บท 14: Chapter 14 Chewing on Tongue Roots
Mother and daughter Wufu lived at the foot of the mountain; to get to the town, they first had to pass through Wozi Village and travel for almost a Shichen Chinese Time before reaching their destination.
"Wufu, it's a long journey to town, you stay at home, your mother will be back soon,"
Madam Zhou carefully wrapped the embroidery work she had finished over the past few days in a piece of blue cloth. After a moment's thought, she pulled out a brick from the base of the wall, reached inside, and took out a small cloth purse, digging out a short string of copper coins.
To Wufu's surprise, she couldn't help thinking to herself that despite her mother's gentleness, she was not without plans, knowing even to hide some private savings.
Indeed, with their status as orphans and widows, if they didn't hide it well, not only would thieves come, but even their relatives wouldn't leave them alone. Take, for instance, her Elder Maternal Aunt, Madam Lu, who in the past decade had sneaked into their house to pilfer things five times and had been caught by Wufu herself.
If they had not hidden it well, the mother and daughter might not even have food to eat, especially after the death of her maternal grandfather.
People always have their selfish motives.
Madam Zhou put all the copper coins into the purse and secured it carefully, then turned to Wufu and said, "I'm going to buy you some printed fabric for a new skirt and a couple of hairpins to wear." She approached, touched Wufu's head, and said, "My child, you have grown up; it's time to dress up!"
She gazed blankly at Wufu's face, thinking that if their grandfather had taken them in, Wufu would have had a good life, living just like a young miss.
Wufu said, "Let me go with you. There's nothing to do at home anyway."
"But it's such a long walk..." Madam Zhou hesitated.
In the past, her daughter had accompanied her, always complaining about the distance and wanting to hire a bullock cart to ride into town.
But with their status, where would they find enough money? They usually relied on her embroidery work and then her father secretly subsidizing them, but it was only a drop in the bucket.
Now that her father was gone, they had to be even more frugal.
"It's fine, walking is good for health and longevity," Wufu said as she stepped out the door first, "Let's go."
Madam Zhou, with no other choice, picked up their bundle, locked the door, and accompanied her daughter to town.
The mother and daughter usually lived in this house at the foot of the mountain, some distance from the village, because they were wary of the villagers' unfriendly gazes, so Madam Zhou seldom frequented the village.
Now, as the mother and daughter appeared in the village, they attracted many stares filled with disdain and contempt.
Madam Zhou's head drooped to her chest, and she moved with quick tiny steps, her demeanour that of a wronged young wife.
Wufu, on the other hand, held her head high and filled her chest, surveying her surroundings. She had come here several days ago but hadn't yet been out to this side. Wozi Village and even the town were all just images from the original owner's memory.
To understand a place or become familiar with a scene, the most expedient way was to personally walk around and take a good look, imprinting it in her mind.
Wufu casually observed the surroundings with interest, including the houses and the people, finding the ancient folks in front of her just like what she had seen in historical dramas on TV.
"Hmph! To think she still has the cheek to live in this world, embarrassing herself. If I were her, I would've found a rope and hanged myself long ago,"
a sharp and sarcastic voice rang out.
"Giggle, Lady Guiniang, you spoke wrong. If it were you, would you even be capable of such disgrace, conceiving without a matchmaker or wedding?"
"Right, look at me, I got carried away and lost my ability to speak properly," the first shrill voice replied. "Anyway, it's a disgrace to our village to have such a person, the moral decay is appalling. And to think she is the daughter of a scholar, pah!"
Madam Zhou's steps faltered, her face turned ashen, and she raised her head to look at the two women gossiping.
Wufu also heard the comments and stopped to look their way.
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