Marrying the Sweet Story’s Melodramatic Villainess [Transmigration] - Chapter 41

As the New Year approached, Cui Yi became increasingly busy, and her subordinates were no less occupied.

Wu Liuniang was frantic with work. Her elderly mother, feeling distressed for her daughter, stewed meat every day to keep her strength up. Thinking of the year-end bonus mentioned by Manager Gu, Liuniang felt she could still push herself. Consequently, by the time she finished her work, the sky was dark and heavy with falling snow.

Her elder brother was waiting for her outside, a thin layer of snow blanketing his umbrella. Wu Dalang tilted the umbrella and gave it a shake; the snow slid down the incline, forming a modest pile on the ground. He had clearly been there for a while. Wu Liuniang hurriedly handed him a hand warmer. “Quick, warm yourself up.”

Wu Dalang waved it off. The clothes he wore were warm enough; he didn’t need it.

Liuniang insisted on thrusting the warmer into his hands. As the siblings walked, they chatted about family matters. Liuniang exhaled a puff of white mist. “What did Mother stew for me today?”

Wu Dalang grinned widely. “Beef. It’s been stewing for three hours. The aroma was so strong it made the children’s mouths water!”

Hearing this, Liuniang could almost see the scene. A smile broke across her face as she said grandly, “If they like it, let Mother buy more. We won’t let them go hungry for it anymore.”

Words were easy, but beef was a scarcity—especially during the New Year period when demand far outstripped supply. Her mother had used personal connections to buy it, and the price was naturally not cheap.

Wu Dalang just chuckled at his sister’s remark. They managed to reach home before the snow became too heavy. Before they even pushed open the door, they could smell the thick scent of spices. Liuniang raised an eyebrow. “Mother has truly become extravagant.”

Wu Dalang was amused and laughed along.

Once the courtyard gate was pushed open, the fragrance became even richer. Her nephews and nieces, hearing the commotion, began to shout, “Auntie is back! Grandma, Auntie is back!”

“Quiet down, you’ll deafen me!” Mother Wu came out carrying a large bowl of meat, her face beaming. “Liuniang, hurry and have a taste.”

Liuniang accepted the feeding from her mother, saying as she ate, “Distribute the rest among the family.”

Mother Wu replied crossly, “Do you think I would treat them poorly?”

Liuniang blew on a spoonful of soup, thinking to herself: It’s hard to say.

While everyone was busy sharing the meat, Mother Wu whispered into Liuniang’s ear: “That ‘big figure’ came by again today. He even mentioned finding a good job for your second brother.”

Liuniang stopped chewing. “Did Second Brother agree?”

“Of course not! Wouldn’t that break your second sister-in-law’s heart?”

Hearing this, Liuniang lowered her head and took a sip of soup. “Our family doesn’t seek great wealth or status; we just want to live a stable life. Things are very good as they are now. Once we’ve saved enough money, we’ll move to a large manor where everyone has their own room.”

Mother Wu smiled so broadly her eyes became slits. “Aye!”

The family’s finances were currently managed by Liuniang, so she had a clear idea of their progress.

In the right wing of the house, Lady Lin ate her meat in small bites. As the family’s conditions improved, they had meat at every meal; her thin face had filled out, and her spirit had followed suit. Wu Erlang also took small sips, trying to make the flavor linger in his mouth as long as possible. Spices were too expensive to be enjoyed more than once a year.

Lady Lin spoke abruptly. “Will you regret it in the future?”

Wu Erlang knew she was referring to his refusal of the Prince of Yue’s heir. He and his former brother-in-law used to get along well, and he often shared half of his hidden savings with him. Now, even a finger’s worth of favor from that man could make him soar. Hearing her question, he gave a lazy smile. “I was only close to him because he was your brother. Now? It is better for us not to try and climb that social ladder.”

Cui Yi was unaware that the male lead had lost a potential “fierce general” from his ranks.

She had caught a cold. In an ancient world with primitive medical standards, a cold could be fatal.

Pei Mingjiao watched anxiously as Cui Yi took her medicine. Being stared at so intensely, Cui Yi downed the brew without changing her expression. Pei Mingjiao hurried to offer a tray of preserved fruits, but Cui Yi avoided her. “Stay away from me. I’ll infect you.”

Pei Mingjiao puffed out her chest. “I’m not afraid! My health is excellent.”

Cui Yi continued to avoid her. “That is a foolish thing to say.”

Cui Yi was ill, and her words were sharp. Pei Mingjiao chose to forgive her sickly wife and tried to lean in again, but Cui Yi’s voice suddenly turned cold. “Be good. Go out.”

Pei Mingjiao was stunned by the harshness.

Cui Yi sighed faintly. “Don’t make me worry, alright?”

Pei Mingjiao’s heart felt full and heavy. She set the preserved fruits aside and looked back three times with every step she took toward the door. Cui Yi didn’t look back once. Only after she was gone did Cui Yi turn her body, pick up a piece of preserved fruit with her fingertips, and put it in her mouth. A gentle press of her tongue allowed the sweetness to mask the bitterness.

Once the flavor faded, Cui Yi lay down. The candles were extinguished. In the darkness, despite the floor heating, Cui Yi felt a rare chill.

In another courtyard, Pei Mingjiao could not fall asleep. The candlelight was put out and relit several times. They had been married for only a month, yet she found she could no longer sleep alone.

Pei Mingjiao sat up, her dark hair draped loosely behind her, looking utterly depressed.

She missed Cui Yi.

But she couldn’t make Cui Yi worry.

The next day.

Pei Mingjiao had rare dark circles under her eyes.

Bai Ying understood immediately upon seeing them. “The Imperial Physician will be here shortly. I heard from Dongzhi that Lady Cui’s health has improved significantly.”

Hearing this good news, Pei Mingjiao finally regained some energy.

After a hurried breakfast, she rushed to Cui Yi’s courtyard. She happened to run into Lady Du, who was visiting. Lady Du had only stood outside for a moment, and seeing Pei Mingjiao, she offered words of comfort: “Yi-niang is much better. You must take care of your own health as well, Princess.”

Pei Mingjiao was very respectful toward Cui Yi’s mother and obediently agreed.

After Pei Mingjiao left, Lady Du sighed to the nanny beside her: “Yi-niang finally has someone who cares for her deeply.”

The nanny smiled in agreement. “Our young lady deserves a life of bliss.”

When Pei Mingjiao reached the courtyard, she was still not allowed into the room. She had endured for an entire day, and now she was on the verge of making a scene.

Cui Yi was alone in the room; she wouldn’t even let the maids near her. She gave a light cough. Through the glass window, the two of them looked at each other. Pei Mingjiao had always been easy to read. Cui Yi shook her head gently, her expression calm and soft.

Pei Mingjiao’s foot, which had been about to shift forward, immediately pulled back.

She didn’t like it when Cui Yi was angry with her; since she only ever got angry at people she disliked, she didn’t want Cui Yi to dislike her.

Seeing that Pei Mingjiao understood, Cui Yi stopped looking at her and lowered her head to read her book.

She thought Pei Mingjiao would leave soon, but instead, the other woman stood there as if her feet had sprouted roots.

Cui Yi: “…” She couldn’t focus on a single word in the book.

She rose from the couch. Pei Mingjiao’s eyes lit up, following her movements. Cui Yi walked to the tightly closed, carved wooden door and tapped it lightly. A responding thump-thump vibrated against the wood.

Cui Yi’s throat felt a slight pain from the fever. She raised her voice to ensure Pei Mingjiao could hear her through the door. “Go back. One patient in the house is enough.”

An aggrieved voice drifted in through the door. “Yi-niang, don’t ever get sick again, alright?”

Such a promise was impossible to keep; it was a very childish request. Yet, Cui Yi answered quite seriously: “In the future, I will be more careful to keep warm.”

Cui Yi had fallen ill this time because she went out to inspect her properties; she hadn’t expected that a moment in the cold wind would lead to a fever.

My body is still too weak, she thought.

Pei Mingjiao tapped the wooden door twice more. “When you’re sick, I’m not beautiful anymore.”

Cui Yi was amused and let out a small laugh. “How are you not beautiful?”

Pei Mingjiao said loudly, “I even have dark circles under my eyes!”

Cui Yi suppressed her laughter and played along. “Then you truly aren’t beautiful.”

A “hmph” drifted through the crack in the door, followed by Pei Mingjiao’s bold words: “It’s your fault. I can’t sleep without you.”

Cui Yi touched the area beneath her own eyes. Today, she had dark circles as well.