart of you, knowing not to rely on one man when there’s another."
"I noticed Mother’s face wasn’t looking good earlier, is there something else troubling you besides the firewood?" Jiang Yihuan put down her comb and asked, "What happened?"
"That Zhang Zhaodi actually bought an ox cart. Our family does embroidery work and can earn one tael of silver a month, but we dared not even think about buying an ox cart." Zhong Lanhua said indignantly, "I’ll concede to anyone in this life but not to Zhang Zhaodi. Zhang Zhaodi isn’t as pretty as I am, doesn’t have a way with words, and isn’t as capable of bearing children as I am, she can’t live better than me! When we were young, that embroidery workshop chose her and not me, why? Also, Su Dalang, why did he choose Zhang Zhaodi over me?"
Jiang Yihuan was not surprised at all by Zhong Lanhua’s words, having heard similar complaints from her multiple times before.
Zhong Lanhua said she fell in love at first sight with Su Dalang from the Su Family, but he was there to propose to the Zhang Family. She was unwilling to accept this and tried every means to attract his attention, but it did not change the wedding plans. Zhong Lanhua refused to accept defeat; if she could snatch Zhang Zhaodi’s embroidery workshop spot, she could snatch her man. So, she chose a family from the same village.
Originally, she decided to get married on the same day as Zhang Zhaodi, but when Zhang Zhaodi was about to get married, her grandmother passed away, and she stayed at home for three more years, allowing Zhong Lanhua to marry first.
She chose Jiang Family’s Dalang, who wasn’t as handsome as Su Family’s Dalang, but he listened to her. She wanted to prove she’d live more happily than Zhang Zhaodi and make Su Dalang regret, showing him he missed an outstanding woman.
She seduced Su Dalang after marriage, but it was useless; he was like a block of wood, not swayed by beauty. Three years of mourning ended for Zhang Zhaodi, and she married Su Dalang immediately. But soon after, the court conscripted soldiers, and he was sent to the army by the Su Family, never to return.
Jiang Family’s Dalang didn’t die from conscription but from a fierce cold, failing to get timely treatment from Doctor Lin, and he passed away.
"What’s the big deal? Such a trivial matter is worth Mother getting worked up?" Jiang Yihuan said, "Our family could directly buy a horse-cart, wouldn’t that put us ahead of them?"
Zhong Lanhua’s eyes twinkled.
But soon, the light faded, and she calmed down.
"Even the cheapest horse-cart costs twenty taels of silver, where would we get that kind of money?"
The money earned over the years was mostly spent on Jiang Yihui.
"Landlord Li’s wife loves peonies, I’ve embroidered a peony picture, I’ll bring it to the Li Family tomorrow, it should sell for a good price."
Zhong Lanhua saw the embroidery frame not far away, with the peony picture still on it. Seeing this peony picture, Zhong Lanhua was obsessed.
Her daughter was prettier than she was, and more talented at embroidery. She only taught her what she had learned, and her daughter’s technique surpassed her own as a mother.
"That still won’t be enough for twenty taels!" Zhong Lanhua said.
"I know the son of the steward at the Horse Market, I’ll ask him to give us the best price. If that doesn’t work, let him lend us the money first."
Zhong Lanhua understood, looking at Jiang Yihuan with satisfaction.
Speaking of lending, but in reality, if a man is willing to spend money on a woman, how could he expect her to pay it back? Lending becomes a mere formality, equivalent to giving it away for free.
"The steward’s son, he should have some money, right?" Zhong Lanhua was tempted, "You’re fifteen now, why not..."
"Mother, what’s the hurry?" Jiang Yihuan said, "I’m still young, I can afford to wait. We have two scholars in the family, if my brother earns a title, I’ll be the official family’s daughter, maybe I can marry into a better family. Also, that Xiao Yanci, even the teacher praises his scholarship, he has a good chance of success and great potential."
Zhong Lanhua understood, Jiang Yihuan intended to climb a higher branch. The richest man around her now is merely a small merchant, incomparable to a promising future official. If Jiang Yihui earns a title, he would need in-laws’ support, so Jiang Yihuan indeed couldn’t marry randomly; she must marry well.
A man’s voice sounded from outside.
"The person delivering the firewood is here." Jiang Yihuan said, "Mother, go deal with him, lest those men think they can win my favor just by helping me with some firewood or fetching water. I’m no wild vegetable by the roadside, how could they easily win me over?"
Zhong Lanhua nodded in satisfaction, "Well said, it seems you have some of your mother’s brains."
The young man delivering the firewood placed it properly, wiped his sweat, and looked toward Jiang Yihuan’s room.
A cough came from the room, followed by Jiang Yihuan’s sweet and fragile voice, "Thank you, Brother Hu Zi, for helping me out. My mother and I are weak women, doing such heavy work leaves us sore for days. It’s lucky to have kind people like you, otherwise, my mother and I couldn’t have a peaceful day in the village."
"Huan’er, are you sick again?" Yang Hu said distressed, "Don’t worry, I’ll get Doctor Lin for you."
"No need, we’ve already got the medicine." Zhong Lanhua stopped him, "My daughter is just too soft-hearted, always wanting to do more for me, not considering whether her body is suited for such work. And blame me for being unwell, aching everywhere, forcing her to take it upon herself."
"Auntie, leave fetching water and chopping wood to me, let Huan’er rest," Yang Hu said, "Huan’er needs to do embroidery, it’s too tiring."
"Alright, it’s up to you." Zhong Lanhua said, "Let her get better before working again."
Yang Hu left feeling pleased after receiving Zhong Lanhua’s compliments.
As he went out, he encountered Zhang Dachun next door returning from the fields, walking past him smugly like a triumphant rooster.