Princess Wei Yang - C5
1- The Deposed Empress
2- The Unwanted Daughter
3- Slave no more
4- First revenge
5- The Pigs Have Escaped!
6- Seventh Prince, Tuo Ba Yu
7- Returning to the Li’s Estate
8- Benevolent Mother, Filial Daughter
9- Surrendered by Xiaojies
10- Li Zhang Le
11- Prime Minister, Li Xiao Ran
12- Tea Brewing Skills
13- Tit for Tat
14- Battle of Wits
15- Da Furen
Chapter 5
The Pigs Have Escaped!
Mrs. Liu had to stay in bed for seven days. During this time, Zhou Lan Xiu continuously berated her with harsh words, but no one harmed Li Wei Yang. As a result, those seven days passed relatively easily for Li Wei Yang. With Mrs. Ma’s assistance, she was able to eat until her stomach was bloated.
Once Li Wei Yang finished with the laundry, Zhou Lan Xiu approached her and handed her a bucket filled with pig feed. “Go feed the pigs!” she commanded.
In rural villages, feeding the pigs was considered an important responsibility. Usually, Mrs. Liu wouldn’t let anyone else perform this task; she usually assigned it to Zhou Lan Xiu. Since Mrs. Liu wasn’t available physically at the moment, Zhou Lan Xiu quickly dumped the responsibility onto Li Wei Yang.
Li Wei Yang smiled happily and replied, “Yes, Lan Xiu jiejie!” With a cheerful expression, she took the bucket filled with pig feed and headed towards the pigsty.
The Zhous raised a total of eight pigs, which was considered a large number compared to the average. Grinning, Li Wei Yang looked at the group of pigs and thought for a moment. She scooped some feed and poured it into the food bin. Instantly, the pigs rushed over, pushing and shoving each other to get to the food. As she watched them fight for a bite, an interesting idea came to her.
Surveying her surroundings, she set the food bucket down in the pigsty, opened the gates, and set the pigs free. The eight pigs, feeling liberated after being cooped up for so long, charged out at lightning speed.
Li Wei Yang stepped aside to avoid the stampede. Once she saw all the pigs had escaped, she smirked slightly. Then, picking up the bucket of pig feed, she quietly exited the house through the back gate. She made her way to the village's most commonly used water well and dumped the entire bucket of pig feed into it. Watching the water splash gently, Li Wei Yang smiled softly.
A few villagers ambled by, their curious glances lingering a moment longer than necessary, but Li Wei Yang chose not to engage them. They studied her with a mixture of intrigue and confusion, their brows furrowed in thought before they continued on their way, whispering among themselves.
Li Wei Yang took a moment to soak in the sunlight, closing her eyes briefly as the warm rays enveloped her. The cool breeze rustled the leaves overhead, creating a gentle symphony that harmonized with the distant sounds of the village. With a graceful motion, she settled onto the ground, crossing her legs beneath her, and turned her gaze toward the village entrance, where the path wound like a ribbon through the fields.
She was a striking figure against the landscape. The sky, a canvas of swirling gray clouds punctuated by patches of brilliant blue, seemed to spotlight her as if nature itself had decided to honor her with its warmth and brilliance. The sun shone down, casting a golden hue on her features and illuminating her with a soft glow that made her seem almost ethereal. She resembled a living painting—a perfect blend of serenity and beauty—as she sat contemplatively, lost in thought and in the breathtaking views that surrounded her.
After waiting for about half an hour, she saw Teacher Wang and the village head slowly approaching her. She felt happy.
Anyone wishing to return to the village had to pass by this water well. Initially, she wanted to wait for the village head to pass by, but Teacher Wang unexpectedly showed up with him. Teacher Wang was the only scholar in the village. Despite failing the exams multiple times, he was still the only literate person in the group who read books. He was known for his desire to reason, to moderate others' affairs, to demonstrate fairness, and to build a good reputation.
Li Wei Yang quickly stood up, roughly wiped her eyes, and nervously gazed at the well. The village head walked by and looked at her with a hint of suspicion. “Li Wei Yang, what are you doing here?” he asked.
The village head was merely inquiring out of casual concern, but suddenly, Li Wei Yang lifted her head, revealing her worries and sadness. She replied, “Lan Xiu Jiejie told me to feed the pigs. I was careless and clumsy, and I accidentally poured the pig feed into the well. What should I do? What should I do? Tonight, I’m going to be beaten to death!”
The village head was horrified. “What? What did you do?”
Li Wei Yang displayed a confused and terrified expression before bursting into tears. Outsiders watching would surely feel sympathy and conflicted emotions. “What should I do? What should I do? I’m definitely going to be beaten to death. I don’t dare to go back, so I might as well jump into this well!” With that, she climbed onto the well, as if she were actually going to jump.
The village head panicked. If someone really committed suicide in this well, then all the other villagers would no longer be able to drink from it. He rushed over and grabbed her firmly. “A million times, please don’t do it! Let’s talk this through!”
Teacher Wang observed the scene for a while, stroking his beard. He finally asked, “How could this happen? From what I’ve heard, you stay at their house, and they cover your monthly living expenses. How could they force you to feed the pigs?”
Li Wei Yang wiped her face with her sleeve, looking truly remorseful. “Before, my family sent 10 silver coins every month for the past six years, but now they have stopped.”
“What?! 10 silvers every month?!” Teacher Wang exclaimed in shock. He taught in the village, and not a single student had been able to donate even 2 silvers for renovations in years. It was incredibly unfair! He took a deep breath, looked at Li Wei Yang, and thought about how greedy the Zhous were. Over the last six years, they had taken a total of 720 silvers. How much did it really cost to raise a small girl? Even if they had to care for her for the rest of her life, it wouldn’t come close to 720 silvers! And yet, they treated her like a low servant, ordering her around as they pleased. It was outrageous! Filled with indignation, he declared, “Let’s go! We need a clear explanation from the Zhous!”
The village head also felt the Zhous were in the wrong. Seeing the village’s highly regarded and educated scholar marching ahead, he quickly chased after him but didn’t forget about Li Wei Yang, turning his head to call out, “Let’s go! Don’t cry!”
Li Wei Yang wiped away her fake tears and hurried after them.
At that moment, Li Wei Yang heard a strange, sarcastic laugh. She stopped and looked around, but saw no one. Could she have misheard? Furrowing her eyebrows in confusion, she listened to the village head ahead, urging her to follow. After glancing around once more and confirming she was alone, she began walking again.
She was probably hearing things.
The moment he stepped through the gates, Teacher Wang yelled loudly, “Zhou Qing! Come out here quick! How could you guys let a lady in the Capital feed the pigs? She’s not a servant for you to slave around!”
Zhou Qing rushed out of his house. Witnessing this scene, he became stupefied.
The village head said, “That’s right. She stayed at your house but had given so many silver coins. You guys shouldn’t take the money and bully her, forcing her to do strenuous chores!”
Right then, Mrs. Ma and Zhou Lan Xiu stepped out, staring at Li Wei Yang with shock.
Li Wei Yang said pitifully, “Village head uncle, it was me who wanted to help Lan Xiu jiejie. Don’t blame him. He didn’t force me to do it! It’s my fault. Initially, I thought the bucket was too dirty and that the pigs shouldn't eat it, so I went to clean it. In the end, I was careless and dropped all of the pig’s food into the well. It’s my fault! I’m so clumsy that I can’t even complete such a simple task!”
The village head glanced at Zhou Qing and said, “You told her to feed the pigs, but she’s a lady from the Capital, she wouldn’t know how to do those things! Not to mention, she lives at your house and has already given you the money. Even though they have stopped sending you the money, the amount you have accepted over the years is more than enough to raise her for another 80 years! You shouldn’t treat her like a servant girl!”
To avoid people gossiping and tarnishing the Zhou’s honour, Mrs. Liu would usually berate and abuse people behind closed doors. As a result, Zhou Qing would turn his head the other way. Unfortunately, the village head and the village’s only scholar were both here at the moment, causing the neighbours to look over.
It was a blow to Zhou Qing’s dignity. He spun around and cruelly kicked Zhou Lan Xiu. “You lazy, stupid girl, I told you to feed the pigs. How would she know how to feed the pigs!”
Li Wei Yang lowered her head, looking genuinely apologetic. In other people’s eyes, she looked even more pitiful. Despite how much the villagers liked to gossip and be envious of Li Wei Yang’s beauty, they were still very simple-minded. In their opinion, the Zhous had received so much money from the Li’s that they should also treat this girl kindly. How could they bully her instead?
Being pointed at by his close neighbours, Zhou Qing couldn’t control his temper. He meanly slapped Zhou Lan Xiu. “It’s all because of you causing me problems!”
Li Wei Young thought to herself: this is just the beginning.
True enough, shortly after, they heard Zhou Jiang racing forward with a pale face. Horror-stricken, he exclaimed, “Father! The pigs! The pigs have all escaped!”
Once Li Wei Yang finished with the laundry, Zhou Lan Xiu approached her and handed her a bucket filled with pig feed. “Go feed the pigs!” she commanded.
In rural villages, feeding the pigs was considered an important responsibility. Usually, Mrs. Liu wouldn’t let anyone else perform this task; she usually assigned it to Zhou Lan Xiu. Since Mrs. Liu wasn’t available physically at the moment, Zhou Lan Xiu quickly dumped the responsibility onto Li Wei Yang.
Li Wei Yang smiled happily and replied, “Yes, Lan Xiu jiejie!” With a cheerful expression, she took the bucket filled with pig feed and headed towards the pigsty.
The Zhous raised a total of eight pigs, which was considered a large number compared to the average. Grinning, Li Wei Yang looked at the group of pigs and thought for a moment. She scooped some feed and poured it into the food bin. Instantly, the pigs rushed over, pushing and shoving each other to get to the food. As she watched them fight for a bite, an interesting idea came to her.
Surveying her surroundings, she set the food bucket down in the pigsty, opened the gates, and set the pigs free. The eight pigs, feeling liberated after being cooped up for so long, charged out at lightning speed.
Li Wei Yang stepped aside to avoid the stampede. Once she saw all the pigs had escaped, she smirked slightly. Then, picking up the bucket of pig feed, she quietly exited the house through the back gate. She made her way to the village's most commonly used water well and dumped the entire bucket of pig feed into it. Watching the water splash gently, Li Wei Yang smiled softly.
A few villagers ambled by, their curious glances lingering a moment longer than necessary, but Li Wei Yang chose not to engage them. They studied her with a mixture of intrigue and confusion, their brows furrowed in thought before they continued on their way, whispering among themselves.
Li Wei Yang took a moment to soak in the sunlight, closing her eyes briefly as the warm rays enveloped her. The cool breeze rustled the leaves overhead, creating a gentle symphony that harmonized with the distant sounds of the village. With a graceful motion, she settled onto the ground, crossing her legs beneath her, and turned her gaze toward the village entrance, where the path wound like a ribbon through the fields.
She was a striking figure against the landscape. The sky, a canvas of swirling gray clouds punctuated by patches of brilliant blue, seemed to spotlight her as if nature itself had decided to honor her with its warmth and brilliance. The sun shone down, casting a golden hue on her features and illuminating her with a soft glow that made her seem almost ethereal. She resembled a living painting—a perfect blend of serenity and beauty—as she sat contemplatively, lost in thought and in the breathtaking views that surrounded her.
After waiting for about half an hour, she saw Teacher Wang and the village head slowly approaching her. She felt happy.
Anyone wishing to return to the village had to pass by this water well. Initially, she wanted to wait for the village head to pass by, but Teacher Wang unexpectedly showed up with him. Teacher Wang was the only scholar in the village. Despite failing the exams multiple times, he was still the only literate person in the group who read books. He was known for his desire to reason, to moderate others' affairs, to demonstrate fairness, and to build a good reputation.
Li Wei Yang quickly stood up, roughly wiped her eyes, and nervously gazed at the well. The village head walked by and looked at her with a hint of suspicion. “Li Wei Yang, what are you doing here?” he asked.
The village head was merely inquiring out of casual concern, but suddenly, Li Wei Yang lifted her head, revealing her worries and sadness. She replied, “Lan Xiu Jiejie told me to feed the pigs. I was careless and clumsy, and I accidentally poured the pig feed into the well. What should I do? What should I do? Tonight, I’m going to be beaten to death!”
The village head was horrified. “What? What did you do?”
Li Wei Yang displayed a confused and terrified expression before bursting into tears. Outsiders watching would surely feel sympathy and conflicted emotions. “What should I do? What should I do? I’m definitely going to be beaten to death. I don’t dare to go back, so I might as well jump into this well!” With that, she climbed onto the well, as if she were actually going to jump.
The village head panicked. If someone really committed suicide in this well, then all the other villagers would no longer be able to drink from it. He rushed over and grabbed her firmly. “A million times, please don’t do it! Let’s talk this through!”
Teacher Wang observed the scene for a while, stroking his beard. He finally asked, “How could this happen? From what I’ve heard, you stay at their house, and they cover your monthly living expenses. How could they force you to feed the pigs?”
Li Wei Yang wiped her face with her sleeve, looking truly remorseful. “Before, my family sent 10 silver coins every month for the past six years, but now they have stopped.”
“What?! 10 silvers every month?!” Teacher Wang exclaimed in shock. He taught in the village, and not a single student had been able to donate even 2 silvers for renovations in years. It was incredibly unfair! He took a deep breath, looked at Li Wei Yang, and thought about how greedy the Zhous were. Over the last six years, they had taken a total of 720 silvers. How much did it really cost to raise a small girl? Even if they had to care for her for the rest of her life, it wouldn’t come close to 720 silvers! And yet, they treated her like a low servant, ordering her around as they pleased. It was outrageous! Filled with indignation, he declared, “Let’s go! We need a clear explanation from the Zhous!”
The village head also felt the Zhous were in the wrong. Seeing the village’s highly regarded and educated scholar marching ahead, he quickly chased after him but didn’t forget about Li Wei Yang, turning his head to call out, “Let’s go! Don’t cry!”
Li Wei Yang wiped away her fake tears and hurried after them.
At that moment, Li Wei Yang heard a strange, sarcastic laugh. She stopped and looked around, but saw no one. Could she have misheard? Furrowing her eyebrows in confusion, she listened to the village head ahead, urging her to follow. After glancing around once more and confirming she was alone, she began walking again.
She was probably hearing things.
The moment he stepped through the gates, Teacher Wang yelled loudly, “Zhou Qing! Come out here quick! How could you guys let a lady in the Capital feed the pigs? She’s not a servant for you to slave around!”
Zhou Qing rushed out of his house. Witnessing this scene, he became stupefied.
The village head said, “That’s right. She stayed at your house but had given so many silver coins. You guys shouldn’t take the money and bully her, forcing her to do strenuous chores!”
Right then, Mrs. Ma and Zhou Lan Xiu stepped out, staring at Li Wei Yang with shock.
Li Wei Yang said pitifully, “Village head uncle, it was me who wanted to help Lan Xiu jiejie. Don’t blame him. He didn’t force me to do it! It’s my fault. Initially, I thought the bucket was too dirty and that the pigs shouldn't eat it, so I went to clean it. In the end, I was careless and dropped all of the pig’s food into the well. It’s my fault! I’m so clumsy that I can’t even complete such a simple task!”
The village head glanced at Zhou Qing and said, “You told her to feed the pigs, but she’s a lady from the Capital, she wouldn’t know how to do those things! Not to mention, she lives at your house and has already given you the money. Even though they have stopped sending you the money, the amount you have accepted over the years is more than enough to raise her for another 80 years! You shouldn’t treat her like a servant girl!”
To avoid people gossiping and tarnishing the Zhou’s honour, Mrs. Liu would usually berate and abuse people behind closed doors. As a result, Zhou Qing would turn his head the other way. Unfortunately, the village head and the village’s only scholar were both here at the moment, causing the neighbours to look over.
It was a blow to Zhou Qing’s dignity. He spun around and cruelly kicked Zhou Lan Xiu. “You lazy, stupid girl, I told you to feed the pigs. How would she know how to feed the pigs!”
Li Wei Yang lowered her head, looking genuinely apologetic. In other people’s eyes, she looked even more pitiful. Despite how much the villagers liked to gossip and be envious of Li Wei Yang’s beauty, they were still very simple-minded. In their opinion, the Zhous had received so much money from the Li’s that they should also treat this girl kindly. How could they bully her instead?
Being pointed at by his close neighbours, Zhou Qing couldn’t control his temper. He meanly slapped Zhou Lan Xiu. “It’s all because of you causing me problems!”
Li Wei Young thought to herself: this is just the beginning.
True enough, shortly after, they heard Zhou Jiang racing forward with a pale face. Horror-stricken, he exclaimed, “Father! The pigs! The pigs have all escaped!”
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