Carefree Farmwife: Training the Husband, Raising the Bun - Chapter 129

The servant continued, “That’s not all, word is that Master Ba, the overlord of our trade here, has a close friendship with this young lady. He’s even declared that Shen Cuihua is like his own sister. In Fengyang City, whoever crosses her is crossing him!”

Master Zhang never imagined that this delicate-looking young woman could be tied to so many powerful connections. His mind was in complete chaos.

Though Imperial Physician Wang was favored by the emperor and wielded influence in Bianjing, he would never dare snatch something belonging to Second Young Master Bai to present as tribute. Unlike the main Zhang family in the capital, his foothold in Shili Town depended entirely on making money through trade.

If he angered Second Young Master Bai, every Zhang-owned shop could be shut down overnight. The entire Zhang family could be ruined. In the business world, who dared provoke Young Master Bai? With just the twitch of a finger, he could claim anyone’s property with a single word.

Master Zhang felt as though ten thousand ants were crawling over his heart. He couldn’t stand still, pacing back and forth, agonizing over how to find a way out. But the Jianyang Butterfly had already been given to Physician Wang, there was no way to take it back. If this was mishandled, they’d offend both sides.

Madam Zhang, having rushed over with their youngest daughter Zhang Yun after hearing the news, had barely stepped inside when she was met with her husband’s furious scolding. 

Pointing at Zhang Yun, Master Zhang roared, “Why on earth did you have to destroy that ink orchid to frame Li Yin? If not for you, would all this trouble have followed?”

Zhang Yun’s face paled. She already knew about Shen Cuihua and bit her lip in retort. “You can’t put all the blame on me! If you hadn’t set your sights on that Jianyang Butterfly afterward, scheming to cheat that country couple with only ten taels of silver, would she have come to our door?”

It had started when Zhang Yun, wanting to vent her friend Zhu Qiluo’s anger, found out Li Yin was Li Yunyao’s brother. She deliberately had him sent away and then ruined the orchid, planting the blame on him.

Later, when Feng Qiufang and her husband brought the Jianyang Butterfly as compensation, Master Zhang quickly realized they didn’t know its value. Pretending it was for his daughter, he bought it off them for just ten taels.

Madam Zhang suggested, “Why don’t we just explain to Physician Wang that the orchid actually belongs to Second Young Master Bai—”

But she was cut off at once. “Foolish woman!” Master Zhang snapped. “When I gave that orchid to Physician Wang, I claimed I’d gone through great trouble to obtain it from Jiangbei. Now you want me to admit it was Bai’s? Do you want me to slap my own face?”

Meanwhile, Li Zhi’s family grew angrier the more they thought about it. They marched straight to Weixuan’s shop, intent on confronting Ying Su.

Li Yin tried to persuade them all along the way, but no one listened. With Yunyao fanning the flames and Feng Qiufang and her husband fuming, their anger only grew.

As soon as they reached the shop, Feng Qiufang spotted Ying Su behind the counter. She stormed inside, with Li Yunyao and Li Zhi right on her heels. Li Yin, fearing trouble, hurried after them.

Several customers were browsing inside. Liu Chuncao was in the middle of introducing some furniture when she saw the family barge in with hostility written all over their faces. She excused herself from the customers and came over.

“Auntie, Third Uncle, what brings you here?” Liu Chuncao greeted them with a smile.

Li Zhi’s face was rigid. “We’re here for Cuihua.” He pointed straight at Ying Su.

Ying Su had already noticed them when they entered. She leaned lazily against the counter, arms crossed, calmly watching them.

Li Yunyao marched up to her. “Shen Cuihua, you tricked us! Do you have any idea how much a meal at Lark Tower costs? Was it on purpose?”

Ying Su’s tone was cool. “Tricked you? Weren’t you the ones who ate? I don’t know how much a meal at Lark Pavillion costs, but I know very well how much my Jianyang Butterfly was worth.”

At the mention of the orchid, Feng Qiufang instantly lost steam. That was three hundred shining taels of silver gone, cheated away for only ten. The thought alone made her tug at Yunyao’s sleeve. “Forget it, let’s go home.”

But Li Yunyao shook her off and raised her voice. “Forget it? How can we just forget it? Shen Cuihua, looks like you need a lesson. Don’t think that just because you’re a widow now, no one can rein you in!”

“Li Yunyao, is that how a young girl should speak?” Liu Chuncao’s face darkened. She had no fondness for this family, not only for squeezing twenty taels from her last time, but also because they were endlessly troublesome.

Li Zhi scowled and snapped back at her. “How she talks depends on what she’s faced with!” He jabbed a finger at Ying Su. “She lured our family into Lark Pavillion, making us spend one tael, two coins on a meal. What kind of scheme is that?”

“Your legs carried you there. You ordered the dishes, you ate them. I didn’t take a single bite. So saying I tricked you, doesn’t that sound absurd?” Ying Su’s lips curved in a cold smile. At first glance it looked gentle, but her eyes held no warmth.

She slouched back in her chair, crossed one leg over the other, and spoke leisurely. “Let me give you some advice, “Greed leads to loss.” Don’t always think others are fools, there’s no such thing as a free bargain in this world.” Her phoenix eyes lifted slightly, a sharp glint flashing within.

For a moment, it was as if she’d transformed into someone else entirely. Yunyao suddenly recalled the time Ying Su had smashed a brush in her face and spoken those chilling words. Back then too, she had seemed like a completely different person.

Usually gentle and unassuming, but once serious, she became sharp and terrifying.

Fear prickled at Yunyao’s heart, draining all her bravado. She remembered how Wu Shumei had repeatedly asked her about Shen Cuihua, eager to make friends with her. The thought choked her. Why should she, after all her scheming, only barely win Wu Shumei’s attention, while this woman did nothing and still had a high-and-mighty air that made young ladies like Wu Shumei seek her out?

Yunyao felt both bitter and bewildered.

Li Zhi, however, refused to back down. He barked at Ying Su, “Don’t think you’re something just because your sister-in-law shields you. Everything you eat and live on now comes from her. Don’t think she enjoys feeding you two burdens! Don’t assume Chuncao doesn’t mind supporting someone who has nothing to do with our family! Keep this up, and you’ll be thrown out of the Lis sooner or later!”

Liu Chuncao’s face shifted at his words. She silently cursed Li Zhi, what nonsense was he spouting! She knew very well how capable Cuihua was. The only reason she and her husband were making money now was thanks to her. So she quickly countered, “Cuihua is our Erlang’s rightful wife! How can you say she has nothing to do with us? If Cuihua is willing, we’d be more than glad to keep her and her child with us!”