Chapter 4: The Farm Girl

Wang Heng knew she wasn't clever, but she had her own way of thinking—

Mother was beautiful, and because of that, she was sent away by Father.

A-Jiu looks like Mother and will become beautiful in the future, so she, too, will be sent away by Father!

"No!"

Wang Heng did not want to be sent away. She had already lost Mother; she did not want to lose her "home" as well.

Her large apricot-shaped eyes were brimming with tears, and her small, chubby body trembled slightly.

It must be said that Mother’s departure had left Wang Heng—who had been innocent and simple to the point of being naive—with a sense of crisis, even if she couldn't suddenly become worldly-wise overnight.

She didn't know why, but she was afraid; she felt a constant, looming sense of being discarded.

"Awoo!"

The fat orange cat sensed Wang Heng’s fear, and a flash of confusion crossed its round eyes: What is wrong with this little demon?

What is she afraid of?

There are no terrifying beasts here, nor are there any fierce two-legged creatures.

It had even rolled over to show its belly, letting the little demon pet it, yet the little demon wasn't happy at all.

The orange cat’s meow startled Wang Heng.

She lowered her head, and through her tear-blurred vision, she saw a plump figure.

"Li-nu! Fat Li-nu!"

The chubby Li-nu looked soft and squishy, very pleasant to touch.

Wang Heng was too worried about being sent away to have any heart for petting it.

However, looking at the orange cat’s body, which had grown into a ball, Wang Heng suddenly thought of something.

Just a moment ago, Aunt seemed to say, "It’s just that she looks a bit chubby now; if she were thinner, she would be a proper beauty."

So, Wang Heng’s chubbiness meant she couldn't be a beauty!

Fat = Not beautiful = Won't be sent away!

Wang Heng’s eyes lit up instantly.

"Jiu-niang! Why are you playing with this stray cat again?"

Just then, Bai Zhi came looking for her.

"Aowu!"

The fat orange cat flicked its ears and, with an agility that belied its weight, made a quick leap and scrambled up the rockery.

By the time Bai Zhi reached them, the orange figure had already vanished into the rocks.

"Bai Zhi, is it true that if you get fat, you aren't pretty anymore?"

Wang Heng didn't care about the cat’s escape; she looked up at Bai Zhi and asked earnestly.

Bai Zhi misunderstood, thinking her young mistress was talking about that fat cat.

Thinking of how the cat was wild and untamable, always mooching food and drink from Wang Heng, Bai Zhi nodded and said, "That's right! Once you get fat, you aren't pretty anymore!"

To think a cat could eat itself so fat.

These were consecutive years of famine; it was said that there wasn't even a bug left in the fields, and even rats, cats, and dogs had become food for the countless starving people.

Only this Li-nu, relying on her young mistress, had managed to eat itself into a ball.

It was covered in layers of fat, wobbling with every step it took!

And yet, it was impossible to tame, appearing only when it was hungry or greedy.

Once full and satisfied, it would flick its tail and leave.

Every time, it left Jiu-niang complaining endlessly.

Bai Zhi had long found the cat an eyesore, and now that she finally heard Jiu-niang "disliking" it, she followed suit, unceremoniously listing the fat cat’s flaws: "It eats too much and has become a ball; no matter how good-looking it was, all that's left is gross obesity."

Six-year-old Wang Heng had her own way of thinking—

Eat too much, get fat as a ball, and you will be disliked!

This was no longer just "not beautiful"—it was "ugly"!

Her large eyes, which had already brightened, now shone even more brilliantly, like sparkling starlight.

Bai Zhi was momentarily dazed: Jiu-niang’s features were so much like the Lady’s; she was truly beautiful.

If she hadn't seen it with her own eyes, Bai Zhi wouldn't have imagined that a five or six-year-old girl could be described as "beautiful."

Although Jiu-niang was well-fed by the Lady and a bit round, she was still beautiful and cute, like a sweet, soft, and tender rice dumpling that made one unable to help but love her!

It was just a pity that beautiful women often have tragic fates.

The Lady’s peerless beauty had now—

Sigh, one can only hope that Jiu-niang has the protection of the Wang family and can have a fulfilling life in the future.

...

"...Hiccup! More!"

It was time for the afternoon meal again, but Mother was no longer by her side.

After crying for several days, Wang Heng finally stopped tearing up at the mere mention of Mother.

Kneeling behind the food tray, Wang Heng ate alone, holding silver chopsticks in her chubby little hands.

After finishing, she let out a full burp, but Wang Heng refused to put down her chopsticks.

She raised her small head and said to the middle-aged woman standing beside her, "Fu-mu, more!"

Fu-mu had originally been Wang Heng’s wet nurse. Seeing that she was steady, literate, and well-versed in etiquette, Lady Jiang had temporarily appointed her as her daughter’s Fu-mu, responsible for teaching and supervising her studies.

A Fu-mu was not a wet nurse, but a governess.

Originally, given the Wang family’s status, the governesses for the young ladies of the house were carefully selected and strictly vetted.

But, firstly, the Wang family was in decline, and secondly, the times were tense.

Furthermore, the Wang family’s matriarch, Old Madam Xie, did not like Lady Jiang, and by extension, she did not value the granddaughter born to her.

Old Madam Xie never bothered with the people around Wang Heng, leaving everything to Lady Jiang to handle herself.

Lady Jiang came from a humble background, and her family was not prominent. It was fine for her to equip her daughter with some servants, but she couldn't find a suitable or reliable governess.

As for Wang Lin, though he loved his wife, he cared more about his family, his official career, and filial piety.

She was just a little girl, and she was still young; there was no need to worry too much.

When she grew older and the world became more stable, he could use the Wang family’s reputation—would he have trouble finding someone satisfactory then?

Unfortunately, Lady Jiang did not live to see that day...

Before she passed, Lady Jiang called the Fu-mu to her side, gave her some wealth, and entrusted Wang Heng to her.

The Fu-mu had always been grateful for the Lady’s trust, and now, burdened with such a heavy responsibility, she immediately felt the urge to "die for one who appreciates her."

After Lady Jiang left, the Fu-mu took care of Wang Heng with extraordinary dedication.

The Fu-mu didn't even realize that she also held an inexplicable pity for Wang Heng.

According to the rules, masters should not be greedy when eating.

Being seven or eight parts full was considered the best.

This was the unique health regimen of the Wang family and other aristocratic clans.

But, looking at Wang Heng’s cute little appearance and thinking of how she had lost her mother at such a young age, the Fu-mu couldn't help but soften.

The young mistress wasn't being naughty; she just wanted to eat a little more, which didn't matter.

The Wang family wasn't short of this little bit of food for the young mistress!

"Bai Zhi, go get some more food for Jiu-niang!"

"Yes!"

Bai Zhi agreed and went to the kitchen.

Before long, Bai Zhi returned carrying a food box.

"There wasn't much rice left, so I had the cook make some meat porridge. There were also some snacks in the kitchen, so I brought those too!"

The Fu-mu pitied and loved Wang Heng, and Bai Zhi, who was only three years older than Wang Heng, also felt heartache for this poor little mistress.

Without needing the Fu-mu to order her, she had taken the initiative to ask for tea snacks.

Jiu-niang’s own mother had "sacrificed" herself for the Wang family; could Jiu-niang not even get enough to eat in the Wang house?

These people in the Wang family were still living in luxury only because of Lady Jiang’s blessing; they should know how to be grateful and treat Jiu-niang even better!

Bai Zhi was a hereditary servant of the Wang family, but her parents had more than one child, and she had never lived a good life at home.

When the main courtyard was picking maids, her parents wanted her younger sister to go, but the Lady had chosen her, which allowed her to live a life of plenty.

Jiu-niang was also a cute, good-tempered mistress.

In the two or three years since she entered the manor, she had never been beaten or scolded, and she had experienced comforts she had never known before.

Bai Zhi was immensely grateful to the Lady and Jiu-niang, and she had long considered herself a confidante to this mother and daughter.

Having heard of the Lady’s fate, Bai Zhi couldn't help the Lady, so she could only secretly keep track of these debts and protect Jiu-niang well!

"Jiu-niang, just eat. If there is anything else you want to eat or anything you need, just tell this servant!"

Bai Zhi said softly to Wang Heng, secretly feeling indignant.

Wang Heng:...So full!

However, in order to grow fat as a ball and become ugly, she gritted her teeth and kept eating, eating, eating!

...

Hedong County, Wang Family Temple.

In a dilapidated farmhouse at the edge of the village, on a wooden bed in the west wing, a thin girl with sparse hair slowly opened her eyes...

PS: Hmm, the update time is tentatively set for 18:00 every day. If you have any opinions, feel free to suggest them, (づ￣ 3￣)づ

(End of chapter)