Chapter 35: with translation of chapter title

Lin Meng's voice happened to reach the ears of the few people resting on the field ridge.

Soon, several men and women nearby gathered around.

They recognized Zhang Yufan, and thought a small boss had come early this year to purchase.

But who would have thought that standing beside Zhang Yufan was Lin Meng, the ill‑reputed person from the village entrance.

"Did you just say you wanted to buy all the pumpkins in my field?"

At that moment, a middle‑aged woman who looked very simple and unadorned cautiously asked Lin Meng, her eyes full of anticipation.

Lin Meng was about to speak, but another villager beat her to it.

"Wang Dajie, you don't know this person? She's the infamous disaster star of our village who supposedly harms her parents—you know Lin Congshan at the village head, right? She's the daughter of Lao Lintou's third family; her household is almost extinct, so you must never believe her words."

"Exactly, Wang Dajie, stay away from her quickly, lest you also be harmed by her."

Lin Meng's face sank; she didn't want to cause trouble, but that didn't mean she had no temper.

These villagers kept saying she was a disaster star who harmed her relatives, really treating her as easy to bully.

"I only know that some people spout nonsense, creating verbal karma, and will meet retribution!"

She coldly stared at those gossiping about her, then turned a kind gaze toward Wang dama.

"Wang dama, I want to buy the pumpkins in your field; tell me how many there are and how you'd like to be paid."

Wang dama ignored the villagers' talk; she never idly gossips and doesn't take part in the village's gossip.

Moreover, she felt this pretty young lady suited her taste; at first glance she wasn't the disaster star people talked about.

Wang dama warmly greeted Lin Meng and invited her to inspect the pumpkins in the field, completely ignoring others' meddling.

"Lin Meng, if you think my pumpkins are all right, I'll give you a discount—we're from the same village; if you're willing to buy my produce, I'll be happy and won't have time to lose."

"Don't listen to their nonsense; they're just idle."

Lin Meng gave Wang dama another look; indeed, a kind person shows it in their face—this dama clearly has good fortune.

"Wang dama, I've decided—I'll take your pumpkins, no need for a discount; I'm acting on behalf of others, they'll pay, so you should charge whatever you're due."

Upon hearing this, Wang dama was overjoyed and hurriedly called people to come harvest and weigh.

In no time, the Wang family came to the field, without suspicion or idle chatter, each bending to work busily.

Zhang Yufan spoke softly:

"The Wang dama's family are all honest and diligent, never stirring up trouble—just too honest, so they often suffer losses."

"Our village relies on farming for a meager income; we can only grow so much each year, and if someone comes to buy and then cheats us, all that year's hard work goes to waste."

Lin Meng nodded; she had lived in the town since childhood, rarely returning to the village, and didn't realize there were many low‑income households there.

Besides farming, they have no other means of livelihood, only able to struggle in the village for life.

Households like the Wang dama's, honest farmers, are actually not few; when bosses from various places come to purchase, the high‑price offers go elsewhere, and even when they sell honestly they still get cheated.

It's rare for Wang dama to trust Lin Meng without reservation.

Other households were still watching the spectacle, occasionally throwing in a few sarcastic remarks.

"You actually believe Lin Meng's words? She still owes over three million to outside bosses—how could she possibly buy your pumpkins?"

"Old Lin, your wife is causing a scene—you can't just follow along blindly; you know what kind of person Lin Meng is, surely you've heard?"

Wang dama's husband Lin Bin turned a deaf ear, only picking pumpkins single‑mindedly.

He didn't believe those neighbors' mouths, which all day long know only to speak ill of others behind their backs.

Don't think he doesn't know; in their mouths there isn't a single good person, and anyone could become their gossip target.

He had heard of Lin Meng's affairs, but things certainly aren't as those people say.

A girl who has lost her parents and still has to bear the family's external debt is already having a hard enough time.

Yet they still slander her—it's utterly inhuman.

Wang dama couldn't stand it anymore; occasionally she straightened up and shouted back a few sentences, then went on working.

Lin Meng stood on the field ridge watching, already having a plan in mind.

By noon, the Wang dama's family finally harvested all the pumpkins from one mu of land, piling about seven hundred pumpkins on the field ridge—a spectacular sight.

"Lin Meng lass, these tender pumpkin vines and leaves are also edible—I've picked them all for you, as a gift; I'll immediately have my old man and son find someone to weigh them, and if you're tired you can rest first—I'll come find you when done."

Wang dama worked up a sweat, her face beaming with a smile.

Counting it up, her household is now the only one in the village that has sold all its pumpkins; in previous years, when queuing for buyers, her family always ended up at the back.

Now the field is empty; after fattening the soil they can immediately plant a new crop, expecting another harvest before the New Year.

The onlookers villagers may not spare words, but inside they're all secretly anxious.

The small bosses who used to buy pumpkins are estimated to still be a few weeks away from reaching their village.

This way, they'd fall far behind the Wang dama's family.

But some still think Lin Meng is surely deceiving them—how could an unemployed debtor with a huge load of debt possibly buy so many pumpkins, and why?

The Wang dama's family worked efficiently, finishing weighing the pumpkins from one mu before lunch and working out a price.

Wang dama came smiling to Lin Meng's side.

"Lin Meng lass, you've bought all the pumpkins at once; our whole family is grateful—we'll sell them to you for five thousand, what do you think?"

Lin Meng took the slip Wang dama gave her, with the weight in catties and taels and the price clearly written.

She wasn't too familiar with market conditions, but Zhang Yufan knew.

Zhang Yufan leaned close to her ear and whispered:

"It's quite a bargain—according to past prices, these pumpkins' wholesale value would be at least six thousand; Wang dama's pumpkins are a superior variety, well grown, so this price is absolutely conscientious."

Lin Meng nodded, immediately pulled out her phone, and transferred seven thousand to Wang dama.

"Why give seven thousand? Lass, dama can't take advantage of a little girl like you—five thousand is already profit for us; you've given too much."

Wang dama hadn't expected Lin Meng to be so generous—she ended up transferring an extra two thousand.

You have to know that they, as a couple, farm at home, and they can only earn a little over ten thousand a year; two thousand is already a big sum for them.

Lin Meng insisted on paying.

Aunt Wang, just take it easy and accept it; seven thousand really isn't much, next time I'll still come to your place to collect.

Soon, the news that Lin Meng had spent seven thousand to buy Aunt Wang's pumpkins spread wildly through the village, quickly spreading.

Those villagers who watched Lin Meng transfer the money, with Aunt Wang's family grinning ear to ear, were now completely dumbfounded.

"No, she actually accepted it? If I had known, I wouldn't have spoken ill of her."