Chapter 26
A Jinx
Ding Yao was very satisfied with Song Xiuyan’s performance. He wasn’t greedy for money, nor did he hesitate at all. He approved of her decision. They carried big and small bags and went to the agreed place to take the ox-cart.
The ox-cart was already waiting at the intersection. Many villagers were already sitting on the ox-cart, whispering about something. When they saw Song Xiuyan and Ding Yao, they quickly shut up. Ding Yao had a premonition. The content of these people’s gossip definitely had something to do with her.
A woman saw that Song Xiuyan and Ding Yao had bought so many things, she revealed a pained expression. “Song Xiuyan, are you afraid that you’ll starve your little wife? You’re buying rice and meat. I heard that you’re going to town to help people write letters, and you’re also going to sell calligraphy and paintings?”
After saying this, another woman added, “Although selling calligraphy and paintings to people to write letters can make money, you still have to take care of your body.”
Ding Yao heard their words and felt that it was quite strange. Although these women sounded like they were pining for Song Xiuyan, in reality, they were clearly blaming her for coming to the Song family and increasing Song Xiuyan’s burden. However, had she ever offended these women? Why did they all dislike her?
Song Xiuyan explained, “I didn’t do any work today. The money I used to buy things was from medicinal herbs I found on the mountain. Ding Yao knows a lot of medicinal herbs.” He seized the opportunity to emphasize Ding Yao’s abilities.
The woman who spoke at the beginning sighed. So what if she knew medicinal herbs? With Ding Yao’s current state, she would be a disaster if she stayed at home.
The ox-cart was bumpy. The villagers bought enough things and chatted and gossiped about their neighbors along the way. When the ox-cart arrived, they saw Song Yu and Song Xue looking at the door from afar. When they saw the ox-cart, they quickly ran over to take the food
“Xiuyan, sister Ding Yao,” Song Yu and Song Xue called out listlessly
Ding Yao felt a little baffled. She thought that Song Yu and Song Xue would jump up in joy when they saw so many delicious food. Why didn’t they look happy at all? Why did they look so unhappy?
After returning home, Song Xiuyan asked Song Yu and Song Xue, “What happened?”
Song Yu and Song Xue didn’t say anything. They both turned their heads to look at Song Yang, who was chopping wood in the courtyard. Song Xiuyan simply asked Song Yang, “Song Yang, tell me, what exactly happened?”
Song Yang said, “Xiuyan, it’s nothing big. It’s just that some people’s words are unpleasant to hear. Don’t bother with them. No one will say anything in two days.”
Ding Yao thought for a moment. Song Xiuyan’s family had quite a good reputation in the Song family village. It was impossible for those people to gossip about them. Did that mean that they were talking about her? Seeing that Song Xiuyan didn’t continue asking, Ding Yao wanted to figure out what was going on. She gestured with her hands. “I want to know what the people in the village said. If they’re coming for me, I need to know what they said. Are they deliberately making things up or what they saw? I can’t be gossiped behind my back for no reason.”
Seeing this, Song Xiuyan could only say to Song Xue, “Repeat what those people said. I want to hear it.”
Song Xue was a little hesitant, but Ding Yao looked indifferent. She waved her hand and said, “It’s okay. It’s okay if Song Xue doesn’t want to talk about it. I’ll go out and ask someone.” There was no shortage of gossipers in the village. If something happened to a family, in less than half an hour, the entire village would know.
Song Xue understood Ding Yao’s actions and pulled her back. “Sister Ding Yao, don’t go out. If you want to know what they said, I’ll tell you.”
It turned out that after Zhao Caiyun returned home feeling itchy and uncomfortable, she still felt itchy even after washing herself from top to bottom. She sobbed and told her mother about the scene. Zhao Caiyun’s mother was also a fierce village woman. She was very unreasonable. She directly stood in front of the front door of the Song family and cursed loudly, saying that the Song family had brought an unlucky person into the village. She said that Caiyun had only been sitting with that jinx, Ding Yao, and she had been possessed. Her entire body was inexplicably itchy.
Zhao Caiyun’s mother’s scolding spread like wildfire. After a whole morning, the content of the rumor became more and more vivid. Ding Yao had turned from an unlucky person to a jinx. They even said that she had killed her own grandfather. Previously, after Song Xiuyan and Ding Yao were engaged, the Song family had extreme bad luck. First, Song Xiuyan’s grandfather had died, then his father had died of illness, his third brother Song Yi had his leg broken, his mother remarried, and yesterday, Song Yang had been bitten by a poisonous snake. Song Xiuyan himself was even more unlucky. He should have taken the college entrance examination two years ago, but every time, he was delayed by various matters.