The Comments Section Said She Was My Wife - Chapter 18

Chapter 18

◎ Her wife’s blushing face is also very beautiful ◎

Neither Xia Shi nor Chu Tang expected to run into acquaintances in the county town.

But since they had, they didn’t mind. They spent the time it took to finish a bowl of wontons catching up on village gossip, and, of course, they were asked a few questions themselves.

While waiting for the wontons, Tian Er’s wife asked, “I don’t usually see Xiao Xia coming down the mountain. What brings you both to town today?” She swept a glance at their feet, they were empty-handed, not looking like they were here to shop.

There was nothing to hide, so Xia Shi replied, “With the rain and the cooling weather, our autumn clothes aren’t enough, and we have nothing prepared for winter. I wanted to bring A-Tang to the fabric shop to buy some new clothes. I also figured we should walk around town a bit, I might be used to it, but I can’t keep her cooped up in the mountains all the time.”

Life in the mountains was harsh. If it were before, Chu Tang would surely have found the days unbearable, but now, with Xia Shi by her side, she didn’t find it bad at all.

Tian Er’s wife, however, clearly didn’t see it that way. She nodded and said, “Exactly. You’re both so young, staying in the mountains all the time is dull. Even if you don’t come to town, you should come to the village more often and be around people.”

Her tone shifted, “But Xiao Xia, have you forgotten? You have a wife now. Why buy ready-made clothes at a fabric shop? Buying a bolt of fabric and sewing them yourselves is the proper way.”

The Tian family was one of the few households Xia Shi was close to in Shitian Village, and Tian Er’s wife knew exactly how Xia Shi used to live. Back then, it was just Xia Shi hunting to support herself, so she never worried about such small things as tailoring. But it was different now, two people living together couldn’t be so extravagant. Naturally, buying fabric to sew was more economical.

This was seasoned advice from an elder, and neither Chu Tang nor Xia Shi could argue. Xia Shi snuck a few glances at Chu Tang. Though she said nothing, her bright eyes were full of expectation.

Chu Tang saw it and could only give a slight nod. She actually knew how to sew—before the Chu family fell, she had reached the age of marriage. Once a betrothal was set, making clothes and shoes for a husband and mother-in-law was expected, and she had learned a bit. She just never had the chance to use those skills before her family’s ruin and her own exile here.

Applying those skills now felt quite fitting. Thinking this, Chu Tang’s gaze drifted toward Xia Shi, scanning from her handsome profile down to her lean waist. Perhaps her gaze was too obvious, as Xia Shi subconsciously straightened her back.

Chu Tang caught the small movement, her earlobes burning. She quickly looked away, daring only to focus on the wontons in her bowl.

Xia Shi wanted to laugh, but she was afraid that if she did, she’d provoke her wife, whose temper was as fickle as a cat’s. Instead, she retracted her gaze, ate her wontons obediently, and pushed the paper packets on the table toward Chu Tang.

Tian Er’s wife, perceptive enough, noticed the interaction and simply smiled, saying nothing more.

Once the wontons were finished, the women from Shitian Village kept chatting. Xia Shi and Chu Tang had no intention of waiting. After saying goodbye to Tian Er’s wife, they prepared to leave.

Tian Er’s wife, lost in the middle of a story, didn’t even look up as she waved them off. Just as they were a few steps away, she suddenly remembered something and called out, “Xiao Xia! The Chen fabric shop on the west side of town is having a sale today. Fabric is twenty coins cheaper per bolt. If you’re buying a lot, go check it out. It’s a bargain.”

Xia Shi waved back, “Got it! Thanks, Sister-in-law!”

Turning to Chu Tang, she said, “The fabric at the Chen shop is cheap and durable, the villagers love it. But I find it a bit too rough. If you wear it, it might chafe your skin. I think the Liu fabric shop on the east side is better. They have soft, fine linen. It’s much gentler. Wash it once before you wear it, and it’ll be perfectly fine.”

Chu Tang listened quietly. In these few words, she could feel Xia Shi’s genuine care. She wouldn’t dream of refusing this kindness, so she softened her eyes and smiled, “I don’t know the town as well as you do. I’ll follow your lead.”

Xia Shi was very satisfied with that, her chin lifting a little higher than before. She wasn’t one to shortchange herself, much less Chu Tang. If she had married a local village girl, the other party might have urged her to be frugal rather than graciously accepting her care, which would have been a real dampener.

Of course, she was beginning to see that Chu Tang’s background was extraordinary, and the “fine linen” she admired might still seem crude to her wife. But she didn’t intend to point it out, nor did she feel inadequate because of it—letting things be was the best approach.

The Liu fabric shop on the east side was quite far away, but Chu Tang and Xia Shi were in no hurry, enjoying a leisurely stroll.

The small county town was no match for the grandeur of the capital, but it was vibrant in its own way. For someone of Chu Tang’s former standing, she had likely never wandered the streets like this, nor had she ever bought trinkets from roadside stalls.

When Xia Shi returned with two sugar paintings, Chu Tang was standing at a small stall watching someone weave grass grasshoppers. The stall owner sold straw sandals, but a local child had begged him to weave a grasshopper to play with, and the owner had complied with a few effortless twists of straw. He was incredibly skilled, the grasshopper took shape in seconds, not only causing the children nearby to gasp but also drawing Chu Tang in, fully captivated.

She was startled when a sugar painting suddenly appeared in front of her. Xia Shi leaned in and asked, “Do you like these little things? It’s a pity I don’t know how to weave them, but I could pay the owner to make one for you.”

Chu Tang’s face turned red instantly. The one asking for the grasshopper was a five-year-old child, how could she, a grown woman, be so shameless? She shot Xia Shi a sharp look and lied, “Nonsense, what would I want with that? I was just waiting for you, and since the owner was so skilled, I watched for a while.”

Xia Shi shrugged, pretending to believe her, and asked, “You really don’t want one?”

Chu Tang hardened her heart and started walking, “Of course I don’t.”

She walked away, and the grasshopper was finished. The child joyfully took it, but before he could even warm it in his hands, a sugar painting appeared before him. The tall woman leaned down and asked, “Little one, will you trade your grasshopper for this sugar painting?”

The child didn’t hesitate for a second. The straw grasshopper wasn’t worth much, and he could just beg for another one—but the sugar painting was beautiful, and it tasted sweet!

Xia Shi had secured the toy her wife liked, and the child had his candy. Both parties felt they had gotten the better end of the deal.

However, when Xia Shi caught up to Chu Tang and presented the grasshopper like a treasure, the latter gave her a genuine, annoyed glare. “What use is this child’s toy to me? I just thought the man’s hands were clever, that’s all.”

She complained, but she still took it, her fingertips brushing against the grasshopper’s antennae.

Xia Shi was satisfied that she had accepted it. She didn’t care what Chu Tang said and instead held out the sugar painting. “I bought two, but unfortunately, I traded one for the grasshopper…”

Chu Tang glanced at her and pushed the sugar painting back. “I don’t like sweets. If you like it, you can eat it.”

That wasn’t Xia Shi’s goal at all. She moved closer as it was pushed away, “It’s not about the candy—I mean, since there’s only this one left, why don’t you share a bite with me?”

Chu Tang vaguely sensed her intention, but before she could speak, the edge of the golden sugar butterfly was already pressed to her lips. She looked up at Xia Shi, whose eyes were burning with intensity. Chu Tang had no choice but to part her lips and take a small bite. “What is this supposed to be? I couldn’t even see it properly. Why are you in such a rush?”

Xia Shi held up the painting to show her, it was a butterfly, and now a tiny piece of its wing was missing where she had bitten it.

After showing her, Xia Shi didn’t stand on ceremony either, she took a bite right where the small gap was.

Hmm, quite sweet. And her wife’s blushing face is also very beautiful.