Transmigrated as the Scum Alpha in a Farming Novel (GL) - Chapter 6
In a desolate and overgrown rice field, two figures worked, one to the east and one to the west, each busy until the sun was about to set, without exchanging a single word.
Liu Huaixu didn’t speak because there was nothing to say.
As for Yu An, she didn’t speak because she was sulking; she was angry at Liu Huaixu.
Before she could even answer about the silver bracelet, Liu Huaixu asked her if she had met Widow Cui by the river that day.
Yu An never lied and didn’t think this matter needed to be hidden, so she replied yes. As a result, Liu Huaixu’s face darkened: “Then why do you still say the silver bracelet has nothing to do with you?”
In her opinion, Yu An’s failure to answer immediately showed a guilty conscience.
Most importantly, she already had her own answer in her heart.
Understanding these things, Yu An also felt a bit of anger and worked silently, not wanting to speak to Liu Huaixu.
When they returned home that evening, neither of them made a sound. They each took firewood and started a fire.
The fire burned vigorously, easing much of their fatigue. Yu An sat on a small stool in front of the fire, leaning back, watching Liu Huaixu light the fire and cook, her thoughts beginning to wander.
Actually, Liu Huaixu hadn’t made any big mistakes, it was just her attitude that was a bit hard to accept.
Especially when she spoke to her that afternoon, Liu Huaixu clearly knew she would deny it, and had no intention of continuing the conversation.
She had thought hard all afternoon, but still found no information about the silver bracelet, indicating that the original owner indeed hadn’t done it.
Given her bad reputation, it wasn’t surprising that she might have done such a thing, and Liu Huaixu’s suspicion was reasonable.
Liu Huaixu must have also had a tough time.
She recalled that Liu Huaixu on the first day she arrived here was like a completely different person from how she was now.
That day, she wore a white ruqun made of fine fabric, her lips a delicate, sexy red, and her hair neatly coiled. She looked like a cold, elegant older sister.
But now… Yu An secretly glanced at Liu Huaixu, who was busy cooking, wearing a light green hemp cloth dress, her hair casually tied back, with a few strands clinging to her face.
A sudden pang of guilt arose in Yu An’s heart.
She shouldn’t have lost her temper with Liu Huaixu today.
Perhaps sensing her gaze, Liu Huaixu swept her hair back and turned around…
The moment their eyes met, Yu An’s face flushed hot, and she quickly turned her head away. She turned too abruptly, kicking out a half-burned piece of firewood, and sparks flew directly onto her shoe.
She jolted and stood up with a start.
Liu Huaixu was also startled by her, looked down, saw the sparks on her shoe, and quickly grabbed water to extinguish them.
After everything settled, Liu Huaixu was still lingering with fear, her tone a bit stern: “Be careful when burning firewood.”
“…Oh, I’m sorry.” It was her fault, Yu An obediently lowered her head to admit her mistake. When she looked up again, she noticed a trace of softness in Liu Huaixu’s eyes.
Afraid she had misseen it, she wanted to look again, but that hint of softness was gone, and Liu Huaixu’s face was expressionless once more.
After a long day, Liu Huaixu simply prepared some dishes, but the rice she prepared for Yu An was still polished rice, while she herself ate coarse rice.
Yu An had noticed this during meals these past few days. The first time she asked Liu Huaixu why she ate coarse rice, Liu Huaixu remained silent, not even looking at her.
Several times later, Yu An wanted to swap meals with Liu Huaixu, but Liu Huaixu refused, even glaring at her.
This time.
This time, Yu An didn’t speak or ask Liu Huaixu if she wanted to swap. Instead, before eating, she swapped Liu Huaixu’s bowl with her own.
Perhaps considering her larger appetite, Liu Huaixu had prepared a slightly larger bowl for her. After swapping the bowls, Yu An quickly said, “I’m not hungry today; I want to eat a little less.”
Liu Huaixu looked at her coldly, opened her mouth, but said nothing in the end.
She held her rice bowl and ate in small bites.
Everyone knew that polished rice was much tastier than coarse rice, and Liu Huaixu naturally knew it too. However, due to habit, no matter how much of a scoundrel Yu An was, the best things in the house still had to go to Yu An first.
She wasn’t craving polished rice, but there was only so much in the house, and if both of them ate it for every meal, it would be truly luxurious.
It wasn’t bad to eat coarse rice for once. Yu An finished her meal in two or three bites, then stared at Liu Huaixu.
Liu Huaixu felt uncomfortable under her gaze and spoke, “If you’re done eating, go back to your room. Why are you looking at me?”
Especially sitting so properly, Liu Huaixu glanced at her and then resumed eating.
Yu An was somewhat accustomed to being treated this way by Liu Huaixu and didn’t take it to heart. Instead, she voiced what she had been thinking about for a long time: “I didn’t give Widow Cui the silver bracelet, don’t wrongly accuse me.”
Hearing this, Liu Huaixu looked up in surprise.
She thought, “Is Yu An even afraid of being wrongly accused by her?”
Regarding the silver bracelet, Liu Huaixu had no hope for Yu An after saying it; she just wanted to get it out. After speaking, she knew Yu An wouldn’t admit it.
It was just a silver bracelet; compared to the things she had done before, it wasn’t a big deal.
Liu Huaixu was already habitually disappointed in her. If she didn’t admit it, then she didn’t. She hadn’t expected Yu An to still be thinking about this matter now.
“Understood.”
“You believe me?” Hearing her reply, Yu An felt a little excited.
Who doesn’t like the feeling of being acknowledged? Yu An liked it too, but when she pressed her again, Liu Huaixu fell silent.
She put down her chopsticks and said calmly, “I’m done eating.”
Her implied meaning was that she would clear the dishes, and Yu An should return to her room.
Yu An smacked her lips, wanting to say something, but ultimately didn’t.
Forget it, the mess left by the original owner couldn’t be changed overnight. It would take time.
—
Over the next few days, Yu An continued to follow Liu Huaixu to work in the fields. Liu Huaixu went from being surprised at first to getting used to it later. She had thought Yu An was just on a whim, but she unexpectedly kept working until all the crops were harvested.
Their speed was much faster than when Liu Huaixu worked alone. In previous years, it would take her ten to fifteen days; this time, with Yu An helping, they finished in four or five days.
They still spoke little while working, but Yu An felt a different kind of gentleness from Liu Huaixu.
On the first day, when they returned from work to eat, Yu An wasn’t full and realized she had a big appetite, and the steamed buns were hard to chew. From the second day on, Liu Huaixu began to bring her a few bean buns, but each time, she didn’t speak, just handed them directly to her.
She could eat her fill, and the taste was good. Yu An didn’t mind Liu Huaixu’s cold expression anymore, happily eating the bean buns, and she felt more energetic while working.
When only the last acre of land remained, Yu An distinctly felt Liu Huaixu speed up, and Yu An also sped up to match.
When they returned home, Liu Huaixu quickly washed up, changed her clothes, and went out.
Yu An, holding firewood, was about to ask Liu Huaixu where she was going, but the other person had already rushed out the main gate.
As soon as the firewood caught fire, the room instantly warmed up. Yu An boredly tended the fire, wondering why Liu Huaixu would go out on such a cold evening.
—
After leaving the house, Liu Huaixu headed straight for Butcher Li’s place. She wanted to buy some meat, and if she went too late, she wouldn’t be able to get good cuts.
Although she was annoyed by Yu An’s actions, Yu An had been tired for several days, and she couldn’t bear to see her suffer.
It was probably a habit formed since childhood that she couldn’t change immediately.
“Madam Liu, here to buy meat?” Butcher Li was a Qian Yu An, and his eyes flashed with a hint of surprise when he saw Liu Huaixu, followed by a wave of pity.
How could such a beautiful Kun Ze be so devoted to the unaccomplished Yu An?
Yu An had a bad reputation in the village, and many people felt sorry for Liu Huaixu. Most Kun Zes felt sympathy, while Qian Yuans felt a different kind of pity.
“Mm.” Liu Huaixu was colder towards outsiders than she was towards Liu Huaixu herself. Kun Zes were fine, but she had no good feelings for Qian Yuans.
Butcher Li, seeing that the cold beauty wasn’t fond of talking, didn’t mind and casually started talking nonsense: “Madam Liu should eat some meat to replenish yourself; you look so thin.”
Butcher Li’s words made Liu Huaixu uncomfortable. She frowned silently, her eyes growing colder.
Knowing he had spoken too much, Butcher Li said no more, cut the meat, and handed it to Liu Huaixu.
As luck would have it, Liu Huaixu hadn’t even left when she saw Cao Guan walk in.
Before the incident with Yu An, Cao Guan would always greet her with a smiling “Sister Liu,” but now she looked at her with a cold face and resentful eyes.
Liu Huaixu couldn’t understand it. Yu An had no other abilities, so how did she have the ability to turn such a well-behaved girl into this state?
As they passed, Liu Huaixu still smiled at Cao Guan, intending to turn and leave, but she was called back by Cao Guan.
“Sister Liu…”
Liu Huaixu turned around and saw the meat Cao Guan offered.
“Sister Liu, take this home for Sister Yu to eat~”
Cao Guan smiled, lively and cute, but her eyes held a hint of triumph.
The meat she offered was almost two catties, while Liu Huaixu herself had less than one.
Cao Guan was clearly mocking her, and doing so through Yu An.
Liu Huaixu wanted to refuse, but Cao Guan didn’t give her a chance, forcefully placing the meat in her arms. Even Butcher Li smiled and said, “Madam Liu, this is Miss Cao’s kind intention, just accept it.”
Hearing this, Liu Huaixu lowered her eyes. Since Cao Guan wouldn’t take it back, Liu Huaixu had no choice but to place the meat on Butcher Li’s cutting board.
Most people in the village were watching her family’s misfortune; how could she not know?
More than her annoyance with Widow Cui, Liu Huaixu felt pity for Cao Guan.
C
So young, yet having been stirred by the seeds of love by Yu An, she now targeted Liu Huaixu everywhere, simply becoming a laughingstock for others.
“Sister Cao, take this home and eat it yourself. What I have is enough.” Liu Huaixu hugged the meat in her arms, nodded, and intended to turn and leave.
But how could Cao Guan let her go?
In the past, it was better; she only thought Liu Huaixu was distant. Now, she considered herself to have a mutual understanding with Yu An and found Liu Huaixu even more displeasing.
If she didn’t genuinely care for Sister Yu, why monopolize the title of wife?
“Sister Liu, this meat is for Sister Yu.”
Liu Huaixu’s steps paused slightly. She closed her eyes, thinking that Yu An had indeed made her lose her mind; such thoughtless words could actually be spoken.
Time was much more lenient towards Qian Yuans; if they had concubines or outside women, it was still somewhat acceptable.
But Yu An’s current reputation was bad because she frequented gambling houses and brothels, squandering their family fortune, and being unprincipled, not sparing widows, nor even the village head’s daughter.
This had incurred public wrath.
And it also enraged Liu Huaixu.
So, she felt that most of these issues were Yu An’s fault, such as Cao Guan speaking such thoughtless words.
Without responding to her, Liu Huaixu quickly walked out. Unexpectedly, Cao Guan remained persistent.
She stood outside the door, blocking her way.
“Sister Liu, why don’t you answer when I speak to you?”
“I asked you to give some meat to Sister Yu, why are you so unwilling?”
Cao Guan had a charming and lovely appearance, but the words she spoke were so hurtful. Liu Huaixu clearly held a piece of meat in her hand, yet Cao Guan insisted on saying this, implying that Liu Huaixu wouldn’t even give Yu An meat.
Even if Yu An was frivolous and promiscuous and had a bad reputation in the village, she was still Liu Huaixu’s Qian Jun.
If people knew that she wouldn’t even give her own Qian Jun a piece of meat, then she would be seen as excessively stingy.
Liu Huaixu stood at the doorway, caught between a rock and a hard place.
Not speaking would make people think she was truly such a stingy person, but speaking…
She also felt that Cao Guan was still a child.
Just as she didn’t know what to do, a tall figure suddenly appeared in front of her, taking the meat from her hand.
“Wife, why did you leave without telling me? And secretly bought me meat to eat?”
Yu An’s appearance was a complete surprise to Liu Huaixu, and the hand wrapped around her waist was even more so.