New identity
At the open-air long table, dozens of men and women were gathered together, and large sacks filled with yellowish-white flour were spread out on the ground.
Yan Zhiwei walked through the crowd, stopping occasionally.
"Girl, your hand speed isn't good enough. You need to practice more." Yan Zhiwei shook her head.
"And you, don't mix in so much water. We're kneading dough, not making paste..." Yan Zhiwei showed the girl who was scolding her her fingers that had been poking at the dough. "Look at this, is it going to be used to make dough or to plaster the wall? It's so sticky that you can't even separate your hands. Add some more flour."
Yan Zhiwei smeared white paste on the table, poked the head of the girl he had just scolded with his forearm, and sighed, "At this rate, how much can you earn today?"
I don't know what the wealthy family in Shu County was thinking. A few days ago, they posted a notice looking for a skilled cook, saying that she should have many years of kitchen experience and that she should be hardworking.
Yan Zhiwei thought to herself that she met the requirements, so she tore down the notice.
I thought I was going to be a temporary helper at a banquet, but I ended up becoming a "supervisor" for a bunch of inexperienced novices.
Being a supervisor was one thing, but what she was supervising was making steamed buns. The excuse was that a local tycoon was doing charity by treating the people to a meal. However, Shu County had been experiencing a lot of rain recently, which was clearly not a good time to preserve pastries. Yet, this tycoon wanted a lot of steamed buns in a hurry, so Yan Zhiwei had no choice but to work overtime, demonstrating how to knead the dough while mentally complaining about this eccentric tycoon in Shu County.
Yan Zhiwei kneaded the dough vigorously, and in no time, a round and plump dough was formed, which drew exclamations from many novice cooks.
Yan Zhiwei basked in the envious gazes of the crowd, her back ramrod straight with pride, and she proudly swung her hand.
Yan Zhiwei found a stool, sat down, and drank water with her legs apart.
Half a month had passed since Yan Zhiwei arrived in Shu County, and the wound on her back had scabbed over and healed.
In fact, by the time Yan Zhiwei arrived in Shu County, her wounds had mostly healed.
One reason is her robust physique and good metabolism, and another is that she can't ride a horse. Let alone galloping, even a few neighs or quick steps from a horse would startle Yan Zhiwei so much that her eyes would pop out.
So even with a fine horse, carrying a cowardly hero, the two of them traveled at a leisurely pace, taking three to five days longer than expected to reach Shu County.
Of course, Yan Zhiwei entered the city while pinching Zhu Mingyu's waist and cursing.
Once she entered the city, she learned that the so-called revived Yan family was nothing more than an inconspicuous little house in Shu County. If it hadn't once been a prestigious family and been highly regarded by several wealthy merchants, it probably wouldn't have been able to afford a property on East Street, a prime location with high rents.
But that's all he said.
During his stay in Shu County, Yan Zhiwei passed by the Yan residence several times in disguise, but the gates were always closed, and he was unable to find out what was going on inside.
But she had plenty of time to wait for the Yan family to make a fool of themselves.
Yan Zhiwei sat on the bench, wiping away the fine sweat that had beaded on her skin. She casually accepted a cucumber offered to her by someone. As she was eating half of the cucumber, Zhu Mingyu returned from work, leading his horse.
Yan Zhiwei spotted Zhu Mingyu walking towards her with a smile from afar. Earlier, the two of them had taken some valuable items from the wedding procession to sell, but Shu County was too big, and money was flowing like water. They figured that it wouldn't be right to only take in and not give out, so they both found short-term jobs.
As soon as Zhu Mingyu returned, a young girl gathered around him.
"Brother Zhu, could you please tell Sister Zhiwei that I really tried my best to roll out the dough today? Could you please pay me a little more?" The girl's surname was Xu, and it was her first time making steamed buns. She wasn't very efficient, and based on the amount of work she did, she wouldn't earn much money at all.
She had been observing Yan Zhiwei and Zhu Mingyu for several days and knew that Zhu Mingyu still had some influence with Yan Zhiwei. She wanted to curry favor with Zhu Mingyu in order to get more money.
Zhu Mingyu recognized the girl and looked embarrassed upon hearing this.
Xiao Xu lowered his voice again: "Brother Zhu, if you listen to Sister Zhiwei like this now, how will you be the head of the family in the future?"
She leaned closer and said, "Don't take my words lightly. I've been working here these past few days, doing all the work for you. My father said that a woman you marry needs to be properly trained, otherwise..."
Xiao Xu turned around like a quail, secretly glancing at Yan Zhiwei, and sighed heavily, "Otherwise, a man can't stand up straight!"
"Brother Zhu, you must live with dignity!" Xiao Xu said reproachfully.
Zhu Mingyu, who had been blushing, became focused upon hearing this and frowned as he asked Xiao Xu, "Did Zhiwei treat you badly?"
He was never impatient, teaching her meticulously step by step, and always the first to calculate and settle her wages each day. Zhu Mingyu was somewhat confused.
He stared at Xiao Xu for a long time in silence, then solemnly said, "I am willing."
"Dignity is not determined by a woman's clothes, but by a man's actions." Xiao Xu was also a woman, and Zhu Mingyu believed she understood what he was saying.
Zhu Mingyu looked up and said, "Please don't say such things anymore. It won't make me happy."
Even if she's happy, Zhiwei won't use any special connections.
Seeing Zhu Mingyu's serious demeanor, Xiao Xu felt a chill in his heart and stammered, "I... I was just joking. I thought you were funny, Brother Zhu. I won't say anymore..."
Xiao Xu took a half step back, somewhat unwilling, but more so sincere, and asked, "Brother Zhu, in your heart is she really that good, that worthy?"
Zhu Mingyu's hands, which were rummaging through his baggage on horseback, suddenly stopped, and he was taken aback.
“I admit that Sister Zhiwei is a good person,” Xiao Xu said. “But even the best people have flaws. For example, Sister Zhiwei has a quick temper and sometimes she has a habit of giving orders to people. Haven’t you ever gotten tired of it?”
"Is your temperament really that good?"
Remembering how his father always looked down on his mother when she occasionally asked for help, Xiao Xu was genuinely puzzled by Zhu Mingyu's reaction.
Zhu Mingyu took out a small box from his bag, then withdrew his hand to avoid the topic: "What do you think?"
"How should I know!"
"Then there's no need to think about it." Zhu Mingyu patted Luo Chen's clothes and tidied his slightly messy hair.
People's worries are always accompanied by continuous questioning, but most of the time questioning does not solve the problem, but only disturbs their resolve.
Zhu Mingyu smiled. He had learned martial arts since childhood and was used to living a life of danger on the frontier, but he could never learn the deep thinking and strategic planning required for sand table simulation.
He is not suited to delving into the details and thinking deeply about a matter.
There are too many things in the world that he doesn't know, so he doesn't have to deal with the intrigue and power struggles. He only needs to hold the sword in his hand, protect the city under his command, and keep peace around him.
He lived solely on intuition, instinct, and purity, a life built only on his own willingness; as for anything else…
"I just want to follow my heart." Zhu Mingyu shrugged.
——
Yan Zhiwei had eaten almost all the cucumber, leaving only a small handful. Zhu Mingyu finally ended his conversation with the girl and walked around the crowd to approach her. Yan Zhiwei narrowed her eyes and pointed to a small chair opposite her with her elbow: "Sit."
"He's quite popular with women." The cucumber's tail was a bit sour and bitter, so Yan Zhiwei simply threw it away.
This wasn't the first time she'd seen someone clinging to Zhu Mingyu. She hadn't noticed it back in Lingnan, but it was only when she arrived in Shu County that Yan Zhiwei truly realized Zhu Mingyu's popularity.
He's tall and fairly handsome, and as a man he's responsible, so it's normal for him to be liked.
Yan Zhiwei rested her chin on her hand and smiled.
Zhu Mingyu obediently sat down and smiled back at Yan Zhiwei. His hands were behind his back, and a faint blush lingered on his face.
What treasure is hidden there?
"Zhiwei, this is for you!"
The two spoke almost simultaneously, with Zhu Mingyu's voice being deeper and louder, drowning out Yan Zhiwei's whisper.
Zhu Mingyu took out a small box from the hem of his clothes. The box was exquisitely designed, and when Yan Zhiwei opened it, a fragrant aroma wafted out.
A faint, cool fragrance lingered around her nose. Yan Zhiwei felt it was very familiar, but she couldn't guess the exact source of the fragrance.
"Perfume balm?" Yan Zhiwei asked, looking at Zhu Mingyu's infatuated face.
“It’s hand cream.” Zhu Mingyu also leaned closer to smell the small box. “I saw that the shop in the east of the city sells it very well, so I picked out a box for you as well.”
Zhu Mingyu took the cream from Yan Zhiwei's hand, grinned and wagged his tail: "The shopkeeper said it's made with the first buds of white plum blossoms, smell it and see if you like it."
Yan Zhiwei smelled it carefully for a while and indeed it had a plum blossom scent. It probably also contained almond oil and perhaps some honey, but she couldn't guess the other ingredients.
Yan Zhiwei turned her head, her eyes sparkling in the sunlight: "Why did you suddenly think of giving me this?"
Yan Zhiwei pursed her lips, a slight joy rising in her heart, but she quickly felt something was amiss. Even when they were in Lingnan for so long, Zhu Mingyu had never given her a gift. The sun wouldn't rise in the west for no reason.
Yan Zhiwei narrowed her eyes: "You haven't done something wrong, have you?"
Yan Zhiwei closed the lid of the rouge: "You weren't this good to me before."
"Tell me, what trouble have you gotten yourself into this time?" As if convinced that Zhu Mingyu's behavior was unusual, Yan Zhiwei's cheek muscles, which had been raised halfway, suddenly slumped down.
Zhu Mingyu hadn't expected Yan Zhiwei to suddenly change her expression, and he became anxious: "I didn't do anything wrong, I just... I just noticed that your hands have been peeling from kneading dough lately, and since I've earned some money from my work, I thought I'd buy you a box of hand cream..."
Zhu Mingyu put his hands on his chest: "Besides, I used to just work for you in Lingnan, so I didn't save up much money. Where would I get the spare cash to buy these things..."
Yan Zhiwei knew that these words didn't mean anything else, and they certainly weren't complaining that he wasn't paid enough so that he couldn't save up any wages... right?
Zhu Mingyu became increasingly agitated as he spoke, seemingly feeling wronged: "I really didn't mean anything by it! If you don't want it, I won't buy it in the future, but..."
Zhu Mingyu glanced at Yan Zhiwei's cracked knuckles, which were covered with reddish hangnails.
"But winter is coming, and this ointment will still be somewhat useful, so you should keep it..."
Zhu Mingyu's eyes reddened as he spoke, and Yan Zhiwei, not expecting such a strong reaction, was momentarily speechless: "I..."
Zhu Mingyu met Yan Zhiwei's eyes, and a worry that Yan Zhiwei couldn't understand flashed in them.
"I..." Yan Zhiwei swallowed hard, blushed, and turned her head away. "Thank you."
"The product is great, I really like it!" Yan Zhiwei touched the back of her slightly swollen ears.
Feeling her heartbeat slowly becoming uncontrollable, Yan Zhiwei grew impatient and hastily waved her hand to push Zhu Mingyu away, saying, "Go back first, go back first, I still need to knead dough here."
Yan Zhiwei had a burning fire in her heart, which made it difficult for her to control the strength of kneading the dough. She wanted to add more water, but accidentally knocked over the water glass on the table.
Transparent water droplets slid down the table. Yan Zhiwei didn't have time to dodge and took a quick half-step back, almost stumbling and getting her lower body completely soaked.
"Aaaaaaah!!!" Yan Zhiwei threw her head back and covered her face, the dough residue on her hands landing on her cheeks. "Zhu Mingyu!"
"Yes!" The instigator was puzzled.
Yan Zhiwei wrapped herself up and slowly fell, covering herself with the towel draped over her chest, wishing she could disappear into the ground.
“Zhu Mingyu…” Yan Zhiwei stammered, “You really…you really…”
"What really is the case?" Zhu Mingyu asked anxiously.
Fireworks exploded in Yan Zhiwei's ears, one after another, making her feel like she was floating on air.
Yan Zhiwei was so annoyed by her own uncontrollable reaction that she stomped her feet.
As expected, Zhu Mingyu is really annoying!
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