Chapter 213 My Husband's Surprise
Less than half a month later, the Zhou family opened their rice shop in Qingzhou Prefecture. On the first day, customers came and went in an endless stream. Du Wanchun and Aunt Zhou watched from the side, both with smiles on their faces.
A passing villager saw this and strode over, saying, "Old Zhou's family, do you own this rice shop?"
Du Wanchun looked closely and realized that it was Aunt Hu from Changliu Village.
Aunt Hu lived in the south of Changliu Village. She had seen Du Wanchun a few times when Du Wanchun had just married into the village.
Every time Aunt Hu passed by the Zhou family's house, she would glance inside and say, "My husband is the best; he has three sons and we never have to worry about food or clothing."
His words revealed his disdain for Aunt Zhou.
Aunt Zhou knew that she didn't like her, so the two rarely interacted.
Hu Da Niang's eldest son works for a wealthy family in Qingzhou Prefecture. She moved here half a year ago to take care of her grandson, and was quite surprised to see Zhou Da Niang running a rice shop.
Du Wanchun said with a smile, "That's right, this is a rice shop run by our Zhou family."
Aunt Hu's face darkened slightly as she listened, her brows furrowing as she asked, "Your Zhou family can still afford to run a rice shop, so how come you married a good man and got money?"
She was referring to Aunt Zhou.
Because she hadn't been in Changliu Village during this time, she didn't know about the Third Prince and thought that Aunt Zhou was a widow.
Aunt Zhou found her an eyesore and said coldly, "Old Hu's family, if you're not buying rice, then move aside. The customers behind you still need to buy."
Aunt Hu's face turned green with anger, especially when she saw the hairpin on Aunt Zhou's head; her eyes were filled with jealousy.
She made way for the guests behind her, walked up to Aunt Zhou, looked at her headdress, and asked, "Is the hairpin in your hair real or fake?"
Du Wanchun didn't mince words, "Of course it's real, we wouldn't buy a fake one."
Aunt Hu's eyes showed a clear increase in anger. "Your Zhou family is getting better and better. You can even afford to wear gold hairpins now."
Du Wanchun remained unceremonious, "Of course, our Zhou family now owns several incense and rice shops, so we can afford to wear a hairpin. However, unlike Aunt Hu, we are now rooted in Qingzhou Prefecture, unlike us who still live in our house in Changliu Village."
Aunt Hu was angry, but under Du Wanchun's words, she couldn't vent her anger and could only go along with her, saying, "I am also blessed by my son to be able to live in a big house in Qingzhou Prefecture."
After she finished speaking, she raised her voice slightly and continued to smugly ask, "Old Zhou, how are your three sons doing? Are they still farming at home?"
Aunt Zhou replied with a smile, "The eldest son passed the imperial examination and became a scholar, the second son went to the capital to do business, and the third son went to the border to find a job."
She spoke calmly and slowly, saying something that was perfectly ordinary, but it made Aunt Hu's face turn ashen. Although her sons were all in Qingzhou Prefecture, they were all doing odd jobs for wealthy families. How could they compare to her sons, one of whom passed the imperial examination, one of whom ran a shop, and another of whom held an official position?
Even though she was still unwilling, Aunt Hu had no choice but to accept it. She bought two bushels of rice and left dejectedly.
As Aunt Zhou watched her retreating figure, she said to Du Wanchun, "If I see someone like that again, I won't sell rice to her."
Du Wanchun smiled and replied, "Okay, Mother, but I bet she won't dare to come again next time."
They've already lost face; if they dare to come back, they're just asking for trouble.
Aunt Zhou pulled her around and led her into the house, saying, "You must be tired after a long day. Come inside and rest."
Du Wanchun followed her into the house, just as Zhou Ruiyuan was carrying a large box over.
She walked over in confusion and asked, "Husband, what is this?"
Zhou Ruiyuan slowly opened the box. "Take a look."
Du Wanchun looked inside and saw a phoenix crown.
She looked up at Zhou Ruiyuan in surprise, "This?"
Zhou Ruiyuan replied softly, "This is a phoenix crown that I made myself."
Du Wanchun looked down at the exquisitely crafted phoenix crown, still full of doubts. "Husband, why did you make this phoenix crown?"
At this moment, Aunt Zhou came over and said, "Wanchun, have you forgotten? Today is your birthday."
"My birthday?!" Du Wanchun was shocked. After thinking about it carefully, she realized that today was indeed her birthday. She just didn't expect that Zhou Ruiyuan and Aunt Zhou would remember it.
Aunt Zhou gently brushed aside the stray hairs on Wanchun's forehead and said, "Wanchun, you've been married into our Zhou family for over a year now. You've suffered a lot with us during this time. There was no banquet or proper phoenix coronet and wedding gown when you got married. Ruiyuan said he would make a phoenix coronet for you by hand and will definitely give you a grand wedding in the future."
Du Wanchun looked up at Aunt Zhou and then at Zhou Ruiyuan. Seeing the gentle smiles on their faces, she was deeply moved. She accepted the phoenix crown and said with a smile, "Thank you, husband, thank you, mother."
Then Zhou Ruiyuan continued, "Come, I'll take you somewhere."
Du Wanchun asked in confusion, "Where?"
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