[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-abandoned-woman-busy-farming":3,"chapter-abandoned-woman-busy-farming-abandoned-woman-busy-farming-chapter-176":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Abandoned Woman Busy Farming",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},537841,790,"Chapter 176 - 176 176 Choose One of Two","abandoned-woman-busy-farming-chapter-176",176,"\u003Cp>Chapter 176: Chapter 176: Choose One of Two Chapter 176: Chapter 176: Choose One of Two Bai Ruozhu was stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the memories of her past self, including her interactions with Xiaosi after transmigration, she had never seen Xiaosi smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His expression was always wooden, his eyes lacking focus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, people in the village and the old mansion thought that Xiaosi had something wrong with his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But just now, Xiaosi had smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The smile was weak and stiff, but indeed, he had smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, did Xiaosi just smile?” asked Lin Ping’er incredulously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, he did.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The child can smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is wonderful!” Bai Yihong exclaimed excitedly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Zepei looked at Xiaosi and then at Bai Ruozhu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was a hint of confusion in his eyes, but he quickly concealed it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“At least for a while, Er Lang won’t be able to beat Xiaosi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s great news,” he said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Indeed, this was what Bai Ruozhu had thought about being mentioned by Bai Zepei.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It brought a sense of guilt to her mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But she quickly erased it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the Jiangs can do things so stealthily, who can point fingers at her?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Early the next morning, Lin Ping’er and Bai Yihong went to visit the old mansion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They not only brought a basket of eggs but also a gift-wrapped envelope that contained a hundred copper coins, a huge sum at Mountain Village.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, the old lady’s disapproval was apparent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even when other people came to visit, her face was long and grim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Publicly, she criticized, “Just a hundred pieces?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For such a severe illness of your nephew?”Bai Ruozhu could afford two taels of silver presently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But nobody wants to spend money on people like Er Lang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, the old mansion has not reached the point of not having money for medical treatments and meals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a matter of the old lady’s habit of hoarding money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, one can’t have a loose tongue with this kind of people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment you give them two taels of silver, within a few days they could ask for four taels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They may bite the hand that feeds them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The villagers who came to visit brought some gifts too, typically worth ten to fifteen copper coins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Learning the old lady did not even appreciate a hundred copper coins, they felt embarrassed, hurriedly left after leaving the things they brought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Er Lang suffered a lot from setting the bone right, primarily due to repeatedly falling on the injured leg.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luckily, the bone was not fractured, and the joint was not affected either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He might not turn out a cripple, but as the doctor warned, he could end up with some lingering problems from the injury if he did not take good care of himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Er Lang became very cautious about his well-being after hearing this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He would lie in bed and refuse to move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the night, he groaned in pain so loud that even the neighbors could hear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Returning to Lin Ping’er and Bai Yihong, they did not debate with the old lady and maintained their silence because there were a lot of people around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The patriarch did not allow the old lady to speak up much, so they quickly left after a short stay.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But both sensed the old lady would demand more money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ever since Er Lang came first in an examination, and Officer Li personally brought a reward, the old lady started eyeing their family’s money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had indeed found a good opportunity now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Early in the morning, Bai Zepei went to the town to study with Mr.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Zehao continued to work in the field, and Bai Ruozhu stayed at home looking after the children.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the afternoon, Mrs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie, accompanied by a maid, arrived at Mountain Village in a carriage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without Bai Ruozhu having to announce, both of the families eagerly brought their daughters to greet them right away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Ruozhu sighed quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if they were in a hurry, they should have pretended not to know and wait for her to send a message.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This way of rushing just seems a bit too desperate to sell the children, doesn’t it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore, many villagers quietly whispered about these two families.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They felt Mrs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang was okay, for she had bought a poor girl from her far relatives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it was not the case with Guizhi’s mother, who was selling off her daughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was really distasteful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, Guizhi’s family was not hard up for cash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon introduction, Mrs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie immediately identified Xi Ya and Guizhi, which matched her speculation from yesterday.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Guizhi was in a very bad mood today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tears were in her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She understood that this was Bai Ruozhu’s solution to save her from her predicament.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She also knew that materializing the sales was the only way for her to avoid marrying the widower who killed his wife.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, she could not bring herself to be happy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She felt her mother too eager to get rid of her, as if she was selling a well-raised pig.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, her mother had taken out her old clothes early in the morning and even intentionally made a few holes in them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though the sleeves and trousers were short, her mother still forced her to put them on, saying, “Look at how well Mrs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang does.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You have to learn to be clever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you don’t want to marry Yang San, you must do well in Mrs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie’s place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe someday you could be chosen to serve Mr.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie, a fate better than any other girl in the village.”Guizhi flushed with anger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She didn’t want to be anyone’s concubine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoever wanted to be, let them be!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guizhi shouted inside her head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, she didn’t debate with her mother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Partly it was because she was accustomed to this life where talking back invited a beating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And partly it was because she was mentally and physically exhausted and didn’t want to say another word to her mother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Ruozhu saw Guizhi nervously clutching her sleeve and felt a dull ache in her heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She knew Guizhi’s mother had orchestrated this to make things uncomfortable for Guizhi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But these days would be over soon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had already negotiated with Yu Hongxiu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After buying Guizhi, Guizhi would reside temporarily at Xie Residence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She will be treated as a helper and introduced to others as a maid in Xie Residence, so that Guizhi’s mother wouldn’t get to know and pester Guizhi again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once Bai Ruozhu’s business picked up, she planned to convince her family members to accompany her second brother to the City to attend the Study Palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They can start a small business to support each other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guizhi will definitely live with them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Bai Ruozhu told her, she has to work to repay the silver.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the other hand, Xi Ya was very nervous, her head almost buried in her chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was even more scared than yesterday when she met Bai Ruozhu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xi Ya finally mustered her courage to look at Yu Hongxiu, her eyes filled with plea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“These two girls look honest at first glance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You recommended the right people, Ruozhu.” Yu Hongxiu leisurely sipped her tea, trying to provoke Mrs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang and Guizhi’s mother before eventually saying unhurriedly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Ruozhu smiled and agreed, saying, “Yes, we know their backgrounds too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, I wouldn’t recommend them casually.”“But I only need one maid.” Yu Hongxiu paused after speaking, then asked the girls what they could do, if they could read, and their hobbies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both girls answered the questions one by one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it was clear that Xi Ya was more timid than Guizhi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xi Ya’s voice was trembling, which irritated Mrs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang a lot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mrs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang glared at her repeatedly, but the more she did, the more scared Xi Ya became.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, Xi Ya could hardly speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking for a moment, Yu Hongxiu finally said, “Let’s choose Guizhi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s rare that she can read a little.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since my husband is a scholar, our servants must also know a little reading.”Upon hearing this, Guizhi’s mother’s face lit up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She thanked Mrs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie profusely, saying, “Thank you for your mercy, Madame.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My daughter Guizhi is obedient and sensible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She will definitely serve you well.”The word “serve” stabbed Fang Guizhi twice, and if she didn’t know she wasn’t really being sold, she might have fainted on the spot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Mrs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang became anxious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She knelt down on the ground and begged, “Madam, please take pity on our Xi Ya.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you don’t buy her, she will starve to death after she goes back…”\u003C\u002Fp>",1431,"2026-05-30T14:08:51.305Z","2026-06-01T04:31:25.023Z",1,"novelbin.me","cf158e0c841d9ffbbf3b003b168d5b57960934033c7a00b13c3d17a4c9d0c9d5","abandoned-woman-busy-farming-chapter-177","abandoned-woman-busy-farming-chapter-175",2707,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fabandoned-woman-busy-farming-cover.jpg"]