Carefree Farmwife: Training the Husband, Raising the Bun - Chapter 101

When Li Yunyao saw that Liu Chuncao wasn’t treating her as rudely as Shen Cuihua had, she instantly relaxed, her face breaking into a triumphant smile. “Yes, Sister-in-law, these are a few of my friends. They heard that our shop has some rare and curious items, so they came to take a look.”

Liu Chuncao smiled politely at the three young ladies behind Li Yunyao. “Please, come inside. See if there’s anything you like.”

Li Yunyao immediately felt her pride swell. She tugged at Miss Wu’s sleeve with a coquettish laugh. “Sister, let’s go take a look!” She carried herself as though she were the hostess of the place.

Behind her, Zhang Yun rolled her eyes yet again. Liu Chuncao forced a smile and led her and Zhu Qiluo around the shop.

After all, young girls always love pretty things. As they made their way around, the group all fancied the dressing mirror. But since the shop was already sold out, the only one left was a sample Ying Su had deliberately kept for display.

Intent on showing off, Li Yunyao boasted in front of Miss Wu, “Sister Wu, I’ll go talk to my sister-in-law. Don’t worry, I guarantee you’ll be able to take this dressing mirror home today.”

“Hmph! It’s just a dressing mirror. Look at her acting so smug!” Zhang Yun sneered with disdain.

Li Yunyao had already taken two steps, but hearing that, she turned back with a gloating look. “If Sister Zhang wants one, too bad, there isn’t another!”

Zhang Yun angrily flicked her sleeve, biting her lip before letting out an indignant “Hmph!”

Zhu Qiluo frowned slightly at Li Yunyao’s back and softly comforted Zhang Yun, “Don’t bother with her anymore. It’ll only upset you needlessly.”

Meanwhile, Li Yunyao had gone over to Liu Chuncao. When she made her request, Liu Chuncao looked troubled. This was already the very last dressing mirror. Cuihua had specifically said it had to be kept as a sample for customers to see. 

But the young ladies who had come with Li Yunyao were clearly daughters of wealthy families, it wouldn’t do to offend them. After a moment’s hesitation, she said, “Yunyao, this is the last mirror. It has to be kept as a sample. If your friends like it, they can place an order instead.”

Li Yunyao’s face darkened. “Place an order? How long would that take?”

“Let me see.” Liu Chuncao lowered her head to flip through the order book. After checking the dates, she said, “Since there are too many orders today, it’ll probably take seven or eight days.”

Li Yunyao grew anxious at once. “That won’t do! She wants it today!” She glanced back toward Miss Wu and flashed her a big smile before lowering her voice to whisper to Liu Chuncao: “Sister-in-law, do you know who she is? That young lady in the smoky lilac butterfly dress!”

Liu Chuncao had only been in Shili Town a short while, how could she know any of the young misses? She shook her head.

Li Yunyao introduced her proudly, her face brimming with self-importance. “That’s the eldest daughter of the Wu family, the manager of Lark Pavilion! You’ve at least heard of Lark Pavilion, haven’t you? The biggest restaurant in Shili Town, there’s nowhere in Fengyang City with more expensive food and wine! And behind the Wu family stands the Bai family of Jiangnan. Sister-in-law, do you know what kind of family the Bais are?”

Her expression was full of smug pride, her brows practically dancing with vanity.

“I know Lark Pavilion. As for the Bai family, no, never heard of them.” Shili Town’s largest restaurant, though she herself might never have the chance to dine there, of course she had at least heard of it. But she hadn’t expected the young lady in the purple dress to have such a powerful background.

Li Yunyao’s face lit with excitement. “The Bai family is the number one in our Great Qing!” She raised her thumb and went on, “The very peak of wealth! They’re imperial merchants. They say the tiles on their rooftops are glazed, their floors are paved with jade, their door curtains strung with pearls and agate, and even their chamber pots are made of gold!”

Hearing this, Liu Chuncao’s face showed astonishment. Such extravagant wealth was beyond imagining. To think that in a small place like Shili Town there could be such people! Instantly, the way she looked at Miss Wu changed. After some hesitation, she said, “How about this, I’ll go talk to Cuihua, see if we can sell this mirror to you.”

Li Yunyao curled her lips and tugged on Liu Chuncao’s arm. “Sister-in-law, isn’t this shop run by you and Brother? Why ask that crazy widow?”

At that, Liu Chuncao frowned. “Yunyao, Cuihua’s madness has long been cured. You should be calling her Sister-in-law. How can you speak so disrespectfully?”

Since she needed something, Li Yunyao quickly forced a smile. “Yes, yes, you’re right, Sister-in-law. But still, isn’t this shop yours and my brother’s? Why ask her? Just agree for me! We can’t keep Miss Wu waiting.”

“This shop isn’t just mine and your brother’s. I’ll ask Cuihua. Wait a little longer.” As she said this, she saw Ying Su walking over. Hastily, she called, “Cuihua, I need to discuss something with you.”

When Ying Su saw Li Yunyao standing there, she couldn’t help frowning slightly. She came closer and asked, “What’s going on?”

Liu Chuncao gave her a look, motioning toward Miss Wu. “That young lady is the daughter of Lark Pavilion’s manager. She fancies our mirror and wants to take it home today.”

Ying Su answered bluntly, “There’s only that one mirror left. It’s our sample and can’t be sold. If she wants one, she’ll have to order it.”

How could she not see through Li Yunyao’s scheming? She had no patience for her pretensions.

“Shen Cuihua! You’re just trying to embarrass me! I already promised her she could take the mirror home today. You can just make another sample!” Li Yunyao blurted before Liu Chuncao could respond.

Ying Su gave her a cool glance. Though her tone was calm, the fierce sharpness in her dark eyes made Li Yunyao’s heart tremble, forcing her to rein herself in.

“First of all, you made the promise, that has nothing to do with us. Second, embarrassing you?” Her phoenix eyes lifted slightly. “Do I look that bored?”

Intimidated by her gaze, Li Yunyao instinctively took a step back, her face flushing with shame and anger. “What did you say?”

Ying Su raised a finger and shook it lightly, signaling her to shut up. “Third, whether we make another sample or not, what business is that of yours?”

Li Yunyao’s lips trembled, opening and closing in rage before she finally burst out, “This shop belongs to Brother and Sister-in-law. What does it have to do with you? Who are you to interfere? You’re just a crazy widow whose husband died! Brother and Sister-in-law only let you work here out of pity, and you actually think you’re somebody?”

Liu Chuncao’s face darkened with shame and anger. This Li Yunyao really didn’t know how to hold her tongue! She quickly snapped: “Yunyao, how can you speak like that? This shop doesn’t belong to me and your brother, it belongs to Cuihua!”