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墨書 Inktalez
Who made her so protective all the time?
"I heard the Ouyang Family is no longer lowering their prices, and they aren't even selling Orchid Beans anymore."
Shen Muhan followed Xia Muxin into the kitchen and saw her adding salt to the cleaned and dried garlic. He spoke in a low voice.
The garlic was still whole, not broken into cloves; it had only been peeled of its outer impurities and dried. Yan Zhouwan and the others had never done this before, so they relied entirely on Xia Muxin's guidance. Ermiao had been experiencing severe morning sickness lately, so she was resting indoors. When Xia Jihua noticed Shen Muhan had entered, he exchanged glances with Yan Zhouwan, and they both left the kitchen to give space to Xia Muxin and Shen Muhan.
After nodding to the two of them, Shen Muhan squatted down beside Xia Muxin and began arranging the cleaned jars for her use.
As for his question, Xia Muxin already knew about it from the day before when her brother returned and told her. However, she had lost interest in Orchid Beans by now. Besides, they were just a common snack; no one would love them forever, nor would anyone eat them every day out of boredom.
She placed a salted garlic clove into a jar, glanced at Shen Muhan, and said, "It's been several months; he's bound to be losing money. Moreover, without me competing with him, he naturally finds it uninteresting. This day was bound to come."
This was pure garlic, not very large but full of aroma. The wine jar wasn't big either; one jar could hold about twenty cloves.
"Uncle, bring a basin of water, then cover this lid on top and add water until it covers the mouth of the jar," Xia Muxin instructed quickly as she filled the jar.
Shen Muhan promptly followed her instructions with speed, a satisfied smile tugging at his lips.
"What do you plan to do with the remaining Fava Beans?"
There were still over eight thousand pounds of Fava Beans at home. If they weren't selling Orchid Beans anymore, it would be difficult to sell them off. Shen Muhan understood Xia Muxin's personality; anything she bought with her own money was definitely not meant to just sit there. If she needed help, he wanted to assist her in resolving it.
"Don't worry, this Fava Bean can be used for more than just Orchid Bean; there are plenty of ways to use it."
Xia Muxin said playfully, raising an eyebrow at him.
Seeing her like this, Shen Muhan felt reassured. He had been worried that this girl might feel sad, but sometimes he felt utterly useless. At least, he couldn't help her in this regard; thinking about it made him feel a bit uncomfortable.
"Uncle, let's go get some lime this afternoon."
Xia Muxin calculated the days in her mind and then spoke to Shen Muhan.
Lime was not easy to come by in this era, but with him around, it would be a simple matter.
"Do these jars need to be buried in lime?"
Shen Muhan asked as he looked at the delicate little wine jars, furrowing his brow.
Xia Muxin chuckled lightly.
"No, the Duanwu Festival is just two months away. I plan to make Century Egg and Salted Egg."
"......"
Century Egg? Salted Egg? What are those?
"Muxin, do you think I'm useless? I can't help at all in this area..."
For the first time, Shen Muhan worried about himself, feeling weak. Xia Muxin was like a mystery he tried to unravel day by day, but the deeper he delved, the more impossible it seemed to solve. On the battlefield, he could take on thousands alone, but here in the fields, aside from picking vegetables and fishing, he felt completely out of his depth.
"Uncle, everyone has different responsibilities in life. If we were all capable of everything, wouldn't that turn the world upside down? Besides, you are the strongest warrior in the hearts of the people, a general and the most trusted person by the emperor. Where does your sense of uselessness come from?"
Xia Muxin was momentarily taken aback by his words, but soon her heart felt as sweet as if it had been filled with honey, and it was indeed the truth.
Perhaps, after he revealed his identity in the village, everyone would mock her, saying that a sparrow had flown up to become a phoenix, and she would face the world's criticism. But she liked it; after all, people's mouths were on their own faces, and she couldn't control that. However, Shen Muhan had already anticipated this step, so he humbly lowered his own status to match hers. He treated his family even better than they treated him. With this unique affection, she felt completely satisfied.
Shen Muhan did not expect her to say such a thing. His gaze was fixed on her delicate face, and the smile at the corners of his mouth gradually widened.
After a whole morning of work, Xia Muxin had filled fifty jars. Shen Muhan stayed by her side the entire time, sealing the jars until Xia Jihua came in to prepare lunch, and only then did they rise to leave.
As soon as they stepped outside, Aunt Xia approached them with a strange expression. Upon seeing Xia Muxin, she fidgeted, wanting to say something but hesitating.
"Mother, what's wrong?"
Xia Muxin immediately noticed her odd behavior and gently asked.
"Muxin... I heard that Color Lotus's child was born prematurely and didn't survive. Mother wants to go see her."
After all, she was a mother. The news had spread early in the day. She had just come from Aunt Liu's house when she heard about it. At this moment, she felt sympathy; when she returned earlier, she had encountered the Zhou Family, who all acted as if nothing had happened. She knew Feng San Niang's character well enough to understand why she felt this way.
They said that pregnancy made one foolish for three years; perhaps her mother was like that. Xia Muxin shook her head and said:
"Mother, if you go there now, others will think you're trying to climb the social ladder. After all, Feng Liulang is the Emperor's appointed Top Scholar. Given what happened between our families before, aren't you just pushing your daughter into a fire pit?"
Upon hearing Xia Muxin's words, Aunt Xia slapped her forehead in realization. Thankfully, she had come to ask first; otherwise, she might have truly harmed her daughter.
"Look at me; I'm getting old and confused!"
"......"
After lunch, Shen Muhan took Xia Muxin out.
“Are you afraid of me? Or do I look like a monster ready to devour you?”
For several days now, Shen Muqing had reached her limit with the disheveled Yan Zhouwan. Every time she looked at him with those pitiful, admiring eyes, he would catch her gaze, only for her to immediately look away. He pondered for days, convinced that he did not recognize such a woman.
Moreover, the faint scars on her face seemed to conceal some painful past.
Of course, he had no intention of caring for such a woman; he merely despised the way she looked at him with those lecherous eyes from behind. Today, he decided to confront her directly.
After Xia Muxin and the others finished their meal, they went out to attend to business. Xia Jihua was busy cleaning up the dishes while she moved dozens of jars into the storage room, arranging them one by one. Just as she turned around after finishing, she saw Shen Muqing leaning against the door, his gaze filled with an unfathomable depth and disdain that she could not comprehend.
Yan Zhouwan felt a bit flustered. Her watery eyes remained fixed on him, and his strikingly handsome features made her heart tighten slightly. After a moment's pause, she feigned calmness and said, “Shen Er Ye said that commoners don’t understand much. If there’s nothing else, please don’t block the doorway like a gatekeeper; you’re in the way of a commoner.”
She knew that after that year, there was an insurmountable boundary between them. This boundary made her feel utterly ashamed and unworthy of the elegant youth he once was. Although they were no longer who they used to be, memories of their vows still stirred her heart in the dead of night.
She never expected to encounter him again, let alone in this manner. Yet she remembered him while he had forgotten her.
At this moment, hearing his distant and cold words pierced her heart sharply. She knew it was all just wishful thinking, yet she still longed for just one more glance—any glimpse would bring her satisfaction.
Shen Muqing snorted softly through his nose and walked out of the courtyard.
“Zhou Zhou, where are you? Can I… still find you?”
As he turned away, his palm clenched around a small dagger—not made of metal but from an elephant's tusk. It was the only weapon she had used to save him back then, and he had kept it all this time.
In less than a month’s time, it had become all his memories and also his most cherished ones.
She can make Wowo Bread, sing Nursery Rhymes, sew clothes for him, and feed him. Even though he has a terrible temper when he's injured, she remains patiently devoted.
He remembers that she has a large red mole on her neck, in the same spot as the scar on Yan Zhouwan's neck. Her name is Zhou Zhou, and she went to Grandma's House to visit relatives. However, he has searched everywhere but cannot find any information about her...
Yan Zhouwan looks at that upright figure and steady pace, and tears flow down his cheeks, which he quickly wipes away.
Yan Zhouwan, you live only for hatred; you have no right to talk about love, nor do you have the right to stand behind that remarkable young man.
His fingers suddenly touch the scar on his neck, recalling the last conversation they had before parting.
"Your name is Zhou Zhou. The red mole on your neck is the most noticeable. In a crowd, I can recognize you at a glance. You must wait for me; I will definitely come back to find you and then marry you. Remember, my name is Shen Muqing."
In a crowd, I can recognize you at a glance...
Heh heh...
The two hundred chapters were blocked; it was changed twice and very frustrating...
- End of Chapter -
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