Mu Wanting glanced at him innocently, then used tree branches to immobilize his fractured hands and feet, and bound them with cloth.
Her eyes grew increasingly mocking, and the corners of her mouth curled up slightly.
What do you think I'm going to do?
Shen Xinghe turned her face away, her neck turning red as a result.
Shen Xinglan watched their interaction quietly without saying a word.
He had always thought he was an exception, until he saw Mu Wanting treat Shen Xinghe the same way, and he felt particularly annoyed.
Even when Mu Wanting was with Shen Xinghe, her expressions were more varied than when she was with herself.
Mu Wanting said, "You should also rest in the stroller for a few days before you start walking around."
She didn't look at Shen Xinglan once the whole time, then returned to the tree where she was sleeping, closed her eyes, and continued to sleep.
Now, it was Shen Xinglan and Shen Xinghe's turn to be unable to sleep.
Shen Xinghe, who usually falls asleep as soon as his head hits the bed, was tossing and turning in his stroller.
The moment he closed his eyes, he saw Mu Wanting lifting him up in her arms, and the faint, lemon-like scent emanating from her.
He had just seen her fair and slender neck, and her delicate and petite chin.
Knowing that Shen Xinghe, who was an excellent sleeper, couldn't sleep, Shen Xinglan's mood worsened, and she gave Shen Xinghe a complicated look.
"What happened just now?"
Shen Xinghe was startled and quickly turned to look at Shen Xinglan, then felt a little guilty.
"I... I was just hit by Shen Xudong, but Mu Wanting saved me."
Shen Xinglan narrowed her eyes. She had arranged all of Shen Xudong's previous positions for him.
This ungrateful wretch actually dared to hit Shen Xinghe.
Ultimately... it's because he's ruined.
He fell silent.
"I will definitely get justice for you in the future."
Shen Xinghe coughed lightly.
“Mu Wanting has already gotten justice for me, and the second wife didn’t gain anything either.”
Shen Xinglan felt a mix of emotions.
The once-famous Prince Pingxi now relies on a wife he doesn't even like for protection.
Shen Xinghe wanted to say that Mu Wanting was strong enough to lift him up, but after thinking about it, he held back and didn't say anything more.
The next morning, when there weren't enough people to push the cart, Mu Wanting turned her attention to Shen Xudong.
With such a muscular physique, it would be a shame not to push a stroller.
She walked over and patted Shen Xudong on the shoulder.
"You, go push the cart."
Upon smelling the lemon balm, Shen Xudong instinctively flinched.
When he heard Mu Wanting's voice again, his face turned pale instantly. He still remembered the fear of being unable to break free last night.
Forced by Mu Wanting's tyranny, he had no choice but to push the cart.
Zhang Caiyun was furious with Mu Wanting. She herself couldn't bear to do anything to her own precious son, but Mu Wanting was able to do so with ease.
Shen Xudong is a simple-minded person. He pushed the cart when Mu Wanting asked him to, without thinking of playing any tricks.
Mu Wanting was somewhat satisfied.
He's so honest and strong, it's a shame he's not a farmhand.
At lunchtime, Mu Wanting "caught" a few pheasants in the dense forest and also found some wild mushrooms, so she simply made a chicken stew with mushrooms.
The taste was absolutely amazing, and everyone was thoroughly enjoying it.
Shen Xudong watched from the side, swallowing hard.
Mu Wanting thought for a moment. She would still need him to push the cart in the afternoon. To win over a farmhand, you have to win over his stomach first.
After finishing a bowl of chicken stew with mushrooms and boiled potatoes, Shen Xudong told Mu Wanting: If there's good food tonight, we might as well push the cart around.
Mu Wanting couldn't help but laugh.
As for the leftover chicken stew with mushrooms, Mu Wanting didn't want it to be stolen again, and she didn't like eating leftovers anyway.
She called out, "Wild chicken soup is thirty taels a bowl, come and buy if you want some."
Everyone drooled, forgetting everything else, and immediately lined up.
Soon, the remaining chicken soup was sold out.
Mother Shen felt a pang of regret: "Such delicious chicken soup, how could you just sell it like that?"
Mu Wanting smiled and winked.
"It's alright, Mom, I can still cook. Besides, there's still chicken and mushrooms in the basket."
After saying that, she leaned closer to Chen's mother and whispered something.
"What we need most right now is money. The officials will send people to resupply the next town. We need money to buy supplies."
Upon hearing this, Mother Shen immediately calmed down.
She stopped resting and felt like she had inexhaustible energy. She quickly led Shen Yujiao and Shen Mingjiao to find wild vegetables, and put the child in Shen Xinghe's arms.
The three people were twice as efficient as before.
Mother Zhao Lanpei said excitedly, "When we make chicken soup tonight, we'll add these wild vegetables to it too, and we can sell even more."
Mu Wanting gave Chen's mother a thumbs up.
"When it comes to making money, it's up to you."
Even Shen's mother was embarrassed by Mu Wanting's praise.
“I was the one who managed the Shen family business before.”
They did the same during the day, gathering any wild vegetables they saw. Mu Wanting was skilled; she could add anything and it would turn out perfectly.
In just one night, they earned a full thousand taels of silver.
One thousand taels of silver can't buy much for the officials, but if you go to the market, you can buy a lot more.
Seeing that Mu Wanting was selling chicken soup but no one was buying meat soup, Ma Dazhuang picked up his sword and walked over to Mu Wanting, speaking in a cold tone.
"Madam Mu, your actions are making it very difficult for the brothers to carry out their tasks."
The second wife watched excitedly from the side, thinking that Mu Wanting was finally going to suffer.
Mu Wanting spoke with a smile.
"Sir, I have thought of a way to make amends."
Ma Dazhuang smirked; he liked this kind of savvy person.
Just when he thought Mu Wanting was going to offer the money she had earned as tribute, Mu Wanting continued to speak.
“Before going to the market, I can work part-time as a cook at your place, but you have to provide the raw materials and ensure the meals for our three households. I also want to take 10% of the profits.”
Ma Dazhuang snorted. "He even provides meals for three families and takes a cut, albeit only 10%..."
"You certainly know how to think."
But seeing her clearly unyielding gaze, Ma Dazhuang knew that if he didn't back down, Mu Wanting wouldn't let them gain any advantage.
Besides, Mu Wanting's cooking skills are really good. If she were to cook, they would be able to get even more.
It's better than giving them this revenue; it's a long-term strategy to reap big rewards—a sure-fire way to make money.
Ma Dazhuang felt he had gotten a great deal, but he didn't want to show it too obviously.
"Then come over this afternoon."
Mu Wanting also felt that she had gotten a great deal. She didn't have to rack her brains every day to figure out how to take the food out of her space, and she could eat well every day and even make money.
Zhang Caiyun didn't see Mu Wanting get punished; instead, she was able to work as a cook for the officials, with meals provided and a share of the profits. She was so angry that she broke tree branches.
How could Mu Wanting be so lucky?
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