I'll Raise Pigs to Support You - Chapter 10

The neighbor raised her eyebrows angrily at the sight of Song Yugui, as if Song had somehow wronged her.

Song Yugui gritted her teeth. Based on her current understanding of the original owner of this body, she felt that the original owner had probably wronged everyone.

Even… an elderly neighbor like this.

But what did that have to do with her? She hadn’t wronged anyone!!!

Song Yugui puffed out her cheeks and ignored the neighbor, speaking softly instead to the original owner’s wife, “I just got back from town, so I’ll head inside first.”

Shen Xizhi had woken up alone in bed this morning and hadn’t seen Song all day. She had assumed Song had gone out to cause trouble again and wouldn’t return until she was reeking of alcohol. Yet now, seeing her again, Song’s expression was as gentle as it had been these past few days. Shen Xizhi’s heart relaxed slightly, and she nodded obediently, “Mm.”

As long as she wasn’t out causing trouble, it was fine. She was already terrified of the women who came to their door demanding justice…

A weak woman like her, with no family to rely on and a wife who didn’t stand up for her—who would pity or care for her?

Her mind wandered.

After Song Yugui left, the neighbor, Aunt Li, nudged Shen Xizhi. “What a rare sight today—she came back without yelling at you?”

“Mm.”

Shen Xizhi snapped out of her daze and lowered her eyes, responding softly.

“If she can keep this up, your days won’t be so hard. I heard she hasn’t harassed any women in the village for a long time now.”

A long time? It had only been two days. Yet in others’ eyes, it was as if she hadn’t caused trouble in ages. Just how frequently had she been stirring up trouble before?

Shen Xizhi thought of the person inside the house and felt nothing but exhaustion, which showed on her face. Aunt Li’s heart ached for her again. “Life will get better. I think she’s grown up a lot now and won’t act like before.”

Shen Xizhi was a girl from the neighboring Shen Village, lovely and delicate. Back then, she’d had no shortage of suitors. Yet Song Yugui had somehow managed to offer a dowry far larger than anyone else’s and married the sixteen-year-old girl.

But after marrying her, Song hadn’t treated her well, often scolding and hitting her without a shred of tenderness. The neighbors all pitied the poor girl.

So well-behaved, too—even after being tormented at night, she still managed the household chores diligently during the day.

Ah.

Shen Xizhi wore a bitter smile. This was her life now. She’d never known a single good day and had long grown accustomed to the heavens’ indifference toward her.

“It’s getting late. I need to go cook for my husband. You should hurry too, or she’ll start nitpicking again. I’ll take this basin of clothes for you.”

Shen Xizhi nodded, her voice soft and gentle, carrying a quiet likability. “Thank you, Auntie.”

“Ah, we’re neighbors. Helping each other is what we do. No need for thanks.”

Aunt Li hurried off with the two basins of clothes. If she didn’t move quickly, it would soon be too dark to see.

Shen Xizhi rubbed her sore arms and went inside to prepare rice for dinner. Song Yugui called out to her, “Hey, where are the clothes you just washed? I’ll hang them up.”

Seeing Shen Xizhi’s slender arms and legs, Song couldn’t bear to leave all the work to her.

Shen Xizhi paused while scooping rice and replied softly, “That basin of clothes was for someone else. Aunt Li already took it back for me.”

Song Yugui: ???

“Why were you washing someone else’s clothes?”

She frowned, already wondering if the original owner’s neglect had led to the villagers bullying Shen Xizhi into doing their chores.

Wasn’t this a common trope in novels?

The more Song Yugui thought about it, the angrier she got. She strode over and grabbed Shen Xizhi’s slender wrist—so thin it seemed it might snap with a twist—and demanded furiously, “Is someone bullying you?!”

Shen Xizhi was startled. She hadn’t expected Song Yugui to look so enraged, and seemingly… because she was worried Shen Xizhi was being bullied.

But wasn’t Song herself the one who bullied her the most?

Shen Xizhi didn’t understand how someone could change so suddenly. She lowered her gaze to the pale hand gripping her wrist tightly as Song pressed her, “Tell me, who’s bullying you?”

Shen Xizhi pursed her rosy lips and slowly pulled her wrist free. Scooping a small spoonful of rice, she shook her head. “No one is bullying me. We’re out of money at home, so I wanted to earn a little.”

Otherwise, they’d soon be unable to afford even coarse rice.

Song Yugui froze. So… she was washing clothes to earn money?

Her gaze fell on Shen Xizhi’s red, swollen hands, and her heart prickled with pain.

So those four coins had come from Shen Xizhi’s hands, earned bit by bit through washing clothes.

Song Yugui felt an inexplicable ache.

“How much do you earn for washing a basin of clothes like that?”

“Some families pay more, others less. This basin… was one coin.”

One coin.

Song Yugui felt suffocated.

But she couldn’t exactly scold anyone for it. After taking a few deep breaths to steady herself, she spoke as calmly as possible, “I found work in town. From now on, don’t wash clothes for money anymore. I can provide for you.”

Shen Xizhi’s movements halted. Her eyes widened slightly, and her lips parted in disbelief, as if she’d heard something utterly inconceivable.

She couldn’t help but voice her doubt, “You… you really found work in town?”

Song Yugui’s forehead creased with annoyance. “Haven’t I said it several times already? Do you really trust me so little?”

Though she knew the original owner had exhausted all credibility, it still irked her.

Being distrusted didn’t sit well with her. She had always been a person of her word and had never been doubted like this before.

Seeing Song’s displeasure, Shen Xizhi grew fearful again. “S-sorry.”

Her deer-like eyes, bright and moist, lifted timidly to meet Song’s.

So heartbreakingly fragile.

Song Yugui couldn’t stay angry.

Forget it. She took a step back to show she wouldn’t hit her, then glanced at the remaining coarse rice in the bag. “Let’s cook rice tonight. I finally found work and want to eat something good. The shopkeeper even gave me a piece of meat. Can you cook it?”

Song Yugui asked gently.

Shen Xizhi, caught off guard by her rare gentleness, seemed flustered. Her dark lashes fluttered like butterfly wings. “Y-yes, I can.”

“Good. Then cook the meat and make some rice.”

Only then did Shen Xizhi realize—Song had said there was meat. They were having meat tonight. And rice.

“Are you stunned?”

Song waved a hand in front of her face.

Shen Xizhi snapped back to attention, her clear eyes questioning.

Song pointed toward the front room. “I left it on the stove.”

“Okay, I’ll… go take a look.”

Shen Xizhi was always half-skeptical of her words, afraid Song was lying just to watch her face fall after getting her hopes up. She hurried to the stove.

But there, indeed, was a brown paper package containing something.

She walked over and carefully unwrapped it, revealing a palm-sized piece of fresh, marbled red meat. Her eyes lit up. It really was meat—with fatty layers, perfect for rendering a bit of oil.

“Wife, I’ll borrow a cabbage from the neighbor to stir-fry.”

The girl’s voice suddenly grew lighter. After speaking, she rushed out eagerly. Clearly, the prospect of eating meat today had lifted her spirits.

As expected. How could a young girl be so composed all the time?