Carefree Farmwife: Training the Husband, Raising the Bun - Chapter 100

At the street corner, a lanky young man stared fixedly at the beautiful woman standing before the shop. He watched as she smiled warmly, her phoenix eyes curving with mischief while she teased another young man about his age.

Seeing him in a daze, Wang Dachui bumped his shoulder and asked, “Brother Changyun, are you seeing this clearly? Is that really Sister Shen?”

Shen Changyun bit down hard on his lips without answering, his gaze stubbornly locked on Ying Su. From the young man’s brows and eyes, there was a trace of familiarity, those phoenix-shaped peach blossom eyes were exactly the same as Ying Su’s. Slightly narrowed, they carried a hidden tinge of longing and sorrow.

Ying Su’s brows furrowed. She could feel a scorching gaze pressing against her, almost piercing through her. When she glanced toward the street corner, she spotted a young man in a coarse cloth robe, the faded green fabric worn with age. His eyes were fixed on her with a mixture of shock, anger, resentment, yearning, and frustration.

Even when their gazes met, the youth did not look away. He continued to stare, unwavering.

Ying Su withdrew her gaze, pretending not to notice, and led Wang Yuan into the shop.

These days, Wang Yuan heard Ying Su’s name almost daily. The old master mentioned her several times a day, sighing with regret that she wasn’t born a man. If she were, she would surely carve out a name for herself in the martial world or so the old man said.

The martial world? How could a weak woman, relying only on a few tricks and skills, survive in a place of blades and blood? The old man really thought too highly of her. Even within the Canal Gang alone, there were endless grudges and feuds.

In the vast, turbulent world of rivers and lakes, this small town of Shili was nothing but a speck. How could she possibly stir up great storms?

That was what Wang Yuan thought of her back then. Only when the day came that she stood at a place beyond his reach did he realize how gravely mistaken he had been.

Wang Yuan didn’t stay long in the shop. Business was too brisk, and there weren’t enough hands to help. Before leaving, he even assigned two people to assist Ying Su.

Not long after, Li Dalang arrived with Shopkeeper Zeng. He had heard that Ying Su’s shop had reopened and came to deliver congratulatory gifts. After the fire, Shopkeeper Zeng had even sent clerks to inquire about her situation. 

Now, his shop’s preserved fruits were packaged in elegant wooden boxes, often inspired by Ying Su’s new designs. He foresaw continued cooperation with Weixuan Shop and knew it was wise to maintain good relations.

Outside the shop, Officer Zhou, leading his constables on patrol, stood at the doorway for quite some time.

One of his men finally asked in confusion,

“Captain, what are you looking at? This is the shop that burned down last time. They’re reopening today! Should we go inside and take a look?”

Officer Zhou shook himself from his thoughts and waved his hand. “No, let’s check the northwest street instead.” He finally tore his gaze away and led his men off.

If he entered the shop, it would only bring her trouble in business. Better to stay away.

The entire morning passed with everyone so busy their feet barely touched the ground. Every single dressing mirror sold out, with many customers even leaving deposits to reserve more.

Because there weren’t enough hands, Ying Su stayed inside to greet customers. After sending one guest out, she was just about to turn back when she suddenly heard someone call her name from behind.

Turning her head, she saw Li Yunyao standing at the entrance in a long pink phoenix-tailed dress. Three girls of similar age stood beside her, all dressed like daughters of wealthy households.

“Cuihua, I heard your shop has some new novelties. I brought a few sisters to have a look!” Li Yunyao beamed, her tone overly familiar, as if she and Ying Su were on very close terms.

Ying Su frowned slightly, recalling how last time at the Li family’s old residence, Li Yunyao had tried to snatch Bai Lefu’s jade pendant. A cold sneer tugged at her lips. She turned and walked straight into the shop, ignoring her completely.

Li Yunyao’s face flushed red with anger. She had been hoping to show off in front of these proud young ladies of the town, but that damned Cuihua had humiliated her! Unforgivable!

“She’s not right in the head,” Li Yunyao forced a smile, tapping her temple. “Don’t be fooled by how normal she looks. After her husband died, she went a little mad. Let’s go inside, if you see something you like, I’ll talk to my brother and sister-in-law to get you a discount.”

One of the girls, dressed in a lotus-green brocade gown embroidered with intricate flowers, sneered.

“A discount? Do you think the Zhu family is so poor we can’t afford a dressing mirror? Who needs your measly favor?”

She wore a pearl hairpin slanted in her high bun, held a translucent sandalwood fan, and had dainty embroidered shoes on her feet. With her pointed chin and almond-shaped eyes, she already looked like someone not easy to get along with.

Li Yunyao’s smile faltered. She pursed her lips and cast the Zhu girl a sharp glare.

“Oh my, Li Yunyao, are you glaring at Qiluo?” another girl chimed in, the Zhang family’s daughter, who was close to Zhu Qiluo and had long disliked Li Yunyao.

Li Yunyao quickly retreated closer to the Wu family’s young lady, hiding her smugness and muttering, “I wouldn’t dare.”

“Enough, enough. Yunyao meant well. Let’s just go inside and take a look.” The Wu family girl smoothed things over. Her voice was soft and gentle, and the others held their tongues.

Her elegance stood out. She wore a smoke-purple butterfly gown, jeweled shoes, and a large pearl hairpin, her attire far more luxurious than the others.

“After you, Sister Wu,” Li Yunyao said quickly, smiling obsequiously.

Miss Wu stepped gracefully into the shop. Li Yunyao followed closely, while Miss Zhang rolled her eyes at her back and whispered to Zhu Qiluo, “Look at her fawning like that. So disgusting.”

Zhu Qiluo bit her lip, lifting her chin slightly, her eyes clouded with disappointment. “Yet some people like her exactly like this.”

Miss Zhang huffed indignantly. “That’s because Cao Keqing is blind! How could he reject someone like you for a country bumpkin? Just wait, I’ll make sure that wretched girl pays for it one day!”

Originally, the Cao family had planned for Cao Keqing to marry into the Zhu family. Both families had exchanged words, only awaiting the formal betrothal. Zhu Qiluo, who had known Cao Keqing since childhood and liked him deeply, had been thrilled until Li Yunyao suddenly appeared and ruined everything.

The Cao family had strongly opposed Cao Keqing marrying this rustic girl, but Cao Keqing had been stubborn. He knelt at the ancestral shrine for an entire day and night, until his mother relented and agreed.

From a distance, Li Yunyao spotted Liu Chuncao and called out warmly, “Cousin-in-law!”

She acted as though she and Liu Chuncao were the best of friends.

Liu Chuncao blinked in surprise, needing a moment to recall that this was her third aunt’s girl. Noticing the elegant young ladies behind her, she broke into a smile.

“Sister, are you here to browse the shop?”