"It smells so good!" Tang Wanwan was really hungry. Without minding any embarrassment, she devoured the meat bun in just a few bites. Strangely, after eating it, the pain in her body didn't ease but intensified instead. Who knows how many days the original owner hadn't eaten properly, as this bun not only failed to satisfy her hunger but made her even hungrier.
Looking at this impoverished household, as destitute as if even the rice jar had been licked clean, Tang Wanwan suddenly felt a heavy burden. Although the family was divided, they had nothing left, and it was up to her to little by little make it better. Currently, only she and Lady Chen could earn money.
Lady Chen usually took on some embroidery work and sometimes helped neighbors with laundry or cooking. These were all trivial tasks that didn't earn much. Lady Chen was also in poor health, often unable to sleep at night and constantly coughing, without medication, most likely due to years of toil. The young siblings, as long as they didn't cause trouble, were a huge help. Her brother never caused trouble either; treating her leg was the top priority.
Tang Wanwan quickly thought to herself that this needed silver everywhere. Previously, she didn't believe why there could be so many poor people, but now she had experienced it firsthand.
"Thank you, Young Master Lu, you'd better head back quickly. You don't need to bring eggs, I'm much better now." The young man named Lu Yujin had moved to Tang Family Village when she was very young. They were childhood friends because Tang Wanwan had once saved his life, so this usually aloof young man was particularly kind to her.
However, from the moment she saw him until now, Tang Wanwan never thought Lu Yujin was an ordinary person. Searching through the original owner's memories confirmed this. While he seemed like a person of wealth, he nestled in their Tang Family Village. Yet, he was neither poor, given that he could eat meat buns and meat, and he could ride horses, shoot arrows, and play cuju, activities only the children of affluent families would play.
In the village, people would avoid Lu Yujin when they saw him, and some even called him a "living King of Hell" behind his back because if any girl showed him affection, the girl's family would soon have bad luck. Either things went missing, family members got inexplicably beaten, or bad things happened after they went out.
Such things happened so often that people came to understand what was happening. If he wasn't doing it intentionally, then he was like a living King of Hell, bringing misfortune to whoever got involved with him.
Interestingly, in the entire Tang Family Village, the only family he held in high regard was Tang Wanwan's family. Knowing that Lu Yujin had an unusual relationship with Tang Wanwan, Granny Zhang thought about the village's sweepstake and "living King of Hell" notions. Fearing that she might bring bad luck to her sons and granddaughters, she forbade Tang Wanwan from associating with him. Warned by the main house, Tang Wanwan always avoided Lu Yujin. Accepting his meat bun so openly today was a first, making Lu Yujin quite happy.
Back when Tang Jianfei, Tang Wanwan's father, was still at home, even though the family lived frugally, at least they could eat their fill. Now that something had happened to Tang Jianfei, Mrs. Wang and Granny Zhang treated them even less like human beings.
At this recollection, her thoughts were suddenly interrupted. Lu Yujin thought she was stunned by what happened earlier, staring blankly at the front. He quickly said, "It's alright, your lips are badly swollen and must hurt a lot. Rolling an egg over them will make it heal faster."
"And take this." After saying this, he climbed out through the window.
Tang Wanwan only saw a blur before her eyes, and something appeared in her hand. Looking closely, it turned out to be a purse. Touching it with her hand, it seemed to be about one or two taels, all broken silver, and it must not have been easy for him to save up this silver.
"Hey, I don't want it!"
Tang Wanwan hadn't planned to accept Lu Yujin's silver, but when she got up to chase after him, he had already jumped out of her window.
Watching the tall silhouette of the boy rushing away, a funny scene flashed in Tang Wanwan's mind. It seemed like his ears were red just now. Could it be out of embarrassment? Hehe!
However, she just found it amusing and didn't think much more of it. Now, she owed him a bun, and at worst, she would make something else and repay this favor in the future. However, accepting his silver was a different matter entirely. And if the villagers found out about this, who knows what rumors they would spread.
Without having time to look at the ancient silver, she heard noise outside the door, and Tang Wanwan immediately closed her eyes, fearing to see Lady Chen, the original owner's mother, in tears.
Lady Chen opened the door, surprised to find no one inside. Just moments ago, she had heard voices in the room, yet when she entered, the boy was gone, and her daughter was lying facing inward on the bed, which made her smile wryly.
In her heart, she knew well that Lu Yujin liked her girl, but families like theirs were not a match for him. Moreover, Tang Wanwan couldn't marry so early now, with the illnesses and young ones at home that still needed her.
A wan was fifteen, and she would be sixteen after the New Year, already considered a mature woman. If not for the family's poverty, she would likely have been spoken for by now. But at this age and in such a family situation, finding a good family is difficult.
It's her incompetence dragging down her daughter!
Thinking this, Lady Chen's heart wavered. She recalled a conversation a few days ago with Aunt San from the neighboring house. Aunt San spoke of a blacksmith in town whose wife had died a year ago and was looking to remarry. The bride price was ten taels of silver, plus fifty jin of white flour. He had a teenage son who was already able to help with work. She said if she moved in, she could bring the two young ones and just help with washing, cooking, and household chores.
Being able to bring the two little ones with her and not being looked down upon was really a great deal. These ten taels of silver in Tang Wei's and her brother's hands, if used sparingly, could last a few years. And fifty jin of white flour was quite generous. Two teenagers could probably make it for about a year. If worse comes to worst, she'd do some odd jobs to supplement the household. She just couldn't let the family starve to death.
As for her pride, when it's hard enough to survive, what pride is there to speak of? She was living this life for her children, and as for atonement, she would settle it with their father in the afterlife. If one lifetime wasn't enough for atonement, then she'd make it two.
Before entering the room, Lady Chen wiped her tears with her sleeve corner, and fortunately, the two young ones had already gone inside to find their sister and didn't see her in that state. Drying her eyes, she was determined to keep this matter from A wan for now and wait until things were more settled. Her daughter was calling the shots now, so she feared mentioning it would ruin the plan.
Sure enough, the two little ones had already nestled by Tang Wanwan's bed, reaching their small hands to her face, their chubby little hands warm and endearing. One of them joyfully exclaimed, "Mom, big sister isn't dead, she's still alive."
Tang Wanwan almost burst into laughter, thinking how adorable these little ones were.