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墨書 Inktalez
Who knows better than Shen Muhan what kind of person she is? That slap back then was meant to make Su Rong give up.
When Xia Muxin spoke, Su Xiuning's eyes showed a hint of chaotic panic and unease. However, in order to maintain her dignity in front of Xia Muxin, she straightened her back and puffed out her chest like a fighting rooster, boldly declaring, "Go... just go, who... is afraid of whom?"
In the end, those simple words turned into a stammering tone. At the same time, her gaze shifted towards one person among them. That person understood and left without even saying goodbye.
Watching that person leave, Xia Muxin couldn't help but feel a headache coming on. Was that person going to fetch reinforcements?
Who could it be?
Old Immortal? Su Rong? Or...
But she didn't want to delay any longer. Ignoring Su Xiuning and the others, she got into the carriage under Ming Da's protection and left amidst their glaring stares.
Yan Zhouwan didn't seem to be in good spirits throughout the journey. She looked listless, barely ate a few bites, and didn’t engage in conversation. Most of the time, she kept her eyes closed to rest. Xia Muxin shook her head at her but didn’t know what to say, so she remained silent. By evening, they finally arrived at their destination. Shen Muhan had arrived early at the bridgehead to greet them. Upon seeing Xia Muxin, he smiled and reached out to embrace her as she got off the carriage but was rejected by Xia Muxin. She gave him a look, and he then noticed that Yan Zhouwan was still dozing inside the carriage. Not seeing Shen Muqing made his brow furrow tighter. He could only step back and watch as Xia Muxin woke Yan Zhouwan before jumping down from the carriage herself.
"You must be tired from the journey. Are you hungry? I've had people prepare food at the inn," Shen Muhan said softly as soon as Xia Muxin stepped down from the carriage.
Xia Muxin smiled gently at him, soothingly patting the back of his hand before turning to ask Yan Zhouwan:
"Yan Zhouwan, this place is much more bustling than Zhushan County. Shall we go eat first and then take a stroll?"
She was unsure if Yan Zhouwan was still upset about her calling him Zhou Zhou that day, but she spoke in a somewhat conciliatory tone. Seeing Xia Muxin being so humble, Shen Muhan felt a pang of discomfort in his heart. He cherished her dearly and couldn't bear to scold her, yet now she was being treated this way by two others. Finally, unable to hold back, he approached Ming Da and whispered something in his ear. Without even having a sip of water after a long day of travel, Ming Da turned around and headed back.
Xia Muxin looked at Shen Muhan in confusion, but he just shrugged innocently and led the two of them to the restaurant.
Workers were setting up tents near the supermarket, while Shen Muhan had reserved two private rooms in the restaurant for Xia Muxin and the others upon their arrival. After they washed their hands and faces, they went to the main hall to eat.
Yan Zhouwan followed Xia Muxin like a puppet, doing whatever she did. When Xia Muxin pulled her into the main hall and sat them at a table, dishes were served quickly. Shen Muhan began to urge Xia Muxin to eat, but she insisted on encouraging Yan Zhouwan to eat instead.
Several times, words that were on the tip of his tongue were swallowed back down. The meal was completed under an awkward atmosphere. Soon after, Yan Zhouwan excused herself, claiming fatigue, and retreated into her room without coming out again. Shen Muhan instructed one of his men to stay hidden for protection before leading the sullen-faced Xia Muxin out of the restaurant.
"You've lost weight in just a few days," he said.
With Shen Muhan's comforting presence, Xia Muxin's mood gradually improved. She reached out to smooth away the fatigue etched on his brow and said with concern.
At the same time, she noticed that the temperature here was much higher than in Zhushan County. Even though it was already evening, it remained scorching hot with not even a hint of cool breeze. She also observed that the buildings here were far more exquisite than those in Zhushan County; they were independent houses with several stories made from Azure Brick. They didn't look as good as her Fire Brick houses back home. It was no wonder there were so many bricks being laid recently; perhaps it was also due to the dense construction blocking any refreshing winds. Having grown accustomed to the clear waters and lush mountains back home, she found it somewhat uncomfortable here.
"I miss you," Shen Muhan said tightly gripping her hand and whispering mischievously in her ear.
It was currently the season when autumn's heat prevailed—the hottest time of the year. He had been busy every day between the construction site and the new Workshop, which meant he often missed meals and had grown accustomed to home-cooked food. Even though they were dining at a high-end restaurant here, nothing tasted right to him. After several days of this routine, he had become darker and thinner, but perhaps that was good; it made his wife worry for him.
Xia Muxin felt a blush creep across her face as she shyly glanced at him a few times before running towards a nearby stall.
"Did you find something you like? How about we check out that jewelry store over there?"
Shen Muhan followed closely behind her, watching as she crouched down to select from a dazzling array of trinkets. He leaned closer and softly spoke in her ear.
In truth, Xia Muxin had many such pieces of jewelry. When they got married, Shen Muhan's dowry alone could have filled an entire jewelry store. Yet, she only brought a few items with her. However, Shen Muhan knew that she loved collecting these things, regardless of their authenticity or price. Later, he learned that she simply enjoyed watching those little videos showcasing them, satisfying her own visual appetite.
The vendor stared at Shen Muhan with wide eyes. After years of setting up shop, he had never seen such a handsome man before; he completely forgot to greet customers and stood there dumbfounded, gazing at the two of them.
While Xia Muxin might not be the most stunning beauty in the crowd, she was certainly charming. Her bright, clear eyes sparkled as she spoke and laughed like the moon in the sky. She exuded an innate aura that drew people in, making it hard for anyone to look away.
Watching this delightful couple made one forget where they were.
Xia Muxin didn’t notice the vendor's strange behavior as she picked out several cute little accessories. Shen Muhan quickly paid for them, and the two of them left hand in hand.
"Husband, you know, even prosperity has its downsides. Look at this Tea County; everywhere you see people dressed in fine clothes. Even a maid here is better dressed than the young ladies from Zhushan County. But the environment is poor; it’s neither warm in winter nor cool in summer. The only greenery is the tea mountains; everything else is tightly packed buildings and shops. And... it all reeks of copper."
The vendor they just encountered was probably among the lowest class here; even the taverns in the inns held a higher status than him. Moreover, the jewelry here was cheaper compared to Zhushan County, yet its quality was not inferior.
Initially, they chose this place because it was the wealthiest county in Tianli Kingdom to establish their supermarket. When they first arrived, it was merely to assess the terrain in haste. But now that they were out exploring, it felt entirely different. The people here seemed very indifferent—perhaps even extremely so—and looked down on others.
"The law of the jungle prevails; otherwise, Tea County wouldn’t be as prosperous as it is today."
Things often unfold this way: you desire to gain something, yet you must lose something in return. Take Tea County, for instance. It is the wealthiest county, but also the most inhumane one. Every household possesses a sufficiently large tea garden, and their tea is sold throughout the Tianli Kingdom. Moreover, nearly every family owns a shop of their own. In this world, money and power are the most sought-after pursuits, and the locals here are generally affluent. As the saying goes, money can make even ghosts push a millstone; who would fear that power does not align with them?
Over time, this naturally cultivates a sense of superiority. Those vendors who set up stalls are either pushed down by others or have come from outside to make a living.
As for Shen Muhan, she had long grown accustomed to such an environment. At this moment, Xia Muxin felt somewhat out of place.
However, this was quite similar to modern society. She couldn't help but shake her head and smile lightly, gathering her thoughts and choosing not to look at the various shops anymore. Instead, she asked Shen Muhan to take her to the supermarket.
After about fifteen minutes of walking, they arrived at their destination. Fortunately, Shen Muhan had chosen a location that was not in the center of the county but rather towards the east. This area was relatively quieter, and standing at the entrance, they could see a patch of green not far away. According to Xia Muxin, as long as your goods are good, location is secondary. Besides, in Tea County, her supermarket was the first of its kind and could be considered the largest and most unique building here; there was no worry about attracting customers.
When they arrived, everyone had just finished work and was preparing to eat. Seeing their employer arrive, they hurried over to greet them.
Xia Muxin nodded at everyone and urged them to go eat first. They happily complied.
The cooking was done by several workers' wives. Their children were old enough to take care of themselves. The men often worked away from home for long periods; those with good relationships would accompany them to help wash clothes and mend things when they were tired or worn out. Some skilled ones would even embroider items to sell at the market, saving a few coins here and there to supplement household expenses or buy necessities for their children. Occasionally, they would secretly buy some treats for their husbands since all the money earned by these men had to be given to their in-laws.
Here, Xia Muxin also paid a wage and hired them to cook and manage household chores. After all, there were dozens of people involved; preparing meals for everyone took considerable time, and each person took care of their own hygiene.
After all, this was a feudal ancient society where rumors could spread if anyone knew which wife was traveling with another man, potentially leading to dire consequences.
- End of Chapter -
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