Chapter 32
Yingxiang returned just before dark, carrying a bamboo basket filled with some fresh dried mushrooms.
After she checked in today, the system gave her a lot of meat. She was quite surprised, but unfortunately it wasn't pork. Without hesitation, Yingxiang put the mutton into the basket and took it out to sell.
She doesn't eat mutton, and mutton is hard to stew; it spoils if left out. Sending it to her family would be awkward and would only cause trouble, so it's better to sell it for money.
After squatting there all afternoon, she finally sold them all. In the evening, it started raining heavily again. She took shelter under the eaves of a building and returned home quite late.
"My husband."
Wen Shi had been sitting under the eaves, but immediately stood up when Yingxiang returned.
"I'm going to buy mushrooms."
She had all the money on her. There were some things she wanted to say to Wen Shi, but he might not understand. He was also very inquisitive. Yingxiang didn't want to cause trouble. Looking at the mushrooms in the basket, Wen Shi reached out and took them without saying anything.
Yingxiang put the things in the kitchen.
Have you eaten yet?
Wen Shi shook his head.
"Then I'll make something simple."
Wen Shi has been like this lately, looking very depressed. Ying Xiang didn't think there was anything wrong with it. It's just a matter of the teacher. If it doesn't work out, we can change it. At worst, we can change academies. One should believe in fate but not accept it. There are always more solutions than problems. The key is to take action. This has always been her motto in life.
The air was fresh after the rain. The heavy rain, which lasted only half an hour, unexpectedly made Wen Shi feel much more relaxed. After the rain, the air was even fresher.
At the dinner table, the two remained silent. After Wen Shi finished eating, he looked at his wife and said, "Yingxiang, you have to believe me. Let's live a good life together."
Yingxiang glanced at Wen Shi and sensed something was wrong. She recalled that when she returned, his gaze seemed to be fixed on her intentionally or unintentionally.
She looked up at him and said seriously, "Let's live a good life together."
To be fair, he was a very good husband. Yingxiang had no complaints about Wenshi. Late at night, he held her tightly. Yingxiang's lips moved, but she didn't say anything.
In the darkness, she suddenly spoke up: "Husband, if this doesn't work out, let's try another academy. I've heard that many students travel all over the country to pursue their studies. After all, your future is the most important thing."
"Life can be found anywhere; you won't be destitute because of this."
Wen Shi always felt that it wasn't time to go that far. Going out would be too expensive, and he didn't want her to work so hard. He was her husband, a man, and he should be a pillar of strength. How could he let her keep struggling and working hard for a living?
"Let's get through this year first, and see how it goes next year."
After Yingxiang finished speaking, she closed her eyes. How could she study well if she was in a bad mood? However, Wenshi was a man of principle. Although he was acting strangely today, he seemed alright overall. Oh well, if he really didn't want to study anymore, he would think about it himself.
When Wen Chuanzong returned, he was soaked to the bone and looked like a wilted eggplant, remaining silent.
A-Mian asked him, but he wouldn't answer. He didn't understand why Wen Shi, who was his brother, had such a good life.
Why can't he have such good fortune?
After a long absence, he went to see Xiuyu, but she treated him coldly. He didn't say anything and silently went to bed.
"The third brother has been targeted by someone."
When Wen Chuanzong suddenly said this, Xiuyu was a little confused. She was so sleepy that she suddenly became more alert.
"Who's interested in him? What's going on?"
"His husband has an only daughter, and this girl has taken a liking to the third son."
The more Wen Chuanzong talked, the more uncomfortable he felt, but it would be even more painful to keep quiet.
"So the third son is going to take a concubine too?"
Recalling the day Yingxiang retorted, Xiuyu wasn't in a good mood. She asked with a hint of schadenfreude, wanting Yingxiang to experience her life and see how smug she was.
"The third son is unwilling, and the teacher doesn't like him either. He looks down on our family, but the teacher's daughter seems to be devoted to the third son, and his family has become much richer."
The third brother's unwillingness to listen to Xiuyu's words chilled her heart. She knew her brother-in-law well, so there was no point in saying anything more.
She turned to look at the person lying beside her and said, "Then why are you saying this? Are you looking down on these rich girls for not recognizing your worth?"
Xiuyu's words were extremely sarcastic, but Wen Chuanzong remained silent, which was taken as tacit agreement.
The room was completely silent in the darkness.
After a long silence, he spoke up: "Actually, I'm doing this for the good of the family. I think it's fine whether the third son divorces his wife and remarries or takes a concubine."
"You don't know, his teacher has powerful connections. Even the headmaster of the county school treats him with great respect."
“Once this woman marries into our family, her dowry will be substantial, making our family truly wealthy. Even if the third son marries into our family, it won’t be bad either. If he manages to give us even a little bit of his dowry, it will be enough for us to live on for several years.”
“With his help, we can also buy a house and servants in the county and live a wealthy life.”
"The third child doesn't want to, what can you do?"
Xiuyu looked at Wen Chuanzong. In her heart, she loathed this man, but she couldn't show it. After all, if she were really kicked out, her future would be difficult.
Putting everything else aside, how could that little bitch possibly treat her two sons well? When they have children in the future, who knows how her two children, whom she carried for ten months and gave birth to, will be treated so disrespectfully by this foolish woman? Who knows how sad she will be in the future.
She had to stay by his side, but she had already given up on Wen Chuanzong.
"What can I do? That's why I say he's stupid."
"People who are foolish have opportunities everywhere, while you who are smart have nothing."
"Let me tell you, Wen Chuanzong, you are not allowed to lend money to that bitch anymore, or don't blame me for fighting to the death."
"I bought this house so that you could all live more comfortably, right?"
The couple's social circles were previously quite extensive, but Wen Chuanzong said somewhat angrily, "Being poor really limits us in every way."
"Buying a house is no problem, but if you buy clothes and jewelry for that bitch, I'll make you regret it."
Xiuyu threatened, but if it really happened, she wouldn't have any good solutions and could only make threats. She felt pathetic as she said this.
How did life turn out like this? Leaving this home is easy, but coming back is incredibly difficult.
Wen Chuanzong didn't speak, but closed his eyes.
The next morning, as dawn broke, Wen Shi washed up, dressed, and prepared to go to the county school. Looking up at the blue sky and white clouds, he carried his book box and headed towards the county school.
Thinking of that detestable teacher, he wondered what would happen to him today. But he wasn't afraid. After arriving at the classroom, he said what he needed to say. To his surprise, the teacher was absent today, and a new teacher came to teach instead.
He was a little unsure for the moment, but there was no need to worry too much.
Master Liu only had one daughter, and revealing that matter would ruin the reputation of his Liu family. He had lied to himself about it, and he was right. Wen Shi took a breath and stopped thinking about it. He focused on his studies and ultimately didn't tell Yingxiang, feeling it was unnecessary.
They were all insignificant people. Although they were genuinely disgusting to him, there was no need for his wife to worry about them.
He wasn't the kind of heartless person; even if he gave up fame and fortune, he wouldn't do anything against his conscience or lacking in morality.
In the shop
When Yingxiang arrived in the morning, she felt something was off. It seemed like everyone was watching her secretly, but when she looked over, no one said a word.
She was both curious and speechless, and decided to ask someone privately if there were two more people in the shop after Old Man Wen and Liu returned.
With more people, they don't have to work as hard as before.
"Third sister-in-law, third brother treats you well, he will definitely not abandon you."
Ma's words left Yingxiang completely bewildered; she didn't quite understand.
While she was putting the wrapped buns into the pot, she began to ask questions.
"Your third brother doesn't want me anymore?"
"No, no, that matter is in the past. Third Brother said he won't marry the teacher's daughter."
Ma quickly explained, and Yingxiang glanced at her, remembering that the smell was indeed different yesterday, and told her to live well.
The teacher's daughter, Yingxiang, was quick-witted and her thoughts were fairly accurate. Although she was a little angry inside, she didn't show it on her face.
"I understand. Once this pot is cooked, take it all out and put it in front so it can be sold easily."
The freshly steamed meat buns were plump, soft, and smelled delicious. Yingxiang picked one up and put it aside. After taking out all the cooked ones, she saw Wen Erge tending the fire and noticed his evasive manner.
Yingxiang found it both amusing and speechless. Even if there was something going on, it was between her and Wenshi.
The shop has a stable customer base, and local merchants and residents sometimes come to buy food. Nowadays, the shop no longer simply sells simple breakfasts; Yingxiang has also added some light meals such as noodles.
With a large family, I can manage. If I'm too idle, something might happen. It's best to keep busy.
Although it's hard work from morning till night, it earns money, and my family won't complain.
Recently, Liu and Old Man Wen have started collecting debts from the front. Yingxiang didn't care. This shop was originally for the family, so it would be best if the transition could go smoothly.
Liu had been eyeing this position for a long time, and now that she had actually secured it, she was overjoyed.
Yingxiang hasn't paid this month's rent yet. Since she's not accepting money, it's a good time to have a meeting with her family at the end of the month to explain the situation and smoothly transfer the shop to them.
They all do it, and she thought about doing something else, which would recoup the costs she had previously incurred.
The steamed buns beside her were no longer too hot to handle. She picked one up, took a bite, and nodded unconsciously. Delicious.
Around noon, when breakfast was almost sold out, Yingxiang went home. Old Man Wen hesitated several times, but didn't say anything.
The weather has cooled down considerably lately, and autumn is approaching. Yingxiang thought of the Master's daughter and couldn't help but smile. She would go back and see her, and wonder how she would tell her when she heard about it.
After arriving home, Yingxiang signed in as usual. Looking at the extra travelogue in her hand, she sat under the eaves and slowly read it.
Master Liu didn't come, and I was in a good mood when I heard that, although I didn't show it much.
After returning home in the afternoon, he looked at his wife sitting under the eaves, closed the door, walked over to Yingxiang, and then took out a candied hawthorn from his book box and gave it to her.
Yingxiang glanced at him, took a bite of the candied hawthorn, and found it to be quite delicious, with a sweet and sour flavor.
This stuff isn't expensive; it's the kind of snack you can do without.
"The Master's daughter? What exactly happened?"
Wen Shi paused upon hearing this, sighed, and finally told Ying Xiang everything.
"It's not that important, but are you sure the news won't get out?"
"No, a daughter's reputation is no small matter, unless they don't want their daughter to get married."
Wen Shi was very certain about this.
"Yingxiang, I will not divorce you, nor will I abandon you."
Yingxiang put the candied hawthorn she had eaten a couple of bites on the teacup beside her and said to Wenshi very seriously, "I know you are a kind and righteous man, and you did nothing wrong in this matter. However, your teacher seems petty and narrow-minded. How will you study under him in the future?"
Yingxiang wasn't unreasonable; she had observed Wenshi's behavior over the years.
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