The writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone weren't heavy, so she put them directly into her basket. She went to a general store and bought twenty sheets of oiled paper. After leaving the city, she gave Old Man Zhang a coin and sat in the corner, just like when she arrived.
Once everyone had arrived, the oxcart began its journey back.
Xiao Yunying started to sit alone, holding her basket, lost in thought again.
He didn't notice what the two women next to him were whispering to each other and glancing at him every now and then.
The woman standing nearby called out to her, "Yunying, what are you here to buy in town?"
Everyone else turned to look at them, curious as well.
Xiao Yunying was so engrossed in her own world that she didn't hear anyone talking to her.
Another woman chimed in, "She must have gone to hand in her embroidery work."
The woman who was talking to Xiao Yunying, seeing that Xiao Yunying didn't even glance at her, nudged her with her elbow:
"Yunying, your sister-in-law is talking to you, why aren't you responding?"
Xiao Yunying then came to her senses: "Huh? What did you say?"
"I asked you what you went to town for and what you bought."
Xiao Yunying said indifferently, "I didn't buy anything."
Who is this person? Do I need to tell her what I'm buying?
“I saw that your basket was heavy on your back, there must be something there. Don’t be shy to say it, you bought dark flour and brown rice, right?”
After saying that, he immediately lifted the cloth covering, and all the heads around him stretched out.
Xiao Yunying was surprised that the other party attacked her directly. Her gaze turned cold, and she pulled back the wrapping cloth and covered it up again.
Another woman asked, "So you bought writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones, Yunying. Are you planning to send your child to school?"
Xiao Yunying hummed in agreement.
She did have that plan, but she'll postpone it for this year. It's already the end of October, so she'll send the children to school next spring.
The woman who lifted the bundle asked in surprise, "Where did you get the money to buy all this?"
This whole setup will cost quite a bit of money.
Xiao Yunying glanced at her: "My mother gave it to me, so what?"
The woman clicked her tongue: "Yunying, it's not that I'm criticizing you, but you're married now, how can you keep asking your mother for money?"
Xiao Yunying curled the corners of her lips into a half-smile and said, "I don't want it, but my mother insists on giving it to me. What can I do? If I keep refusing, my mother will be sad."
The woman felt a sudden blockage, a momentary discomfort in her chest.
Everyone in Xiaqu Village knows that Xiao Shanhai's family dotes on Xiao Yunying, something that other women can only envy.
The woman changed the subject, saying, "You really don't know how to manage your money. I'm not saying this to criticize you, but wouldn't it be better to use this spare money to buy some food? Why buy all this writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones? Do you know how much money it costs to support a scholar? Don't starve yourself just for the sake of saving face. You're plump, so you can withstand hunger. The children are still young and can't go hungry with you; they'll get sick from starvation."
Another person reminded her that she was fat.
Xiao Yunying couldn't take it anymore.
So what if I'm fat? It's not like I ate your rice!
"Do you have any scholars in your family?"
The woman shook her head: "No."
Xiao Yunying tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear: "I thought you had a scholar in your family, so I knew how much money it would cost to support one. Turns out you don't."
Let me tell you, you can't afford to support even one child, but for me, I could support four children, let alone one.
Also, don't call yourself "sister-in-law" in front of me. Everyone in the village knows that my father only has two sons; he doesn't have any other adopted sons, let alone any sisters-in-law other than my eldest and second sisters-in-law.
Someone nearby chuckled. The woman's face turned white then red, then red then black, like a chameleon. Xiao Yunying thought it was quite a sight.
The woman raised her hand: "Xiao Yunying, I'll teach you to talk nonsense."
Xiao Yunying stared straight at her: "Have you thought this through? If my mother doesn't go to your house and tear down the front door, then she's not full."
The hand, which was halfway through its swing, suddenly stopped, frozen in mid-air.
Old Mrs. Mu is not someone to be trifled with. If she finds out that I slapped her daughter, breaking down the door would be the least of my worries; she might tear me apart.
If her mother-in-law finds out that she offended Old Lady Mu, she'll probably be heading back to her parents' home soon.
Xiao Yunying gave a mocking chuckle, then continued to stare blankly, still holding her basket, ignoring her completely.
He cheered inwardly, "The original owner's mother is awesome! She can scare people away just by her name!"
Honestly, wouldn't it be better to just sit quietly in the oxcart? Why did you have to come and bother her and make yourself uncomfortable?
The woman kept her hand raised until someone pulled her down, at which point she remembered to put it down and went back to whispering with the others.
Xiao Yunying said quietly from the side, "If I hear anyone say bad things about me or spread rumors about me again, I will have my mother bring my two older brothers to have a good talk with her about her future. Is it better to have her tongue cut out and never be able to speak again, or to have her limbs broken so that she can only talk from a bed and can't get out of bed?"
The oxcart fell silent instantly.
Although Old Lady Mu's family only had two sons, they were both from hunter families. They had followed Xiao Shanhai into the deep mountains since they were young, and they were tall and strong. They had also studied martial arts at a martial arts school in the city for two years. If a fight broke out, three or five ordinary farmers would not be able to get close to them.
They don't need to expect their men to protect them; they know their men better than anyone.
With that small frame, he's half a head shorter than people when he stands in front of them, and someone could easily knock him down with one hand.
Everyone fell silent, heads bowed, staring at their feet, hoping the oxcart would go faster, much faster.
Thanks to Xiao Yunying, Uncle Zhang experienced the quietest oxcart ride of his life for the first time ever.
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