These two men were henchmen belonging to Liu Changgui from the neighboring Qingshuiwan village.
It was actually through Liu Changgui that Yuhe had first heard the news of Shuhuai’s upcoming marriage to the Li family daughter. After leaving Shuhuai, she had cut virtually all ties with the Xie household.
Liu Changgui was a maternal cousin of Yuhe’s father, and his primary business was high-interest usury. Yuhe surmised that Liu Changgui had only been willing to lend Shuhuai money because he expected Shuhuai to marry into a wealthy family.
Now, in just half a day, news that Shuhuai’s wedding with the Li family daughter had fallen through had undoubtedly spread like wildfire across Hongye Village and Qingshuiwan. That was why the debt collectors had arrived so swiftly.
“The principal loan was three taels of silver,” the man in the navy gown barked. “Your son has had it for half a month. Principal plus interest, you owe us five taels!”
Lady Cui’s face was lined with anxiety. “Wasn’t it agreed that the loan was for a full month? It has only been half a month!”
The other man, dressed in a grey short coat, sneered loudly, “We’re doing you a favor! By the end of the month, do you think you’ll be able to afford ten taels?”
“Stop wasting our time,” the grey-coated man added roughly. “Hand over the silver!”
As he spoke, he slammed his wooden cudgel against a porch pillar with a loud crack.
Frightened out of her wits, young Yun’er curled into a tiny ball and began to sob quietly.
The man in the navy gown hardened his tone considerably. “Did you hear us? Hand over the money!”
At that moment, Shuhuai stepped out of the study. He pulled Yun’er behind him, his eyes flashing with a deadly chill.
“When the agreed period is up, the silver will naturally be returned,” he said, his voice flat and icy. “However, today is not that day.”
The navy-robed man let out a harsh laugh. “When the period is up? You can’t even produce five taels now, let alone ten later! Everyone calls you a Scholar Master, yet who would have guessed you don’t even have enough silver for your own wedding?”
The grey-coated henchman joined in the mockery. “What’s there to be so high and mighty about? I doubt you could find a scholar as impoverished as him in the entire Xuyang County!”
“Haha!”
The pair’s laughter rang out sharp and cruel, thick with sarcasm.
Lady Cui was so consumed with rage that she gasped for air. Yuhe quickly stepped forward, helping her sit down on a wooden bench.
Shuhuai’s expression turned deathly pale, his gaze as piercing as an unsheathed blade flashing with cold steel. Yuhe had seen Shuhuai’s martial skills before; fearing he might escalate the situation into a full-blown fight, she stepped in to strike back.
“You’re nothing more than hired dogs running errands for Liu Changgui,” Yuhe spat, her voice cutting through the laughter. “To think you dare use the meager copper scraps he throws you to mock a scholar recognized by the court!”
With a decisive motion, she pulled out a heavy purse and hurled it straight at the two men. “There are five taels of loose silver in there. Return the loan receipt to my husband and get out this instant!”
The two men’s faces turned red, then pale.
The man in the grey coat caught the purse, weighed it in his hand, and nodded reluctantly. After all, even their master had to tread carefully around Yuhe’s father. Not daring to push their luck further, they handed the receipt over to Shuhuai and slunk out of the courtyard like defeated dogs.
Watching their pathetic exit, the corners of Yuhe’s lips curved into a subtle smile.
Before she could wipe the smile from her face, she turned around—only to bump straight into Shuhuai’s searching, sharp gaze.
In the past, whenever trouble struck the Xie household, she had always watched with cold indifference, let alone using her own dowry money to help them out. Finding his complex gaze far too overwhelming, Yuhe looked away in a flash of guilt.
This silver was what she had exchanged yesterday when she bought the abortive medicine. When she had married Shuhuai, her mother had given her fifty taels of silver as a dowry. But after the divorce, feeling free from restraint and believing she was about to marry into the wealthy Min family, she had squandered it recklessly.
Her remaining dowry couldn’t be much; she needed to figure out a way to make more money.
Seeing the trouble depart, Lady Cui’s complexion improved slightly. Yet she still offered Yuhe no kind expression, projecting her frustration onto her instead. “If it weren’t for your wild scene yesterday, how could we have suffered these troubles? Let this silver count as payment for your three years of room and board in our home!”
Knowing how heartless her past self had been, Yuhe had no words to defend herself against Lady Cui’s lingering resentment.
Shuhuai said nothing. He glanced at the stone water basin—which was now only half full—picked up his shoulder pole and buckets, and strode out of the courtyard.
Yuhe knew that his silence was a tacit agreement with Lady Cui’s words.
The next morning, the family was having breakfast together.
Li Yunluo arrived at the Xie household dressed in an elegant, understated ruqun. Soft-featured and refined, she carried an air of quiet dignity that immediately earned everyone’s favor—a stark contrast to Lin Yuhe’s striking, radiant beauty, which often drew spiteful whispers of “fox spirit” from the village women.
Her maid, Dongyue, carried two large bundles in her arms. As soon as she unwrapped them, a mouthwatering aroma wafted through the room. It was no ordinary home-cooked scent, but a rich fragrance reminiscent of a royal banquet.
Drawn by the smell, Yuhe shamelessly glanced over. A spread of exquisite delicacies covered the table, and she instinctively swallowed her saliva.
Scanning her with a brief flicker of disdain in her eyes, Yunluo called out with polite grace, “Sister Lin, please come join us and have a taste.”
Yuhe declined without a second thought. This woman had come specifically for Xie Shuhuai; no matter how thick-skinned she was, she knew enough to keep her guard up around a rival.
Yun’er bounded up and down in excitement. “Auntie Yun, you’re the best! You brought more delicious food! What kind of meat is this red one?”
Yunluo remained standing by the table, introducing each dish with gentle patience. “This is braised pork belly, this is stewed lion’s head meatballs, this is Kung Pao chicken, and this is chicken stewed with hazel grouse mushrooms.”
With her bowl piled high, Yun’er stuffed her cheeks full, far too busy eating to utter another word.
Lady Cui took a bite and praised her warmly, “What a good child. How did you manage to make these? You’re so virtuous—I doubt even noble households could prepare such fine delicacies.”
Yunluo gave a shy smile, her eyes occasionally darting toward Shuhuai, who was still quietly eating his pickled vegetables. Though a trace of disappointment flickered across her face, she remained undeterred, even showing a hint of quiet confidence.
She set a bowl of chicken soup before Shuhuai. “Brother Shuhuai, try some of this.”
A rare softness glinted in Shuhuai’s eyes as he ladled two spoons of broth into his mouth and drank. Seeing this, Yunluo flashed a triumphant smile.
I’m a modern person who transmigrated to ancient times, she thought to herself. These dishes are just the tip of the iceberg; there’s so much more I can do. These ancients are so painfully unsophisticated.
Near the doorway, Yuhe froze mid-step. She thought she had just heard Yunluo speaking, yet when she turned, Yunluo’s lips hadn’t moved at all.
Just as Yuhe began to wonder if she was hallucinating, Yunluo’s voice echoed again: With my dimension space in hand, is there anything I can’t have?
Pairing the voice with the arrogant smile on Yunluo’s face, Yuhe was certain: she could hear Yunluo’s innermost thoughts.
She stood rooted to the spot, paralyzed with shock. It was not until Yunluo announced her departure that Yuhe finally lifted her eyes to look at her, clutching her hammering chest as she forced herself to snap out of it.
“Brother Shuhuai, take these books to read for now,” Yunluo said softly, handing over a bundle. “If you lack anything else, just let me know.”
Shuhuai accepted the bundle calmly, his voice even. “I will accept the books for now, but please do not bring things like this in the future. It is not good for your reputation.”
Hearing his concern, Yunluo was overjoyed, nodding her head with shy, affectionate eyes.
Watching the subtle play of affection between them made Yuhe’s stomach turn. If you won’t let me live in peace, she thought, I won’t make things easy for you either.
The moment Yunluo stepped out of the Xie courtyard, Yuhe sprinted after her, calling out as Yunluo reached a bend in the slope, “Miss Li, wait!”
Yunluo paused and turned around, her posture remaining gentle and her eyes clear. “I wonder what business Sister Lin has with me?”
Yuhe met her gaze directly, speaking without hesitation. “I’m taking a liberty here—I’d like to ask Miss Li for something.”