Farmer's Wife Has Magic Skills

Zhuang Ziqian, half-skeptical but not showing it, asked, “Who is the doctor? I would like to pay him a visit.”

Yu Wanwan’s servant came over, “Young Master Zhuang, the doctor isn’t in the village right now. I heard he’s out treating someone…”

Zhuang Ziqian hesitated, ” When will he be back?”

The servant shook his head, “I don’t know. The doctor is very busy every day, sometimes leaving early and returning late, only seen at night.”

Zhuang Ziqian thought for a moment, “Then keep an eye out. Inform me immediately when the doctor returns.”

“Yes, Young Master Zhuang,” the servant replied.

Yu Wanwan suggested, “Ziqian, it’s getting late. Wiry don’t you stay here for

the night before heading back?”

These words reminded Zhuang Ziqian. “Did the doctor say when you would recover?”

Yu Wanwan answered honestly, “Three months.”

Zhuang Ziqian quickly said, “Then I’ll also return after three months.”

Yu Wanwan looked up at Zhuang Ziqian, her eyes full of confusion, “Why would you stay that long?”

“To wait for you. I’m not at ease with you being here alone.”

Zhuang Ziqian’s words were almost a confession, and Yu Wanwan felt a slight stir in her heart, “Xiao Si, prepare a room for Ziqian and go to the county town to buy some food and drink to welcome him properly.”

“Yes, miss,” the maid thought to herself, wondering if Young Master Zhuang had feelings for her miss.

Zhuang Ziqian thought it might be a good opportunity to express his feelings to Yu Wanwan. Otherwise, if he waited until she recovered to confess, she might misunderstand his affections as superficial.

With this thought in mind, he secretly planned.

Tian Xiaoqiu’s aunt came to Chu Village excitedly, finding Li Qingyu working in the fields, “Sister Qingyu, I have something to tell you.”

Li Qingyu put down the hoe and walked to Auntie Tian. “What’s the matter? Auntie Tian said, “I want to bring Tian Xiaoqiu home. I can’t enter the ancestral hall. Can you get Chu Rong to help me bring her out?”

Li Qingyu frowned, puzzled, “Xiaoqiu is doing well in her studies. Wiry take her back?”

Auntie Tian maintained her smile. “What’s the use of a girl studying? It’s better for her to help at home.”

Li Qingyu sensed something was amiss, “Xiaoqiu is diligent and well-behaved.

Let her continue her studies. If she does well, she can stay and work in the workshop, right?”

Auntie Tian refused. “No more studying. No matter how well she learns, her earnings will belong to her husband’s family in the future. It’s better if now…”

She stopped herself abruptly.

Li Qingyu grew even more suspicious, fearing Auntie Tian might plan to sell Xiaoqiu, often to a brothel, “Tell me the truth, or I won’t agree.”

Seeing Li Qingyu’s refusal, Auntie Tian’s smile faded, “Qingyu, Xiaoqiu came to your home to study, not sold to you. Why can’t you agree?

Li Qingyu thought there must be something fishy, “Xiaoqiu also calls me ‘Third Aunt.¹ How can I just watch you mistreat her?”

Auntie Tian became defensive but also more aggressive, “Now you remember you’re her ‘Third Aunt’? Where were you in the past years? Xiaoqiu was raised by me. Now that I need her, she has to repay.”

Li Qingyu, not wanting to argue, softened her tone and asked, “How do you expect Xiaoqiu to ‘repay’?”

At this point, Auntie Tian went all out. “Someone from the neighboring Zhang Village has offered five taels of silver to buy Tian Xiaoqiu as a child bride. I ve already agreed to it.”

Li Qingyu was incredulous, “Becoming a child bride is even more tragic than being a maid. How could you, as Xiaoqiu’s aunt, bear to see her suffer like that?”

Auntie Tian rolled her eyes. “If you don’t want her to suffer, then pay these five taels of silver. Anyway, your family is so rich.”

Li Qingyu looked at Auntie Tian in disappointment. “Money is not the issue, but there has to be some sense of morality.”

“No matter what you say, if you want Tian Xiaoqiu, you have to pay.” Other than money, there was nothing else in Auntie Tian’s eyes.

Li Qingyu briefly informed Chu Rong and angrily took Auntie Tian to the ancestral hall.

At the ancestral hall.

It was break time, and Chu Qingning stepped out for some fresh air, only to see her mother storming over. She quickly approached, “Mother, what’s wrong?”

Li Qingyu, a prominent figure in the village, had many villagers following her out of curiosity when they saw her angry.

An elderly woman pointed at Auntie Tian, “Your mother is angry because of her.”

Li Qingyu was indeed very angry, “Qingning, is Xiaoqiu here?”

Chu Qingning, piecing together the elderly woman’s words and the situation, became worried, “Yes, what’s happened?’

Auntie Tian waved her hand. “Call Xiaoqiu out.”

Chu Qingning was very puzzled. “Xiaoqiu is sick, resting on the desk. Whatever it is, just say it here.”

Auntie Tian immediately started to flare up. “What illness? She’s pretending to be sick, right? Does she know that I’m coming to look for her and deliberately pretended to be sick to avoid me?”

Chu Qingning was upset, “Xiaoqiu lives with you, don’t you know she’s sick?” Auntie Tian snapped back, “She hasn’t been home for days, who knows where she’s been messing around!”

Xu Songnian intervened, raising his voice, “Don’t speak so harshly! Xiaoqiu has been staying at my place. What messing around? She’s a girl, how can she face people if you talk about her like that?”

Auntie Tian raised her eyebrows. “Did I say something wrong? Which good girl doesn’t go home?”

Xu Songnian was furious and argued, “If she can come back, won’t she?” Auntie Tian said aggressively, “What do you mean? Did I abuse her?” “Didn’t you abuse her?” Xu Songnian said, “Xiaoqiu said that she planned to commit suicide that day, but she was afraid and climbed ashore again. What auntie? You don’t care about her at all.”

Auntie Tian was shocked. She did not expect that the little girl would actually commit suicide. “Don’t talk nonsense. I treat her quite well. How could she commit suicide?”

Xu Songnian said, “You know very well how you treat her!”

Ge Lihua walked over. “I remember Xiaoqiu telling me that someone broke her homework. It was your son, right? Since you’re here, let’s settle the compensation?”

Auntie Tian immediately took a step back. “She broke it herself. Don’t malign my son.”

“It was your son who broke it.” Xu Wenlin squeezed into the crowd. “Xiaoqiu cherishes it so much. How could she break it herself? It was you who indulged your son and wronged a good person.”

Li Qingyu did not expect there to be so many things. “Qingning, how much did it cost for Xiaoqiu’s treatment? Now that your auntie Tian is here, isn’t it time for her to settle the bill?”