The Farm Girl and the Executioner (Rebirth) 52

Chapter 52: The Best Answer

Jiang Huaizhen drove the cart with Ping’er to the Everlasting Peace Apothecary.

Ping’er’s father, Wasong, had sobered up but didn’t go with them, probably because he was afraid he couldn’t pay the medical expenses.

Doctor Xue said that if they had been a quarter of an hour later, the person might have been gone.

Hearing this, Jiang Huaizhen broke out in a cold sweat.

She had seen many dead people in her life and had personally taken several lives, but she had never once neglected a living life.

On the contrary, she knew better than anyone how difficult it was to survive. Even she, when she was at her most hopeless, had never had the thought of taking her own life.

She hoped that the people she cared about were all well.

But this little bean sprout before her was not someone she cared about.

It was just that this child had been abandoned by her mother, ignored by her father, and abused by her grandmother. In that family, no one cared about her.

Just like her younger self.

Her father had found a new lover and found her to be a nuisance, always driving her away. Her mother, out of love turned to hatred, had killed her father in front of her and had finally abandoned her in death. Her grandparents, disliking her as the child of a venomous woman, had driven her out of the house. And that aunt of hers had even abandoned her on the side of the road on a cold night outside the city…

It was her adoptive father and adoptive grandmother who had given her a new home and had continued her life.

And later, she had Lin Shuang.

That girl, she relied on her and always thought of her.

She made her feel needed.

This feeling was very important.

She hoped to be needed by that person forever, to be relied on forever.

Just like this, to live a lifetime, and not…

Her biological parents’ love affair had once been a beautiful story, but the more they had loved, the more they had hated later. Between lovers, there would be times when they loved each other to the bone, and even loved each other to death. But when the passion faded, people began to tire of each other, and watching over each other became a burden. They began to speak ill of each other and to fight.

She didn’t want such a passionate love, and then to resent each other.

She just wanted to live a simple life, watching over each other.

That’s all.

“It’s not because she ate something bad. It’s because of long-term abuse, not being given enough clothes in time, and also catching the seasonal epidemic.”

Doctor Xue’s words interrupted Jiang Huaizhen’s thoughts. She quickly gathered her thoughts and listened carefully to his analysis of the illness.

Lin Shuang entered the city at noon and went straight to the Everlasting Peace Apothecary.

Seeing her come, Jiang Huaizhen said nervously, “You’re here. What about Grandma at home alone?”

Lin Shuang said, “I asked Sister Mai and Caitou and the others to stay in the valley and keep her company for a while. The village chief is also back. Nothing will happen.”

The widow Zhang’s original name was Zhang Mainiang. After her husband had died two years ago, people had started to call her the widow Zhang.

Lin Shuang told her in detail what had happened after she had left.

Hearing that Zhang Mainiang and Caitou had stood up for them and clarified the matter, and thinking of Dongzhi’s performance, Jiang Huaizhen was relieved, and her mood was clearly much better.

But looking at Ping’er on the sickbed, her brow was still tightly furrowed.

Having been with her for two lifetimes, and having learned about her childhood from Old Madam Jiang, how could she not know what she was thinking at this moment?

Ping’er’s background must have brought back memories of her own childhood. While she was away, this person was probably feeling sorry for herself.

Lin Shuang felt a pang in her heart for her and wanted to hug her. But thinking of that night at the inn, she stopped in her tracks and sighed. “It’s the adults’ fault, but a small child has to bear it. It’s so pitiful.”

Just then, Ping’er on the bed slowly woke up. Seeing that it was Lin Shuang sitting by her sickbed, her eyes were filled with surprise. She gave her a weak smile and called out, “Aunt Shuang…”

Seeing her smile, Lin Shuang’s heart ached. She reached out and lovingly patted her little head, saying softly, “Is it still very uncomfortable?”

Ping’er shook her head. “I just had a dream. I dreamed that Mother came to get me… I was so happy…”

Jiang Huaizhen’s heart suddenly jumped.

She had had such a dream before.

That night, when she had been abandoned by her aunt outside the city, she had frozen and passed out. At that time, she had had a dream that her mother had come to get her. But her mother’s body was so cold, and there was a red wound on her neck, and blood was constantly flowing from it.

Her mother had said, “My child, the Xie family can’t tolerate you, so Mother will take you away. It was Mother who was too foolish. I shouldn’t have given my heart completely to one person. My child, in the future, you must not be as foolish as Mother. Don’t give your whole heart away…”

“But it’s alright now. If you go with Mother, where will you need to give your heart to someone else?”

After her mother had finished speaking, she had laughed. Her voice was no longer as gentle as before, but had a strange and mournful quality.

She was a little scared, but she couldn’t bear to part with her mother, because in this world, everyone despised her. Only her cold mother still wanted her.

She took her mother’s hand and was about to leave.

But she unexpectedly ran into a big man who smelled of alcohol and had a fierce face. He was staggering along, humming a tune that was out of tune.

She accidentally tripped him.

He fell to the ground, and his drunken eyes opened, seeing her.

But at this moment, her mother let go of her hand, and her voice became gentle again. “Good child, Mother’s fate with you as mother and daughter is shallow. A good family has taken a liking to you. You go with him. It’s too cold on Mother’s side. I don’t want my child to be cold…”

After her mother had finished speaking, she had left.

She had also suddenly woken up, only to hear the burly man before her seem to have felt her heartbeat. He had let out a loud cry and then had joyfully picked her up, muttering to himself.

“…A child sent by the heavens is my child… You are my, Jiang Gui’s, daughter… From now on, who dares say my Jiang family has no heir… I’ll chop them to death…”

And the dream that Ping’er was talking about now, was it the same as the one she had had many years ago?

Had she already walked a round at the gates of hell?

Jiang Huaizhen’s hand under her sleeve was trembling slightly, but she said nothing, listening to Lin Shuang comfort the little girl in a soft voice.

And Ping’er’s tears also fell at this time. “But… but they all say that dreams are the opposite… Aunt Shuang, is it true that my mother… will never come back?”

Lin Shuang had been in the valley for many days and had not seen Ping’er cry for a long time. Now, seeing this little girl cry, her heart also ached.

But she didn’t know how to answer this question.

She really didn’t want to cut off a child’s only hope. This little girl, every time she was abused by Old Woman Hao, had relied on this belief to survive.

“Auntie doesn’t know either. But you still have Aunt Shuang and Aunt Zhen. We’ll come and play with you when we have time in the future.”

Logically, after Old Woman Hao had caused such a scene, if it were anyone else, Lin Shuang would have kept her distance.

But what about Ping’er?

If she avoided trouble and no longer interacted with this child, then Ping’er, after losing her mother, would once again lose an adult who had shown her kindness. That little heart, how sad it would be.

She might even be abused to the point of insanity, to death.

Lin Shuang could never forgive Old Woman Hao’s actions today, but she could not completely abandon Ping’er because of this and draw a line with her.

Jiang Huaizhen sympathized with this child and would definitely not be willing to just walk away.

In her past life, she had even been able to carry back such a terrible version of herself. How could she let this child fend for herself?

Lin Shuang turned to look at Jiang Huaizhen. She had some ideas, but this family was, after all, surnamed Jiang, and there was also a stubborn old woman at home.

The other’s cold eyes glanced over, and their gazes met, then moved away.

However, before they could say or do anything, Old Woman Hao came, dragging Wasong.

Lin Shuang immediately stood up, and she and Jiang Huaizhen went out of the sickroom, blocking the two of them outside.

When she heard Old Woman Hao shamelessly propose to sell Ping’er to Jiang Huaizhen for ten taels of silver, she couldn’t help but laugh.

“After the frame-up failed, you’ve lost all face and are now openly selling her?”

Old Woman Hao was indeed shameless and said through gritted teeth, “You’re so rich. What’s wrong with spending ten taels of silver to buy such a thing back to amuse yourselves?”

Lin Shuang looked at her coldly. “Whether we have money or not is our business. But for this kind of forced sale, it depends on whether we’re willing!”

Old Woman Hao’s face darkened. “Since you don’t want her, I’ll take her back and let her fend for herself. Anyway, she’s a member of my Lin family. Whether she lives or dies is not for you to decide.”

With that, she was about to go into the room to snatch the person.

Seeing this, Jiang Huaizhen was about to chase after her.

Lin Shuang grabbed her.

The two of them just watched as Old Woman Hao picked up Ping’er from the bed and went out the door.

Wasong followed behind, his head shrunk, looking back every few steps.

Jiang Huaizhen stood there, her body stiff, her face expressionless, like a ferocious Rakshasa. But from the strength in her tense arms, Lin Shuang could feel her suppressed anger, which was about to erupt at any moment.

She comforted her in a low voice, “Don’t be anxious. She’ll be back.”

Sure enough, after waiting for a long time and not seeing the two of them chase after her, Old Woman Hao came back with the child. “How about eight taels? If you give me eight taels, you can take her back.”

Lin Shuang sneered. “Someone like me, who can work and has some looks, was only sold for eight taels. A child who is about to die of illness, and you want eight taels?”

Old Woman Hao gritted her teeth. “Then seven taels.”

“Are you out of your mind? Why would we spend money to buy a child who is about to die of illness? A healthy child outside is only one or two taels. You’re really asking for a lot.”

“You… don’t you like her? Since you feel sorry for her… you should take her away…” Wasong, who was behind Old Woman Hao, said.

Lin Shuang snorted. “There are thousands of children in this world who are not doing well. I can’t sympathize with everyone. It’s only because I have some connection with her that I’m willing to talk to you here. Do you really think you can just bring a child over and sell her to us like an object?”

“Then how much do you want to give?”

Lin Shuang narrowed her eyes. “Her treatment today has already cost one tael. The doctor said that it will cost another tael to cure her. That’s already over two taels before anything has even happened. Do you think a child like that can be sold for two taels of silver outside? Her value and medical expenses have already been offset.”

Old Woman Hao was a little flustered now, because when she had gone out just now, she had gone to the shopkeeper to ask about the medicine. But the shopkeeper already knew Lin Shuang and the others, and when he had heard about this strange matter this morning, he had directly told her that it would cost another two or three taels to cure the child.

She hadn’t thought that Ping’er’s treatment would cost so much. She was a little worried that if these two backed out, and Ping’er’s illness was not cured, and she couldn’t be sold, where would she get the money to treat her?

“You can’t not give any money, can you? If you don’t give any money, I’ll take her back, and whether she lives or not will be up to fate. If she can survive, even if she’s crippled, as long as she can be raised, when she gets married, she can at least get four or five taels of betrothal gift,” Old Woman Hao said fiercely.

Hearing this, Lin Shuang finally understood why Ping’er had married a widower before she had even reached the age of marriage in her past life, and why everything had gone wrong.

She took a deep breath. “Since you say that you can get four or five taels of betrothal gift if you raise her, I’ll be kind and count it as five taels. Her medical expenses have already used up two taels, and you’ve raised her for ten years less, so we’ll deduct another two taels—”

Old Woman Hao interrupted, “You can’t deduct any more. Two taels. You give me two taels, and from now on, she’s yours.”

After she said this, Lin Shuang felt the hand she had been holding move slightly, so she slowly said, “Then two taels. From now on, Ping’er has nothing to do with you.”

Hearing this, Wasong stood against the wall in silence for a while, then went out.

Old Woman Hao put the person down and said directly, “Where’s the silver?”

“We’ll transfer the household registration with the village chief tomorrow, and then we’ll give it to you,” Lin Shuang said coldly.

Old Woman Hao was worried about delays, but since the other was not giving it to her, she could do nothing. She could only spit on the ground in hatred and then turn to leave.

Seeing that the mother and son had left, Lin Shuang felt the originally tense body beside her relax. She looked up at the person and said, “We’re going back. I still don’t know how to explain this to Great-grandmother.”

Jiang Huaizhen pursed her lips. “She will understand.”

Lin Shuang didn’t know what she was thinking and smiled. “I was just worried that during this period, when we’re busy with the dolls, and we have to go out from time to time, Grandma will be at home alone. If Ping’er is there, and something happens, the little girl can help to go out of the valley and call for help.”

The children of farming families were not taken care of much after the age of three or four. As long as they were given a mouthful of food, they could grow up like wild grass.

She and Jiang Huaizhen had also come through like this.

Ping’er was already a big child. Although Jiang Huaizhen would be eighteen after the new year, the two of them were both unmarried young women and did not think of her as their own child.

Giving her a safe haven and protecting her in her youth to the best of their ability would put their minds at ease and not let down life.

As for the future, that was for the future.

Jiang Huaizhen seemed to have thought of this as well, and her eyebrows also relaxed.

As the two of them were talking, they found that Ping’er on the bed had already opened her eyes.

Lin Shuang was not sure if she had heard the argument with Old Woman Hao about her price. A four-year-old child might not have a good understanding, but sometimes they would stubbornly remember some words, and these intentional or unintentional things would stay with them for the rest of their lives.

So she sat down by the bed and patted her head. “Ping’er, didn’t you want Auntie to take you away before? Now you can. From now on, you’ll be with us. Are you happy?”

Ping’er’s eyes widened, and she nodded.

Lin Shuang added, “Auntie was bought for eight taels of silver before. You are now two taels. Aunt Huaizhen has no money and can only bargain with the adults. Will you feel sad?”

A smile finally appeared on Ping’er’s face. She had indeed heard the bargaining between the adults just now and had been a little sad. But now, hearing that Auntie had also been bought like this, her mood improved.

“I’m not sad. Auntie is heavier and prettier than Ping’er, so she’s a little more expensive. Ping’er is still small, so she’s a little cheaper.”

The two of them next to her couldn’t help but smile.

Ping’er shrunk into the quilt, her shallow dimples showing.

When her father was drunk, sometimes when she passed by, he would kick her away impatiently.

Her grandmother also wouldn’t give her food and would scold her all day, saying that she was just like her mother, a slut, and would run off with a wild man in the future. When she was unhappy, she would beat her with a piece of firewood.

It hurt so much. Her back was still burning now.

Aunt Shuang was so gentle. To be with Aunt Shuang, she felt very happy.

Seeing the smile on her face, Lin Shuang pinched her little cheek, her fingers brushing over her small dimples, and said warmly, “Get well soon. When you’re better, we’ll go and buy new clothes.”

The words “new clothes” were rare in Ping’er’s world. The little girl’s originally low spirits gradually rose, and she nodded repeatedly.

But her small dimples soon disappeared. She asked cautiously, “…Can I still go and wait for Mother?”

Lin Shuang smiled. “Of course you can. Auntie and your Aunt Huaizhen will go and wait with you then.”

This was undoubtedly the most beautiful answer in the world. Ping’er felt that a happiness as wide as the sky and the clouds was about to overflow from her small heart. In the past, whenever she went to the intersection to wait for her mother, her father and grandmother would both beat and scold her, scolding her and also her mother. But she missed her mother so much that she would stubbornly go and look every day.

Now, when she said she was going to wait for her mother, not only did Auntie not scold her, but she also said that she would go and wait with her. What a happy thing that was.

She was so excited, but her body was still very weak. She took a breath and coughed a few times, a little out of breath.

Lin Shuang quickly patted her back. “Don’t be excited. The good days are just beginning.”

Ping’er nodded happily, exhausted. She closed her eyes and fell asleep again.