The Favorite of the Sick and Weak Lady - Chapter 29

“This…” The shopkeeper’s face showed some hesitation.

Without waiting for the shopkeeper to speak, “If the shopkeeper thinks it’s unreasonable, I can go ask another place. After all, this is the first batch of this rice, and I’m only giving this price because I see the shopkeeper as an honest person. I definitely won’t offer this price to anyone else.” Xiao Yu didn’t seem to care and began to tie the sack closed.

“Wait.” Go find another place?

How could he let that happen? His grain store was the top one in Linyang County; it couldn’t be beaten by another.

The shopkeeper stopped her hand as she was about to tie the sack.

“Hey~, don’t be so hasty, young master. I never said no, did I?” He wasn’t even given a chance to speak. She wouldn’t let him haggle, and now she wouldn’t even let him finish his sentence.

This white rice was truly tempting.

Although selling it at 12 wen meant he’d make a little less profit, if he secured this rice, he’d be the first in Linyang City to have it. What did it matter if he raised the price by two wen? With such good rice, he was guaranteed to make a profit.

The shopkeeper gritted his teeth and said readily, “Fine, 12 wen it is. But you can only sell this rice to me.”

Xiao Yu nodded with a smile, “That’s natural. Besides this, I have some more at home…”

“Send it all over.” The shopkeeper waved his hand. An assistant came over, lifted the rice sack, and weighed it.

“Shopkeeper, it’s a hundred catties in total,” the assistant said.

The shopkeeper walked to the counter, took 1,200 wen from a drawer, and handed it to Xiao Yu. “I’ll take the rest, too. When can you bring it over, young master?”

Xiao Yu thought for a moment. There was still a lot left. She could probably make it if she rushed tomorrow, but she didn’t want to. Although her body had gotten stronger with recent training, she couldn’t keep pushing herself so hard. There was plenty of time.

Besides, if she handed over the rice too easily, what if the shopkeeper tried to lower the price again?

“I’ll come again in two days,” Xiao Yu said.

A hint of disappointment flashed across the shopkeeper’s face, but he quickly smiled and said, “Alright, then in two days. But you must promise me, young master, that you’ll only sell to me in Linyang County.”

“Of course,” Xiao Yu agreed without hesitation. She understood the principle that it was hard to get by without connections or a backer when you first arrive in a place, so it was better to use someone else’s strength.

With the rice sold, Xiao Yu didn’t linger. She had finally come out with the young miss and didn’t want to spend all her time at the grain store. Leading Song Luoning out of the store, she began to worry about the young miss’s health, weighing her thoughts carefully.

“My lady, how are you feeling now?”

“Hm?” Xiao Yu’s voice reached her, and Song Luoning snapped out of her daze. She paused, then looked up at her and smiled softly, “Luoning is fine. My husband doesn’t need to worry.”

She lowered her gaze, and a complicated emotion welled up in her eyes. Listening to their conversation, it seemed they wanted to monopolize the white rice. If that was the case, the price of white rice would likely not be low in the future, and ordinary people still wouldn’t be able to afford it.

This rogue really knew how to cause trouble.

Song Luoning sighed softly, “Husband, do you remember the teahouse from last time? Luoning would like to go sit there.”

Why that place again? Xiao Yu subconsciously pouted. The storyteller wasn’t even as good as she was. If the young miss wanted to listen, couldn’t she just tell her a story herself?

They had finally come to town, and she wanted to take the young miss sightseeing and buy her some things. Who knew the young miss would want to go listen to stories again? How much did the young miss love listening to stories?

It seemed she would have to tell the young miss more stories herself from now on.

Xiao Yu helped Song Luoning into the carriage, and her hand touched the mutton-fat jade again. A wave of joy washed over her. She couldn’t help but gently squeeze it, and her heart instantly fluttered. She no longer had any objections. If the young miss liked going there, a little sit-down was fine.

“It’s good to go listen. It’s crowded and lively there,” Xiao Yu said.

Song Luoning’s brow furrowed slightly. Her gaze fell on their clasped hands. Her expression froze for a moment, and a faint blush appeared on her face. She wanted to pull her hand back, but in the end, she suppressed the impulse and got into the carriage.

Xiao Yu reluctantly let go of her hand and drove the carriage to the teahouse they had visited before. The entrance was still crowded with people. Xiao Yu led Song Luoning to the second floor. The storyteller was the same one as before, but the story had changed. It wasn’t very interesting, though.

But if the young miss liked it, she would accompany her to listen. She’d just treat it as a way to pass the time.

Around noon, Song Luoning picked up her teacup and took a sip. “Husband.”

“Hmm.” Xiao Yu turned her head, a little nervous. “Is something wrong? Are you not feeling well?”

She was already a little tired from sitting. Xiao Yu’s heart ached. She took Song Luoning’s hand and stared at her, unblinking.

“…” Song Luoning took a breath, looked away, shook her head, and said in a calm voice, “It’s fine. It’s getting late, and we should head back soon. Husband, could you please help Luoning buy a few more storybooks? I’ve read most of the ones we have at home.”

Just buy storybooks?

Xiao Yu’s concern persisted, and she asked again, “Are you really okay?”

Song Luoning replied, “I’m fine.”

Xiao Yu glanced out the window. The sun was high; it must be close to noon. Normally, the young miss would have already had her meal by this time. She worried the young miss was hungry.

She turned back and said softly, “My lady, why don’t we eat something first? I’ll go buy the books afterward.”

Song Luoning considered for a moment, stood up, and said, “Alright, let’s go eat first.”

She had almost forgotten that she hadn’t done anything and wasn’t hungry, but the rogue had been busy all morning. She must be hungry now. Her own matter could wait.

Seeing Song Luoning agree, Xiao Yu stepped forward and, with an air of complete naturalness, took Song Luoning’s hand. “My lady, I’ll help you down the stairs.”

Knowing the young miss was easily embarrassed, she didn’t dare to openly play with her hand, but her thumb gently stroked the mutton-fat jade.

Song Luoning’s body stiffened. Her gaze instinctively swept the surroundings. This person was getting more and more out of line. She dared to do such a thing in broad daylight. A gasp caught in her throat. She should have let her starve.

Song Luoning tried to pull her hand away, but it was held even more tightly.

“Husband, Luoning can walk on her own,” Song Luoning said in a low voice.

“Hmm?” The surrounding noise was too loud, and Xiao Yu didn’t hear clearly.

Song Luoning’s breath hitched.

Feigning ignorance? She even dared to pretend she didn’t hear. Song Luoning was secretly furious.

Seeing that she wasn’t speaking, Xiao Yu asked again, “My lady, what did you just say?”

Song Luoning bit the soft flesh inside her lip, feeling both shame and anger, yet unable to show it. Her lips were a tight line, and she didn’t want to say another word. All she wanted was to get away from here as fast as possible.

“My lady, slow down. Don’t let yourself get pushed around.” Xiao Yu held one hand while her other hand naturally moved to shield Song Luoning as they left the teahouse.

Once outside, Song Luoning let out a long sigh of relief. “It was really too crowded inside, and the story was just so-so. If my lady wants to listen, I can tell you stories every day. All right, I heard last time that the Mingpin Tower is the biggest restaurant in the county. How about we go eat there?”

Song Luoning nodded, and her expression softened a bit. She got into the carriage.

Her heart was in turmoil. The rogue’s intentions were becoming increasingly obvious. Before, she was more reserved, but now she was so open. And what were her own feelings towards her? Why did she tolerate her time and time again? She couldn’t figure it out, but…

It was still so infuriating.

Xiao Yu drove the carriage all the way to the Mingpin Tower. It was mealtime, and the first floor was full. Xiao Yu requested a private room on the second floor and ordered a few dishes according to Song Luoning’s taste.

Song Luoning wasn’t very hungry and ate slowly. To her surprise, Xiao Yu finished first.

Xiao Yu wiped her mouth with satisfaction. It was indeed the largest restaurant in Linyang County; the food tasted great. Not only did she like it, but it seemed the young miss did too.

This was the first time she had seen the young miss eat slower than herself.

“My lady, you can eat slowly. The bookstore is nearby. I’ll go pick out some storybooks for you and be right back.” Xiao Yu stood up and stretched. She was a little too full, and her stomach felt bloated. It was only a short walk, so it was better to go on foot than by carriage; she could digest a bit. The young miss could rest here and wait for her after she finished eating.

Song Luoning put down her chopsticks, picked up her teacup, and took a sip. She said softly, “Thank you, husband. Could you please pick out a few extra books for Luoning?”

“Mmm.” Xiao Yu smiled, got ready to leave, and didn’t forget to remind her, “My lady, I’ll be back as fast as I can.”

Stepping out of the private room, she went downstairs and left the Mingpin Tower. The bookstore was just a street away to the right. Xiao Yu walked into the bookstore. There were few people at noon. The store was empty except for a shopkeeper who was dozing off, propping his head on his hand. He glanced at her and then started to doze again.

Xiao Yu had wanted to ask him where the new storybooks were, but it looked like she would have to find them herself.

The books in the store were neatly arranged. On the left were ancient texts and travelogues, which few people bought, so they were relatively tidy. Xiao Yu found a book called The Topography of Baisheng in there, which she would use for future travel.

Further on were the various books needed for the Baisheng imperial exams. This section was a bit messy. Xiao Yu wasn’t interested in them. To the right were the storybooks, which were in a complete jumble from being read so often.

She couldn’t tell much just by looking at the titles. Xiao Yu opened them and skimmed through. It took about a quarter of an hour for her to choose twenty books.

Satisfied, she paid and left the bookstore. Worried that the young miss might be waiting impatiently, she quickened her pace. But just as she entered the Mingpin Tower, she collided with someone. Before she could even see who it was, their figure disappeared through the entrance.

“…”

Who was that? So rude.

But… their back looked a little familiar.

Xiao Yu rubbed her sore shoulder, shook it up and down, and went up to the second floor. She pushed open the private room door and called out, “My lady.”

Hearing her, Song Luoning looked up and saw that the person’s cheeks were flushed, beads of sweat were on her nose, and she was breathing heavily.

“Why did you run so fast?” Song Luoning took out a handkerchief and stood up to wipe the sweat from her face. Xiao Yu’s cheeks turned red. She held Song Luoning’s hand and the handkerchief against her own face. The young miss’s faint, clean scent wafted into her nose.

Xiao Yu’s heart stirred. She subconsciously licked her lips.

Song Luoning hadn’t expected her to hold her hand. She paused, suppressed the emotions welling up in her heart, and put on her usual gentle smile. “Don’t do that again. I won’t go anywhere; I’ll be right here.”

“I was worried you’d be waiting impatiently,” Xiao Yu said honestly.

Song Luoning’s heart skipped a beat. She stared at Xiao Yu’s smiling peach blossom eyes—sincere and frank. For a moment, her heart was filled with a mix of emotions.

She…

Forget it. If she wanted to hold it, let her.

“My lady, I bumped into someone just now when I came in. They felt quite familiar,” Xiao Yu said thoughtfully.

Song Luoning’s palm tightened. She looked up at Xiao Yu.

She…

Song Luoning’s heart rose to her throat. She opened her mouth, but then she heard Xiao Yu continue, “But I didn’t get a good look. That person was so fast. My shoulder still hurts from the collision.” Xiao Yu changed her grip to hold Song Luoning’s hand and gently stroked it. Her voice was playful, with a hint of a whine.

Song Luoning looked into her eyes and felt a wave of relief. She took a breath and asked softly, “Did it hurt a lot?”

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