The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure

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Sighing from a parched mouth, she glanced mockingly at the tiny silver lilacs adorning Jinhua’s ears, her voice tinged with disdain, "Your studs are so small; they’re hardly noticeable. What’s the point of wearing them? How about this—you wash my clothes, and I’ll give you a pair of earrings much prettier than those?"

Her clothes from yesterday were still strewn about somewhere, and in this cold weather, she had no desire to touch the freezing water.

In the past, it was Jinhua and Lady Jiang who helped with the laundry when she returned. This time, her parents had instructed her not to order her cousins around.

But surely an exchange of goods was acceptable?

Jinhua was taken aback before realizing that Jinchai fancied herself a young lady of means—did she think Jinhua would wash her clothes in exchange for trinkets, as though Jinhua was a maid?

Jinhua had always had a fiery streak about her, but in the past, without the backing of the third branch and with Lady Jiang bearing down on her, Jinhua had gritted her teeth and endured for Lady Jiang’s sake.

Now, with Wang Yonggui standing on his own and the family split apart, aside from her aunt and grandmother, she was afraid of no one.

Upon hearing Jinchai’s words, Jinhua bristled with irritation, sparing a sarcastic glance at the hairpin atop Jinchai’s head before retorting, "If you give me a hairpin like the one Aunt wears, I might consider washing a couple of your dresses. Otherwise, forget it! You’re not some pampered young mistress. A pair of silver earrings is hardly something to boast about—aren’t you afraid of being laughed at? You brag about your parents currying favor with the County Magistrate like dogs; yet you wear such shabby hairpins. Why aren’t you adorned with jade and gemstones like those esteemed young ladies you talk about? Your parents claim they’ve made plenty of money; could it be they’re too stingy to spend any on you? And yet you flaunt your wealth before me?"

Blushing with humiliation at these words, Jinchai’s eyes teared up, close to spilling over.

She had never expected that Jinhua, whom she used to boss around like a maid upon her return, would be so unforgiving with her words.