The Favorite of the Sick and Weak Lady - Chapter 34

Just as she arrived at the front gate and was about to push the door, she heard a man’s voice from inside. The smile on Xiao Yu’s face instantly froze.

Her fingers clenched tightly together. Feeling wronged, she took a deep breath and pushed the courtyard door open. The two people standing in the yard looked over at her at the same time.

It was indeed that man from next door.

Furious, Xiao Yu glared at Song Luoning, then turned around with a sullen face to drive the oxcart into the side yard and tie it up.

Her eyes were fixed on the arched doorway. After a brief hesitation, she slowed her pace and crept closer, stopping with her back against the wall. Song Luoning’s voice wasn’t loud, but Xiao Yu still heard her say to the man, “Then I’ll have to trouble you to make a trip, Brother Chen. Please take this.”

What did Song Luoning want him to do? And what was she asking him to take?

Anxious, Xiao Yu no longer cared if she’d be discovered and peeked her head out. She saw Song Luoning hand the man one tael of silver. The man humbly declined at first, then smiled sheepishly at Song Luoning, and without further hesitation, accepted the silver and left.

“…”

That smile was so jarring to Xiao Yu’s eyes. Heh~

Song Luoning was truly generous. What had he done for her to get so much at once? Xiao Yu felt a sour taste in her heart.

A sense of frustration churned within her. Xiao Yu gritted her teeth and comforted herself. What’s one tael? Song Luoning had given her a 1,000-tael silver note before. How could a mere one tael of silver possibly compare?

At that moment, Song Luoning also noticed her. The corners of her lips curved into a smile, and she walked over, saying, “You must be tired today. Why does my husband look so upset?”

Xiao Yu choked. Her eyes were fixed on Song Luoning, and she felt a silent surge of anger. At a time like this, shouldn’t Song Luoning explain herself?

“What’s wrong?” Song Luoning was already standing in front of Xiao Yu. Her hands were clasped over her abdomen, and her fingertips subtly curled and then relaxed beneath her wide sleeve. “Did something happen?”

“That person just now…” Xiao Yu bit down on the soft flesh of her lip, weighing her words for a moment. Finally, she made up her mind. If she won’t say it, I’ll have to ask. “What… what’s your relationship with him? Why did you give him money?”

Her tone was filled with a sense of extreme grievance.

Song Luoning looked up, seeing her expression, and let out a silent sigh. If I let this pervert know, she’ll just make a fuss again. She’s been well-behaved for a few days, I wonder how she’ll pester me now.

However, there was nothing to hide about this matter. Song Luoning lowered her eyes, a hint of sorrow flashing within them. “I’ve been away from the capital for a while now, and I’m truly worried about my father. I don’t know how he and my brothers are doing, so I asked Brother Chen next door to help me send a letter to the postal station.”

Sending a letter?

Xiao Yu was stunned.

So the few times she’s seen him, it was all to help Song Luoning send a letter?

If it were for any other reason, it might have been okay, but this reason made her even more furious. I go to the county town every few days. Can’t I send the letter for her? Why does she have to use someone else?

“If my wife wants to send a letter home, I could have gone! Why did you have to trouble someone else?” Thinking back to the previous times, her heart tightened. Song Luoning simply didn’t trust her.

It might have been understandable before, but what about now?

They had already confirmed their relationship. Why would Song Luoning still do this?

The more Xiao Yu thought about it, the angrier she became. Her eyes couldn’t help but redden, and she had to fight back the tears.

What about the trust we talked about?

Song Luoning pursed her lips, feeling a headache coming on. She knew this would happen. Seeing Xiao Yu’s expression, her heart was in a turmoil.

“My husband is already working so hard every day. I didn’t want to trouble you with such a small matter.”

“How is it a trouble? When I go to the county town, I can just take it to the postal station for you. It’s on the way and very convenient. Plus, my wife wouldn’t have to spend any money.” Xiao Yu argued passionately. The young lady’s business is something I can handle myself. Why should I trouble others? Song Luoning’s way of thinking is completely wrong.

Song Luoning pursed her lips, speechless for a long time.

Seeing that Song Luoning seemed to have listened, the feeling of grievance in Xiao Yu’s heart dissipated. She decided to quit while she was ahead. “Last time, I saw that you liked the pastries from that shop, so I brought some more back for you. You should try them.” With that, she turned to the oxcart and took out a large bag, shaking it in front of Song Luoning.

“Also, the tables and chairs we ordered have been made. They should be delivered today. I saw a nice soft couch at his place and bought that too. If you get tired while reading in the future, you can lie down on it to rest,” Xiao Yu said.

Song Luoning nodded. Whatever she wants is fine.

Besides, having a soft couch like that would be quite nice.

Xiao Yu’s mood was bright, and she stepped forward to take Song Luoning’s hand.

Song Luoning: “…” It looks like my peaceful days are over again.

After lunch, Xiao Yu began cleaning the new house. Before long, there was a knock at the door, accompanied by a rough male voice. “Is young man Xiao Yu home? I’m Carpenter Chen.”

Hearing this, Xiao Yu put down the broom and hurried to open the courtyard gate. Outside stood a middle-aged man with a simple, honest face. He gave her a chuckle. “It’s all done. Come and take a look. Once you’ve approved, I’ll move it in for you.”

Xiao Yu walked to the oxcart and looked at it. “Why are there only these pieces? Where are the others?”

The man’s dark face creased into a smile. “I couldn’t pull that much at once. You can check these first. They’re all made with the best huanghuali wood, just as you requested.”

Xiao Yu carefully inspected the pieces. She picked up a carved lattice panel and ran her fingertips over the grain of the wood. The surface was smooth and cool. She put the panel down and pointed to the other wooden boards and posts of varying shapes and sizes, asking in confusion, “What are these for?”

The man explained, “These are for the bed. I’ll assemble it for you in a moment.” The man craned his neck to look into the courtyard. “If there are no problems, I’ll help you move them in. I still have to go back and get two more loads.”

Xiao Yu nodded and stepped aside to let him through. “I’ll help you move them.”

The man waved his hand. “No need. I’m used to this work. You just lead the way.”

Xiao Yu didn’t say anything else and walked ahead, opening the courtyard gate wide. When she saw Song Luoning come out, she went over and pulled her aside. “Come take a look in a little bit and see if we need anything else.”

“There’s an outsider here,” Song Luoning said, patting his hand.

The habit of being so handsy never seems to go away. She gets angry, but the pervert still does as she pleases.

Xiao Yu glanced at the man behind her. “I’m going to help him.”

Song Luoning nodded.

Xiao Yu quickly brought a chair over and helped her sit down, saying softly, “Wait here for a while.”

Just as she was about to say more, she heard the man ask, “Where should I put them?”

Only then did Xiao Yu notice that the man was already standing at the door of the house.

Pushing the door open led to the main hall. The east and west rooms were on either side. Xiao Yu had chosen the west room for their bedroom because it had better light and she had left a larger area for it when planning the house’s layout.

She had converted the east room into a washroom.

The two of them worked together to move the items into the room, and the man began to hammer and tap the pile of irregularly shaped wooden boards. Before long, the six-post canopy bed was mostly assembled. The bed top and railings were all made with exquisite carved openwork, and the overall structure was clever, simple, and elegant.

The soft couch was placed beneath the window, along with a small carved table. The wardrobe was of the same color and also needed to be assembled on-site. Xiao Yu couldn’t help with that part, so she hurried to the kitchen, boiled a kettle of water, and brought a bowl in to pour a drink for him.

She then watched from the side.

The next loads would be finished products, which could just be moved in and set up.

“Young man Xiao, take a look and see if this is all you need?” the middle-aged man said.

Xiao Yu smiled. “Wait a moment. I’ll have my wife take a look to see if anything is missing.” She quickly left the room and, after a moment, returned, helping Song Luoning inside.

Upon entering the main hall, Song Luoning’s eyes fell upon a full-length bookshelf. The floor in front of it was elevated on a two-inch wooden platform, on which a low platform and a short-legged writing desk were placed. One could sit on it to read and lie down on the platform to rest when tired.

A glimmer of admiration flashed in Song Luoning’s eyes.

“My wife, this is our bedroom.” Xiao Yu led her to the west room. The entire layout and furniture design were all her own ideas.

Song Luoning took a look. The bedroom’s layout was very practical, the materials were the best quality, and the style was quite exquisite. Although it couldn’t compare to the luxury of the Prime Minister’s residence, it had a unique charm of its own.

“It’s nice. It looks like nothing is missing.”

Xiao Yu raised an eyebrow, with a hint of pride. “Of course. I personally designed all of this and gave it to the carpenter to make.”

Song Luoning smiled faintly, then looked at her and asked a question, “Where is my husband’s room?”

Xiao Yu froze, blinking her eyes. No, shouldn’t they be living together? We built a new house. Does Song Luoning still want me to sleep on the ground?

What is she thinking? I’m not that foolish.

Xiao Yu decided to play dumb. She turned to the middle-aged man who was waiting nearby and said, “This is enough for now. If I need anything else, I’ll come find you.”

The man scratched his head and chuckled. “Then I’ll settle the payment. The total is two hundred taels of silver.”

“That much?” Xiao Yu was a little shocked. It was so much to hire a carpenter to make furniture in the village. He must be trying to scam me. She looked at her own pockets, knowing she couldn’t come up with that much money.

The middle-aged man said, “Building ordinary furniture doesn’t cost this much. You wanted all the best wood. If you don’t believe me, you can go and ask around. My prices are the cheapest you’ll find.”

Hearing the man say this, Xiao Yu knew she was in the wrong. She tugged on Song Luoning’s sleeve, looking pitiful. “My wife.” She blinked her eyes over and over.

Song Luoning sighed, took out a 200-tael silver note from her sleeve, and handed it to the middle-aged man.

The man took the note, glanced at Xiao Yu, and shook his head. He had thought he was a fine young man, but it turned out he was a henpecked husband.

He took the silver note, turned, and left.

With the furniture made and the house finished, Xiao Yu planned to move into the new house tonight.

“Now that we’re moving into the new house, shouldn’t my husband invite his mother over for a meal?” Song Luoning said.

“Huh?” Xiao Yu looked at Song Luoning in surprise. After a moment’s thought, she realized there was a similar custom in her world, and she hadn’t expected it to be the same here. Xiao Yu squeezed Song Luoning’s hand, leaning closer and saying affectionately, “Thank you for the reminder, my wife. I’ll go right now.”

Song Luoning glared at her.

Xiao Yu laughed ingratiatingly. “Don’t be angry, my wife. I’ll go now.” With that, she started to walk out.

“Wait.” Song Luoning grabbed her sleeve. “Remember to buy some groceries on your way back.” She took two taels of silver and placed it in his hand.

“My wife is always so thoughtful.” Xiao Yu smiled as she looked at her wife, taking her hand and kissing it.

Song Luoning’s body stiffened, but she quickly recovered. She had grown so used to his antics that she was immune to them now. A faint blush appeared on her cheeks, and she glared at him again.

Xiao Yu chuckled foolishly, took the money, and left the house. She immediately ran into Chen Ziyi, who was hurrying over.

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