15 – The Young Wife is Jealous
“Then… shall we go buy some oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar?” Taohua calculated as she spoke. “The salt at home is almost used up, and the rapeseed oil is still from what Mother sent last time—it’s almost gone too.”
Qin Feng gave an “Mm” in response. “What else?”
“There’s also rice, sugar, old ginger, star anise, cinnamon, and other seasonings. We don’t have much left of these things at home. Soon, the shops in town will all be closing, so if we buy everything early and take it back, we won’t have to worry during the New Year.”
“Alright, I’ll listen to you.” Ever since Qin Feng moved to Baiyun Village, he had only ever lived day by day, never planning so meticulously as he was today.
Now, seeing his little wife calculating so carefully, he suddenly felt that managing a life of daily necessities was also an art.
Moreover, his little wife’s voice was soft and gentle, pleasant to the ear.
In short, whatever his little wife said to buy, he would buy. Today, he was just a porter, responsible only for carrying the things she bought in the baskets.
Later, the two went to the market for another round. Taohua bought two large grass carp, planning to pickle them for the New Year.
When she saw live chickens, Taohua couldn’t resist buying two.
At first, Qin Feng thought she was tired of wild pheasant and wanted to change things up, but he didn’t expect his little wife to pick one rooster and one hen, intending to raise them at home.
By the time they finished at the market, it was already late.
Taohua was eager to hurry home, but Qin Feng had already heard her stomach growling with hunger.
“Let’s go, I’ll take you to eat something.”
Taohua, ever frugal, wanted to save money. “No need, Brother Qin. I’m not hungry. Let’s walk faster and go home. I’ll make you dough drop soup.”
Qin Feng glanced down at his little wife and, without responding, simply pulled her over to sit at a wonton stall.
Taohua still wanted to leave, but the stall owner had already come to serve them. Now, she was too embarrassed to leave and had to sit back down.
“Greetings, honored guests,” the stall owner said in a booming voice. “Would you like meat or vegetarian wontons?”
Taohua was about to say vegetarian, but Qin Feng spoke first. “Two bowls of meat wontons.”
“Coming right up!” The stall owner turned and called to the woman boiling the wontons, “Two more bowls of meat wontons!”
But as soon as the stall owner left, Taohua whispered, “The meat ones must be expensive, right? How much per bowl?”
Qin Feng refused to tell her. “Not much. Just focus on whether it tastes good or not. If you don’t like it, we won’t come back to this stall next time.”
Just then, someone at the next table asked the stall owner for the price.
Taohua overheard.
Her eyes widened in shock, and she looked at Qin Feng in disbelief.
“Meat wontons are five wen per bowl! A pound of meat is only ten wen, and rice is just three wen per pound. That’s too expensive, Brother Qin. How about we don’t eat here, or ask the stall owner to give me vegetarian ones and you can have the meat ones. Vegetarian ones are only two wen per bowl.”
“Then why should I eat meat while you eat vegetarian? Aren’t we husband and wife?”
Taohua was left speechless. “We… of course we’re husband and wife. Village Elder Grandpa even wrote our marriage certificate for us.”
“Then isn’t that right?” Qin Feng knew Taohua had suffered a lot in the past. Now that she was his wife, he didn’t want her to continue living as she had before.
“We’re husband and wife. From now on, whatever I eat, you’ll eat too. It’s only ten coins—I can afford it.”
“Mm.” Taohua responded, her heart brimming with joy.
When the meat wontons arrived, she no longer dwelled on the price.
Since it was her first time trying them, she ate with great delight.
She had thought they would head home after eating, but Qin Feng showed no intention of returning. Instead, he took her directly to the fabric shop.
This time, Taohua didn’t refuse, because she felt clothing was different from food.
A single garment could be worn for several years, so buying fabric to make clothes was necessary.
Moreover, she had already asked Qin Feng earlier and knew he always had his clothes made at this shop.
Each time a garment was made, they charged separately—it would be better for her to buy the fabric and make the clothes herself at home.
So in the end, she bought two bolts of fabric to take back—one blue and one dark green, colors that either of them could wear.
But just as they finished buying the fabric and were about to head home, a woman in the shop suddenly pushed aside the curtain and hurried out.
“Brother Qin,” the woman stopped directly in front of Qin Feng, “I heard a voice inside that sounded like yours, and sure enough, it really is you. Why aren’t you getting clothes made this time? You didn’t come to find me.”
Taohua glanced at the unfamiliar woman in front of her, then at Qin Feng, and suddenly felt a pang of discomfort.
He hadn’t mentioned that the seamstress who made his clothes was so attractive. And…
Listening to this seamstress speak, it seemed as though they were quite familiar before.
“Brother Qin,” Taohua tugged at the corner of Qin Feng’s sleeve, mustering her courage to say, “You… you tell her that from now on, all your clothes will be made by your wife.”
With Taohua saying this, there was no need for Qin Feng to speak—the seamstress understood perfectly well on her own.
She discreetly sized up Taohua, and when she looked back at Qin Feng, her tone carried a hint of disappointment:
“It’s been a while since I’ve seen you, Brother Qin. So you’ve already married. It seems there’s no need to waste money on tailoring clothes anymore.”
Qin Feng gave a simple “Mm” and said nothing more, directly taking his leave.
But on the way back, Taohua felt uneasy. She held it in for a long time but ultimately couldn’t keep it to herself.
Unable to resist, she asked Qin Feng, “Brother Qin, let me ask you something—are you very close with that seamstress from earlier?”
“No.”
Not close? Taohua pursed her lips and asked again, “Then why did she speak like that? She said you used to go to her before.”
Qin Feng frowned slightly. “You’ve misunderstood, Taohua. I did go to her before to have clothes made. But I never sought her out privately—it was always through the shopkeeper.”
“Then…” Taohua frowned. “Does she like you?”
Qin Feng was taken aback. How could his little wife dare to say such things?
He found it somewhat amusing. “I don’t know. I’m aware there’s such a seamstress, but I’ve hardly spoken to her.”
“Really?” Taohua looked up at Qin Feng, her eyes wide and round.
Seeing this, Qin Feng suddenly felt his little wife resembled a small wolf cub—both innocent and fierce.
It made him want to reach out and ruffle the little wolf cub’s head.
But the little wolf cub had neatly combed her hair before leaving in the morning, and he couldn’t bear to mess it up.
He gave a soft “mm” in response, saying, “It’s true, when have I ever lied to you?”
“That’s more like it!” Taohua glanced at Qin Feng again, pouting slightly, her voice very low, “I am your wife, so you can only like me!”
“What did you say?” Qin Feng looked at Taohua. “Your voice was too soft just now, I didn’t catch it.”
Taohua frowned, too embarrassed to repeat herself, and merely stomped her foot, saying, “Nothing, let’s keep moving.”
Hearing this, Qin Feng couldn’t help but chuckle softly.
In truth, he had heard her just now—he hadn’t expected his little wife to be so prone to jealousy.