Page 305

Work on the new house was proceeding in an orderly fashion, and the rabbit hutches and sheep pen that Lin Yuan had designed on the blueprints were all completed. All that was left to build was the pigpen outside the house.

Every time Pork Rong came to deliver pork, he would ask Lin Yuan when she could bring those two piglets over; they had been eating and drinking well these days, growing exceptionally robust.

Lin Yuan certainly hadn’t forgotten those plump, chubby little piglets.

As the construction of the new house was nearly finished, she had people build the pigpen for her.

Pigs like to root around, and there were plenty of red bricks left over from building the house, so the affluent Lin Yuan even had the pigpen built with red bricks, which made many people in the village green with envy.

Especially the folks at the old Lin family estate—Lady Ma spent all day hiding at home, taking care of Lin Yongle, with no time left to go out and chat with the village women.

Li Feng’e, on the other hand, was idle all day with nothing to do.

Her two sons were looked after by Lady Yang, the cooking at home was done by Lady Yang, and even laundry was Lady Yang’s task.

As for farm work, Li Feng’e didn’t even know where her own fields were, let alone actually doing any farming.

But when it came to gossiping with the village wives, she could never be left out. Initially, she disdained mingling with these rural women, but having married into the Lin family hollow for several years now, she had become one of them.

"Wow, Laosan’s house, have you heard? Lin Yuan’s house built their pigpen out of red bricks!" a sharp-tongued woman said provocatively, looking at Li Feng’e.

"That’s right, I’ve also heard she’s taken over two shops in town.

One of them seems to be for a pastry business.

Oh, look at her, she hasn’t been separated from you guys for long, and she’s already building houses and opening shops—she really is wealthy!

" another woman with upturned eyes chimed in.

Li Feng’e, who was cracking open some melon seeds Lin Jiaxiao brought back from town for her yesterday, spat out a seed shell with a loud snap and rolled her eyes, "Hmph! I’ve always said it, that Little Disaster Star is the most cunning of all!

They must have hidden the silver before they split from us!

Hmph, it’s just because they look down on their poor relatives!

What’s so great about that, my aunt is still the favorite of the Madam County Magistrate.

Look, even these melon seeds were sent to me by my aunt. "

The sharp-tongued woman and the one with upturned eyes glanced at each other, pursed their lips, but unanimously said, "Exactly, how can they compare to you? You come from a well-off family after all, and your man dotes on you so much, always saving the best treats for you."

Li Feng’e delighted in these words, lifting her chin with vanity, before pulling out another handful of melon seeds from her pocket and handing them over to the two women, "Here, have some melon seeds, they’re salty. Don’t eat too much, or you’ll get heaty."

The two women’s faces lit up as they accepted the melon seeds, not realizing they were only given about a dozen each. They pursed their lips but carefully tucked the seeds into their pockets.

Ordinary households couldn’t afford melon seeds, and they planned to take them home to let their children have a taste.

Li Feng’e was well aware of the two women’s thoughts and felt even more disdain for them.

But she had no interest in dwelling on it, as her eyes had already drifted across the road to Lin Yuan’s house.

Although she wouldn’t admit it aloud, her heart was honest, and she was filled with regret—regret for splitting from Little Disaster Star, regret for cutting ties with them.

If only she had known that this wretched girl wasn’t a disaster star but a Lucky Star, she would have never tricked her into being sold off for luck.

Meanwhile, it was a bustling scene at Lin Yuan’s house; the household construction was finally complete, even the pigpen was in place, and even the surrounding wall had been knocked down and rebuilt anew.