Free Web NovelChapter 49: Chapter 49
Chapter 49
"Village leader, have you come to seek my help for something?" Yueqian asked, her tone plain and non-confrontational.
"Nothing of the sort. These people from the capital claim to be your friends, having not seen you for 3-4 months, they merely wish to inquire about your well-being." The village leader gestured towards a group of women who had surrounded her house.
Yueqian saw the beautiful heroine and her companions looking over with amusement, their eyes expressed that they were laughing with contentment. Yueqian smirked back upon seeing them. She lifted her chin, her posture as dignified as ever.
"Oh, heavens, is this really Lady Qin?" a voice chimed in without waiting for an invitation.
"She looks so haggard. Just look at her clothes, like those of a poor villager."
"Exactly, how can an angel like her endure such conditions without dying of heartbreak? Even we feel reluctant to come here, but she has to live here her whole life."
"Haha, staying with uneducated, impoverished villagers really suits her, doesn’t it?"
"Ha! The smell of mud suits her perfectly; she’s really more fit to be a lowly commoner than a Lady Qin."
"It’s truly pitiful, but she brought this upon herself."
"Look at her husband, his face... well, he may be handsome, but he surely doesn’t have the money to let her indulge in luxuries. Just look at the clothes he’s wearing. How much could it cost?"
"Miss Qin, oh, Miss Qin, seeing this is just hilarious. No! I mean pitiful."
"That’s right. Are you well? How does it feel to be a broken-winged lady?"
The taunts continued to pour out carelessly. The faces of the surrounding people began to shift as they listened. Yueqian remained calm, did not say a word. She merely glanced at them, waiting to see when they would be satisfied.
"Mind your manners. Ah, Yueqian... how have you been? Need anything that we can help with? Oh, and I brought food to distribute today—you can come to my soup kitchen. Think of it as helping each other out."
The beautiful lady in light blue said, clearly, the one spoke most nicely must be the heroine of the story.
Yueqian said nothing, only laughing for once. Her haughty demeanor made the people feel annoyed.
"Huh, look at her, don’t pity her at all. She’s in this predicament because she brought it upon herself. Our soup kitchen can’t accommodate her greed. Even if she starves now, she deserves it."
"True. You’re too generous. A woman like this deserves to struggle. Don’t help her at all."
"I feel the same. Just thinking of giving charity to her makes my arms weak and my skin itched with disgust."
After the heroine finished speaking, the chattering of the crowd burst forth immediately. Yueqian waved her hand once, already tired of their noise. Yet her gaze didn’t drift to the group from the capital; she found it too pointless to even engage with them.
"Village leader, don’t you know what circumstances brought me from the capital? Arriving here alone, almost like being exiled, how could I possibly have any friends? These people are merely deceiving you to get to me, probably to look at the pity. Unfortunately, I, Yueqian, am still happily married to a husband who is steadfast in his love. I fear that showing off to suppress me is beyond their reach." freewёbnoνel.com
Yueqian laughed lightly, leaning towards Mu Heng, showing their loving gestures.
She used their disdainful words to reflect the truth.
Initially paused by his wife’s sudden villainous demeanor, Mu Heng also found her lovely in this role and gently stroked her hair.
"Ah, Yueqian... I didn’t know. I thought these people were telling the truth and brought them here thinking you might miss your friends." The village leader was shocked upon hearing that.
He was the one who volunteered to take these young women here. But to hear from Yueqian that she was friendless and treated each other as an enemy, He realized that he had brought trouble to her doorstep.
"Village leader, you must be more cautious with people from the capital. If you’re too sincere, you’ll be easily deceived. Where would you find sincerity among these women?" Yueqian continued, allowing no room for contradiction.
"Not only do they look down on me, but from their words, you can tell they detest even coming to the countryside like this. I think you should spend your time better looking after them, to ensure they don’t feel they have to mingle with lowly villagers like us."
"Perhaps you might need to build separate housing for them. Otherwise, if they are displeased, with their money, they could cause trouble for you."
Yueqian shook her head and looked at the village leader and others around with a pitying gaze. Words from the educated people from the capital were indeed despicable. She saw their expression shift upon hearing it.
The villagers watching this unfold not only saw Yueqian as a benefactor, but they also maintained their own dignity. Who would admit to being so lowly and dirty?
Ha! This heroine really knew who to befriend, only wanting to torment her. She even brought these foul-mouthed with her.
"I was thinking the same. These people from the capital are not to be trusted." One villager who heard that spoke up, displeased. freewēbnoveℓ.com
The prejudice against the capital folks grew stronger. Initially, they didn’t want to accept food from the soup kitchen if they weren’t truly in need, not wanting to beg like a beggar. Hearing such words from the lady only trampled on their pride.
Do the rich have their dignity and pride, and not the poor like him?
"That’s right. Just because they’re beautiful, I came to look. Turned out they are wily, truly dreadful," a female villager said, seeing the people from the capital as if they were afflicted by a terrible disease, not wanting to get any closer.
"That’s it. I’ve been doubtful about people from the capital ever since they claimed that Lady Yueqian was a terrible person."
"Me too."
The gathered villagers were abuzz, the rumors about them being disparaged by the city people certain to spread widely.
The story’s heroine could not let this happen. She had come here not only to build a favorable reputation and increase her popularity but also to be near the man she desired.
"Don’t be mistaken, dear uncles and aunts. While it’s true that many among us have disfavor towards Yueqian due to past that she hurt our feelings, I assure you there is no scorn towards you here. The harsh words are only spoken in anger upon seeing someone with whom they have a contentious history."
The beautiful woman spoke logically, still seemingly masking the pain as if Yueqian had hurt her in the past.
“Hmph.” However, Yueqian was unfazed. She simply leaned into her husband’s embrace and cast a wry look at the heroine as she continued her act.
The other party had already created a negative first impression, the first impression is the most important thing, anything said now was merely an attempt to make an excuse for herself and her people.
"Yueqian, I truly care about you, and did not come to harass you as revenge. I am not holding a grudge and can let go as the great master teaches..." Did not let the heroine finish her sentence, Yueqian yawned.
"Yawn! Oh, where were we? Talking about some teachings? Ah, there’s no need to put on airs here. I’m one of the villagers now, and there’s no use citing the great master’s words. I act on my thoughts, so do whatever you want without trying to quote someone to make you look good. Save that for the fools in the capital."
Yueqian, tired of being lectured by people. She even had copied those for sell since she was young, she could even recite the whole books, so, why should she listen to such words again?
These ladies spoke only to make themselves look good, to appear wise and knowledgeable, but if they truly lived by their words, that would be another matter. Otherwise, it was just a waste of breath.
"A person like you would not admit being just a common villager. Are you sure you aren’t possessed by a demon now?"
Heard that Yueqian spoke as if she was with those villagers, one in the group blurted out.
"Hmm? Whether I am or not is my business. Are my actions up for your judgment?" Yueqian raised her eyebrows, her demeanor provocative.
"Husband, I’m tired of listening to this nonsense. It would be more beneficial to plan for tomorrow. Our time is valuable, not to be spent on wandering around, seeing whether people have a good life quality, don’t you agree?" Yueqian affectionately clung to her husband as if deeply in love.
Such behavior only increased the resentment among many; there she was, living with her impoverished husband, yet having feelings for the Young General. But why did she seem happy and deeply infatuated with this husband?!
"I hate to say it, but does your husband know about your past of stripping to seduce other men?" a woman harsh voice echoed, she was so jealous of Yueqian.
It must be said that the villainess’s husband was not at all what she had imagined. Originally perceived as a poor villager forced to marry for money, his appearance was thought to resemble that of a simpleton—wearing tattered and filthy clothes, with protruding, unsightly blackened teeth, or drooling disgustingly as he walks. If he was even more worse, he was expected to beat his wife.
However, it seemed to be completely the opposite.
Upon closer inspection, or if you dressed him up a bit, he looked no different than any other man who had been sun-tanned; not so dark that he was hideous. He had clean, well-kept skin and exuded a distinctly masculine aura. His face was sharp and handsome. He even looked better than some noblemen, even in his old gray clothes.
“.............” The villagers, who had originally sided with Yueqian, widened their eyes in shock upon hearing this.
Some had never heard such rumors before and couldn’t bring themselves to believe it. Those who had heard it felt as though they were reviving memories, once having despised Yueqian for such behavior.
Mu Heng furrowed his brows deeply, yet he did not let go of Yueqian from his embrace, nor did he show any signs of disgust, only anger evident in his eyes as he looked at the speaker.
