When Aunt Li arrived, Chu Fuyu had just washed more than thirty duck eggs and arranged them neatly on the stone table in the courtyard.
No one knew where the stone table came from, but its size was just right. It was very convenient to place in the yard—if guests came, there was no need to go inside the house; they could simply sit in the courtyard and chat.
In summer, eating meals in the courtyard would even be cool and comfortable.
“So many duck eggs—this should be enough for your little family to eat for a month or two,” Aunt Li said while skillfully pouring salted water into a jar for pickling eggs.
As she worked, she chatted with Chu Fuyu. “Sister, I asked around at Aunt Zhang’s place just now. That Wang matchmaker has no good intentions.”
“I heard that the wealthy Zhao merchant from the town specifically wants to marry you. She took the job on herself just to make more money.”
“You have to be careful. If you deal with her, keep your guard up. Don’t get tricked.”
Chu Fuyu froze for a moment and asked in surprise, “The Zhao merchant specifically wants to marry me? How is that possible? I’ve never even met him!”
Seeing her shocked expression, Aunt Li burst out laughing.
“Oh my silly girl! Look at your pale skin, your delicate face, your slim waist—you’re even prettier than the noble ladies in the capital! There’s no one like you in our town. Of course you’re famous already!”
Chu Fuyu touched her face and tugged at her clothes. “So… am I too noticeable?”
Aunt Li quickly waved her hands. “Don’t think that way, girl. Your beauty is natural—it’s what your parents gave you. What can you do about that?”
“You should dress up when you should, and take care of yourself when you should. Someone as pretty as you—if you don’t dress nicely, wouldn’t that be a waste?”
“Besides, life for women is hard. Once you have children, your whole life revolves around them. If you don’t take care of yourself a little, you’ll end up like me—old already. Even if I wanted to dress up now, I don’t have the spirit for it anymore.”
Chu Fuyu nodded, feeling that Aunt Li’s words made sense. Looking at her regretful expression, she realized she was feeling a bit sentimental.
Even though she was a rural woman, a mother who worked the fields—what woman didn’t love beauty?
After thinking for a moment, Chu Fuyu put down her work and went back into the house.
She opened her wardrobe. It was already half-filled, with thick furs placed on top and other clothes hanging neatly.
After some searching, she picked out a slightly loose plum-colored brocade vest with rabbit fur trim. The embroidery of plum blossoms made it look lively and delicate, like something a young noble lady would wear.
But after a closer look, she frowned. This outfit suited her, but Aunt Li had slightly darker, rougher skin. It might not suit her well.
So she kept looking and found a light blue, low-saturation jacket with a turned collar. It looked more mature but still youthful, and it wouldn’t make the skin look darker.
The jacket was embroidered with magpies perched on branches—an auspicious and beautiful pattern.
Happily, she took it out to the courtyard and handed it to Aunt Li, who was still busy working.
“Grandma Li, I bought this jacket at the market a few days ago. I haven’t worn it yet—try it on.”
Aunt Li was shocked and quickly refused. “That won’t do! This looks so expensive. Someone like me isn’t worthy of wearing it.”
Chu Fuyu disagreed. “Auntie, that’s not what you said just now. Beauty isn’t only for the young—if you have the heart for it, it’s never too late. This jacket is bright and pretty; it suits you perfectly. Try it on first!”
Aunt Li had just finished sealing the salted eggs with a bit of white liquor. Now she looked a little tempted, smiling shyly.
“Alright then, I’ll try it on.”
She first washed her hands at the courtyard basin, then carefully put on the jacket.
Although she had given birth to two children and her figure had changed a bit, she was still lean from years of farm work, so the jacket fit quite well.
She usually wore coarse cloth clothes, so wearing silk for the first time filled her eyes with surprise and joy.
“Oh my, this jacket is so beautiful! It’s so smooth and warm too! Sister, does it look alright on me?”
Chu Fuyu’s eyes lit up. She gave a thumbs-up immediately.
“It looks amazing, Auntie! This outfit makes you look so elegant—like a lady from the city! You look at least ten years younger!”
Aunt Li was so happy she couldn’t stop smiling, stroking the fabric over and over.
Just then, the children returned from the hills. Huzi and Xiao Ying ran ahead and froze when they saw their mother wearing such a beautiful jacket.
“Mom! Where did you get that clothes? Did you steal from the town?” Huzi shouted.
Aunt Li glared at him immediately. “You little brat, how dare you talk nonsense about your mother!”
Xiao Ying, on the other hand, had starry eyes and tugged at her mother’s sleeve. “Mom, you look so beautiful in this. You look like a big sister!”
As expected, daughters were more considerate.
Aunt Li happily picked Xiao Ying up, and the mother and daughter both admired the jacket, unable to put it down.
Huzi scratched his head, confused why his mother treated him and his sister so differently.
He looked at Chu Fuyu and the others again—the children were all dressed nicely like city kids, while his own clothes were patched. He suddenly felt a bit embarrassed and tugged at his collar.
After enjoying the outfit for a while, Aunt Li was about to take it off, but Chu Fuyu stopped her.
“Auntie, this jacket is a gift for you. It’s your reward for helping me pickle the duck eggs today.”
Aunt Li quickly refused. “No, no! This is too expensive—it must cost two whole taels of silver! That’s far more than the eggs. I can’t accept it.”
Seeing her insistence, Chu Fuyu changed her approach.
“Auntie, my courtyard is still messy, and the back garden is overgrown. I want to clear it and grow some vegetables so I won’t have to buy them anymore.”
“But I’m not good at farming, so I’ll need your help. Think of this jacket as payment. If you’re not busy with your fields these next couple of days, come help me out.”
Aunt Li immediately agreed. “Alright then! I’ll treat this as wages. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure your land is properly taken care of!”
Chu Fuyu smiled and nodded.
Then she watched as Aunt Li, still wearing the new jacket, happily led her children back home, saying she wanted to show it off to her husband.