Chapter 18 Why is she so domineering?

Thanks to the shop owner, Song Li developed a phobia of ready-made clothes and dared not buy them anymore.

Even brand new ones feel off-putting.

Helpless, Song Li had no choice but to bite the bullet and go to the fabric shop.

She bought a length of hemp cloth for Song Xiaoxiao, enough to make two sets of clothes for the child. She thought that she was a novice at needlework, so she could use the extra cloth as practice. If she made a good one, great; if she messed it up, she could redo it immediately, which would save her from having to go to the cloth shop again.

He also bought a length of cloth, as well as several kilograms of cotton and some needles and thread.

After leaving the fabric store, Song Li went to the bookstore.

—She doesn't know how to make clothes, and neither did the original owner of this body; their memories are blank, so they have to learn on the spot.

She picked out a book on needlework called "Daily Commentary on Inner Observation," and when paying, the bookstore owner raised an eyebrow at Song Li, who looked like a country bumpkin.

"Can you read?" he asked, his tone mocking.

Song Li retorted bluntly, "Are you in business?"

When you open a business, just focus on selling; there's no need for so much nonsense!

Besides, whether you can read or not is none of your business!

The boss was speechless after being rebuked, and lowered his head to calculate the bill and collect the money.

I felt very disdainful.

Tch, a poor girl just rummaging through the bookshelf, pretending she really understands it!

And her mouth is so fierce!

Can't he just ask?

Song Li paid the money, took the book, and pulled Song Xiaoxiao out of the shop.

Coincidentally, a female customer entered the bookstore right after her.

"Boss, have my books been sold yet?" the female customer asked as soon as she entered.

The boss glanced at her, quickly putting away his previous lazy expression and forcing a warm but insincere smile that didn't reach his eyes.

"Madam, one copy has been sold."

The female guest was the daughter of the headmaster of the Wutong Academy in the town. She had been studying since childhood and had ruined her mind. She refused to get married and even wanted to start a girls' school so that everyone would call her "the female teacher".

He also wrote his own book, secretly printed it at his own expense, and sold it in bookstores.

Zhou Quan looked down on this kind of woman who didn't do her job properly, but out of respect for the dean, he still flattered her.

Why did the dean order all the students in the academy to buy books from him?

"real?"

Upon hearing that someone had finally bought his book, Tao Feiran's eyes lit up with excitement, temporarily ignoring Boss Zhou's forced smile.

She was happy because she knew that people still wanted to read her book!

She's made up her mind. In addition to "Daily Commentary on Inner Observation," she will also write another book, "Daily Commentary on Outer Observation," this time specifically about the path to officialdom through the imperial examinations!

Song Li had no idea what her forced act of buying books had brought to someone. She held Song Xiaoxiao's little hand as they walked back to the village.

As dusk fell, the warm sunset cast long, close-to-the-ground shadows of the two sisters.

As Song Xiaoxiao walked, she couldn't help but peek into the bamboo basket that Song Li was carrying on his arm.

"Sis, when can we wear our new clothes?"

She had never worn new clothes in her life. Usually, she would watch her aunt make new clothes for her cousin, and she would be scolded as a "vain little brat" if she even glanced at them.

Song Li, who knew absolutely nothing about needlework: "..."

Feeling the expectant look in Song Xiaoxiao's eyes, he suddenly felt immense pressure.

As the two reached the village entrance, a woman suddenly rushed towards them, launching into a tirade of insults:

"You brat, why won't you accept the seashells my son collected?"

She was referring to the incident yesterday when Song Li paid some mischievous boys in the village to collect seashells.

But Song Li only paid ten coins, agreeing to buy twenty seashells for one coin, for a total of two hundred. After buying two hundred, she said she didn't want any more.

In other words, those children who collected seashells later ended up working for nothing and earning no money.

In their rush to sell the seashells, the children even fought amongst themselves. Those who collected the seashells later ended up working hard for nothing, getting beaten up, and earning no money.

This is extremely and utterly infuriating!

So Xu came to settle accounts with Song Li in a fit of rage!

Song Li sneered: "You've already called me 'little brat,' why would I accept your son's seashells?"

"you!"

Xu was furious that Song Li was so sharp-tongued.

Enraged, and given Song Li's already bad reputation, she started spewing nonsense: "You unwanted slut! Your father and mother don't want you, and no man for miles around wants you! Now you're shamelessly moving into a man's house!"

The villagers already knew that Song Li had moved in to live with the Zhao family, who had fled from another region.

Even though the house originally belonged to the Song family, and even though Song Li and Song Xiaoxiao lived alone in the backyard, and the Zhao and Song families were like neighbors, Madam Xu didn't care. When she was angry, she would curse however she pleased.

The villagers passing by on the village road naturally heard Xu's insults.

Some of the kind-hearted older women advised, "Ding Shun's wife, you can't keep smearing Daya like this. It was because of Song Lao Er and the others' abuse that Daya was desperate to get married."

Madam Xu sneered, "It was a misunderstanding before, but what about now? The Song couple made a fool of themselves that day and are still so ashamed that they're hiding at home, too ashamed to come out. Who's making things difficult for her? She's the one who moved in with the Zhao family father and son!"

"This is a worthless bastard, a filthy slut that no man would want even if she offered herself to him. It's no wonder your aunt and uncle have always disliked you and tormented you to death! You shameless, despicable whore—"

Before the last word was uttered, a person walked towards them from a distance.

It's that kid from the Zhao family!

Xu's eyelids twitched, and she opened her mouth a few times, but finally shut up.

The Great Yu Dynasty practiced male superiority and female inferiority, which was true in noble families and even more so in rural areas.

A family with a son, no matter how poor or destitute, is still more powerful than a wealthy family that only has daughters.

The reason Song Da's wife remarried after he was conscripted was because their second child, Song Xiaoxiao, was a girl. If it had been a boy, Song Da's wife would have endured it no matter what.

When Xu saw the vigorous and spirited Zhao Youchang approaching, her heart skipped a beat.

She chickened out.

Song Daya's indiscretions are her own business; she wouldn't dare gossip about Zhao Youchang, a grown man.

Mrs. Xu tried to back down after pulling up her youngest son.

Song Li was unaware of what was going on, but she didn't hold back. She wouldn't let Xu Shi off easily just because she stopped talking halfway through. She stepped forward, grabbed Xu Shi's collar, and slapped Xu Shi's face with a "smack".

Because of drinking the spiritual spring water, Song Li's strength was extremely great. With one slap, she not only swelled up half of Xu's face, but also dislocated her jaw.

—This was still the force that Song Li had deliberately restrained.

Xu was in so much pain that tears welled up in her eyes, but she dared not cry. Firstly, she was terrified by Song Li's ferocity, and secondly, her jaw was dislocated, so opening her mouth to cry would only cause more pain.

Song Li pushed Xu away with disgust, as if she were dealing with a piece of nauseating garbage.

The villagers watching were stunned. They looked at Song Li for a moment, then at Xu Shi, unsure of who to help.

But what surprised them the most was Song Li herself—a girl with no father or brothers to support her, no younger brother to rely on, no husband to depend on, and a burdensome younger sister to take care of. In addition, she had been sold into prostitution. With no support, no future, and no reputation, how dare she be so arrogant?