The Formidable Lady of the Poor Scholar’s Household

Chapter 14: Where There’s a Girl, There’s Dispute

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

That night, Qian Sishui ate snake meat and drank snake soup.

Shi Jinhua hadn’t dared to touch it, but he had no choice but to cook it when Qian Sishui threw it to him.

When she woke up the next morning, he saw Shi Jinhua carrying a hoe and working in the fields.

“Aren’t you going to study?”

Why was he farming every day? Why didn’t he just get someone else to do it? How long would it take for a weakling like him to get everything done?

“I saw the grass that we weeded that day. It should be ready to be burned like you said.”

“Get someone to help you.”

How long would it take if he were to do it alone?

“Alright.” He still had to prepare for the exam, so he gritted his teeth and agreed.

Not long after Shi Jinhua left, Auntie Wan arrived with a basket of vegetables.

“Sishui, Hua asked me to cook for you. He went to the fields with your uncle and my eldest and second sons.”

Shi Jinhua’s original words were, “Auntie, Sishui doesn’t know how to cook. I’ll have to trouble you today!” As he spoke, he even bowed.

That delighted Auntie Wan, who would be happy to cook an extra portion for the young woman.

“Sishui, you know how girls are. Stay away from snakes in the future. It’s too dangerous.”

“Alright.”

Qian Sishui felt a little awkward standing there when she saw Auntie Wan busying herself. “Auntie, I’m going for a walk in the mountains.”

She would catch a few fish as a gesture of thanks to Auntie Wan’s family for their help.

At the same time, Wang Xiaoling and a group of her friends from the village headed for the foot of the mountain to look for wild vegetables and to get some firewood to fill the baskets on their backs.

Qian Sishui was carrying a new basket this time, which was tied to her back with a rope made of cloth. Shi Jinhua had specially bought it from town and tied it himself.

He was afraid that Qian Sishui’s shoulder would turn red from the pressure. After all, her skin was tender. If something happened to her, he would have to spend money!

When Qian Sishui saw it, she was touched! However, when she heard from Shi Jinhua that he did this because he was afraid of spending money, she stormed off.

When Wang Xiaoling saw that Qian Sishui was wearing a hat when she went up the mountain, her expression was filled with disdain.

Qian Sishui walked past the group of girls just like that—without any pressure!

“Hey! Don’t you know how to say hello when you see others?” Wang Xiaoling was upset, so her tone was naturally not that good.

The other girls had also heard of Shi Jinhua’s wife, but they had never come into contact with her. Some had only seen her from afar once or twice.

Seeing that Wang Xiaoling wanted to find trouble with Qian Sishui, they all shut up and watched silently from the side.

Qian Sishui had never had the experience of having a crush at her age. Naturally, she didn’t know how to interact with people of the same age, especially those who were hostile to her.

When Wang Xiaoling saw that Qian Sishui acted as though she hadn’t heard her, she couldn’t help but stomp her feet angrily. “What’s so great about you? If it weren’t for Brother Jinhua, you would have died long ago! How arrogant!”

But the only response she got was Qian Sishui walking further into the mountains. Wang Xiaoling was so furious that she trampled on the flowers and plants near her.

“Xiaoling, why are you angry with her? She doesn’t even care about you. Maybe she doesn’t even remember who you are!”

Qian Sishui couldn’t help but think, Miss! You’re absolutely right!

“I just can’t stand her arrogance!” Wang Xiaoling glared in the direction where Qian Sishui had disappeared.

“Aiya, we all know what you’re thinking, but he’s already married. It’s useless for you to think about it,” another girl, Chen Nannan, pulled Wang Xiaoling and said.

Back then, Doctor Wang did not allow Wang Xiaoling and Shi Jinhua to get married. The reason was that the man was an orphan, and he didn’t have any close relatives. Someone like that was not suitable for marriage.

“That’s right. You can’t make them get a divorce, right? It’s even more impossible for you to be the mistress! I think Shi Jinhua is so busy supporting his wife one that he doesn’t have enough time for himself.” Two was too many! The girl who said this was called Li Jiajia. She was a more practical person.

“What are you guys talking about? Who says I’m thinking about that?” She turned around and pushed her friends away. “I’m going home.” She was not in the mood to search for wild vegetables.

“Hey! We just arrived. Why are you going back already?” Li Jiajia shouted at her friend who was leaving.

Wang Xiaoling ran down the mountain without looking back. She thought to herself that she would teach Qian Sishui a lesson one day.

When Qian Sishui came down from the mountain again, she was still carrying a basket full of “grass” and a few fish.

Coincidentally, she bumped into the same group of girls. But this time, she didn’t see the girl who didn’t like her.

“Aiya, why are you carrying a basket of grass? Even the animals don’t eat this.” Li Jiajia saw Qian Sishui carrying a basket of grass.

“Why do you care what she does?” Feng Yuting pulled Li Jiajia aside and looked at Qian Sishui as if she was looking at a fool.

Qian Sishui saw that Li Jiajia’s eyes were clear and her round face was very chubby.

“These are herbs.” It was rare for her to speak, but she had no intention of stopping to chit-chat.

Li Jiajia immediately responded, “Wow! You’re amazing! You actually recognize herbs.” Her eyes were filled with admiration.

“Tsk, what’s the big deal? No matter how smart she is, she’s still from a criminal family,” Feng Yuting commented with an indignant tone as she looked at Qian Sishui who was walking away.

It had not easy for her to convince her family to let her marry Shi Jinhua. But the very next day, news came that Shi Jinhua already had a wife.

She had secretly cried for three days and three nights. So what if Wang Xiaoling also liked Shi Jinhua? He belonged to whoever got him first.

“Then why don’t you carry a basket of medicinal herbs back too?” Li Jiajia’s first reaction was, If you don’t think it’s amazing, then show me that you can do it too!

Feng Yuting shoved Li Jiajia away. “Whose side are you on?” How dare she talk back to her for a woman she didn’t even know!

“I’m just telling you the truth. What’s wrong with that? What do you mean?”

Do you think I’m stupid? You’re just sour that you don’t have what she has, Li Jiajia thought to herself.

“Why are you talking back to her? Look, now they’re all gone!” The last girl, Zhang Caiyun, said as she watched Feng Yuting leave.

“I didn’t say anything. She’s really strange. I just think that Sister-in-law Shi is so amazing. She can catch rabbits, snakes, and even knows how to find medicinal herbs. Anyway, did you see the fish she was carrying? She can even catch fish! She’s brilliant!” Her face was filled with admiration. “Let’s not talk about anything else. Do you dare to catch snakes? That snake was so big.” She even gestured with her hands.

“I wouldn’t dare. Let’s not talk about snakes. You’re making my hair stand. Let’s hurry up and leave. What if we run into snakes later?”

Not every girl was like Qian Sishui. They had better head home before it got too late.

When Qian Sishui reached home, Auntie Wan was already preparing to start cooking.

“Oh, Sishui, you’re back. Oh, you even got fish?” She wiped her hands on her waist and took the fish from the younger woman. Then, she turned around and helped take the basket from the latter’s back.

“Bring two home later,” Qian Sishui said to Auntie Wan.

“Alright, I won’t stand on ceremony with you. This fish is dead, and we can’t leave it for too long in this weather. I’ll send it to my daughter-in-law now so that my grandchildren get to eat something different. Thank you so much!” As she spoke, she picked two of the smaller fishes. “I’m already so old, but I haven’t eaten snake meat. Those boys have eaten it at such a young age. A few days ago, they even cried and wanted to learn from you.” Speaking of her grandchildren, she couldn’t finish his sentence.

Her eldest grandson was her life!

“He’s just a little kid, yet he wants to learn such skills. I almost died laughing.” The person had already left, but Qian Sishui could still hear the older woman’s voice. Her voice sounded very soothing to Qian Sishui.

Only after the young woman was done packing up the herbs did Shi Jinhua returned with a hoe.

Seeing his wife fiddling with the medicinal herbs, he did not say anything and simply got some water to wash up.

Why wasn’t Qian Sishui as virtuous as other women? This woman didn’t have the idea of what made a good wife and mother at all!

Shi Jinhua no longer expected his wife to take care of him anymore! As long as nothing happened, she could do whatever he wanted.

“I’ve burned the soil and grass as you said. How long will it take?”

“Seven days or more.” She didn’t know the specifics either.

“Uncle said that he wanted to do the same today. His family has a lot of people and a lot of land. He doesn’t make enough fertilizer at home for all that land.”

Shi Jinhua helped Qian Sishui sort and tie the herbs that were dry.