After leaving the cloth shop, Lin Wan went to the grain store and then visited several nearby shops. She bought all sorts of odds and ends, and by the time she was ready to head back to the village, the ox cart was piled high with goods.
The silver on her person had dwindled to twenty-three taels.
One trip to the county town had cost her ten taels of silver—more than the original owner had spent in the past several years combined.
And this was after Lin Wan had carefully compared prices and bought only what she truly needed.
The house lacked far too many necessities.
She needed to think of a way to earn money as soon as possible.
When Lin Wan arrived home, the courtyard was surprisingly quiet.
It didn’t look as though anyone had come to cause trouble.
In fact, the courtyard that Old Madam Wu had turned upside down the previous day had already been cleaned and tidied.
No sooner had Lin Wan stopped the ox cart than the door to the room on the left opened.
Gu Zhixing and Lin Sheng walked out one after the other.
When she had left that morning, the two had still been quite awkward around each other.
Yet after only half a day, something had clearly changed.
They seemed much closer now, and Lin Sheng’s eyes were full of admiration whenever he looked at Gu Zhixing.
Lin Wan raised an eyebrow in surprise.
If she remembered correctly, yesterday Lin Sheng had been rather disdainful of his frail future brother-in-law.
His attitude had changed remarkably fast.
“Sis, you’re back!”
Lin Sheng hurried toward the gate.
When he saw the cart loaded to the brim, his eyes widened in shock.
“Sis, how did you buy so many things?”
“The house was missing too much stuff. Since I was already going to the county town, I bought everything at once.”
Lin Wan jumped down from the cart.
Her gaze lingered briefly on Gu Zhixing.
His complexion looked noticeably better than it had yesterday.
When she had purchased him at the village entrance, he had managed only a few words before fainting.
Now, aside from being somewhat paler than an average person, he no longer looked like someone whose poison was on the verge of reaching his heart.
Meeting her gaze, Gu Zhixing gave a slight nod and walked toward the courtyard gate.
Lin Wan turned and began unloading the cart.
Lin Sheng immediately came over to help.
She handed him some of the lighter items and had him carry them into the courtyard.
Just as Lin Sheng carried a jar of oil into the kitchen, a pair of long, well-defined hands reached toward her.
“Let me help.”
Lin Wan was currently holding a cotton quilt.
When she saw Gu Zhixing’s outstretched hands, she hesitated.
His sickly appearance from yesterday had left a deep impression on her.
The man’s health had only just begun to improve.
Seemingly reading her thoughts, Gu Zhixing pressed his lips together and said,
“I feel much better today. I can still handle work that’s within my abilities.”
Since he had decided to stay here, there was no reason to sit around doing nothing while Lin Wan took care of him.
She had no obligation to support a useless burden like him.
Hearing this, Lin Wan smiled and handed him the quilt.
“Then I’ll have to trouble you.”
Gu Zhixing carried the quilt inside.
Lin Wan’s gaze followed his retreating figure for a moment.
He was completely different from the fallen noble young masters she had read about in novels.
There wasn’t a trace of arrogance in him.
In fact, he was even easier to get along with than she had expected.
She had truly found a treasure this time.
After everything had been unloaded from the cart, Lin Wan took out an oil-paper package and handed it to Gu Zhixing.
“There are steamed buns in here. You and Ah Sheng should eat something first to fill your stomachs.”
Gu Zhixing looked at her.
“What about you?”
“I already ate on the way back. You two eat first. I’m going to return the ox cart.”
After speaking, Lin Wan climbed back onto the cart and drove toward Village Chief Zhang’s house.
Only after the cart disappeared around the bend in the road did Gu Zhixing withdraw his gaze and look down at the oil-paper package in his hands.
The package was still warm.
The rich aroma of meat drifted out from inside.
While Lin Wan was returning the ox cart to Village Chief Zhang, news of her massive shopping trip spread throughout the village.
By the time the news reached the Old Lin family, Old Madam Wu was furious.
“That wretched girl really dares to spend all that silver!”
Then she turned to Lin Dahu and ordered,
“Hurry and urge your eldest sister. Tell her to come as soon as possible—tomorrow if she can. If we wait any longer, that dead girl will spend every last coin!”
Old Madam Wu hadn’t expected Lin Wan to spend money so quickly.
She had only received the silver yesterday and had already run off to the county town today.
What a prodigal, ungrateful wretch!
When Lin Wan arrived at Village Chief Zhang’s house, the courtyard gate happened to be open.
She glanced inside and called out cheerfully,
“Grandma Zhang, I’ve come to return the ox cart!”
The elderly woman, who was sorting vegetables in the courtyard, looked up and immediately waved her over.
“Lin girl, you’re here! Come in, come in!”
Lin Wan took a large oil-paper package from the cart and walked inside.
“Where’s Grandpa Zhang? I bought a roast chicken in the county town for him to enjoy with his wine.”
Grandma Zhang immediately waved her hands.
“Child, why did you buy something like that? Take it back!”
Then she stuck her head toward the house and shouted,
“Old man, Lin girl is here!”
Lin Wan pressed the package into Grandma Zhang’s hands.
“Grandma Zhang, this roast chicken is a gift from me to you and Grandpa Zhang. You have to accept it.”
In the countryside, an ox cart was a valuable possession.
Yet when she had asked to borrow it yesterday, Village Chief Zhang had agreed without the slightest hesitation.
Coupled with all the help and protection he had given both her and the original owner over the years, Lin Wan genuinely felt grateful.
Earlier in the county town, after purchasing grain, she had caught the irresistible aroma of roast chicken and bought two of them.
One was for dinner at home.
The other was intended specifically for Village Chief Zhang.
Over the years, he had helped the siblings countless times.
It was only right that she show her appreciation.
Besides the roast chicken, she had also bought a jug of fine wine, knowing that he enjoyed a drink now and then.
Grandma Zhang was still trying to refuse when Village Chief Zhang walked over.
“Old man, look at this…”
He had already heard their conversation from inside.
Seeing them pushing the gift back and forth, he chuckled.
“This is Lin girl’s kindness. Just accept it, old woman. And Lin girl, stay for dinner tonight. This old man is definitely going to have a few extra cups.”
Lin Wan smiled.
“Grandpa Zhang, Ah Sheng is still waiting at home. While I was in the county town today, I also had my marriage contract officially registered at the yamen.”
She took out a handful of wedding candies and handed them to him.
“Please accept these wedding sweets. When we hold the wedding banquet in the future, I’ll properly invite you all.”
Village Chief Zhang immediately beamed with delight.
“Good! When the time comes, I’ll have your Uncle Ping and Auntie come help out.”
He was referring to his son and daughter-in-law, who were still out in the fields pulling weeds.
Lin Wan smiled and agreed.
After chatting with him for a while longer and returning the ox cart to the back yard, she finally headed home.