Higher Level Wife

Chapter 34: Vitality

Translated by Gumihou

Edited by Pill Bug

“Why? Aren’t there still plenty of plants here? Moreover, you still have more flowerpots, so let’s keep digging.” Jin Fengju already noticed the six or seven more empty flowerpots on the side. He had never done this kind of work before but the repetitive action was somehow rather addictive.

The brother and sister pair suddenly became anxious, “No need, no need, father… for the rest, en, just leave the rest here. The Dragon Boat Festival is coming.”

Jin Fengju had no idea what they meant by that. What did digging plants have to do with the Dragon Boat Festival? Nevertheless, he stopped digging and wiped the sweat off his forehead. [1] When the children gathered the potted plants to be watered, he noticed that the mint, peppermint as well as other aromatic herbs had all been skilfully dug up and replanted. As the children watered the plants, he realised just how familiar they were with these actions and could not help but feel a little sad.

In that era, although the social status of peasant farmers was more respectable than those of merchants, they were still well below that of the gentry. Jin Fengju was an aristocrat, a nobleman of high birth, so how could he bear to see his children do such dirty work? Especially now that his impression of these two children had changed.

“You are very skilled at this,” he said with a light cough. There was some sadness in his tone but the children did not hear it. They happily accepted the remark as a compliment and gushed, “Yes, yes, father. We do this all the time. This is nothing, you should see the backyard. We have soy, millet, rice, and even sticky rice. Oh, and corn and sweet potatoes. We still have some sticky rice saved from last year. We didn’t eat it because we wanted to make rice dumplings for this Dragon Boat Festival. We’re the ones who helped mother dig the ground and weed around the rice plants, you know?” the children declared, proudly sticking up their little chests, waiting for their father to praise them.

Jin Fengju looked at the proud expressions of these two children and did not know what to say. Finally, after a long while, he coughed and said, “En, Feng’er and sister are very capable. However, you’re not allowed to do this kind of rough work in the future. As you grow up, you should study and learn proper feminine arts such as needlework. I, your father, will take care of your livelihood from now on so there’s no need to worry about it.” As he spoke, he made up his mind to speak to Fu Qiuning properly. He simply could not allow these two children to keep doing this contemptible work [2].

Nevertheless, he helped the children move the flowerpots into the living room and was in the middle of arranging them when Jin Ming came out of the kitchen to say that everything had been handed to the Madam. Jin Fengju said, “Invite the Madam to see me in the backyard, I have something to say to her.”

When Jin Ming saw his master’s calm and apathetic face, his heart suddenly shivered. While he quickly went off to carry out his master’s orders, Jin Fengju sent the children to the study before making his way to the backyard. After stepping through the backdoor, he saw what was once an empty space was now filled with all kinds of crops. They even had apricot, pear and jujube trees at regular intervals. When a light breeze blew past, the bright green leaves swayed like flowing waves, giving a sense of infinite vitality.

Soft footsteps made Jin Fengju turn his head. He saw Fu Qiuning step forward, clothed in a plain cotton dress. A trace of pity scratched at his conscience at the sight. She had once been a girl of 16 with a future before her but was made into a pawn in one of her father’s political struggles. The most tragic thing was, she was doomed to have no future the moment she married into his marquisate.

“It’s been hard on you all these years,” he said. His voice was light but with a rare trace of sincerity in it.

“That the Young Marquis is gracious enough to allow this humble woman to preserve her life within the marquisate is already a great kindness. This humble woman does not feel any hardship.” Fu Qiuning kept her face tranquil as she bowed her head and performed her salutations carefully. However, her heart throbbed like a drum as she secretly wondered: Is this bastard Jin Fengju still planning to divorce me?

Jin Fengju eyed her for a moment before smiling slightly. He turned to face the green scenery before him and said leisurely, “No need to worry, Feng’er and Jiao’er are here due to your careful teaching. Therefore, I will not divorce you. However, you should not develop any thoughts over this.”

This bastard’s eyes are too powerful. He could see through her thoughts with just a glance. Impressed, Fu Qiuning thought that she should not underestimate this person in the future. She said, “This humble woman’s heart is like stagnant water. Young Marquis may be at ease, this humble woman is deeply grateful to preserve this life and these peaceful days. This humble woman would never again be carried away by delusions or wishful thoughts and cause trouble for the Young Marquis.”

Jin Fengju was very satisfied with her response, not knowing that Fu Qiuning was bursting with elation at that moment.

In that era, women treated their husbands like gods. Once they were abandoned, they became like lost souls with nothing to live for. However, what were men to Fu Qiuning? So long as she had enough to eat, warm clothes to wear, a man was as dispensable as chicken ribs to her. [1] Yes, it was a good thing that this chicken rib had decided to remove himself from her presence.

[1] Hurrah!

[1] On Jin Fengju’s side, he frowned to himself: Why did this woman look like she was trying to conceal her joy? The corners of her mouth kept trying to twitch up… Whatever, that had nothing to do with him. He turned his gaze towards the greenery again and said lightly, “You’ve suffered much these past few years. It cannot be easy for a few women and children to grow so many kinds of crops and plants. However, there’s no need to cultivate these plants in the future. After the Dragon Boat Festival, I thought of moving all of you back to the inner court. You will receive a fixed allowance each month along with food and clothing. There’s no need to worry anymore. No matter what, Feng’er and Jiao’er are my children. This kind of dirty work should not touch their hands.”

Naturally, Fu Qiuning would never subscribe to this kind of disdainful, discriminatory ideology. However, she also knew that in this era, scholarly pursuits trumped everything else. Therefore, she did not lose her cool nor try to go against him directly. Instead, she gracefully said, “Indeed, we are forced by circumstances to rely on these crops, as well as the flowers and trees in the garden to survive. However, I dare not let the children truly work on the crops. This humble woman merely had them take on simple chores and educate them about the different care and cultivation of various plants.

It is said that the hands of noble children should never be raised in hardship nor their shoulders be strained by rough work. However, this humble woman believes that being too idle is not good for children either. Naturally, it would be best if the children did not have to do these chores. However, if they had not shown promise with learning, they could still cultivate an alternative livelihood through these little chores.

Therefore, after much careful consideration, this humble woman finally decided to let them assist with the work. After all, the three of us adults are enough to take care of these few acres of land.”

Finally relieved, Jin Fengju nodded, “You’re right, it was my neglect that caused this. For you to consider their future so carefully, shows that you must have sincerely thought about their future. I am grateful for your consideration.”

Fu Qiuning’s eyes widened with surprise. However, she immediately realised that she must have inadvertently shown her true feelings. She hastily lowered her head and thought: Looks like this Young Marquis is not a complete bastard, ah. To think he would say such a thing to an abandoned wife. Surely it’s impossible for such a man to exist in this era? Still, if he was really such a good man, why was he so scummy before?

Jin Fengju was not aware of the doubts in her heart. He felt her current behaviour now was quite adorable, to act so awkwardly after [3] ‘the corn already had its ears pulled out’.

With a smile, he turned around and said leisurely, “Since you’ve worked so hard on it, once you’ve moved back to the inner court, I shall arrange for someone to take care of this season’s crops. You’ve personally raised these vegetables, therefore, I’m sure they would taste good. The Old Madam enjoys fresh produce like these best.”

“… …”

Fu Qiuning understood that she had been too excited about not being divorced when she was struck by this devastating news.

[Gumihou: …this Jin Fengju is too annoying. Just go away!]

[1] Some minor sentence adjustments for better flow

[2] He simply cannot allow these two children to keep doing these contemptible work

What the- excuse you? How do you think they had lived until now?

[3] To have all the ears of the corn pulled out

… errr, to have one’s secrets exposed? Can’t seem to find any corresponding idiom to this