Chapter 15: The "Irritable" Wife Loves Tenderly (15)

As if sensing the worry in Yun Zimu's eyes, Su Qiruo hurriedly explained, "I picked up some good things in the mountains today. I'm afraid they won't fetch a good price in town, so I thought I'd head to Qingyu City to ask around."

"What kind of good things could there be in the mountains?"

Upon hearing that it wasn't what he had imagined, Yun Zimu's expression immediately relaxed, and the words escaped his lips reflexively.

Carrying the oil lamp, Su Qiruo pulled Yun Zimu into the western room. When he saw the ginseng and lingzhi laid out on the floor, Yun Zimu was also stunned.

"Do you recognize these things, Zimu?"

It was evident from Yun Zimu's expression that he had definitely seen them before. Perhaps they could estimate a price themselves first, so they wouldn't be cheated when they went to sell them.

Yun Zimu bit his lip and said softly, "In the past, when the Yun Estate held a birthday banquet for the Old Matriarch, the Eldest Young Master, who married into the capital, once sent a ginseng root through messengers. Everyone was discussing how incredibly expensive it was; I caught a glimpse of it secretly. That ginseng wasn't even as large as yours."

This was the first time Yun Zimu had mentioned matters regarding the Yun Estate in front of Su Qiruo, and he had spoken of it quite naturally.

The pains of the past seemed to have grown distant under Su Qiruo's doting. When he thought about how much the whip had hurt, Yun Zimu actually found himself unable to fully recall the sensation.

"Then, did Zimu hear how much that ginseng was worth?"

Su Qiruo had tried to calculate it herself, but because she didn't know the market rates, she couldn't guess the price.

"They all said that ginseng was worth over a hundred taels, enough to cover the Yun Estate's expenses for an entire year."

Yun Zimu whispered. Before the Yun Estate fell into decline, they were considered a wealthy family in Plum Blossom Town, but compared to truly rich families, they were nothing.

A single ginseng root sent casually by others was a hundred times more precious than the food for their entire household combined; speaking of it felt somewhat desolate.

"Zimu, once this ginseng is sold, I'll buy you some jewelry."

Su Qiruo seemingly thought of something and suddenly blurted out this seemingly random sentence.

"There's no need, Wife. I don't like those things. Please, do not overspend on my account."

Yun Zimu hurriedly waved his hands. For someone of his lowly origin, having a small corner to call home was enough; how could he dare to crave anything else?

As long as his Wife truly stopped drinking and hitting people in the future, that would be enough.

"The money I earn is all yours. If I don't buy things for you, what am I earning money for?"

Su Qiruo held the oil lamp and saw Yun Zimu back to his room. She prepared to tell him about her plan to go to Qingyu City, but remembering how timid he was, she suddenly changed her mind.

"Zimu, come with me tomorrow!"

"Eh?"

Yun Zimu thought he had misheard and looked at Su Qiruo in confusion.

"Tomorrow we will go to Qingyu City together. We won't return tonight, but we'll come back the day after tomorrow."

Without giving Yun Zimu a chance to refuse, Su Qiruo suddenly stood up and said, "Now, hurry to sleep. You have to wake up early tomorrow."

With that, without waiting for Yun Zimu to say anything else, Su Qiruo walked out.

Yun Zimu stared blankly at the still-swaying door curtain, Su Qiruo's words echoing in his ears.

His Wife wanted to take him to Qingyu City?

From childhood until now, he had only ever stayed in the Yun Estate and here; he had never even left Plum Blossom Town.

For some reason, this time, Yun Zimu didn't think for a moment that Su Qiruo might sell him along with the goods.

Perhaps it was because he felt he wasn't as valuable as an old ginseng root!

Before dawn, Su Qiruo led Yun Zimu out of Lu Family Village. Both were dressed in new clothes; though they weren't worth much, they were their greatest sense of dignity.

Upon arriving at Plum Blossom Town, Su Qiruo went to rent a horse carriage, making Yun Zimu wince in heartache.

If it were up to Yun Zimu, renting a donkey cart would have sufficed. It might be slower, but it was cheap!

The silver they had left was already not much; how could they not spend it sparingly?

Su Qiruo knew Yun Zimu was frugal, but she didn't want him to suffer. Donkey carts were slow and smelly, and they might even have to share the ride with others; a horse carriage was far more comfortable.

"Zimu, in the future, I will definitely make sure you have your own horse carriage. You can go wherever you want and sit however you like."

Su Qiruo suddenly gripped Yun Zimu's hand and said seriously.

Yun Zimu pursed his lips and looked at the woman's serious face, but he did not pull his hand away.

In truth, he was slowly adapting to her closeness and had grown somewhat accustomed to it.

"Wife, thank you."

Yun Zimu didn't know why he felt the need to say it; he just felt it in his heart, so he said it.

"You and I are one as husband and wife, sharing both honor and disgrace. Why must you be so polite with me?"

Su Qiruo squeezed Yun Zimu's hand and said with a smile.

An invisible sense of ambiguity rose between them, sweet and tangy, making one unable to help but linger on it.

Qingyu City was indeed very large. The streets were crowded with people wearing various styles of clothing, but silks and satins were everywhere.

"Zimu, are you hungry? Let's eat first, then go to the apothecary!"

Su Qiruo held Yun Zimu's hand tightly, fearing he might get lost.

Yun Zimu shook his head quickly. They hadn't even sold the items yet; how could he have an appetite?

Su Qiruo was also preoccupied with this matter, fearing a mishap.

"Then let's sell the medicine first, and then go eat."

Only then did Yun Zimu nod.

Su Qiruo asked around for the most famous medical clinic in the city and then led Yun Zimu there.

There were many people queuing outside the clinic. Fearing the wait would be too long, Su Qiruo coaxed Yun Zimu to sit at a tea stall next to the post station.

After paying, Su Qiruo joined the queue behind the crowd.

Yun Zimu stared nervously in Su Qiruo's direction, not even daring to blink, for fear that a moment of inattention would cause him to lose sight of her. If that happened, he truly wouldn't know what to do.

Every so often, Su Qiruo would look back and give Yun Zimu a reassuring smile.

When Su Qiruo, queuing under the sunlight, turned back to smile at him, Yun Zimu felt as if his heart brightened along with her.

The locked door of his heart seemed to have been gently pried open, with bits of sugar scattered inside, making him smile uncontrollably.

Through their time together, Yun Zimu discovered that Su Qiruo was truly a good person. She was polite to others, very caring, and kept her word—having said she would no longer drink or hit people, she truly did not touch alcohol again.

By the time it was Su Qiruo's turn, more than an hour had passed. Upon hearing that she was not there for treatment but to sell medicinal herbs, the old doctor sitting inside couldn't help but give her an extra glance.

"You are quite an honest child. Usually, those selling medicinal herbs go straight inside, but you are willing to queue along with these patients."

Seeing Su Qiruo's simple attire, the sternness on the old doctor's face softened considerably.

"It is only right. Patients seeking treatment are more anxious than I am selling medicine. I wouldn't dare break the rules and waste your time, Elder."

Su Qiruo hurriedly cupped her hands toward the old doctor.

"Bring your things over then! If the quality is good, this old one will not shortchange you on your silver."

(End of Chapter)