Then I saw Song Ruier squatting there, her ear pressed against the wall, seemingly struggling to hear something.
There's a small tree in his spot, so it's quite secluded and he doesn't have to worry about being discovered.
Song Ruier listened intently and didn't even notice Qiao Lian'er's arrival.
Qiao Lian'er then truly understood what it meant to eavesdrop.
She straightened her position and kicked Song Ruier hard in the buttocks.
"Your skin is itching again, you deserve a beating."
Song Ruier cried out in pain and quickly covered her bottom before running away, cursing as she went, "You brat, you wretched girl, I'll teach you a lesson one of these days."
Qiao Lian'er picked up a pebble from the ground and threw it at Song Rui'er's back knee.
Song Ruier was running downhill when the pain from the stone hitting his knee startled him, causing him to stumble and fall to the ground, then roll down the slope.
"Lian'er, what's that noise outside? I heard someone screaming. Has something happened?" Qiao Lian'er asked Old Mrs. Qiao, who was tending to the flowers and trees, as she entered the courtyard.
"It's Song Ruier eavesdropping, probably trying to uncover some secret to prove her loyalty to the Song family."
Song Ruier is having a tough time right now, and given his personality, he's definitely thinking about making a name for himself.
Old Mrs. Qiao got angry as soon as she heard this: "That brat is really up to no good. Luckily, we didn't give him any oil or meat when he came begging for food last time, otherwise he might have taken his rice bowl to the Song family."
"Well, the little mudfish can't make any waves, but when our family members are in the yard or house, we should still be careful what we say and not mention anything about money or matsutake mushrooms."
How much they have saved up now, how they buy mushrooms from the villagers and then sell them to the Han family, is all a secret.
"Alright, once everyone is back, I'll give them some advice," said Grandma Qiao.
Things are just starting to look up at home, so we can't let anyone cause trouble.
The next day, Qiao Lian'er brought a pound of matsutake mushrooms to the Shi family's door.
This morning, Shi Murou didn't go to Shen Liang's place, so when Qiao Lian'er went there, she happened to be at home.
"You're here. The pound you sold me yesterday wasn't even enough for one meal." Shi Murou looked into Qiao Lian'er's basket: "Do you have any more today?"
Qiao Lian'er took out the jar: "There's only one jin (500 grams)."
Shi Murou was a little disappointed: "Only one pound?"
"If Miss Shi doesn't want it, I'll sell it to someone else."
"Oh no, no, I've been waiting for you since yesterday, how can you leave?"
Shi Murou took out one tael of silver from her sleeve and handed it to Qiao Lian'er: "Just one tael, don't take any more."
Qiao Lian'er accepted the silver and looked at Shi Murou.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Shi Murou touched her face, feeling offended and displeased.
"Miss Shi is so beautiful. Any man who marries you will be very lucky," Qiao Lian'er said sweetly.
Shi Murou was overjoyed and couldn't help but slip another piece of silver into her hand: "Alright, no more praising me, or there won't be any more."
"I'm praising Miss Shi sincerely, not for any reward," Qiao Lian'er said mysteriously. "But Miss Shi, is there anyone you like?"
"Oh dear, how could you ask such a question? You're so young, how shameless of you!" Shi Murou said, both embarrassed and annoyed.
"Oh, if Miss Shi doesn't want to talk about it, then so be it. I'm not here to meddle in Miss Shi's business. On my way to the Shi family, I overheard two men talking about how they admire Miss Shi and might come to propose marriage any day. They almost got into a fight."
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