The Wife of a Loyal Servant - Chapter 11

After sending Cheng Shaotang on his way, Ling Yu and Cheng Shaoan threw themselves into preparing their tea stall, bustling around with fiery enthusiasm. Both were incredibly enthusiastic, buying materials, arranging supplies, and even scouting locations. Even Madam Wang went to town to consult a fortune teller, Sai Banxian, to choose an auspicious day for opening.

When that auspicious day finally arrived, Ling Yu and Madam Wang rose before dawn to prepare sesame cakes, mung bean soup, tea, and all the other items they planned to sell. Cheng Shaoan, meanwhile, meticulously checked the two-wheeled cart from top to bottom, counting the teacups and spoons several times, and even wiping the small stools thoroughly.

By the time the three of them had finished their thorough preparations, the first light of dawn was breaking in the east.

Ling Yu swiped away the sweat on her forehead and glanced at Cheng Shaoan, who was practically vibrating with excitement. But remembering his string of unreliable blunders, unease stirred in her chest. If her mother-in-law hadn’t forbidden her from tagging along, she would have kept an eye on him just to be sure nothing went wrong.

“Sister-in-law, everything’s ready. We didn’t miss anything! Once Mother comes out, we can leave!” Cheng Shaoan said eagerly, rubbing his palms together.

Ling Yu pursed her lips but still couldn’t hold back from threatening him. “You’d better work seriously. Be quick with your words, keep your smile warm, and treat every customer well—big or small. If you dare pull a face, throw a tantrum, or mess up the business, I’ll tell Cousin Qiaorong all about how you wet the bed at five, almost got kidnapped at seven because you were greedy, and got chased by a dog naked at eight!”

Cheng Shaoan’s expression changed. “How do you even know that? Did my brother tell you? No, no, no! I’ll treat every customer like they’re my ancestors, alright, Grandma?!”

“Who’s your grandma!” Ling Yu snapped at him. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Madam Wang coming out of the main room and immediately switched to a warm, friendly smile. “Travel safely. Your sister-in-law will be waiting for your good news!”

“Smiling tiger,” Cheng Shaoan muttered, feeling the pressure instantly increase.

“It’s getting late; let’s go! Eldest daughter-in-law, I’ve already fed the chickens, and it’s almost Xiao Shitou’s waking time. Hurry back to your room and check on him,” Wang Shi said, wiping her hands.

“Don’t worry, Mother, I’ll take care of everything at home,” Ling Yu answered.

Actually, she did want to go with them, but Madam Wang, who usually had no opinion of her own, was unusually firm this time and insisted she stay home to look after her son and handle the household chores.

Ling Yu had no choice but to agree. In truth, with her mother-in-law and Cheng Shaoan together, she felt much more at ease; at least someone would be watching him.

After watching the mother and son leave, she closed the courtyard gate and returned to the house. Sure enough, she saw that Xiao Shitou was already awake, sitting on the bed in a sleepy daze, rubbing his eyes with his tiny hands. When he saw her come in, he immediately stretched out his chubby lotus-root-like arms and called softly, “Mother…”

Smiling, Ling Yu walked over to pick him up, washed and dressed him, and then fed him the rice cereal she had prepared earlier.

The little fellow could now walk a few steps without adult support, though he wasn’t very steady. He waddled like a little duck, and sometimes, after a few steps, he would plop onto his bottom. He wouldn’t cry—he would just look innocently at the nearby adults. And if no one came to pick him up, he would instantly drop to all fours and crawl away like a flash, making it impossible for anyone to take their eyes off him.

Because she kept thinking about the business, Ling Yu pricked her fingers several times. At last, she set down the embroidery frame in defeat. When she turned around, she caught Xiao Shitou trying to shove a cloth tiger into his mouth.

She quickly snatched it away and teasingly pinched his cheek. “Naughty boy, that’s not for eating.”

Xiao Shitou beamed at her and called out brightly, “Mother!”

Before she could respond, he clapped his little hands and chirped, “Father!”

“Still thinking about your father? He’s far away from us right now!”

Just then, as mother and son were playing, a voice called from outside, “Is Auntie at home?”

Ling Yu picked up her son and went to open the door. “Oh, Cousin Qiaorong? Come in. Mother’s gone out and isn’t here. Were you looking for her?”

“It’s nothing urgent. My mother sent me to ask if Auntie has any extra embroidery thread we might borrow.” Qiaorong’s voice was soft and gentle, and her eyes—clear like autumn water—floated toward her, delicate and expressive.

Although Ling Yu had spent a few years with her in her previous life, she still felt that this girl had truly been born into the wrong household. That soft, inward-to-the-bone grace of hers made her look more like a rich family’s young lady than the real thing. She should’ve been raised in a deep, sheltered courtyard, pampered and waited on hand and foot, spending her leisure time arranging flowers and perfumes, not doing needlework to earn a few measly coins like she was now.

“I happened to buy some new thread a few days ago. If you need it, go ahead and take it.”

“That works. I’ll borrow it for now—once I buy new ones, I’ll return it to you.” Qiaorong took the fresh embroidery thread.

“How many handkerchiefs have you embroidered already?” Ling Yu asked casually.

“Just one more to make ten. Once I’ve got ten, I’ll take them to the county town to sell for a bit of money.”

Ling Yu naturally knew that Jin Qiaorong was excellent at needlework. In their previous life, after Cheng Shaoan left, the two sisters-in-law worked odd jobs to supplement the family income, while Jin Qiaorong stayed home to embroider for income and look after their ailing mother-in-law. Working together, they slowly got through those first harsh years.

But perhaps those days were simply too difficult; perhaps being abandoned by her husband broke her spirit—or perhaps there were reasons Ling Yu never learned. In the end, Jin Qiaorong could no longer endure. On a day when the entire city was celebrating the Flower Goddess’s birthday, she, just like her husband Cheng Shaoan, took the family’s money and disappeared.

Did she blame her? Ling Yu wasn’t a saint; of course she blamed her. She even resented her.

Even so, in this life she never thought about breaking up Jin Qiaorong and Cheng Shaoan’s marriage. She would let things unfold naturally. After all, who could guarantee that whoever Cheng Shaoan married this time would be better than Jin Qiaorong? People change easily. Someone who looks good at first—what about later?

At the very least, in their last life, Jin Qiaorong had endured several hard years alongside them. Would replacing her really make things better?

***

Cheng Shaoan and Madam Wang returned earlier than Ling Yu had expected. When she saw the smiles they couldn’t hide, her eyes instantly lit up.

“Everything sold out?” she asked in disbelief.

“Sold out, sold out! Even the last bowl of mung bean soup!” Cheng Shaoan answered in a booming voice, sweat still seeping from his forehead and his sun-reddened cheeks glowing with excitement.

“That’s right, all sold out! We had just unloaded the goods when a passing customer came and bought five cakes and two bowls of mung bean soup. Before the morning was even over, we’d already sold nearly half. We were so busy our feet barely touched the ground! Then in the afternoon, a caravan came, a whole crowd of people, and in no time everything was gone!” Madam Wang couldn’t contain her delight.

With this successful first day, Ling Yu felt a heavy weight lifted from her heart. Smiling, she welcomed the two inside. “Come in and rest. I’ll pour you some water.”

“Sister-in-law, we earned a total of 467 copper coins today. According to the agreement, here’s your 281.” Taking advantage of the moment when Madam Wang had gone inside to rest, Cheng Shaoan separated the day’s earnings and handed Ling Yu her portion.

“You raised the price?” Ling Yu was surprised. She had prepared everything herself, and the prices had been agreed on beforehand. Even selling out completely, the most they should have earned was a little over three hundred copper coins.

Cheng Shaoan grinned. “Sister-in-law, I’ve thought it through. We can probably only make money while this is still a novelty. Before long, others will follow suit, and business will suffer. Better to strike while it’s just us and earn a solid sum first.”

“I didn’t expect you to have some business sense,” Ling Yu said, rare praise slipping out.

She had long known this venture wouldn’t last, whether profitable or not. Right now, all she cared about was saving enough to move away before the war reached them—and at best, she had four years.

Cheng Shaotang was the main breadwinner of the family, but while they aimed for big profits, the small ones couldn’t be missed either.

Cheng Shaoan scratched the back of his head in embarrassment.

The brother and sister-in-law were delighted with today’s victorious start and discussed how much more to prepare for tomorrow. Meanwhile, a thousand miles away, Cheng Shaotang was facing the greatest crisis of his career.

The escort trade had always believed in harmony bringing wealth. Even when encountering bandits or thieves, they usually just intimidated them and avoided fighting. Even if forced into action, they would not take lives, at most shedding some blood to warn others.

Cheng Shaotang had known this escort run would be difficult, and he was well aware the bandits on Chichuan Road were no pushovers. But he hadn’t expected them to disregard all codes of chivalry, attacking with vicious, ruthless moves. Practically the kind of savagery that said, “As long as we get the goods, it doesn’t matter if everyone is hacked to death.”

“Damn it, I’ll fight you all!” Hot-tempered Song Chao had initially held back, but after being nearly beheaded several times, he finally lost his temper and brandished his broadsword to fight back.