The System Wanted Me to Be a Landlady (GL) - Chapter 21: Delivering Pork

Chapter 21: Delivering Pork

Lin Yongming first met Song Yuyan at the straw market. Later, Song Bing recommended his nephew’s straw mats, and Lin Yongming realized Song Yuyan was Song Bing’s nephew.

Though Aunt Fierce always scolded Song Yuyan, and Song Bing used to think she was useless, now Song Bing spoke of Song Yuyan as a smart, diligent, and capable child.

Lin Yongming had dealt with her for a while and formed a positive impression of her.

But when he took the straw mats he got from Song Yuyan to sell, someone asked about their source. He saw no harm in sharing and thought it might bring Song Yuyan more business, so he told them.

To his surprise, the person scorned Song Yuyan after hearing her name, saying she used to be a lazy idler who roamed the streets and did nothing proper. Even when she found work, she was inconsistent, working three days and resting two. They also said she was dishonest and that the fine straw mats were likely stolen.

The person spoke so convincingly that if Lin Yongming hadn’t seen Song Yuyan weaving the mats himself, he might have believed them. He trusted what he saw over rumors, but the gossip still made him question Song Yuyan’s character.

It seemed either the rumors were false, or Song Yuyan had just been lost before and now found something she was good at.

Either way, they had no conflicts of interest, and he had no need to judge her character. After agreeing to work together, he left with the straw mats, a palm fan, and a low-quality straw mat.

Song Yuyan asked if he wanted to buy the mat, and when he said no, she gave it to him. Since it was a gift, he didn’t complain and took it home for his own use.

____

After Lin Yongming left, Song Yuban eagerly circled around Song Yuyan, wanting to know if his straw mat had sold. When he couldn’t find his mat, he knew it was sold and was thrilled, eagerly waiting for Song Yuyan to give him the money.

Song Yuyan focused on handling bamboo strips, pretending not to notice him. Song Yuban, after circling enough, couldn’t hold back and fawned, asking if she was thirsty or tired.

“Thirsty and tired,” Song Yuyan said.

Song Yuban quickly poured her a bowl of water and massaged her shoulders. Then he cautiously asked, “Big Brother, is there something you forgot to give me?”

“What did I forget?” Song Yuyan teased, amused by his eagerness.

“It’s just, about the cooking…” Song Yuban hoped to jog her memory.

Song Yuyan was only teasing him, but she knew her limits and never went too far or upset anyone. Pretending to understand, she gave him seven coins.

This was one coin more than what Tang Zhi had sold for him before. Happy but puzzled, he asked, “Why one extra coin?”

Song Yuyan didn’t know about Tang Zhi’s earlier help. She had based it on market price. Hearing this, she realized she gave too much and said, “The extra one is a reward for being obedient and helping with work.”

Song Yuban, only ten years old, believed her. His heart stirred, feeling Song Yuyan had really changed. Feeling awkward about this, he said nothing, hid the money in a clay jar under the bed, and ran off to cook.

____

Since starting her straw and bamboo weaving, Song Yuyan had almost become a homebody. She had no choice; during the rainy season, it rained every day. She couldn’t work in the yard under the sun, so she stayed indoors.

If she didn’t go to the well to fetch water every day, Tang Zhi would have thought she starved at home.

Tang Haogen teased Tang Zhi, “Before, you wished she’d stay home to keep others’ homes safe from theft. Now that she stays in, you’re as anxious as a monkey.”

Though Tang Zhi respected her brother, she bristled at his unreliable remarks. She snapped, “Who cares about her? If you didn’t keep praising the wine she sent, I wouldn’t even remember her!”

Tang Haogen didn’t call out her insincerity. On the topic of wine, he said, “Speaking of wine, I can’t accept her kindness for free. With the Dragon Boat Festival nearing, I’ll buy some meat, and you can take some to her.”

Tang Zhi thought about how the Song family hadn’t eaten meat in months and how Song Yuyan had been well-behaved lately, so she didn’t mind.

Carrying half a pound of pork, she saw Song Yuzhuan, the little radish head, playing with a bamboo horse at the door. Even alone, he was having fun.

Her bamboo horse was different from the usual ones. Ordinary children’s bamboo horses were just plain sticks, but Song Yuzhuan’s had a thin bamboo piece with two bamboo legs and wheels underneath, making it quite interesting.

“Sister Tang!” Song Yuzhuan grinned when he saw Tang Zhi, his eyes nearly squinting shut.

Tang Zhi couldn’t help but smile. The little radish head used to dislike her because she scolded Song Yuyan, but as Song Yuyan reformed, his attitude improved too.

She didn’t mind Song Yuzhuan and spoke to him patiently, “Little Cake, why are you playing alone at the door? Is this a bamboo horse? It’s really nice.”

Excited to meet someone who appreciated it, Song Yuzhuan pulled Tang Zhi to show off his ride, “This is a bamboo horse with legs that Big Brother made for me! He said it’s a pity he didn’t have more tools, or he’d make me a wooden horse!”

Tang Zhi felt Song Yuyan had once again challenged her worldview but didn’t question why she made such odd things. She feared asking would get a childish answer like, “I learned it from my mother.”

“Is your Big Brother home?” Tang Zhi asked, though she knew the answer.

Song Yuzhuan nodded, “Yes, and a big brother came too.”

Tang Zhi wasn’t surprised. Besides Lin Yongming and Shi She, who visited often lately, Song Yuyan’s old shady friends sometimes showed up.

Unlike Lin Yongming and Shi She, those friends saw the Song family’s poverty and lack of benefits to exploit, so they gradually stopped coming. From Song Yuzhuan’s words, it seemed this visitor wasn’t a regular.

The Song family’s door was open so Song Yuyan could keep an eye on Song Yuzhuan and ensure he wasn’t taken by kidnappers. While Tang Zhi spoke with Song Yuzhuan, Song Yuyan noticed the girl.

“It’s the young lady who was with you that day,” the young man across from Song Yuyan recognized Tang Zhi.

Song Yuyan smiled, stood, and walked to the yard, “Is Miss Tang looking for me?”

“I don’t have anything to see you about. My brother bought extra meat for dumplings and had half a pound left, so he asked me to bring it to you.”

Song Yuyan thought, how could meat left from making dumplings be whole? She pretended to believe it.

“Brother Tang is too kind. I feel embarrassed receiving so many favors from him. By the way, Miss Tang, come in and sit for a bit?”

Tang Zhi handed her the meat and saw a young man in the house. She vaguely recalled he was Meng Shuituan, who sold wine to Song Yuyan a few days ago.

“You have a guest?” Tang Zhi asked, though she knew.

“Yes, you know him too,” Song Yuyan said.

Song Yuyan offered her water, but Tang Zhi waved it off, “No trouble. I’m just delivering this for my brother. Since you have a guest, I’ll head back.”

As she spoke, her eyes fell on the piled-up bamboo crafts. The Song house was cluttered with miscellaneous items, but the straw and bamboo strips were neatly sorted, showing Song Yuyan’s organization.

This was likely Tang Zhi’s first time seeing Song Yuyan’s finished bamboo crafts. She wanted to touch them but didn’t, as the host hadn’t offered.

Instead, Song Yuyan showed her a basket, “Miss Tang, this is a basket I just wove. Do you think there’s anything I need to improve?”

Tang Zhi examined the basket. It could pass as the work of a skilled craftsman. The materials were good, and even the difficult edge-locking was well done. The basket was sturdy and beautiful, though the burrs weren’t yet smoothed. It was a successful piece.

Looking at Song Yuyan’s fingers, red and bruised, Tang Zhi saw she had suffered during the weaving.

She didn’t nitpick and praised generously, “It’s sturdy and beautiful. It’s good enough for a bride’s dowry.”