On the other side, in Yong’an Town.
People were coming and going in the marketplace, but Su Lan’s mind had long since strayed from the bustling scene.
The scene in the shop earlier replayed in her mind section by section, like a thin needle piercing her heart. It wasn’t deep, but it throbbed with a persistent ache!
She now felt a massive sense of disparity and frustration. She had clearly chosen the most outstanding man, so why was it that when it came to holding a wedding banquet, she was inferior to Su He at every turn? The more she thought about it, the more uncomfortable she felt, and her pace couldn’t help but slow down.
“Brother Feng,” she spoke softly, glancing at the man beside her.
Shen Feng turned his head to look at her. “What’s wrong?”
Su Lan lowered her eyes slightly, her fingertips gently clutching the corner of her clothes as she spoke in a soft voice.
“I only have a red bridal veil; won’t it look a bit too meager? You saw it just now too—Su He’s side added so many items…” At this point, she showed a look of difficulty and continued in a low voice, “Our two families are holding banquets on the same day tomorrow, so people will inevitably put us together and compare…”
Hearing this, Shen Feng interrupted her immediately, his tone sinking a bit. “Our family’s silver is limited to begin with, so where would we get spare money to procure new clothes? The outfit you’re wearing is already considered quite new.”
“I understand. I’m already perfectly content with this outfit.” Su Lan quickly agreed in a soft voice, lowering her tone even further, though her eyes shimmered with a hint of tears. “I just wanted to visit the rouge shop. Since we’re getting married tomorrow, I should at least do a bit of grooming to make you look more respectable in front of your superiors and colleagues from the camp… But if you… then let’s forget it.”
Su Lan knew very well that men fell for this tactic. If she made a direct request on the surface, he definitely wouldn’t agree, but changing the phrasing made all the difference. As long as she could achieve her goal, what did it matter if she spoke a few soft words and lowered her posture a bit? She wanted to buy some rouge and powder; she had to doll herself up no matter what to utterly overshadow Su He at tomorrow’s wedding banquet!
Evidently, these words did strike a chord in Shen Feng’s heart. He naturally understood her meaning; back in the clothing shop today, Xiao Zheng’s side had indeed added quite a lot.
However, he also knew in his heart that the family’s finances were truly tight. Of the two taels of silver issued this time, he had already taken one tael back to give to his parents to buy grain. The remaining amount not only had to cover the banquet spread but also had to be saved for networking and building connections. He had even planned out that in a few days, he would invite Battalion Commander Li out for a drink to boost their relationship, so that someone would help promote him in his official career later on.
And every single one of these things required silver.
Thinking of this, he originally wanted to refuse, but when he looked up, he saw that Su Lan’s eyes were already misty. That appearance of hers looked so wronged that one couldn’t bear to speak harsh words to her. His heart instantly softened, and he ultimately let out a sigh.
“Let’s go.”
The two of them turned back toward the rouge shop.
However, looking at the two boxes of rouge in her hand, Su Lan wasn’t happy at all. After grinding him down for so long, he actually bought her the lowest grade and coarsest rouge and powder in the shop. Not only was the box crude, but the color wasn’t delicate enough either.
A wave of bitterness washed over her heart. Growing up, she had never used such low-grade and coarse cosmetics. But seeing the man’s expression of ‘generous tolerance,’ she gritted her teeth and could only force herself to endure it.
A smile surfaced on her face, completely warm and gentle. “Thank you, Brother Feng. I knew you were the best to me.”
Hearing these words, Shen Feng also felt a bit of satisfaction, feeling that he hadn’t mistreated her after all. Only then did the two of them leave the shop.
Walking to the street corner, a few ox carts were parked there. People were coming and going, some getting on the carts and some getting off.
Su Lan paused her tracks slightly. She glanced at the ox carts, then looked at Shen Feng. “Brother Feng~ Let’s take an ox cart back, shall we?”
“No!” Shen Feng frowned and refused directly, immediately stating in a earnest manner, “We already spent too much buying the cosmetics just now! It’s not far anyway, let’s just walk back. Besides, we aren’t pressed for time; I’ll accompany you and walk back slowly.”
“…”
Hearing this, the smile on Su Lan’s face froze. The suppressed emotions in her heart were on the verge of boiling over.
She had walked for nearly a whole double-hour from the village to the town today, and her feet were still aching now. And now he wanted her to walk all the way back, just to save those few copper coins?
She couldn’t help but feel a surge of resentment. This man!! Before leaving the house, he had spoken so beautifully, saying he would take her to town to properly outfit her. But what was the result? The red bridal veil was the cheapest one. The rouge was the lowest grade. Now he was even reluctant to pay for the cart fare!
For a split second, she even questioned how she could have set her eyes on him in the first place. But the moment this thought arose, she quickly suppressed it.
No! The person she chose couldn’t be wrong. Shen Feng was a company commander, young, promising, and exceptionally good-looking; in the military village, he was already the most outstanding man. He would continue to rise in the future, and once he became a battalion commander, she would be a battalion commander’s lady—a dependent of a ranked official.
Thinking of this, the bit of unwillingness in her heart was gradually replaced by another thought. This was just a temporary financial tight spot; it would pass once they endured it.
She put on a smile again, her voice gentle. “Alright, I’ll listen to you, Brother Feng.”
She tucked the rouge boxes into her sleeves and looked up at the road ahead. However, the emotions deep in her eyes had quietly shifted.
Meanwhile, at the Xiao household.
After settling all the purchased items one by one, everyone prepared to eat.
Tonight’s evening meal was a pot of wild vegetable flour-lump soup. It still lacked oil, but it was steaming hot. Since they were hosting a wedding banquet tomorrow, they ate simply tonight, and Wang Guixiang didn’t expend any effort to bake flatbreads or stir-fry dishes.
After the meal, Xiao Zheng stood up and patted the dust off the corner of his clothes. “I’m going out for a bit.” Before anyone could react, he had already walked out of the courtyard gate.
“…” Su He watched in amazement; those long legs sure made him walk fast!
Xiao Jun couldn’t sit still to begin with, and upon hearing this, he immediately stood up to follow. “I’m going to look for Hu-zi to play!”
The two brothers left the house one after the other. The courtyard instantly felt emptier with two fewer people.
Wang Guixiang wasn’t idling either. Gathering the two bolts of fabric into her arms, she hurriedly instructed Xiao Yue, “I’m going over to your Aunt Zhao’s house for a bit. Keep an eye on the place.”
“There’s still hot water in the pot!”
“Got it, Mother!” Xiao Yue answered crisply. Only then did Wang Guixiang hurry out the door.
Before long, only two people were left in the courtyard.
Xiao Yue cleaned up the bowls and chopsticks for a while, then went over to the stove to add some firewood. After finishing her chores, she couldn’t stay idle, so she simply moved a small stool to sit by the doorway, slowly mending clothes while humming a little tune.
Su He, on the other hand, was now completely free.
She stood in the middle of the courtyard and looked up at the sky. The sun was still high, and the light was bright. According to her original concept of time, it would only be around three in the afternoon. Yet here, she had already eaten her “dinner.” For a moment, she couldn’t quite adjust; the night was bound to be far too long.
The wind blew in from outside the courtyard, carrying a hint of the mountain air. Su He’s gaze instinctively drifted to the mountains in the distance. The mountain range lay quietly at the edge of her vision like a dusty treasure trove waiting to be uncovered.
Su He’s heart stirred slightly, making her feel a bit restless. Since it was still early anyway, should she take another trip to the mountainside?