“Sister Qiruo, looking at it this way, can we prepare a bit more tomorrow?”
On the way back, Lu Ziping said to Su Qiruo with excitement. Judging by this momentum, this business had great potential for development.
Su Qiruo, however, shook her head and said, “No rush for now. Let’s wait for those who bought the soap these past two days to go home and use it before we sell the next batch. If those who have used it don’t say it’s good, it would be useless even if we talked until our tongues wore out.”
“Sister Qiruo is right. Then we can rest for these two days.”
Lu Qimei stretched and yawned. Carrying soap to sell from door to door from dawn until dusk these past few days had truly exhausted them.
“Mm, go back and rest for two days. We’ll go to the town to set up a stall the day after tomorrow; there will still be plenty to keep us busy!”
Su Qiruo weighed the twenty-some copper coins left in her hand, preparing to reprice the soap.
Otherwise, if she kept selling at a loss like this, what was the point of all this frantic effort?
Su Qiruo was determined to earn big money to buy a large house for Yun Zimu. She didn’t want Yun Zimu to keep living in the village, seeing nothing but that small, dilapidated courtyard every day.
Moreover, there was too much gossip in the village. People often brought up that Yun Zimu had been bought by her, and Yun Zimu must surely feel uncomfortable about that.
When the group returned to the village, it was already dark. They bid each other farewell and headed to their respective homes.
The front door of the house was left slightly ajar, and a faint candlelight shone through the window paper. Su Qiruo stood at the doorway, gazing at the candlelight, unable to snap out of it for a long time.
Yun Zimu bit the thread to break it, stuck the needle into the pincushion, and gently stroked the pouch in his hands, waiting for its owner to return so he could give it to her.
“Zimu, I’m back…”
Su Qiruo’s voice suddenly came from outside. A flash of joy crossed Yun Zimu’s eyes, and he hurriedly got up to put on his shoes.
“Wife…”
Just as he finished putting on his shoes, Su Qiruo strode in, bumping right into Yun Zimu, who was rushing out.
Under the dim, yellow candlelight, a pair of obsidian-like eyes collided with the depths of Su Qiruo’s heart.
The anticipation and joy in Yun Zimu’s eyes could not be faked; he looked as if he wanted to write it all over his face.
She had been busy selling soap outside these past few days and hadn’t properly accompanied her little husband; she had truly wronged him.
“It’s dark at night, be careful.”
With the soft, fragrant body in her arms, Su Qiruo forced herself to stay calm.
“Wife…”
Yun Zimu called out softly again. Fortunately, it was dark, so she couldn’t see the blush on his face.
Outside, the shadows of the trees swayed, and the moonlight was hazy.
Inside, the lovers looked into each other’s eyes, yet it felt as if something was missing.
Su Qiruo helped Yun Zimu sit back on the *kang* and reluctantly let go.
Seeing the pouch held tightly in Yun Zimu’s hand, she couldn’t help but ask, “Is this for me, Zimu?”
Only then did Yun Zimu remember why he had been so eager to see his wife. He hurriedly held the pouch out to Su Qiruo with both hands.
“I couldn’t help much while you were out selling soap, so I wanted to embroider a pouch for you, to make it easier for you to keep some small change.”
Yun Zimu lowered his eyes shyly. This was the first time he had given something to someone, and he felt quite embarrassed.
“Thank you, Zimu. I love it.”
Su Qiruo affectionately touched the pair of mandarin ducks embroidered on the pouch, her eyes filled with delight.
“Have you eaten yet, Wife?”
Suddenly remembering that she had left dinner for Su Qiruo in the pot, Yun Zimu asked hurriedly.
“Not yet.”
Seeing that Yun Zimu clearly hadn’t eaten either, Su Qiruo tapped his nose with dissatisfaction.
“In the future, you are not allowed to wait for me to eat. When the time comes, just eat by yourself. What would you do if you made yourself sick from hunger?”
Su Qiruo’s movements were very natural, and she didn’t feel anything was amiss, but it made the tips of Yun Zimu’s ears turn red.
“But didn’t you not eat either, Wife? You work hard outside to earn money to support the family and don’t feel hungry, so how could I get sick from hunger just staying at home all day?”
Yun Zimu didn’t know when he had learned to “talk back,” but it was clear he was no longer afraid of Su Qiruo at all.
“You little thing, your courage is growing. Now I can’t even win an argument against you.”
Su Qiruo dotingly flicked Yun Zimu’s pert nose again, looking helpless.
“Wife… thank you.”
Yun Zimu suddenly hugged Su Qiruo’s arm. Just today, after feeding the chickens, ducks, and geese, and then feeding the rabbits, he had suddenly wanted to say thank you to Su Qiruo.
Thank you for giving him a home and giving him endless doting.
Su Qiruo’s heart stirred. Taking advantage of the ambiguous lighting, she pulled the person beside her into a full embrace.
“Zimu, I am the one who should say thank you. Thank you for still being willing to give me a chance to take good care of you and cherish you.”
After all, the previous “Su Qiruo” had hurt Yun Zimu. Perhaps only the simple-hearted Yun Zimu would forgive her just like that; if it were anyone else, who knows how they might have sought revenge!
Yun Zimu felt his heart beating fast. His body, held by Su Qiruo, felt a bit soft, and he felt an indescribable strangeness.
But his wife’s embrace was truly warm, full of the scent of sunshine, giving him enough sense of security.
“Are you going to town tomorrow, Wife?”
“Not for these two days. I’ll stay home and keep you company.”
“Then, Wife, let’s make dumplings tomorrow!”
The little one’s voice was clearly filled with more joy as he spoke.
“Alright, we’ll make whatever my Zimu wants to eat.”
Su Qiruo’s words made the tips of Yun Zimu’s ears turn red again, and he was too shy to look up at her.
Wife said he was *her* Zimu…
Secretly biting his lip, Yun Zimu was filled with happiness from head to toe.
His wife had hugged him and said so many things that made his heart race…
But he liked it so much!
Looking at the little husband in her arms and the large *kang* behind them, Su Qiruo wanted all the more to hold a wedding soon and truly become a real married couple with her little husband.
She had to know, it was hard on her heart every night when she had to run back to the west room.
In fact, Su Qiruo knew in her heart that if she asked to move into the main room to live with Yun Zimu now, he certainly wouldn’t refuse.
But she didn’t want to give Yun Zimu any cause for resentment; the regrets of his father shouldn’t be repeated in Yun Zimu’s life.
The three matchmakers and six betrothal gifts, a proper, honorable marriage—that was what her Yun Zimu deserved.
In the book, Yun Zimu carried regrets until his death, especially after being sold off; for him, that must have been the greatest humiliation!
Even if he didn’t like the “Su Qiruo” in the book, he had never thought of finding anyone else.
Such a stubborn person, once they set their mind on something, would surely go down that path to the end.
Even if he hit a stone wall, he wouldn’t be willing to turn back.
For these two days, besides making soap, Su Qiruo spent her time making all sorts of different foods for Yun Zimu.
The weather was hot and people had no appetite, so Su Qiruo began researching how to make *liangpi* (cold skin noodles).
(End of chapter)