16: Chapter 16 Zhong Hongying 16: Chapter 16 Zhong Hongying Zhao Yulan and Lin Baohe had certainly noticed that their daughter was not right, but now, they could only pretend not to see.
People working hard on both sides seemed to be busy with their tasks, but in fact, they were all covertly watching their progress.
If they let their daughter rest now, Chuxia’s reputation would…
Although Chuxia and Luo Hongqi’s marriage was almost certain, as parents, who would want their child to be looked down upon?
In other words, Luo Gangshun and Fat Aunt might forgive Chuxia continuously because of their guilt from the past, but what about Luo Hongqi?
Today, the matter of Luo Hongqi getting beaten up had been confirmed.
The main reason he disliked Chuxia might be that he thought she was not good at physical labor.
If they continued to indulge Chuxia , over time, it might really harm her.
Therefore, even though their hearts were aching terribly, the couple did not slow down, which made it even harder for Chuxia trailing behind.
In order not to fall too far behind her parents, she had to desperately struggle forward with her large shovel, soon feeling her underclothes sticking wetly to her back.
Her once pale face also grew more reddened, attracting the occasional glance from the two young men working to her left.
A sharp whistle cut through the air, and the villagers, engrossed in their work, surged towards the edge of the field—the water carriers had arrived, and everyone could drink some water and rest briefly.
“Chuxia, take a break,” Zhao Yulan dropped her hoe and turned back to wipe her daughter’s sweat the moment the whistle stopped, the distress clearly visible in her eyes, “Chuxia, your dad and I aren’t heartless…”
“Mom, I know you are worried about the villagers making fun of me,” Chuxia said as she plopped down on the ground, no longer caring whether the field was clean or not.
Lin Baohe glanced at his daughter and took the now empty plastic bucket toward the end of the field; his way of showing care was always through actions.
“Chuxia, the field work is tough, isn’t it?” A spotty-faced woman in her forties chuckled as she approached, followed by a girl of about eighteen or nineteen who was blinking her big eyes and sizing up Chuxia from top to bottom.
The woman with the spotty face clicked her tongue, “Chuxia, why were you born to work in our fields?
Look at this delicate skin; you’re really meant for city life, ah…”
“Mom, can you not be so tactless?” The girl glared at the spotty-faced woman and pulled out a clean checkerboard handkerchief from her pocket to hand to Chuxia, “Did you forget to bring one?”
Chuxia recognized her, Zhong Hongying, nineteen years old.
If one were to choose the two extremes of capability within the village, Zhong Hongying and she would be the representatives of capable and incapable.
Zhong Hongying was sturdy, with slightly dark skin, thick eyebrows, large eyes, and a slightly flat nose, but her teeth were very even and white.
To Chuxia, she wasn’t particularly beautiful, but in this era, she was among the most favored women.
A strong body—representing good labor skills and fertility.
Thick eyebrows, large eyes, and even white teeth—indicating beautiful features.
Her nose bridge was slightly collapsed—indicative of an honest nature (although Chuxia didn’t understand the logic behind this, it was what the people in the village believed, or more accurately, what the women in the village believed.)
“Thanks, but my mom just wiped my sweat,” Chuxia said.
Although it was hard to directly refuse the handkerchief kindly offered, it was also inappropriate to just grab and use it indiscriminately.
Her upbringing didn’t allow her to do such things.
“Hongying, why do you always cozy up to someone who’s not interested?” the freckled-face woman said, pursing her lips at Chuxia’s mother.
“Yulan, don’t mind my bluntness, but you and Baohe spoil the child too much.
A seventeen-year-old girl still kept at home, too precious to let go.
Even if she earns just half the work points, it’s still something, right?”
Zhao Yulan’s face clearly showed displeasure.
“It’s not that Baohe and I spoil her.
Chuxia is frail and can’t overwork herself.
Once she’s a bit stronger, she’ll naturally start earning work points with us.
Besides, our Chuxia is really sensible.
These days she’s been nagging her dad and me about wanting to work in the fields with us.
It’s us, her parents, stopping her.
Earning work points is important, but having a healthy body in the future is even more so.”
Zhong Hongying smiled and continued, “Chuxia, your aunt and uncle really dote on you.
In our village, no one spoils their kids as much as your aunt and uncle do.”
“Ha…” the freckled-face woman giggled, staring at her.
“Chuxia, once everyone starts working, just look around and see if anyone works like you.
If you think about being filial to your parents, unless you marry into a wealthy family, I see it being tough.
Who would marry such a daughter-in-law and still have the patience to treat your parents well?”
Chuxia smiled at the freckled-face woman.
“Aunt Zhong, you needn’t worry about this.
You and my parents aren’t the same kind of people, and naturally have different views.
If you really care about them, could you please speak less?”
Aunt Zhong was about to say something when she saw Lin Baohe approaching with a small plastic bucket.
She hurried back to her own field, and Zhong Hongying apologized to Zhao Yulan and Chuxia with a smile.
“My mom just has that kind of off-putting temperament.
Aunt and Chuxia, don’t take her too seriously.
If I hadn’t been worried about her coming over and causing trouble, I wouldn’t have followed her here.
Ah, she’s still my mom, and I can’t really say much about her…” she said, stuffing the handkerchief into Chuxia’s hand.
“Chuxia, you don’t need to push yourself so hard.
Everyone knows you’re not well.
It’s okay to go slower; no one will laugh at you.
Even if someone did laugh, what of it?
They aren’t the ones feeding or clothing you.
You should get healthier first before thinking of anything else.
Keep the handkerchief and wipe your sweat.
I’ve got several more at home; they were gifts from my aunt.
This one’s for you.” After saying this, she walked away, then turned around to add, “I haven’t used this handkerchief yet, so don’t feel bad about it.”
“Thanks!” Chuxia genuinely didn’t have the energy to stand up and follow her, and judging from Hongying’s attitude, it was unlikely she would take the handkerchief back even if she caught up.
Compared to Hongying’s strength, Chuxia had no chance!
So, she decided to keep it for now.
Whether to use it or not was another matter.
She was very curious—what was the real reason behind Hongying’s kindness?
Such unprovoked generosity made her suspicious.
Once Hongying was far enough away, Zhao Yulan couldn’t help shaking her head.
“They’re mother and daughter, but why is their temperament so different?
They say the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, but it doesn’t seem to be the case every time.”
Chuxia nodded in agreement.
“Yeah, aren’t I an example too?
Both my dad and mom are so capable, yet they ended up with someone like me who just holds them back.”