A sharp, cutting voice spoke, and without even turning her head, Li Miaomiao knew it was Bai Lian.
Li Miaomiao saw her carrying a shoulder pole, the two baskets full of vegetables.
She wasn’t annoyed by the remark at all. Instead, she smiled at Li Sanniang and said, “Auntie Sanniang, I think I just saw someone’s eldest son riding a donkey cart with his new wife. How dutiful of him!”
Li Sanniang, who had a bit of a grudge against the Lin family, picked up on Li Miaomiao’s words.
“Isn’t that so? I’ve only ever seen sons make their mothers walk while they ride, but I’ve never seen a son let his mother carry things while he rides a donkey cart!”
Bai Lian, seeing them echo each other, drew strange looks from others passing through the village.
Her face darkened slightly.
She shot Li Miaomiao and Li Sanniang a glare, spat on the ground, and haughtily carried her loads away.
Li Sanniang rolled her eyes at Bai Lian’s retreating back. “Look at her sour little face.”
With her tone as if harboring a personal grudge, Li Miaomiao gestured to keep moving.
Along the way, she took the chance to ask, “Auntie Sanniang, from your tone just now, it seems you and Bai Lian don’t get along?”
Li Sanniang took a steamed bun she had prepared earlier from her small bundle and handed it to her.
“Here, have a bun. Let’s eat as we walk and talk.”
Actually, Li Miaomiao had already eaten before leaving. But she thought that exchanging small kindnesses between neighbors could help strengthen bonds, so she accepted.
“Thank you, Auntie Sanniang.”
Li Sanniang waved her hand casually. “No need for thanks—we’re from the same village.”
Li Miaomiao broke off a small piece of bun and put it in her mouth. The first bite revealed that the bun was not only soft and sticky but also sweetened with sugar.
Soft, fragrant, and sweet.
Li Sanniang took a bite and sighed slowly.
“Ah.”
Seeing the slight worry on her face, Li Miaomiao asked gently, “Auntie, why the sigh?”
“You wouldn’t understand, Miaomiao.”
Li Sanniang then recounted, slowly, the feud with the Lin family.
It turned out that back when a matchmaker came to propose, Bai Lian went along due to some connections. When she first entered the Li household, she praised all the Li girls for being lovely. But when Li Sanniang brought the dishes to the table, she didn’t put the bowl of meat in front of Bai Lian.
For this tiny slight, Bai Lian held a grudge and later went to the village chief’s house to complain about Li Sanniang.
The marriage proposal was delayed.
Had it not been for a chance encounter between the village chief’s brother and Li Sanniang that cleared up the misunderstanding, this marriage might have been lost.
“Do you know what her intentions were? I had already tried my best to push the bowl of meat toward her and the matchmaker. My parents were still in the main seats. I couldn’t just place the meat directly under their noses, could I?”
Ten years ago, Li Miaomiao was only eight. Not knowing about it was perfectly normal.
Thinking about it, Li Sanniang still harbored resentment. “On my wedding day, she still acted hypocritically. My second sister-in-law warned me not to get too close to her.”
At first, Li Sanniang didn’t understand why. Upon questioning, her second sister-in-law—who was the village chief’s wife, a gentle woman Li Miaomiao had seen—explained the truth.
Seeing Li Miaomiao eat the bun obediently, Li Sanniang sighed again.
“Miaomiao, let me tell you something from the heart. Keep your distance from the Lin family. If they shamelessly come looking for trouble, use a broom to beat them—hard. They’re all bullies who only dare to pick on the weak.”
Li Sanniang had been married ten years with no children, and was eight years older than Li Miaomiao. If not for the generational difference, she would have taken Li Miaomiao as a god-daughter, at least to protect her in the village.
Her kindness stemmed simply from seeing Li Miaomiao’s situation mirrored her own past.
Listening to her heartfelt words, Li Miaomiao swallowed the bun and gave her a sweet smile.
“Auntie, I’ve remembered your advice.”
Seeing her so cheerful, Li Sanniang adjusted the backpack on her shoulders with her free hand.
“Let’s keep moving.”
By market days, Wuhe County was bustling. After entering the city, Li Miaomiao and Li Sanniang separated to attend to their own matters, agreeing to meet at the city gate when done.
Li Miaomiao first went to Lu Ban’s shop. Shopkeeper Wang had been waiting at the door for her and quickly greeted her upon seeing her carrying the basket.
“Miaomiao, you’ve finally arrived.”
Seeing the joy on his face, the eager look settled once he spotted her.
Li Miaomiao peeked inside the shop; as last time, it was crowded.
She smiled at the shopkeeper. “Sorry I’m late.”
“Not late, not late. You’re just in time. Young Master Liu and Miss He just arrived as well.”
“Shopkeeper Wang, who are they?”
Wang helped her unload the basket and gestured them inside. As they walked, he explained, “One is the second son of the Liu family, the other is the eldest daughter of the He estate. She’s the sister of the young master who bought the multifunctional box last time.”
A little convoluted, indeed.
Li Miaomiao lowered her eyes to think, then heard him continue.
“Since the young master of the He family bought a multifunctional box last time, he’s been bragging about having a unique item. His friend, Young Master Liu, also wanted one. They came here and learned you come to the market on set days, so they arrived early to wait for you.”
Hearing this, a smile appeared at the corner of Li Miaomiao’s lips. “I really should find a chance to thank Young Master He for helping promote it.”
As they spoke, they entered the shop, immediately hearing a boy and girl arguing.
“He Yue, let go! I want to give this to my sister!”
“Liu Youxing, have some shame! I got it first!”
A crowd gathered, and Li Miaomiao couldn’t make out their faces, only distinguishing voices.
Shopkeeper Wang leaned to her and whispered, “Young Master Liu and Miss He have never gotten along since childhood. Just ignore it.”
Li Miaomiao nodded slightly and followed him through the crowd.
A maid saw them approaching and hurriedly told He Yue, “Miss, the shopkeeper is here.”
The two glared at each other and handed the multifunctional box to an assistant.
Reluctantly, Liu Youxing let go and turned his gaze toward the person beside Shopkeeper Wang, clearing his throat.
“Shopkeeper Wang, is this the Li Miaomiao you mentioned?”
Wang smiled broadly and introduced her.
“Young Master Liu guessed correctly. This is Miss Li, the maker of the multifunctional wooden box.”
Under their scrutinizing eyes, Li Miaomiao nodded slightly.
Liu Youxing walked over, sizing her up with a mischievous tone in his youthful voice.
“You’re not much older than me, yet you have such impressive skills…”
Before he could finish, He Yue elbowed him aside, pushing him to the side.
A bright little face leaned toward Li Miaomiao, her round eyes blinking as she stared hard at her.
“I didn’t expect the talented girl my brother spoke of to look like this.”
Though politely worded, everyone could tell—she was calling Li Miaomiao ugly.