Carefree Farmwife: Training the Husband, Raising the Bun - Chapter 31

Ying Su slowed her steps, letting some distance open up between herself and the shop assistant ahead. In a low voice, she said to Liu Chuncao, “I know how to make that pushcart.”

Liu Chuncao froze for a moment, not registering what she had just heard. After a couple of seconds, her sharp eyes lit up, and she tightened her grip on Ying Su’s hand. “Cuihua, what you’re saying… is it true?”

Ying Su smiled faintly and nodded. When she noticed the shop assistant in front glancing back at them, she quickly tugged Liu Chuncao to the side and whispered a few words into her ear.

Liu Chuncao’s face lit up with joy and she nodded. “I’ll go tell Dalang right away.”

Not long after, Li Dalang came over. Normally, he spoke very little with Ying Su, partly because he didn’t like to, and partly to avoid gossip, but right now he was staring at her with excitement. In a low voice, he asked, “You’re saying… you really know how to make a pushcart?”

When Ying Su gave him a firm nod, Li Dalang’s tanned face instantly broke into a wide grin. His voice rose in excitement. “I’ll go tell the shopkeeper!” His shout drew curious looks from the other workers.

Ying Su quickly reached out to stop him. “Wait.”

Li Dalang looked at her in puzzlement. Ying Su lowered her voice. “Do you know how much silver your shopkeeper has already taken from Master Zhao?”

Li Dalang gave her a probing look. “Why are you asking about this?”

Ying Su folded her arms across her chest, smiling faintly as she countered, “And why do you think?”

Her question caught him off guard. After a moment, he quickly said in a low voice, “Don’t worry, our boss will definitely pay you your wages.”

The corner of Ying Su’s lips curved into a mocking smile.

Li Dalang wasn’t sure if he was imagining things, but it looked as though there was a trace of disdain in her smile. Ever since she had recovered from her illness, it was as if she had become a completely different person. There was something about her now that he couldn’t quite see through…

“How much silver did Master Zhao give your boss?” Ying Su pressed again, her expression tinged with impatience.

Li Dalang hesitated for a moment before lowering his voice. “I heard the deposit was fifty taels, but as for the full amount, I don’t know.”

Ying Su nodded slightly, tilting her chin up. Her bright phoenix eyes rippled with thought as she pinched her chin and looked him up and down.

The way she was staring made Li Dalang uneasy. He instinctively turned his head away, avoiding her gaze.

At last, Ying Su spoke. “Here’s what you’ll do. Tell your boss that you know a skilled craftsman who might be able to make the pushcart. Say that you’ll bring the design back today for that person to look at.”

Seeing that he was still standing there blankly, Ying Su frowned slightly and explained, “You know my position is a bit awkward. If a woman like me comes forward, it’ll only stir up gossip. This matter has to be handled by you.”

Understanding dawned on Li Dalang. He nodded. “I’ll go tell the boss right now.”

Thanks to the excuse of a so-called “skilled craftsman,” the shopkeeper immediately agreed and told the couple to hurry home with the design to see if the cart could be made. And so, the three of them set out early that day, riding a bullock cart back to the village.

On the way, Ying Su’s thoughts drifted to the hawthorns on the mountain. They couldn’t be delayed any longer, if they became overripe, they wouldn’t be good. But if she didn’t harvest them all quickly, someone else would surely catch on and start selling candied hawthorns too. She had no intention of letting others take a share of her profits. The problem was… she couldn’t possibly claim all the hawthorn trees on the mountain as her own.

Opposite her sat Liu Chuncao, who kept sneaking glances at her face. Even Li Dalang, sitting up front driving the cart, would turn his head from time to time.

But Ying Su seemed completely unaware, her beautiful eyes fixed on the distant mountains as she lost herself in thought.

Unable to hold back any longer, Liu Chuncao broke the silence. “Cuihua, do you really know how to make that pushcart?”

Ying Su raised an eyebrow. “What? You don’t believe me?”

“Yesterday you said… said you didn’t…” Even though Ying Su had stated clearly that she could, both Li Dalang and Liu Chuncao were still uneasy. After all, they had now taken responsibility for the matter themselves. If they failed to deliver the cart by the deadline, the shopkeeper would surely dismiss them.

Patiently, Ying Su said, “I never take on something I’m not certain of. Since I said I can make it, then I can make it.”

When Liu Chuncao still looked like she wanted to say more, Ying Su cut her off with, “If you don’t believe me, we’ll start working as soon as we get back.”

Hearing that, Liu Chuncao felt reassured and quickly smiled. “I wasn’t doubting you, it’s just… the design came from Xialiu, and even the old carpenters at the shop couldn’t figure it out. How could you…”

Ying Su’s lips curved into a cool, indifferent smile. She said nothing more, and the rest of the way passed in silence.

When they arrived back at the village, the other villagers still looked at them with strange eyes, whispering among themselves. Liu Chuncao occasionally greeted them as they passed.

As soon as they got home, the little bun came running out. Ying Su scooped him up into her arms, and her usually cool face softened with a warm smile. “Have you been good at home?”

The little bun proudly nodded. “Mommy, you’ll never guess what I did today!”

Seeing his smug little expression, Ying Su chuckled, pinching his soft cheeks. “Did you practice writing with Dazhuang again?”

The little bun shook his head. “Nope. Mommy, come with me!” He jumped down from her arms and pulled her toward the courtyard.

Ying Su paused briefly, her eyes flicking toward the gate. In truth, she wasn’t eager to step into Li Dalang’s house. After all, the gossip years ago had caused quite a stir in the village, and she didn’t want to get too close to the Li family again, lest more rumors spread and trouble them further…

“Cuihua, you’re back? Come in, quickly!” Madam Li called warmly from inside the yard.

Liu Chuncao hurried over, taking Ying Su’s other hand with a smile. “Didn’t you say we’d start as soon as we got back? Our house has both wood and tools. After we eat, let’s discuss how to begin!”

Leading the ox cart into the yard, Li Dalang also chimed in, “That’s right. You and Huzi shouldn’t go back yet. We’ll eat together, then get started.”

“Mommy~” the little bun tugged at Ying Su’s hand, his face full of anticipation. Ying Su smiled and followed him into the courtyard.

She, Ying Su, had never cared about what others thought of her. Gossip and rumors, so what!

Inside, the little bun proudly pointed to several baskets of bright red hawthorns, his little face practically shouting ‘Hurry up and praise me!’

Ying Su’s eyes lit up in surprise. She bent down and planted a big kiss on his cheek, laughing. “My son is amazing!”

“Auntie, I helped too!” Dazhuang pouted from the side, unable to hold back.

Ying Su chuckled, patting his head. “Dazhuang did very well too!”