The butcher had just slaughtered two pigs. A family in the neighboring village was holding a wedding, but they didn’t need that much meat.
The butcher had originally planned to keep some of it for his own family, but when he heard Huang Shi say that she wanted to buy it for her son so he could have a good meal before setting off for the capital, he readily agreed.
The butcher knew that Huang Shi’s son had already become a successful candidate in the imperial examinations. Being able to go to the capital for the exams was already an impressive achievement, so without a second thought, he sold all the remaining pork to Huang Shi, even giving her a slightly cheaper price.
Thus, Huang Shi bought nearly eight pounds of pork in one go. There was just more lean meat than fatty meat.
Huang Shi figured that she wouldn’t need nearly this much meat to make stuffed tofu, so she decided to make some dried meat as well.
Liu Muli had no objections. After all, she would definitely get to eat some of the finished dried meat too. Huang Shi’s dried meat was truly delicious, and she had been craving it badly.
So, over the next few days, Huang Shi stayed home preparing provisions for Wei Linyě, while Liu Muli followed her around and helped with everything.
On the fourth day after Wei Linyě returned, he still hadn’t left because the dried meat wasn’t completely dry yet. It needed another day in the sun.
On the fifth day, Huang Shi had already prepared all the provisions he needed, yet he still hadn’t set out.
Huang Shi simply assumed that her son was too attached to home and was so touched that she nearly cried.
Liu Muli, meanwhile, happily ate the dried meat, but she was secretly growing anxious.
Because her fake menstrual period was about to end.
For some inexplicable reason, she had a feeling that this bastard Wei Linyě was deliberately waiting for her period to finish before dragging her into bed and then leaving.
She became anxious, so anxious that she even started feeling overheated. Several small bumps had appeared behind her ears, and they hurt whenever she touched them.
When Huang Shi noticed them, she said that Liu Muli had eaten too much dried meat and gotten overheated. Once her period was over, they would go to town and buy some medicine to clear the heat and relieve the summer heat.
However, Huang Shi was the kind of person who liked to get things done as soon as she decided they needed doing. So she urged Wei Linyě to take Liu Muli to town to have a look.
Liu Muli naturally didn’t want to go with Wei Linyě, but she didn’t want Huang Shi to worry, so she compromised.
After listening to Huang Shi, Liu Muli stopped giving Wei Linyě the cold shoulder. Since these were their last days together, she might as well get along peacefully with him.
That way, when they eventually went their separate ways, at least Wei Linyě wouldn’t be filled with resentment toward her.
Of course, even if he hated her, she wouldn’t care. He was going to the capital to become an official anyway. As the saying went, the mountains were high and the emperor was far away—he wouldn’t be able to control her. Once he had a beautiful wife by his side, he would probably forget about a crude village woman like her.
That was what Liu Muli thought.
But once she started pretending to get along harmoniously with him, Wei Linyě became even more presumptuous.
Whenever Huang Shi wasn’t looking, he was constantly pulling her close, kissing and hugging her.
He acted as though he liked her so very much…
Still, she did believe that Wei Linyě at this point in time genuinely liked her quite a bit.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t constantly be trying to get close to her.
Was he simply obsessed with her body? Possibly.
Had the novelty not worn off yet? Definitely.
Unlike in her previous life, Liu Muli now had a very clear understanding of her position in Wei Linyě’s heart.
Whenever he acted clingy toward her, she simply treated him like a dog she was petting.
On the morning of the sixth day after Wei Linyě returned, he still didn’t leave for the capital. Instead, he found Ergou, the village chief’s son, and asked him to drive the ox cart and take him and Liu Muli to town.
In front of outsiders, Wei Linyě always behaved like a proper scholar. He was impeccably restrained, expressionless, cold, and indifferent.
Liu Muli cursed him inwardly for putting on such an act, but fortunately, he was pretending.
She ignored him and sat as far away from him as possible, chatting animatedly with Ergou.
Ergou was a young man, two years younger than her. He regularly drove the ox cart to town and had heard and seen quite a few things. He had all sorts of amusing stories to share with Liu Muli.
Liu Muli listened with great interest, completely ignoring Wei Linyě beside her. She didn’t even notice that his expression was becoming increasingly dark.
Liu Muli: I don’t care!
Suddenly—
Clang!
The cart wheel struck a large stone, causing the ox cart to lurch violently.
Caught completely off guard, Liu Muli nearly fell off the cart, her face turning deathly pale with fright.
Just when she thought she was about to die right there, a large hand grabbed her wrist in time and pulled her straight into his arms.
“I told you to sit so far away. You’re lucky you didn’t fall to your death.” The man’s scolding voice was cold enough to freeze.
Yet Liu Muli could still sense the tremor of fear hidden in his voice. The hand gripping her waist was also exerting tremendous force.
This time, Liu Muli didn’t argue with him. She quietly admitted, “I’m sorry.”
Sigh. Just endure it for now. He’ll be leaving soon anyway.
Wei Linyě’s heart had been pounding so violently that it felt as though it might leap out of his chest, and it still hadn’t completely settled. His expression remained cold and grim as he helped her sit securely beside him.
Ergou, who was driving the ox cart in front, turned around and happened to see Liu Muli being pulled into Wei Linyě’s arms. He was so shocked that he momentarily forgot to apologize.
Only after Liu Muli had settled back onto the cart did he finally recover and hurriedly say, “I’m sorry.”
Liu Muli waved her hand. “It’s fine. It’s not your fault. Who would have known there’d be such a big rock in the road?”
At the mention of the rock, the carefree Ergou became angry again. He climbed down from the cart, angrily picked up the troublesome stone, and threw it into the grass by the roadside so it wouldn’t cause trouble for anyone else. Only then did he continue driving the ox cart.
After that, however, Ergou no longer dared to relax and chat with Liu Muli too much. He was afraid something else might happen.
There was also the fact that Wei Linyě’s imposing, cold expression made him nervous.
Fortunately, the successful scholar didn’t hold him responsible. Otherwise, even if he didn’t have to pay compensation, he would probably have been beaten and scolded.
Before long, they arrived at the town’s marketplace. Wei Linyě still wore a distinctly displeased expression.
In the past, Liu Muli would have hurried over to his side and put on a pitiful expression to coax him into a better mood.
But now, Liu Muli had no interest in making a fool of herself. She took fifteen copper coins from her little purse and handed them to the village chief’s son.
Ergou immediately noticed that she had given him five extra coins and said in surprise, “Miss Liu, ten copper coins are enough. These five are extra. Let me give them back to you…”
As he spoke, Ergou handed the extra coins back to Liu Muli.
Liu Muli didn’t take them. She smiled and explained, “Keep them. We’re going to the medicine shop to buy some medicine and then we’ll come back. We’ll have to trouble you to wait here for us.”
“This…” Ergou scratched his head, feeling a little embarrassed.
Liu Muli was about to persuade him again when the man beside her spoke coldly.
“After buying the medicine, look around town for a while.”
Before Liu Muli could react, he took another ten copper coins from his own pocket and handed them to Ergou.
“Keep them.”
Hearing Wei Linyě’s cold, deep voice, Ergou shuddered. He hurriedly reached out with both hands and accepted the ten copper coins.
“Th-Thank you, Brother Wei… Scholar Wei!”
Ergou was so startled that he stammered. He hadn’t even thought about refusing—or rather, he didn’t dare refuse.
Wei Linyě paid no attention to Ergou. With his usual cold indifference, he grabbed Liu Muli by the wrist and walked toward the marketplace.
Ergou stood there in utter confusion.
“……”