At first, while pulling out radishes, Song Wei broke a few due to inexperience. Adhering to the principle of “sharpening the axe won’t delay chopping firewood,” she humbly went to a nearby auntie to seek guidance.
The auntie was happy to teach her while working, explaining that farming required skill.
After learning the technique, Song Wei returned to her plot and used finesse to loosen the soil around the radishes before pulling them out. The large, white radishes came up easily.
As she continued, her pace quickened, and without realizing it, she had pulled far ahead of the others, leaving many behind.
When she finished her first acre, Song Wei felt her back ache. She straightened up, grinning as she massaged her waist, then turned to look at the pile of radishes behind her.
“So many radishes, so much food. This feels amazing!”
The joy of harvest made her forget the fatigue. While planting was laborious, the reward of seeing the fruits of her labor was much more satisfying.
She swiftly packed the radishes into her back basket, stacking them high and securing them with a rope. Then, she hoisted the heavy load onto her back.
The sight left the nearby uncles and aunties stunned.
One uncle, also carrying a load of radishes, glanced at her basket, which was noticeably fuller than his. Then he looked at Song Wei’s fair, delicate face and slender frame.
“She really is something else,” the uncle muttered.
Despite carrying such a heavy load, Song Wei walked briskly, moving faster than the men.
Everyone: …
The uncle stared blankly at her retreating figure and exclaimed, “This Song Zhiqing… she’s incredible.”
“Right? Every time I see her bringing down loads of stuff from the mountains, I’m amazed she doesn’t collapse under the weight.”
“She’s from the city and doesn’t look like she’s been through hardship. How can she be so strong?”
“I remember when she first arrived, she looked frail and sickly. Now she’s healthier and even smiles more.”
“If she keeps this up, the work points she earns could rival the family breadwinners.”
The more they talked, the more impressed they were with Song Wei.
“She’s not just as good as a family’s pillar; she’s even better,” one auntie said, sighing regretfully. “Why didn’t I see her potential earlier? I could’ve introduced her to my son.”
Another auntie chimed in, “I noticed she was capable back when we were planting crops. She didn’t shy away from hard work. But back then, she only worked enough for three points before leaving.”
“That wasn’t laziness,” someone clarified. “After finishing here, she’d go to the mountains to gather firewood and forage. She’s smart, preparing for winter by stocking up on supplies.”
The women chatted while pulling radishes, regretting they hadn’t acted sooner.
“What a hardworking girl. How did Lin Zhen end up with her?”
“Not saying Lin Zhen is bad, but his leg… who knows if it’ll ever fully heal? And now that he’s retired, there’s no guarantee of income. Why would she choose him?”
Auntie Ma, overhearing the conversation, rolled her eyes.
“Oh, give it a rest. Now that you’ve realized how great she is, do you really think you can handle her? Have you seen how sharp her tongue is and how quick she is with her fists? If you bring her into your family, your sons will be the ones getting beaten, and you might get dragged into it too.”
Recalling how Song Wei had dealt with the Lin family and old lady Niu’s family, the previously envious aunties sobered up.
“That… that can’t be. We’re her elders,” one said hesitantly.
Auntie Ma replied, “And weren’t the Lin family her elders? That didn’t stop her from beating them.”
“Well, the Lin family did go too far. We’re not like that.”
Auntie Ma raised an eyebrow. “Can you guarantee you’ll never cross her? You’re going to live together for years; conflicts are inevitable.”
The group fell silent. Auntie Ma continued, “So, admire her from a distance. If you really want her in your family, make sure you can handle her.
“And Lin Zhen? He’s a former soldier, handsome, tall, and dignified. Sure, his leg is injured, but it’s not completely useless. If I were her age, I’d choose him too. With her strength, she doesn’t need to rely on anyone. Even if his leg stays slightly lame, he’s still more appealing than most men here.”
If Song Wei had been present, she would’ve given Auntie Ma a thumbs-up for her clarity.
The women dropped the topic and shifted to other gossip.
When Song Wei returned after delivering her radishes, she overheard them talking about Wang Xiaohua, the village chief’s granddaughter, and Luo Yecheng.
“The chief’s family is already preparing for the wedding. I heard Luo Yecheng agreed to marry Wang Xiaohua.”
Song Wei’s interest was piqued. She chose a nearby patch to work on, aligning her pace with the aunties to join in on the gossip.
“Really? Did Luo Yecheng agree?” she asked.
Auntie Ma looked at her. “Do you know anything? Did Luo Yecheng really say yes?”
Song Wei shook her head, looking disappointed. “I’m not sure. But I did see the chief’s family visiting him a while ago. I don’t know what they talked about.”
“That must be it!” the aunties exclaimed.
“Otherwise, Wang Xiaohua would’ve made a scene. I just don’t understand why Luo Yecheng agreed. Jiang Xiaowan is such a good girl, much prettier than Wang Xiaohua. These city folks really have poor taste.”
Song Wei : My taste isn’t poor—it’s excellent!
Just then, Lin Zhen arrived.
He carried lunch in one hand and used his crutch to walk steadily. Xiao Heidan followed behind, holding the two yipping wolf pups.
“Lin Zhen, bringing lunch to Song Wei?” someone teased as he passed.
“It’s not proper to dote on her so much before marriage,” another joked.
Lin Zhen responded openly, “Why wouldn’t I treat her well? She’s beautiful and capable. If I don’t, what if she decides I’m not worth it?”
His straightforwardness made everyone laugh. Of course, a few grumbled in whispers. Most of these were people who had past grudges with Song Wei.
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