I'll Raise Pigs to Support You - Chapter 18
There were only two people in the house. Song Yugui hadn’t brought any vegetables back, so they ate the remaining cabbage from before, along with some wild greens, and cooked porridge.
Late at night, Song Yugui lay in bed after washing up, unable to sleep. She couldn’t figure it out—why was money in ancient times so hard to hold onto?
When she first got her hands on 150 coins, it had felt like a decent amount. After all, Shen Xizhi had once bought nearly a pound of rice with just four coins.
But today, she was told the rice jar was almost empty…
She must have been out of her mind. A pound of vegetables was a lot, but a pound of rice? That was nothing.
Aside from rice, they also needed to buy other food to improve their meals. Eating nothing but greens every day was turning her into a rabbit.
Shen Xizhi washed up after Song Yugui. Once clean, she climbed onto the bed wearing only a thin undergarment and sat obediently on the inner side, starting to undress.
As usual, her snow-white, pristine body was soon exposed.
Song Yugui’s gaze casually drifted to the pile of clothes beside them, then paused—they were covered in patches.
Damn it. She also needed to buy clothes for the villainess.
How long would 300 coins a month last?
Not long at all.
She was dead inside.
The thought of money being needed everywhere in life made Song Yugui lose all desire to speak. She simply raised her hand and beckoned to the villainess.
The other woman immediately obeyed, nestling into her arms.
Shen Xizhi thought that if she behaved more obediently, perhaps Song Yugui would stay like this a little longer.
“Wife.”
“Mm. Sleep.”
With one arm wrapped around the woman’s slender back and the other around her smooth thigh, Song Yugui tucked her under the covers.
Shen Xizhi’s deer-like eyes were soft enough to melt, pressing tightly against Song Yugui’s body, their peaks touching, as she asked in a gentle voice, “Wife, do you have money now?”
Song Yugui responded indifferently, “Mm. I took an advance on half a month’s wages.”
“Oh. Then we should spend it carefully.”
The girl unconsciously nuzzled her cheek, her voice growing even softer. She didn’t need pastries—they were so expensive, and that money could buy a lot of rice instead.
Even though the pastries were sweet and delicious.
“Don’t worry about spending. Just take care of yourself.”
Though the villainess hadn’t said it outright, Song Yugui immediately understood her meaning. Hmph, was she blaming her for wasting money on pastries?
How ungrateful.
Feeling scolded, Shen Xizhi let out a small, aggrieved “Oh” and curled up in her arms, saying nothing more.
At first, sleeping naked in someone’s embrace had been extremely awkward and embarrassing for her. But now… even if she wasn’t fully used to it, she had slowly grown accustomed to being held.
The next day, as dawn broke, Song Yugui woke up again. As usual, she bundled Shen Xizhi into the blankets and went out with a sickle and basket to cut pigweed.
The pigs ate twice a day and were no longer as emaciated as before—so skinny that no one would have wanted their meat.
She was waiting for the big pigs to have piglets so she could slaughter them and eat pork.
Only then would they eat well.
After laboriously cutting the pigweed and returning home, she found Shen Xizhi had already cooked the last of the rice into porridge and was sitting in the yard mending clothes.
The garment in her hands was a dull gray—Song Yugui couldn’t tell if it was hers or Shen Xizhi’s.
It was so ugly she couldn’t bear to look.
Most men in the village wore gray or black, while women’s clothing tended to be brighter and prettier.
Except for the two of them…
What kind of miserable life was this?
Though dissatisfied, Song Yugui didn’t let it show on her face.
She didn’t want the villainess overthinking things and assuming she had a problem with her.
A bad attitude was one thing, but scheming to kill her? That would be disastrous.
“Porridge again?”
Song Yugui set the pigweed down in the yard and walked inside.
Shen Xizhi knew she didn’t like porridge, but there was no other option. She nodded slightly. “Now that Wife has found work, we won’t have to eat porridge all the time.”
She hurried out and, after Song Yugui resignedly sat down to eat, hesitated for a moment before placing her delicate fingers on the woman’s shoulders, gently massaging them.
“What’s this? Aren’t you eating?”
Shen Xizhi shook her head. “I’ll eat later. Is cutting pigweed very tiring? Wife doesn’t need to go so early in the future. I can cut it twice a day instead.”
Before, when life had seemed hopeless, she’d only cared about not letting the pigs starve—after all, even if they grew fat, they’d just be sold off for another woman to spend the money.
But now it was different. Song Yugui was different.
“No need. Just stay home and take it easy. Clean up if you’re bored. I’m not that tired. Sit down and eat—don’t just stand there.”
She took one of Shen Xizhi’s slender, soft hands and pulled her forward.
With a helpless expression, she said, “I’m not used to someone standing behind me watching me eat.”
She wasn’t some young mistress—just an ordinary person. This kind of treatment was too much.
Only then did Shen Xizhi press her lips together, a faint pink tinting them, and carefully sit beside Song Yugui. Her deer-like eyes were full of tenderness as she tugged at the sleeve in front of her.
Song Yugui’s heart skipped a beat. She immediately guessed that the villainess’s unusually affectionate behavior today had an ulterior motive.
Gripping her chopsticks tightly, she heard the woman lean close, her breath warm against her ear as she pleaded softly, “Wife… can I go to town for a walk? It’s been so long.”
Song Yugui relaxed.
Pfft, is that all? Just a trip to town? No big deal.
When Song Yugui didn’t respond right away, Shen Xizhi’s heart clenched with panic. She tugged at the sleeve again, swaying it like a spoiled child. “Wife~ I promised Auntie I’d go.”
Her lips pursed, looking almost pitiful.
Ridiculous. She hadn’t even refused—why the sad face?
Song Yugui coughed lightly. “Alright, alright. Go if you want. You don’t need my permission—it’s not like I’d stop you.”
Going out occasionally was good for mental health. Better than festering in some dark corner, growing jealous of everyone like in the novel.
Shen Xizhi was beautiful, gentle, and obedient. She deserved to be cherished her whole life.
Since she liked men… in the future, Song Yugui would help her find the right one.
Whether it was a woman or a man, she would make sure to pick the kindest, most suitable partner for Shen Xizhi!
Hearing she could go, Shen Xizhi’s eyes instantly brightened, her gaze softening even more as she looked at Song Yugui.
After finishing her porridge in a few gulps, Song Yugui pulled out a small purse from her pocket. Inside were the remaining 132 coins from yesterday.
Logically, she should hand the money over to the villainess to show her trust.
But! She had a habit of saving money herself. Watching her savings grow brought her joy—she couldn’t stand letting someone else manage her money. It made her feel insecure.
So she simply counted out 32 coins from the pile and handed them to Shen Xizhi, a little embarrassed. “Have fun in town. Take this—buy something tasty if you want.”
Shen Xizhi hadn’t expected her to offer money. Staring at the small pile of coins in Song Yugui’s pale palm, she froze.
She… she even changed her usual stingy ways?
And she’s willing to give me money…
Her lips curled up slightly, but she refused. “I have money. You don’t need to give me any.”
Her voice was soft and sweet, utterly pleasing to the ear.
But Song Yugui looked skeptical. “What money? Don’t tell me you’ve been secretly washing clothes for people again?”
Shen Xizhi stiffened, then awkwardly turned her head away.
Song Yugui: “…”
Unhappy, her frown deepened enough to crush any passing mosquito. “I told you not to wash clothes anymore. Why are you still doing it? I’ll earn the money. It’s getting cold—do you want frostbite? And one coin per bucket? That’s practically slave labor!”
So cheap! Did they think her villainess was some kind of cheap laborer? She wasn’t a college student!!!
Though her tone was stern and harsh, Shen Xizhi could still hear the concern beneath it.
Pressing her lips together, she explained softly, “Not always. Some pay more. It’s not always just one coin.”
“Hmph. Still not allowed. Washing too much ruins your hands. If you’re bored, go out and make some friends.”
“Oh.”
Despite the scolding, Shen Xizhi wasn’t upset. None of the usual gloom or depression surfaced. Her eyes sparkled as she ladled out another bowl of porridge. “Wife, eat more. Let’s go to town together later, okay?”
“Fine. But no more washing clothes when I’m not around, got it?”
“Mm, mm, mm. Got it.”
She was obedient. Always had been.