The Fortunate Lady and Her Mountain Man

Chapter 270: Chapter 270: Having Confidence

Song Jing had told Ji Huan that the results of the county exam would be out within five to seven days.

’By my calculations, that should be around the twenty-first or twenty-second of August.’

It was only a few days away, but Song Jing still hadn’t returned.

’Knowing his personality, he definitely wouldn’t stay in Yeyang to wait for the results. He probably went back to the academy in town to prepare for the upcoming prefectural and provincial exams.’

’He can actually settle down and study, completely unaware of how many people out there have lost their appetites. They probably won’t get a wink of good sleep until the day the results are posted.’

But if Song Jing wasn’t worried, there was no need for her to worry needlessly either.

’In a few days, we’ll see if any good news arrives in Dafeng Village. The outcome will be clear then, won’t it?’

When Ji Xuelan and Ji Mingfang got home, they wrapped the employment contract up tightly, put it in Ji Xuelan’s trunk, and even locked it.

Yang repeatedly asked them what kind of business Ji Huan was planning to start.

The confidentiality agreement didn’t require them to keep so secret that they couldn’t even tell their family what they’d be doing.

But given Yang’s personality... the siblings had to be extra cautious, so they refused to say a single word more.

They only said they were helping Ji Huan harvest crops and told Yang not to worry, that they would be paid daily wages.

Yang quickly asked how much the wages were, but the siblings wouldn’t open their mouths.

When her questioning became insistent, Ji Xuelan snapped, "It’s more than I earned washing clothes until I was dead tired, anyway. Mom, just stop asking. I’m going to go borrow a cart. Let’s go to the brick kiln before it gets too dark and bring Dad back."

"What? What’s wrong with your father?!"

The color drained from Yang’s face. All thoughts of business and wages flew out of her mind as her legs went weak and she started to slide to the floor.

Luckily, Ji Xuelan and Ji Mingfang were right there. Each grabbing an arm, they supported her onto a bamboo couch to lie down, pinching her philtrum and fanning her to cool her down.

Yang finally caught her breath, and tears started streaming down her face.

"Oh, your father! I told you not to go, but you insisted! Now something’s happened. How are we and the children supposed to live if you’ve left us?! Your father!!"

Ji Xuelan froze for a moment, then her expression darkened.

"Mom! What are you crying for? Dad’s fine. They said he hurt his foot. I was afraid he couldn’t walk a long distance, so I was going to borrow a cart..."

’Besides, when Dad wanted to go to the brick kiln, you didn’t stop him after you heard how good the pay was,’ Ji Xuelan grumbled to herself, but she kept the thought from being spoken.

Ji Mingfang was so angry he turned his back, not wanting to say another word.

Yang sheepishly wiped away her tears and sat up.

"Who told you?"

"Wan told us."

Yang was a little displeased. "Then why didn’t she tell us sooner?"

Ji Xuelan frowned. "She only just found out on the fifteenth herself, and then she was busy hiring... The moment she remembered today, didn’t she tell us right away? Besides, she doesn’t know the specifics either. Auntie Xie told her, and Auntie Xie said it’s not serious. No broken bones, he’ll be fine after a few days of rest."

Hearing it wasn’t serious, Yang started worrying about something else.

"Your father had such a hard time getting that job. He’s only been working there a short while and now he’s hurt... If we bring him home now, they’re not going to be happy..."

Ji Mingfang spun around. "So you only care if other people are happy, not whether Dad lives or dies?"

Yang said anxiously, "How can you say I don’t care? I’m more worried than anyone! But your sister said it’s not serious, and I’m just afraid the kiln won’t give him time off, or that they’ll dock his pay..."

"Even if they don’t give him time off, we’re still going to bring Dad back! If they dock his pay, so be it! I don’t want Dad going back there anyway!"

"How can we do that! Your sister quit her laundry job. The family is depending on your father’s wages now. If..."

"Mom!" Ji Xuelan cut her off, her tone leaving no room for argument. "If you’re not feeling well, you stay home. Ming Fang and I will go get him."

Yang was taken aback. She knew her daughter had made up her mind and couldn’t be stopped.

"But your brother’s leg..."

Ji Mingfang turned his head and walked out the door.

Ji Xuelan shook her head and sighed. "Oh, Mom, you really are something... Forget it. You lie down for a while. We’ll just walk slowly. We’ll get there eventually."

Ji Xuelan went to Widow Xie’s house to borrow a flatbed cart, and it worked out perfectly as she could also take something to Hu Liang for Widow Xie.

On the way, she wanted to tell Ji Mingfang several times not to push himself. He could sit on the cart while she pulled, and they would move faster.

However, the way Ji Huan treated Ji Mingfang had deeply moved her.

Constant protection and avoidance weren’t what was truly best for Ming Fang. If they wanted him to step out of the shadows, the family first had to let go of their own hang-ups and face the problem head-on.

It was like when Ming Fang was just learning to walk as a child; she was always trailing behind him, shouting, "Walk slowly, don’t fall."

Now, she was willing to accompany him as he learned how to walk all over again.

This time, they would walk slowly, one step at a time, with their heads held high and chests out.

Once they left Dafeng Village and saw the open fields all around, the frustration bottled up in Ji Mingfang’s heart dissipated. He felt a little guilty, and at the same time, he noticed Ji Xuelan’s deliberately slowed pace.

"I... why don’t I go back? You’ll be faster on your own."

"I’ve walked this road countless times, always in a mad rush like the house was on fire. It’s rare that I get to take it slow. Just think of it as keeping your big sister company and helping me relax. When I get tired of pulling the cart later, you can take over for me."

Ji Xuelan’s words chased away the dark cloud that had just gathered over Ji Mingfang’s face. He quirked his lips into a slight smile, his voice tinged with relief.

"Then tell me when you need me to take over."

"Don’t worry, you won’t get away with it."

True to her word, Ji Xuelan had Ji Mingfang take over pulling the cart halfway there, while she pushed from the side.

Pulling the flatbed cart, Ji Mingfang walked even more slowly, but he didn’t say anything about giving up. Ji Xuelan, helping by pushing from the side, didn’t tell him to stop either.

As they walked, Ji Mingfang suddenly spoke up.

"Sis, I’ve figured it out. Having money and having something to do... it’s really important."

He didn’t need Yang to remind him; he had always known that he couldn’t do anything with his leg.

’But why did I storm out of the house today without a second thought, insisting on going with Ji Xuelan to pick up our father?’

’Thinking about it, I realize it’s because of the employment contract lying in that trunk.’

’Those few sheets of paper represent a job. They mean I can be like most other men—support my family and earn a living.’

’That’s why I could stand up straight and say with confidence that I don’t want Dad to keep working at the kiln.’

’Before, no matter how much my heart ached or how worried I was, I would have kept it all bottled up, because I knew it was useless to say anything.’

’A single cent can stump a hero. One cent is so important, and I couldn’t even earn that much.’

’Now, I can support myself. Dad doesn’t have to work so hard, and more importantly, he won’t have to risk his life just to make a few cents.’

"Yes, it is. It’s very important!"

Ji Xuelan gazed at the sunset clouds on the horizon and sighed with the same sentiment.

Before this, she was always either toiling over housework or scrambling to make a living. When had she ever been in the mood to appreciate a sunset?

She didn’t know what a sense of security felt like, but she knew that her heart felt grounded, more so than ever before.

"So we have to work hard, for Wan, and for ourselves."

By the time they reached the kiln, the sky had already darkened. But it was a moonlit night, so they could see the road without a lamp.

When Ji Liansong learned that his daughter and son had come, he was both surprised and delighted.

Seeing Ji Mingfang pulling the flatbed cart, his eyes stung with emotion.

’My son is willing to come out of the house... My son and daughter came to get me together...’

But he refused to go back, insisting that his foot was almost better and he could go back to work tomorrow. Missing a day meant losing a day’s wages.

Ji Xuelan could clearly see he was still limping and refused to listen to him.

Without another word, the siblings went to the kiln’s dormitory, rolled up his bedding, and then found Hu Liang.

Hu Liang promised to find the foreman the next day to help Ji Liansong quit and settle his outstanding wages.

Ji Liansong, in a daze, was forcibly helped onto the cart and pulled away.

On the way, Ji Xuelan told him about their new job helping Ji Huan, including the daily wage of twenty cents and the employment contract.

Ji Liansong was silent for a long time before letting out a sigh.

"Work hard. Don’t let her down."

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