The Favorite of the Sick and Weak Lady - Chapter 21

Song Luoning slowly opened her eyes, her gaze sweeping over the oiled paper bag on the table, a hint of hesitation flashing in her eyes.

“For me?” But why?

Didn’t she go to the county town to sell her? Or was being nice to her just to get a good price?

But, in her heart, why did she lean more towards…

Song Luoning lowered her eyes, picked up a piece of pastry, and put it in her mouth, expertly concealing the turmoil in her eyes. The pastry was soft, sweet, and exquisitely made; the price must have been high.

Why did she…

Xiao Yu didn’t understand why she asked that and said in surprise, “If it wasn’t for you, who else would it be for? Oh, right, Song Luoning, I also bought meat and eggs today. There are still a few mushrooms left from the other day. I’ll make you soup later.”

The last supper?

Song Luoning pursed her lips, staring at the pastry in her hand without speaking.

Seeing her lost in thought, Xiao Yu felt a bit uneasy and asked uncertainly, “Don’t you like it?”

She remembered that the young lady had liked the mushroom congee she made last time. Was she feeling unwell again?

Xiao Yu looked worried.

Song Luoning shook her head, “I don’t dislike it. I like everything my husband makes.”

Xiao Yu continued to ask, “Are you feeling unwell somewhere?”

Song Luoning suppressed the sorrow in her heart and managed a smile, “No, husband, don’t worry.”

“That’s good.” Xiao Yu watched her for a while and, seeing that she really seemed fine, finally relaxed. “You wait a bit, I’ll go and cook now.”

Song Luoning nodded.

Xiao Yu went to the kitchen. She had wanted to make mushroom soup for the young lady before, but she didn’t have eggs or lean meat. She specifically bought them today. Fortunately, she had a few mushrooms left, which was enough for a bowl of soup.

Besides, Chen Ziyi had promised to take her into the mountains to pick mushrooms when he had time. Then they could dry the ones they couldn’t eat and save them for later.

The young lady could have them whenever she wanted.

Thinking of Song Luoning drinking the mushroom soup she made, Xiao Yu’s mood inexplicably brightened.

Is this the joy of feeding someone?

It seemed quite nice. No wonder so many people liked to have pets; who wouldn’t like something soft and sweet?

She actually had something to discuss with Song Luoning. The money needed to treat Song Luoning’s illness would definitely not be small. She had no source of income for the time being and could only hope to sell the rice husker and winnower. But to make those tools, she first needed to solve the issue of the courtyard wall.

However, the money she had on hand wasn’t even enough for Song Luoning’s next dose of medicine.

What if… she meant, what if Song Luoning could lend her a bit more?

Of course, she wasn’t demanding it; she was discussing it with her. After all, her money had all been spent on Song Luoning.

So, Song Luoning should lend her this money, right?

While thinking, Xiao Yu had already washed the meat she bought, cut a few cubes, and was about to stir-fry them in the pot with oil. Xiao Yu took a deep breath, put the matter of borrowing money aside, and focused on cooking. She lit the fire, heated the wok, and stir-fried the meat cubes. When they were fragrant, she added the mushrooms and water. After the water boiled, she added the egg. Soon, the delicious mushroom soup was ready. Finally, she used egg and flour to make an egg pancake for Song Luoning.

A simple, nutritious meal was prepared.

Xiao Yu’s eyes curved.

It seemed that Song Luoning’s happiness in eating was more enjoyable than her own.

Suddenly, she paused. She must be crazy. Xiao Yu recalled her own abnormal behavior over the past two days and let out a sigh of relief. Although she could be sure she had a good impression of Song Luoning, it hadn’t reached this level, had it?

What’s with this feeling of being lovesick?

She really couldn’t go back to her previous attitude towards Song Luoning. A wave of irritation washed over Xiao Yu. Forget it, she wouldn’t think about it for now. Xiao Yu shook her head, carried the food back into the room, and looked at the young lady. Her heart inexplicably beat faster. She pursed her lips, the word “wife” stuck in her throat. Forget it, she’d just call her by her name.

Xiao Yu cleared her throat, “Song Luoning, come and eat.”

Song Luoning didn’t say anything, got up, and sat at the table.

They ate in silence. Xiao Yu was silent because of her sudden change of feelings towards Song Luoning, which felt a bit awkward. As for Song Luoning, it was better left unsaid.

However, the young lady was quite considerate today. Not only did she finish all the mushroom soup, but she also ate a piece of the egg pancake.

It was probably the most she had eaten in a long time.

After dinner, it was time to talk to the young lady about the money. Xiao Yu opened her mouth, finding it a bit difficult to speak.

Seeing her hesitation, Song Luoning’s heart sank. Her lips slowly tightened into a straight line, and she lowered her eyes.

Is she about to bring up selling me?

But that’s fine. We’ll be even, and I won’t have to hold on to any hope for her anymore.

Song Luoning let out a self-deprecating laugh, a look of determination flashing in her eyes.

Xiao Yu hesitated for a while, looking at Song Luoning with a growing earnestness. Finally, she gritted her teeth, “Song Luoning, look, I paid for the carriage last time, and I also paid for the medicine this time. I’m not asking you for the money, but could you lend me another thousand taels? Don’t worry, I will definitely pay you back.”

As soon as the words fell, Song Luoning was stunned.

This bastard scoundrel!

Before selling her, she wanted to get more money from her?

That makes sense. Selling her wouldn’t fetch much, so it’s better to drain her dry first and then sell her.

Song Luoning pinched her fingertips, a self-mocking smile on her face.

She had money, that was true, but why should she give it to her? Song Luoning pursed her lips, “To be honest, husband, I only have three hundred taels left. How about you take it for now? As for the rest of the money, I can write a letter to my father and ask him to send someone to deliver it. What do you think?”

I’ll pay for my own medicine.

I can’t directly refuse this bastard scoundrel, so I’ll just stall her. Anyway, she doesn’t know how much money I have, and when the money arrives is up to me.

This scoundrel won’t trick me out of another cent.

Hearing this, Xiao Yu didn’t overthink it. Three hundred taels was fine. She could build the courtyard wall first. If not, she could borrow some from her cheap mother.

As if afraid she would worry, Xiao Yu gave her a reassuring smile and promised again and again, “Three hundred taels is fine. Don’t worry, I’ll definitely pay it back.”

Three hundred taels is fine? How dare she even say that?

Song Luoning was silent, her eyes filled with gloom. She turned around and took three one-hundred-tael banknotes from under her pillow, handing them to Xiao Yu.

Her tone was sincere, and she looked extremely dependent on her, “My entire fortune is in my husband’s hands.”

Hearing this, Xiao Yu’s heart warmed. She didn’t expect Song Luoning to trust her so much. From now on, she would be extra good to Song Luoning. In fact, if they could be husband and wife forever, that wouldn’t be a bad thing at all.

She was being too extreme before.

Thinking this, Xiao Yu’s cheeks flushed. She didn’t dare to look directly into Song Luoning’s eyes. Whenever she met those bright, beautiful eyes, her heart would race uncontrollably. She couldn’t tell Song Luoning about this secret feeling.

She knew now that the young lady was quite dependent on her, but some things hadn’t been made clear yet. On the other hand, she didn’t know what Song Luoning was thinking. It had been so many days since they got married, so she should have let her sleep in the bed, right?

But why hadn’t she?

Should she ask?

Xiao Yu felt a bit shy about bringing up sleeping together. After hesitating for a long time, she still couldn’t open her mouth. After all, she was a girl. What if Song Luoning refused?

After a long time of hesitation, she decided to wait and see.

Love should take its time. The most important thing right now was to make money to support the young lady. Thinking of this, her mood brightened considerably.

Song Luoning secretly watched her, seeing the change in her expression after she got the banknotes. Her eyes were icy cold. This was fine, too. It was best to solve things with money, but she couldn’t let this scoundrel know her true wealth.

Without thinking too much, she turned around and went back to bed.

Seeing Song Luoning go back to bed, Xiao Yu subconsciously wanted to say something, “Song Luoning, you can’t sleep right after eating. How about I tell you another story?”

Song Luoning looked up and, after a moment, nodded. The story that scoundrel told last time was indeed fresh. Since she couldn’t sleep anyway, listening was no harm.

Besides, she had paid for it.

Why wouldn’t she listen!

Seeing her nod, Xiao Yu’s lips curved into a smile, and her peach blossom eyes crinkled slightly. “Then wait for me a moment, I’ll be right there.”

With that, she quickly tidied up the dishes, set the medicine to boil, and returned to the room.

Song Luoning leaned against the bed, her face cold, lost in thought.

“Song Luoning.”

The girl’s cheerful voice rang out, pulling Song Luoning’s wandering thoughts back.

She smiled and said softly, “Are you done?”

“Yes.” Xiao Yu moved the stool closer to the bed, and the distance between them shortened in an instant.

Song Luoning frowned, subconsciously pinching her fingertips to steady her nerves.

“What story is husband going to tell me this time?” Song Luoning’s eyes flickered as she feigned calmness and asked.

What story?

Xiao Yu thought for a moment and felt that in this situation, a love story would be better. “I’ll tell you the story of a white snake who became a spirit and came back to repay a kindness.”

Song Luoning nodded, leaning back against the bed curtains. Her tense shoulders gradually relaxed, and her attention was drawn to the story. She listened intently.

When Xiao Yu paused, she couldn’t help but ask, “Did the white snake end up with that woman in the end?”

Why did this scoundrel only tell half the story?

What a bastard!

Xiao Yu stood up, seeing her dissatisfaction, and quickly soothed her, “Don’t be anxious, I’ll go get the medicine first and then continue the story.”

With that, she turned and walked towards the kitchen.

Song Luoning’s heart sank, and she pursed her lips.

In no time, she came back with the medicine. “Drink the medicine first.”

Song Luoning looked at the ink-like liquid and, without hesitation, drank it in one gulp, then took a bite of a date.

Seeing the young lady so well-behaved, Xiao Yu felt both soft and heartbroken.

“Can you continue now?” Song Luoning’s voice was light, but if you listened closely, you could hear some resentment.

Xiao Yu didn’t have the heart to make her wait as long as last time. “Lie down first, and I’ll tell you.”

Song Luoning hesitated, then reached out, put down the bed curtains, and pulled up the quilt to lie down, only showing her head. She looked obedient, but her hands under the quilt were tightly gripping a hairpin, like a small, highly vigilant animal.

Seeing her settled, Xiao Yu continued the story.

The small animal on the bed couldn’t resist her sleepiness and eventually fell asleep.

…

The people who helped build the courtyard wall were summoned by the village head. Xiao Yu went to the village head’s house early in the morning and borrowed a cow cart. The bricks for the wall had to be fetched from a very distant brick kiln. Considering that a cow cart couldn’t carry much at once, Xiao Yu asked Chen Ziyi for help and borrowed a few more cow carts from the village, paying them for their labor.

The news that Xiao Yu was building a courtyard wall quickly spread throughout the village, especially with the carts of bricks. Who in the village would be willing to use bricks for their courtyard wall? Even the houses were made of stone and yellow mud. The earthen house Xiao Yu lived in now was a dangerous house, prone to collapse during heavy rains.

“Look at those bricks. She’s really willing to spend money.”

“I know, right? Who knows where she got all that money.”

“Look, isn’t that Chen Ergou? How could this Xiao Yu possibly change for the better? She’s still hanging out with Chen Ergou. Yesterday, I even heard that Chen Ergou was cornered by people from the gambling den at his house. The screaming was something else.”

Chen Ergou walked up to the group of people, spat on the ground, and cursing, walked towards the open space where the bricks were stacked. Seeing the bricks, his eyes, like those of a venomous snake, showed a greedy glint.

He didn’t expect Xiao Yu to be so rich. So many bricks must have cost a fortune. He had to find a way to make Xiao Yu pay off his debts.

Maybe he could get some other benefits too.

Thinking this, a calculating look flashed in his eyes.

Xiao Yu and the cow cart team made four or five trips in total, stacking the bricks neatly into a small mountain.

She also bought some lime.

Xiao Yu paid each person thirty coins. Including the cost of the bricks and lime, she spent a total of thirty-two taels of silver. Originally, she just wanted to build a courtyard wall, but after thinking it through, she decided to build another room as well. The original owner’s small earthen house was a dangerous house, to say the least.

For safety’s sake, building a new house was a matter of convenience.

Besides, the young lady couldn’t live in that kind of environment forever.

So, when she bought the bricks, she bought a bit more.

“Xiao Yu, these bricks must have cost a lot of money, right?”

A sudden voice interrupted Xiao Yu’s thoughts. She turned around to see Chen Ergou looking at her in a lewd manner.

Why was he here again?

Xiao Yu’s eyes showed displeasure. She thought that after the last incident, this Chen Ergou hadn’t looked for her for a long time. She didn’t expect him to appear again now.

Since they had already fallen out, there was no need to pretend. She wasn’t the original owner and wouldn’t hang out with him.

Xiao Yu was not polite with him and couldn’t even be bothered to be perfunctory. “What are you doing here?”

If you were polite to this kind of person, he would take advantage of you.

Besides, after these days of training, her physique had significantly improved. Even if they fought, she wasn’t afraid of him.

Upon hearing Xiao Yu’s tone, Chen Ergou immediately felt unhappy. He was willing to hang out with Xiao Yu, so he was giving her face. He didn’t expect her to be so insensible. He’d deal with her after he got his hands on her money.

Chen Ergou suppressed his displeasure and said in a fawning tone, “What are you talking about? My brother is building a house, so of course, I’m here to help.”

Hmph!

He just saw Xiao Yu give money to those people. Thinking about that money made his heart ache. If he had that money, he could gamble a few times.

But it didn’t matter. If he could coax Xiao Yu into it, all her money might not be his. Thinking of this, a flattering smile returned to his face.

Xiao Yu frowned. She really didn’t expect this Chen Ergou to be so shameless. They had already fallen out, yet he could still casually call himself her brother.

The original owner might have fallen for this, but she wouldn’t.

“Alright, stop pretending. My mother only gave birth to me. I don’t have a brother.”

“You…” Chen Ergou was choked by her words. He looked at Xiao Yu with hatred, grinding his teeth, “Xiao Yu, hanging out with you is giving you face. If you keep this up, don’t think I’ll ever take you to have fun again.”

Heh~

Could he change his excuse? Did he think he could threaten her like this? Not hanging out with him was exactly what she wanted.

“That’s perfect. If there’s nothing else, don’t disturb me while I’m working.” Xiao Yu said impolitely.

“…You.” What’s wrong? What’s wrong with this Xiao Yu? She’d been ignoring him for so long, so why was she still like this?

Chen Ergou wasn’t giving up. “Xiao Yu, if you apologize to me now, maybe I’ll take you with me next time we go out.”

Xiao Yu looked up, staring coldly at him. Did this person not understand human language?

Did he only know how to threaten her with this?

She wasn’t the original owner. She’d have to be crazy to hang out with someone like him.

Wouldn’t it be better to use that time to make money?

Seeing that she couldn’t be persuaded, Chen Ergou felt unwilling. He said with hatred, “Xiao Yu, don’t regret it later.”

Xiao Yu couldn’t help but roll her eyes. Regret?

What a joke.

She had no more time to waste on him. Xiao Yu walked past him and started counting the number of bricks. Before starting, she had to make sure there were enough materials.

At this moment, Chen Ziyi brought a few people over, and Chen Ergou left awkwardly.

“What was he doing here?” Chen Ziyi frowned.

Xiao Yu shrugged, “I don’t know.”

Chen Ziyi, “You’re not going to hang out with him again, are you?”

Xiao Yu was stunned, then burst out laughing, “What are you talking about? I’m not an idiot.”

Not an idiot?

Chen Ziyi didn’t speak, frowning as he stared at her, as if trying to see through her real thoughts.

After a moment, he said quietly, “I hope so. Your mother and Xiaoyu have had it tough all these years.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t hang out with that kind of person anymore. I’ve turned over a new leaf,” Xiao Yu said.

The original owner caused a lot of trouble. The one who suffered the most all these years must have been her cheap mother. If she hadn’t been so disappointed, why would she have kicked the original owner out and then secretly sent her food?

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