Yuhe froze, a flicker of confusion crossing her face.
Shuhuai did eat zongzi. Besides, he harbored such deep feelings for Li Yunluo, and the girl had brought them specifically for him—how could he not have eaten a single one?
Once everyone was thoroughly fed and watered, Shuhuai’s friends took their leave one by one. Lady Cui fetched a few zongzi to send them off on their way.
Yunluo, however, dawdled for quite a while, even taking the initiative to step into Shuhuai’s room.
“Brother Shuhuai, did the food I prepared not suit your taste? Yunluo noticed you barely ate anything.”
Shuhuai didn’t invite her in, and the two simply stood by the doorway as they spoke.
“The food you prepared was naturally delicious and very much to my taste,” Shuhuai replied evenly. “It is getting late; you should return home early, Yunluo, lest your family worries.”
Seeing that Shuhuai offered no further words to urge her to stay, Yunluo had no pretext to linger any longer.
“If you lack anything, you must tell me,” she murmured softly. “Given our current relationship, there is no need to treat me like a stranger. Studying is important, but your health matters just as much.”
Shuhuai offered a faint smile. “Thank you for your concern, but I lack for nothing.”
He smiled so rarely—a gentle warmth like winter sunlight that could thaw anyone’s heart. Seeing it, Yunluo’s cheeks flushed a soft red, and she shyly turned her gaze away.
In the courtyard, Yuhe was helping Lady Cui clear the dining table, taking in the scene between the two with absolute clarity.
When Yunluo’s eyes inadvertently met Yuhe’s, she veiled the disdain and smugness in her gaze remarkably well. Yet Yuhe had always been sensitive; she caught the flicker of contempt in an instant.
Yuhe walked away without making a sound, thinking to herself: You’ve had your moment of glory today. It’s time you learned that Lin Yuhe isn’t someone anyone can step on whenever they please.
She possessed the kindness she ought to have, but if anyone thought they could play her for a fool, she would never allow it.
After bidding farewell to Lady Cui and Shuhuai, Yunluo departed with Dongyue, carrying the zongzi Lady Cui had pressed into her hands.
The moment they reached the intersection, Yunluo instructed Dongyue to throw the dumplings to the local children playing by the roadside. Walking a short distance behind them, Yuhe saw the whole exchange clearly.
Quickening her pace, Yuhe intercepted Yunluo’s carriage.
“Miss Li, I happen to be heading into the county town as well. I wonder if you could offer me a ride?”
Yunluo’s face darkened slightly. Unwilling though she was, she agreed politely nonetheless.
The interior of the carriage was lavish. The moment Yuhe stepped inside, Dongyue pulled out an old, worn mat and spread it at Yuhe’s feet.
Yuhe saw through the master and servant’s intentions in a heartbeat—they simply found her too dirty for their pristine carriage. Unwilling to swallow her anger any longer, Yuhe let out a soft laugh.
“Miss Dongyue, your young mistress is indeed delicate and precious. Next time you visit Xie Shuhuai’s home, perhaps you should lay this mat down the moment she steps off the carriage.”
“After all, once the two of them marry in the future, you likely won’t be suited for any other duties anyway. Laying down mats all day long should prove quite enough for you.”
The master and maid were rendered utterly speechless by the sharp retort.
“You—”
Unable to swallow the humiliation, Dongyue immediately fired back, “What nonsense are you spewing?! Once our young mistress marries in the future, how could she possibly let the young master live in a place like—”
“Dongyue!”
Fearing her maid’s loose tongue might blurt out something she shouldn’t, Yunluo cut her off sternly. Turning back with a practiced composure, she added, “Sister Lin, please do not take offense. Dongyue is still young.”
Yuhe leaned back against the carriage wall, settling into the most comfortable position she could find.
“I take no offense,” Yuhe said smoothly. “I didn’t hop on just to catch a convenient ride today—I also wished to strike a business deal with Miss Li.”
A look of sharp vigilance flashed across Yunluo’s face, and her expression turned icy. Dongyue, too, glared at Yuhe fiercely.
“Sister Lin wishes to strike a business deal with me?” Yunluo asked, her tone dripping with subtle mockery. “Our household neither sells eggs nor deals in grain and flour. I’m afraid this places Yunluo in quite a dilemma.”
The sarcasm was so blatantly obvious that Dongyue burst into an instant, mocking snort.
Rather than taking offense, Yuhe simply picked up on her words and pushed forward. “You’re about to sell them soon enough.”
“Miss Li, since business at your family’s shop is booming so remarkably well these days, allow me to add another offer to your repertoire.”
“Sell a bag of grain, and give away a garment of hemp or kudzu cloth for free.”
“As for the grain, we shall use the stock from my brother’s shop.”
“Naturally, I won’t have you work for nothing—in exchange, I shall share Xie Shuhuai’s personal likes and dislikes with you.”
Dongyue opened her mouth to snap a rebuke, but Yunluo cut her off with a sharp warning glance.
Yunluo smiled coolly. “Sister Lin is truly amusing. What if I refuse?”
Yuhe leaned in closer, her tone calm and steady. “Then I shall simply pay a visit to your father or your elder brother.”
“If they were to hear a few amusing stories about you, I doubt they would turn me away.”
Yunluo was merely a daughter of a concubine in the Li household. Though her recent ventures had raked in considerable profits and significantly elevated her standing within the family, giving her free rein over her own marriage prospects, her situation remained fragile.
People of Great Jin held deep superstitions regarding spirits and demons. If her secret were ever brought to light, they would almost certainly condemn her as a demonic entity.
Her unusual behavior had not gone unnoticed by her family, yet no one understood the reason behind it. If Yuhe were to approach the Li patriarch and his son under the guise of a spirit medium, even if they harbored doubts, seeds of suspicion would take root in their minds, and they would cease to entrust her with important affairs.
Unwilling to risk everything, Yunluo gritted her teeth and gave in. “Fine. Deal.”
Yuhe flashed an innocent, radiant smile. “That’s more like it. We’re practically family—why not make money together?”
Once again, the master and servant were thoroughly dumbfounded by Yuhe’s utter shamelessness.
Rolling her eyes in disgust, Dongyue wished nothing more than to kick Yuhe straight off the carriage. “In that case, shouldn’t Mistress Lin enlighten us on Young Master Xie’s preferences now?” she snapped, her tone dripping with venom.
“Shuhuai prefers clean, light flavors,” Yuhe stated plainly. “Yet every dish you prepare is dripping with grease. The taste may be rich, but a single glance at the heavy oil floating on the plate is enough to ruin his appetite.”
“Surely you haven’t forgotten that the two of you grew up together as childhood sweethearts?”
Yunluo’s face was drained of color. Clenching her fists tight, she burned with self-reproach for having thought matters too simple.
In truth, she looked down on common village folk. Feeling uncomfortable every time she visited the Xie home, she had assumed peasants simply craved fatty, greasy meat. The original host’s memories were fragmented at best, leaving her entirely ignorant of Shuhuai’s true tastes—and in doing so, she had unwittingly exposed a flaw before him.
Unwilling to lose face in front of Yuhe, Yunluo offered a smooth, practiced excuse. “Thank you for the reminder, Sister. Ever since my severe illness, I have forgotten many things from the past.”
Yuhe offered a harmless, guileless smile. “Ah, I see. What a fortunate illness.”
It so happened that Lin Yuping was struggling to sell off his warehouse of old grain. Had this crisis remained unresolved, he would have not only lost all his hard-earned savings, but also ended up deeply in debt. Since the Li family was enjoying such prosperous fortune, why shouldn’t Yuhe borrow a bit of their momentum?
Knowing the ins and outs of her brother’s business, Yuhe brokered the sale of the grain to Yunluo at Yuping’s standard price.
Yunluo gave the matter little thought, figuring that given the Li family shop’s roaring trade, selling three to four thousand bags of grain would pose no challenge at all.
Yet when the grain arrived, Yunluo was left utterly dumbfounded upon realizing it was all aged stock. The blunder earned her a severe scolding from her father.
Yuping, on the other hand, was beside himself with excitement, having reaped a handsome profit from the transaction. He repeatedly praised his sister’s cleverness, pulling out twenty taels of silver to share with her.
Madam Wu thoroughly agreed, pressing the silver firmly into Yuhe’s hands when she saw her sister-in-law hesitate.
“Brother, Sister-in-law, I cannot accept this silver,” Yuhe said firmly. “You need all the working capital you can get for the business.”
“I am not short of silver right now, and I cannot keep relying on you two forever. I must find a way to earn a living on my own.”
Over the past few days, Yuhe had come to a clear realization. If Shuhuai refused to forgive her and remained steadfast in his desire to marry Yunluo, she would at least need the means to support herself and her unborn child. Having learned her lesson, she no longer entertained any thoughts of depending on others.
Both Yuping and Madam Wu stared at her in utter astonishment. In just a few short days, the Yuhe standing before them seemed to have transformed into an entirely different person.
Just then, Lin Youtang stepped into the shop, accompanied by Concubine Qu.
The atmosphere plummeted into a chilly silence.
To save on lamp oil, Lady Cui preferred to work on her needlework during the day. She was currently putting the finishing touches on a small short blouse.
Seeing that she would soon have a new garment to wear, Yun’er ran around the courtyard in wild delight.
As nightfall approached and Yuhe had yet to return, Shuhuai emerged from the east room and walked into the kitchen to prepare dinner.
Hearing the rustling inside the kitchen, Lady Cui turned her head and spoke, “Huai’er, Yun’er’s clothes are finished.”
“Yuhe’s unborn child will also be needing a couple of close-fitting garments. She should be due around February next year.”
“The cotton cloth on hand is all used up, and buying more at current prices is far too expensive to be worthwhile. We might as well just use kudzu cloth instead.”
Most of the fabric used for garments in the Xie household came from official allowances issued by the Yamen.
Shuhuai lit the fire in the stove, offering no immediate response.
Assuming he hadn’t heard her, Lady Cui figured she would simply proceed according to her own plan.
Unexpectedly, moments later, Shuhuai’s cool, distant voice drifted out from the kitchen, “Mother, use cotton cloth for the sewing. I will go buy some in a couple of days.”