The bearded man closed the courtyard gate like everyone else and looked at Shen Ruyi.
Being stared at by him made her whole body tense and prickly.
“We’re here. You can let go now, right?” he first stared at her, then shifted his gaze downward to her hands.
Shen Ruyi felt her hands burning and instinctively loosened her grip.
She was afraid that if she delayed even a little, she’d lose her grip completely under that bearded, expressionless stare.
The man didn’t care what she was doing and busied himself inside.
Shen Ruyi, relieved that he wasn’t paying attention to her, relaxed and started exploring the courtyard.
Inside the courtyard was the front yard. In the center stood three main rooms—the main hall could serve as both living and dining space—and the side wings had little in them.
She stepped into the central main room, which also served as a kitchen and dining area, and noticed a back door.
On the left and right sides were four bedrooms, two in front and two in back.
The bearded man was busy in the southeast bedroom, glancing briefly at her but continuing his work.
No kitchen?
Shen Ruyi pushed open the back door of the main hall. Sure enough, there was a long L-shaped row of six rooms.
Next to the northeast main room was the kitchen; the next two empty rooms were obviously storage rooms.
Two more rooms opposite the main hall were also empty—probably for keeping pigs and chickens.
At the far end was the latrine.
The area opposite the kitchen had no walls on one side, leading to the back yard enclosed by a large courtyard wall.
Why did Shen Ruyi know all this?
Because the layout reminded her of her old home on the Jianghan Plain.
Houses there usually only had a back yard, but this house had both front and back courtyards.
After inspecting the layout, Shen Ruyi checked the kitchen. Aside from basic pots and pans, there was nothing.
She whistled. This won’t do. I have to get him to give me silver to buy things.
Married or not, fed and clothed, he chose her, so he needed to provide properly.
She returned to the southeast bedroom. Against the wall was a bed; opposite was a wardrobe. A desk faced south in front, separated from the bed by a small bookshelf.
The bearded man was sitting at the desk writing something.
“Bang, bang, bang!”
Shen Ruyi knocked three times. The man looked up. “Yes?”
He asked and immediately returned to writing.
“The kitchen is empty, and the other rooms don’t have bedding either. Where do we buy these things?”
“Every morning, there’s a market in West City. Walk along the main road next to the left Ji Tun. Follow the crowd, and you’ll see it,” he said.
Seeing she still hadn’t moved, he asked, “Anything else?”
“I don’t have silver to buy things,” Shen Ruyi admitted, embarrassed after so many years of independence.
The man seemed taken aback, perhaps wanting to comment but swallowing the words.
He stood, opened the wardrobe, and placed a piece of silver on the desk.
Shen Ruyi picked it up. “Are things expensive? Will this be enough?”
The man finally paused writing and studied her. “How much do you need?”
“After the marquis households were raided, we were imprisoned, all belongings seized. Apart from what I wear now, I have nothing. I need to buy food, clothing, and daily necessities.”
Though embarrassed, she had to explain—she couldn’t let him think she was a free wife who contributed nothing.
“All your hidden money was taken by the prison guards?”
“Yes.”
“I heard you still had money on the way here to buy things?” the bearded man asked, staring intently.
Shen Ruyi realized why he looked familiar—the plain-clothes man who came to pick up the women at the camp. The one quiet, almost invisible leader.
“That was the last bit of money, all used for purchasing items, which are still in the main house,” she explained.
She wouldn’t admit that she actually wasn’t short on money—he couldn’t get a free wife.
The man studied her, his thick beard moving slightly as he apparently thought it over.
He opened the wardrobe again, took out another ten-tael silver piece, and handed it to her.
“Here in Yongzhou, grains and meat aren’t expensive. Leafy vegetables cost more in winter. This should be enough.”
Shen Ruyi took the silver with a bright smile. “I’ll go shopping tomorrow for daily necessities. There’s nothing here. If it’s not enough, I’ll tell you. Do you need anything? I can get it too.”
The man, already returned to writing, paused briefly. “I don’t need anything. Just get your own things.”
“Okay. If you need anything but don’t have time, tell me—I’ll get it. By the way, what are we eating today? Is the market still open?”
Shen Ruyi checked the sun. It should be near noon—no wonder she was hungry.
The man looked at her, put down his pen, expressionless, and approached.
“Wha… what’s wrong?” she asked nervously, his face covered by the beard.
He bent down and scrutinized her as if seeing her for the first time.
“I… did I say something wrong?” Shen Ruyi tensed.
“Let’s go,” he said and started walking.
“Go… where?” she asked, startled.
“You said you’re hungry. We’re going to eat,” he replied without looking back, heading to the courtyard gate.
Shen Ruyi ran to keep up, muttering, This dead man, legs so long.
Luckily, he still needed to lock the courtyard gate, so she held onto his clothes for reassurance.
He said nothing, letting it be.
Following the main road to the right of his house, they walked about half an hour to a large open area.
Rows of market stalls were still partially set up, though vendors were mostly packing up.