The Wealthy Eldest Sister Rules Supreme

“As always, if there’s somewhere you need us to help, don’t hesitate to ask, especially from my end…”

“I understand.” Zhuang Qingning cracked a smile, “Uncle Village Chief, you should go back, it’s windy outside.”

“It’s fine.” Zhuang Jingye escorted Zhuang Qingning half the street further before he turned back.

Mrs. Ye was peeling a cabbage at the doorstep. She casually threw the dry outer leaves into the duck pen for the ducks to eat.

The century egg workshop was doing good business, buying duck eggs from everywhere at a reasonable price. All households in Enji Village and the surrounding villages raised a lot of ducks, including Zhuang Jingye’s.

The ducks, waiting for their meal with their necks stretched out, scrambled to eat the cabbage leaves as soon as they fell on the ground.

“Qingning, she really is extraordinary,” Zhuang Jingye exclaimed, “I bet if this continues, her business will grow even more, and our Enji Village might be able to produce a talented person, too.”

“It’s just a pity that…”

Zhuang Jingye’s words trailed off into a sigh.

“What’s the pity? Are you lamenting that she’s a girl?” Mrs. Ye almost rolled her eyes skyward, assuming Zhuang Jingye was about to bemoan how girls were inferior to boys.

“Indeed it’s a pity she’s a girl.” Zhuang Jingye sighed again.

“Girls marry into new families while boys bring home daughters-in-law. If Qingning were a young man, her future wife would move into our village and help her manage her business.”

“But because Qingning is a girl, she’ll marry into another family. If her in-laws are open-minded, it’ll be fine. But if they stick rigidly to those outdated rules, shutting her away from the outside world, would that not suffocate her to death?”

Mrs. Ye was taken aback.

So that’s what Zhuang Jingye was worried about?

He was concerned that the promising Zhuang Qingning might be squandered in the future.

“That’s indeed the case…” A trace of worry passed over Mrs. Ye’s face, “Qingning is like a wild goose in the sky, flying high and looking far. But if she becomes caged…”

“Wait a minute, that’s not right…” Mrs. Ye suddenly slapped the cabbage in her hand.

“What’s not right?” Zhuang Jingye glanced at her.

“Think about it, with Qingning’s character, do you really think she’d willingly be caged? I bet she’d smash the cage in an instant, and make the cage maker regret it.”

Mrs. Ye twitched the corner of her mouth, “Besides, with Qingning’s judgement, do you think she would choose a shallow-minded family as her in-laws?”

“I think Qingning might end up finding herself a son-in-law instead. You can rest assured, she won’t be bullied.”

“Don’t you remember how she chased Mrs. Song with a kitchen knife over a dumpling? If someone wrongs her, won’t she just tear the roof off?”

“Yeah, how could I forget that?” Zhuang Jingye smacked his thigh and started laughing, “Who’d think this girl, who so readily grabs a kitchen knife, could be bullied?”

Everyone has been so peaceful lately, they’ve only seen the gentle side of Zhuang Qingning and almost forgot about her fiery temper.

“We’re overthinking this…”

Zhuang Jingye waved his hand, and looking at Mrs. Ye, laughed until his mouth almost reached his ears, “You’re right to remind me.”

What, you think everyone else is as dull as you?

Mrs. Ye straightened her back.

“Didn’t I always say, when you have nothing to do, wander around with me, see the world and experience more things. Regardless of whether you’re educated or not, the more people you meet and the more things you experience, the wider your horizons become, and the better you can handle things.”

Zhuang Jingye squinted and replied with a grin, “Isn’t that exactly what’s happening to you right now? You’re getting sharper after hanging around with me.”

“It’s all thanks to my good teaching…”

So, all this comes back to him doing a great job?

Just two sentences of decent conversation, and he’s back to his usual obnoxious self. Turns out a leopard can’t change its spots.

Mrs. Ye wanted to stuff the cabbage in her hands into his mouth. Let him taste how cold a winter’s heart can be!

—-

Zhuang Qingning walked home with her head down.

From afar, she saw someone sitting at her doorstep.

Only when she got close did she realize it was a beggar.

With ragged clothes and a dirty appearance, the beggar was leaning on a crutch, the color and material of which were unclear. One leg was absent, the trouser leg cleverly tied up to hide the fact.

Seeing Zhuang Qingning approach – and approach him specifically – the beggar promptly climbed up and moved aside with his crutch.

Most people are afraid of catching fleas or lice from beggars, and many consider them to bring bad luck, especially if they hang around one’s doorstep. The desire to escape from them is strong.

As such, beggars are often disliked and frequently chased away.

Clearly, the beggar in front of her had grown accustomed to this treatment. Without being told, he hurriedly moved away, all the while explaining, “I was just tired and taking a rest. I’ll leave now, right now…”

Normally, Zhuang Qingning didn’t think much of healthy, capable people who were too lazy to work and instead chose a life of begging.

But the man in front of her, missing a leg and with his other hand twisted from holding the crutch, clearly couldn’t work due to an accident or serious illness, and that’s why he’d been reduced to this state.

For a moment, Zhuang Qingning felt a pang of pity for him, particularly when she saw him retreat so hastily, as if he were afraid of being scolded or hit. This made her feel even sorrier for him, so she waved to stop him, “Don’t hurry off, let me get you something to eat.”

Upon hearing this, the beggar was momentarily stunned. He then fell onto his knees and started kowtowing to Zhuang Qingning, “Thank you, miss, you really are a Bodhisattva in flesh…”

“Do you have a bowl? It’s freezing, let me give you some hot soup.”

She had been cooking lamb and lamb bone soup at home, planning to make lamb paomo for dinner. In the cold weather, a hot bowl of soup could warm a person up for a long time.

“Thank you, thank you.” The beggar shivered as he fumbled in his ragged, cotton-drifting jacket and pulled out a coarsely made porcelain bowl.