She wanted to finish breakfast as quickly as possible, then take the money and head to the cotton shop.
If she worked fast enough, she and Han Sheng would be able to sleep under a brand-new quilt that very night.
Outside, the sky was only beginning to lighten with a faint milky glow, while the house itself remained pitch-black.
As Ruan Qingli passed through the main hall, she wasn’t paying attention and tripped over the foot of Han Sheng’s bed.
The fall sent her crashing directly onto him.
Fortunately, it didn’t hurt—but…
Han Sheng was abruptly awakened by the impact.
When he opened his eyes, Ruan Qingli was still sprawled on top of him. Her soft, fragrant body pressed against his made him hastily pull the quilt up a little higher to hide his embarrassment.
Thankfully, the room was still dark.
His Adam’s apple bobbed as he spoke in a slightly hoarse voice.
“A’Li… what are you doing?”
The moment she fell, Ruan Qingli had wanted to get up immediately.
Unfortunately, she couldn’t find anything to brace herself against.
In the end, she had no choice but to press both hands against Han Sheng’s firm chest to push herself upright.
Her face burned crimson, and her heart pounded as though it would leap from her chest.
When she had fallen, her cheek had brushed against his face, scraping lightly against the fresh stubble on his chin. For some reason, that tiny touch sent warmth spreading through her body.
And Han Sheng carried such a strong masculine scent—a mixture of sweat and the faint fragrance of soapberries, like sun-warmed grass after a bright afternoon. Warm, clean… and incredibly pleasant.
Seeing him looking at her, she stammered awkwardly while standing beside the bed.
“I… I was going to make breakfast.”
“So?”
“So… I was just passing by and accidentally fell on you.”
Han Sheng naturally knew that was what had happened. He was only teasing her.
Chuckling softly, he sat up and asked,
“Why are you cooking so early?”
“I need to go out today… to buy cotton.”
“I see.”
“Then go ahead.”
“Okay.”
Ruan Qingli picked up the carrying pole and hooked the water buckets onto it, intending to fetch water from the village well.
Before she could shoulder it, she suddenly felt the weight disappear.
Han Sheng’s tall figure had appeared behind her, effortlessly taking the carrying pole from her hands.
“From now on, you don’t have to fetch water anymore. Go do something else. I’ll handle this.”
“But…”
“No ‘buts.’ Fetching water isn’t included in the work you’re being paid for.”
Ruan Qingli went into the kitchen.
The kitchen was especially cold in the early morning. Only after she lit the stove did warmth slowly fill the room.
Even though it was only breakfast, she refused to cut corners.
She measured out two bowls of white flour, kneaded it into a smooth dough, then left it aside to rest.
While waiting for the dough, she prepared the chives.
She had already picked through them the previous evening, choosing only the freshest green leaves with crisp white stems. After washing them, she spread them out to drain before chopping them.
As the chives dried, she cracked four eggs into a bowl.
She added more firewood to the stove, scooped a spoonful of lard into the pan, and poured in the beaten eggs, scrambling them until they became fluffy golden curds.
By then, the chives had drained completely.
She finely chopped them, mixed them with the scrambled eggs, added a spoonful of salt, a pinch of dried shrimp, and half a spoonful of sesame oil.
Once the filling was ready, the dough had rested enough.
She skillfully rolled out wrappers one after another.
When Han Sheng returned from fetching water, two steaming bowls of wontons were already waiting on the table.
“Han… Han Sheng, wash your hands. Breakfast’s ready.”
“That fast?”
“I prepared the filling last night while you were washing the dishes, so it didn’t take long. Hurry and taste it.”
Han Sheng washed his hands, sat at the small table, and picked up his chopsticks.
Even before eating, the aroma alone made him hungry.
He hadn’t felt particularly hungry earlier, but now his appetite roared to life.
The tender chives blended perfectly with the rich fragrance of eggs. Every bite released flavorful juices, and he ended up drinking every last drop of the soup.
When Han Sheng had first taken Ruan Qingli into his home, it had only been because he pitied her.
Now he felt as though he was the one benefiting.
At last, he no longer had to alternate between starving and filling his stomach with whatever food he could find.
Now, every time he came home, there would be a hot meal waiting for him.
By the time they finished breakfast, the sky was fully bright.
People were already walking outside.
The sounds of water buckets, wooden clappers, and children’s cries mingled together, filling the town with the warmth and bustle of everyday life.
Ruan Qingli quickly washed the dishes, wiped her hands, and said,
“I’m heading out.”
“So early? The cotton shop probably isn’t even open yet.”
“It’s alright. I’ll wait outside. That way I’ll be the first one to buy cotton when they open.”
Seeing how excited she was, Han Sheng didn’t stop her.
He only reminded her,
“Go on. Be careful.”
“I will.”
Han Sheng returned from the yamen that evening.
The moment he stepped through the gate, he saw Ruan Qingli sitting on the doorstep, crying.
Her eyes were swollen and red, obvious signs that she had been crying for a long time.
Walking over, he softened his voice as much as he could.
“A’Li, what’s wrong? Did someone bully you?”
She shook her head.
But the moment she looked at him, tears streamed down again.
Han Sheng slowly sat beside her, trying to comfort her.
It was the first time he’d ever seen her cry like this.
Even when he’d found her abandoned and homeless before, she hadn’t shed a single tear.
Whatever had happened today… it had to be serious.
“A’Li, if you trust me, tell me what happened. Two people are better than one. Maybe together we can figure something out.”
Only then did she sob between hiccups,
“I’m sorry, Han Sheng… I couldn’t buy the cotton… I… I lost all the money.”
Han Sheng let out a quiet sigh of relief.
For a moment, he’d thought something terrible had happened to her.
It turned out she’d only lost the money.
Still crying, she continued,
“I was so careless. I’ll… I’ll pay you back… I’ll use my wages to repay everything, alright? But now there’s no cotton, so I can’t make the quilts… We’ll have to spend the whole winter freezing.”
Seeing her so heartbroken, Han Sheng had the sudden urge to pull her into his arms and comfort her.
Fortunately, he restrained himself.
Smiling gently, he said,
“I thought it was something much worse. If the money’s gone, then it’s gone. I can always earn more. When I get paid again, I’ll give it all to you, and you can buy the cotton then.”
“But… it hurts so much…”
Almost without thinking, Han Sheng reached out and lightly pinched her cheek.
“Go wash your face. You’ve cried so much you’re like a little tabby cat.”
“Really?”
“All you’re missing are three whiskers.”
That finally made Ruan Qingli laugh.
Han Sheng always gave people an incredible sense of security.
No matter how terrible something seemed, once it reached him, it somehow became nothing more than a small inconvenience.
Next door, in the Fang household.
Fang Shubai held Ruan Qingli’s money pouch in his hand, pouring the copper coins out with a loud clatter.
Earlier that day, he had arranged for someone to steal her savings.
Now he was simply waiting for Han Sheng to dismiss her over the missing money.
Once she had nowhere else to go, she would have no choice but to return to him.