Part 1: A Dream Within A Dream / Rebirth of Ill Fated Concubine

Chapter 004 Chen Zhao

On the first day of the new year, the sound of firecrackers could be heard early in the morning on the long street. 

The children from the farm came out one after another. After a series of crisp "crackling" sounds, the ground was suddenly covered with broken red, like clouds and red brocade, which was particularly festive.

The farm began to get busy. Not sure if it was intentional to forget Jiang Ruan and her servants. After the New Year's Eve dinner, no one came to the three people's yard.

Zi Su lit a brazier by the door, half of her body blocked the door, and fanned out the choking smoke. There was barely a hint of warmth in the room. The sunlight outside shone into the yard. The yard was the most remote and dilapidated one. Not only was the eaves leaking all year round, but there were also field mice running around. 

The quilt sent from the farm was thin, and many of them were bitten by mice. Zi Su sighed and couldn't help looking back at Jiang Ruan, who was sitting on the bed with the quilt in her arms.

Jiang Ruan leaned against a horse brown pillow made of coarse cloth, with the quilt covering her chest, and was dazed with her head down. After being sent to the farm for several years, Zhang Lan's family lacked food and clothing, and she was not as developed as an ordinary girl. Her hair was like dry grass. 

At this time, the sunlight shone through the window, shining a flowing lustre on her long hair. Her slightly pursed lips seemed to have more blood than usual, and her facial features were beautiful and moving. And she sat quietly, calmer than usual, as if she had changed into a different person, strangely unfamiliar.

Zi Su fiddled with the firewood in the brazier, thinking of Lian Qiao telling her everything about Qiu Yan last night, and finally said: "Why do I think the girl is not right? The change is too big. Could it be that the past submissiveness was all a lie?"

Zi Su didn't know how to answer her. In fact, Lian Qiao was right. Jiang Ruan's change was too big, especially as close maids, they felt it more obviously. Jiang Ruan has been crying since she was sent to the manor six years ago. She didn't even have the energy to cry after all the troubles from Zhang Lan's family. She just endured it silently, but she was sad and depressed in her heart, and usually she was more timid and taciturn. 

Yesterday, her expression and attitude towards Qiu Yan seemed like a different person. Zi Su was puzzled. After a person has a serious illness, could her temperament change? However, no matter how much she changes, Jiang Ruan is still their master. Jiang Ruan's attitude is completely different from the past, which may be a good thing. Just as she was lost in thought, Lian Qiao had already walked in with an oil paper bag and almost knocked over the brazier. 

"Be careful," Zi Su gently scolded, "Why are you so reckless?"

"I went to buy some New Year's goods." Lian Qiao was not annoyed, still smiling, stepped into the house, opened the oil paper wrapper on the table, and said to Jiang Ruan, "Miss, come and have some, the spring pancakes are still hot."

Zi Su was surprised: "Where did you get it from?" Zhang Lan's family must not be so kind. Now Zhang Lan is quite resentful of Jiang Ruan because of Chen Zhao's matter. The servants will not take the initiative to touch this bad luck, and they don't have change to buy snacks.

"It seems that a distinguished person is coming to the farm. Everyone has been preparing for it these days. We also prepared more snacks. I have some friendship with Lily, who just came into the kitchen, so I asked for some." She smiled: "Although we are a little rough, we still have to celebrate the New Year. Look, there is this." 
She took out a bracelet made of copper coins from her bosom: "I bought it for ten cents when I came back. I want to pray for good luck and smooth sailing in the coming year."

Zi Su chuckled: "Why do you buy a copper coin string to pray for good luck? Are you praying for a lot of money in the coming year?"

"What's wrong with a lot of money?" Lian Qiao said: "Money makes the devil work. What's wrong with silver? If there is silver, these people will never dare to bully the girl like this."

Zi Su hurriedly made a look at Lian Qiao, reminding her that Jiang Ruan is still there, so don't say anything more. Lian Qiao knew that she had said something wrong, so she quickly stopped talking and looked at Jiang Ruan carefully.

Jiang Ruan shook her head, slowly lifted the quilt and walked down. Lian Qiao came over to help her. Jiang Ruan walked to the table and sat down. She looked at the bracelet on the table and put it on herself. She compared it and said, "It's for a good start." 

Lian Qiao felt sad. She thought that every young lady in a wealthy family would make a lot of jewellery for the New Year, but her young Lady only had a copper coin bracelet worth ten cents. Even in ordinary people's homes, it was not worth mentioning. Turning her head to hide the sourness in her eyes, Lian Qiao smiled and said, "Girl, have another spring roll."

Jiang Ruan shook her head: "I can't eat it, you guys eat it." She paused and said, "I don't have money to reward you. You have suffered a lot in the past few years since you came to the farm with me. Fortunately, we don't have to suffer this year."

"Yes, yes," Zi Su said hurriedly: "This year, the girl has good luck all year round, and everything goes smoothly!"

Jiang Ruan knew that she had misunderstood what she meant, but did not explain. She just looked out the window: "The weather outside is very good, let's go out for a walk."

Zi Su and Lian Qiao looked at each other in surprise. Jiang Ruan was unwilling to take the initiative to go out for a walk except for work. The servants in the farm always ridiculed the three of them. Lian Qiao was hot-tempered and could barely calm some people, but it was useless. Over time, Jiang Ruan became unwilling to see people and always stayed in her own yard.

"Okay, okay," Lian Qiao smiled and went to look through the box of clothes: "What clothes do you want to wear, young lady?"

Jiang Ruan laughed in her heart. In fact, it didn't matter which clothes she wore. When she came to the farm, she brought a lot of items and clothes with her, but those jewellery and clothes were cheated and robbed by Zhang Lan and Chen Fang, mother and daughter, not long after. 

In the end, she didn't even have a single piece of her own clothes left. Chen Fang took away all her clothes and replaced them with rough and tattered old clothes. Not to mention the appearance and fabric, the cotton in the cotton-padded clothes in winter was so thin that it was difficult to even keep warm.

"You choose." Jiang Ruan said.

Lian Qiao and Zi Su picked for a long time before they picked out an old dark green ring-buckled quilted jacket, underneath which was a wide yellow thick cloth skirt that Zi Su had modified, and a long beige cloak on the outside. Fearing that her delicate hair would not match the clothes, Zi Su combed the simplest bun for her. 

Because she was young, it looked surprisingly suitable. This outfit is not really festive, but Jiang Ruan has fair skin and does not look rustic. With her calm and indifferent temperament, she is completely different from usual.

After packing up, the three of them walked out of the yard. Lian Qiao suggested to go for a walk on the street. 

Just after leaving the big house on the farm, they ran into a few people. A surprised voice came: "Sister Ruan!"

Lian Qiao frowned, and Zi Su protected Jiang Ruan behind her without saying a word. Jiang Ruan looked up, and the other person's shadow was clearly reflected in her eyes.

It was the youngest son of Zhang Lan's family, Chen Zhao.

(End of this chapter)

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