Becoming the Cannon Fodder Wife of Crazy and Powerful Official - Chapter 25

Xin Yueying had long since drifted off to the realm of dreams. She lay sprawled on the kang, arms and legs splayed out in a wide “X,” her face turned toward the doorway, mouth slightly agape with a glistening drop of drool at the corner.

Perhaps worn out from the day’s exertions, she was even snoring softly.

Huo Qi curled his lip in disdain, “How does this woman even snore in her sleep?!”

Shen Qingqi smiled faintly.

Huo Qi, “The kang is so spacious, yet she’s plopped right in the middle. Where are you supposed to sleep? I’ll toss her to the inside…”

“It’s fine,” he said with a light laugh. “Don’t wake her.”

Shen Qingqi was also exhausted. His knees still ached dully. He allowed Huo Qi to lift him onto the kang.

Huo Qi frowned deeply, watching Shen Qingqi squeezed to the very edge, feeling indignant on his behalf, “Nudge her over. You can’t sleep like this—what if you fall off?”

“It’s fine. Go to sleep,” Shen Qingqi replied with a smile.

Huo Qi shook his head in frustration and stomped out.

Shen Qingqi half-leaned against the wall, gazing down at the sleeping Xin Yueying. He thought about covering her with the quilt, but found it firmly trapped beneath her thighs.

He reached behind himself, pulled out the thin blanket he had been leaning against, unfolded it, and gently draped it over Xin Yueying.

After tucking the corners snugly around her, he extinguished the oil lamp at the head of the kang. Using his arms for support, he lay down flat. Perhaps because the door had not yet been properly installed, the night wind felt chilly. He pondered whether to share the blanket with her.

An internal debate raged for a long while. Finally, with utmost caution, he pinched a corner of the blanket and gently drew it over himself.

As the blanket settled over both of them, an inexplicable feeling washed over him—as if, in that instant, heaven and earth contained only the two of them.

Almost as if guided by some unseen force, he reached for her hand, wanting to intertwine their fingers firmly.

The moment his fingertips brushed against her small hand, she trembled slightly and murmured drowsily, “Mmm…” He held his breath, tense.

Xin Yueying rolled over, taking the entire blanket with her.

Shen Qingqi, “…”

His sharp brows furrowed slightly. He clenched his hand into a frustrated fist and gave the kang a light, exasperated tap.

The next morning.

Inside Yang the Carpenter’s workshop.

Shen Qingqi sat in his wheelchair, maneuvering it among various dressing tables, examining them.

Finally, his hand came to rest on a dressing table made of golden nanmu wood.

“I’ll take this one.”

Yang the Carpenter was taken aback. “That’s more for show than practical use. Golden nanmu is quite expensive.”

“I want this one.”

Yang, the carpenter, scratched his head, “This one costs two hundred taels, and that’s already a discounted price for you.”

“I’ll pay with wheelchairs. I’ll make five wheelchairs for you and deliver them tomorrow.”

Yang was more than happy with this arrangement. The dressing table had been sitting finished in his shop for over a year without finding a buyer. Wheelchairs, on the other hand, were in high demand. Besides, he had recently raised the price for wheelchairs, and people were still buying them.

He agreed, “Deal. Since you’re making five wheelchairs for me, I won’t let you lose out. You can take this chair and the vanity case too.”

Shen Qingqi, “Thank you.”

Xin Yueying from the Shen family slept until the sun was high in the sky and still showed no signs of waking.

She was finally roused by the clanging and banging from outside.

Xin Yueying sat up, her hair a complete bird’s nest. The knocking outside continued. She pushed the window open and happened to see Huo Qi stacking wood beneath it.

Huo Qi shot her a glare, “Well, look who’s finally awake, Miss Princess.”

Xin Yueying rubbed her eyes and yawned, looking out into the distance.

She saw three men already hard at work. Shen Qingqi had his back to her, holding a ruler and measuring a piece of wood, marking it with an ink line. Xie Asheng was sawing wood.

Huo Qi, “There’s food I made in the kitchen. Second Master sold the wheelchair in town today. The money’s on the table. He also bought groceries on his way back.”

Xin Yueying  looked at Huo Qi in surprise, “Then what should I do?”

Huo Qi had been waiting for this question.

“Yeah, I’m wondering the same thing. What do you do? A woman sleeps till noon, doesn’t cook, doesn’t buy groceries, doesn’t do any work. What exactly are you here for? I really don’t get it.”

Huo Qi glared at her, wiped the sweat off his brow with the towel on his shoulder, and, probably feeling more and more aggrieved, added, “Go get that Lame Ma. The Master said his medical skills are decent.”

“Oh.” Xin Yueying turned to look at the kang table, picked up the money pouch, looked inside, and her eyes widened, “Why is there so much money?”

“Money from the Master making wheelchairs!” Huo Qi shot her another glare, turned around, and went back to work, apparently not wanting to chat with her.

After washing up, Xin Yueying didn’t rush off to find Lame Ma. She ate, detached the cart from the little grey donkey, mounted it, and rode to the Meng house.

Going down the mountain, the Meng house was the first she’d pass, so she decided to stop by and check on things.

She had beaten someone up last night; Meng Ruxin wouldn’t let it go that easily.

Song Shi was in the yard hanging laundry. Seeing the little grey donkey from afar, she broke into a wide grin and walked over to meet the girl and the donkey.

“My, that outfit is so fresh and pretty!” Song Shi laughed, reaching out to help Xin Yueying dismount.

Xin Yueying smiled sheepishly and scratched her head, “My husband bought it for me.”

“I know!” Song Shi laughed. “Second Master came by this morning. He even bought some clothes and shoes for our whole family. I said no, no, but he insisted. He said it wasn’t for nothing, that he wanted to ask me about something.”

“What was it?” Xin Yueying asked, wide-eyed.

Song Shi covered her mouth with a laugh and patted Xin Yueying ‘s shoulder, “You’ll find out when the time comes.”

Lowering her voice, her eyes sparkling, Song Shi asked Xin Yueying, “He looks so much more spirited, not like before.” She paused and nudged Xin Yueying  with her shoulder, “You’ve finally weathered the storm.”

The nudge almost sent Xin Yueying stumbling.

She grinned awkwardly, took five taels of silver from her purse, and handed it to Song Shi, “By the way, we sold another wheelchair today and made quite a bit. This is for you.”

Song Shi refused to take it: “Oh, what are you doing? Your husband already gave us money when he came, and lots of meat and vegetables too.”

Xin Yueying stuffed the money into Song Shi’s sash, “That was for household expenses. This is from me, personally.” She looked Song Shi up and down, noticing a patch on the toe of her shoe, “Auntie Song, don’t be reluctant to spend. Don’t wear patched clothes and shoes anymore.”

Song Shi, unused to such concern, shook her head and sighed, “You remind me of my niece from my maiden family. Don’t laugh, but I’ve never told anyone else about this. My father was just an ordinary farmer; I was a girl from a poor family too. Later, I married Old Meng. He distinguished himself in battle, and our life improved. I often helped out my maiden family. My niece never wanted to take my money. She’d say, ‘Auntie, keep your money for yourself. Don’t always think of us.'”

Song Shi sighed, feeling emotional, “I wonder how they’re doing now.”

Xin Yueying took both of Song Shi’s hands in hers, “I’ve always felt very close to you. Can I call you Auntie Song from now on?”

“Of course! Of course you can!”

“Auntie Song!”

“Yes! Good girl! Good girl!”

Alright, the emotional card had been played. Now it was time to get to the main point.

Xin Yueying glanced toward the house and asked softly, “Auntie Song, has that wretched little girl been giving you a hard time?”