Chapter 32: Xie Changzhi, why are you dressed like this?

A sudden pang of pain pierced her heart.

"Miss Yuan?" Xie Tingjun called out to her again, a hint of nervousness on his face, as if he were genuinely worried she might refuse.

But...

Cheng Yuan composed herself and offered a faint smile. "How could I refuse such a virtuous deed? As long as Mr. Xie can keep those little rascals in line, that is."

Xie Tingjun breathed a sigh of relief. A look of gratitude crossed his lean face, but without another word, he turned and walked out the door.

Cheng Yuan stood where she was, her gaze passing over the long corridor to look at Xie Changzhi.

"Aren't you coming over? I have things I need you to do."

Cheng Yuan had thought of many words to comfort him, but in the end, she let them go. No amount of empty words could change the established facts. It was better to change the subject; the present was what mattered most.

Xie Changzhi quickly adjusted his mood, lowered his eyes, and walked over with long strides.

***

"Buying eggs? And at the county market price? Yuan'er, have you caught a fever?"

When Aunt Wang heard Cheng Yuan's request, she nearly jumped out of her skin. "Yuan'er, if you love eggs so much, I'll take you to the county another day to pick out a hen that lays plenty of eggs."

Eggs were precious items; they usually saved them to sell at the county market for a few extra copper coins. No one would ever buy eggs themselves—that would be madness!

"Aunt Wang, we have a use for them, don't you worry." Cheng Yuan smiled gently. After visiting three households and settling on a price of five copper coins for three eggs, the two of them headed home with a basket full of eggs and tangerines, covered by a cloth to keep them out of sight.

When they returned, the courtyard was already bustling with noise.

"Three to a row, sit down properly. If you aren't well-behaved, I'll send you back home."

Cheng Yuan turned her head and, to her surprise, saw Hu'er among them, sitting right in the middle of the front row. There were about a dozen five- or six-year-old children, each holding a wooden stick in their hands. Xie Tingjun wrote a character on the ground for them to see, and they sat at their places, practicing it over and over.

The snow was ankle-deep, and with more falling constantly, it served as a perfect slate for practicing calligraphy.

Hearing them return, rows of little heads turned toward them.

"Good day, Sister Yuan!"

"Good day, Sister Yuan! Is that your husband next to you?"

"Sister Yuan is so pretty, and her husband is pretty too!"

They were just little ones who only knew how to praise beauty, but Cheng Yuan felt her mood lighten considerably.

"You lot keep studying, don't mind me." She smiled, though she glanced at the group of children once more before heading inside.

They were all boys.

A flicker of thought crossed her eyes. Xie Changzhi turned back, looking at her with confusion.

"It's nothing. You take these inside for me; I have to go out for a moment."

Cheng Yuan had spotted the village chief in the distance, followed by several sturdy young men carrying hoes. Xie Changzhi watched as she ran toward the tall, brawny men, talking to them with a radiant smile. He looked down at his own muscles, quickly stowed the groceries in the small kitchen, grabbed a hoe, and followed her.

"Uncle, I really appreciate the trouble." Cheng Yuan smiled at the group, causing the young men to blush deeply.

The village chief was a straightforward man. He waved his hand and turned to leave. "It's no trouble at all. I've brought the men you asked for; I have things to attend to at home, so I'll be going."

Cheng Yuan nodded and turned to the three men. "The village chief must have told you—starting today, we'll count this as a half-day. From tomorrow on, I will provide lunch, and you will be paid your due in copper coins. However, if anyone tries to slack off or play tricks, I’m not someone to be trifled with."

She spoke with a soft, sweet smile and a melodic voice. One of the men felt his heart flutter and gathered the courage to speak. "Miss Yuan..."

"Sister Yuan."

Xie Changzhi hurried to Cheng Yuan’s side, slightly out of breath. His handsome face and the massive, bulging muscles exposed on his arms made the man shut his mouth instantly.

Cheng Yuan gasped, seeing he had rolled his sleeves up to his shoulders. "Why are you dressed like this?"

Xie Changzhi hummed, flexed his arms, then let them drop. "Sister Yuan, you're going to hoe the fields, right? I'm strong, so I can help. I figured I’d be sweating and getting dirty, so I rolled them up beforehand."

He seemed to do it quite nonchalantly, making sure his biceps were on full display.

Cheng Yuan felt something was off, but she attributed it to the possibility that yesterday's fever might have fried her brain. She smiled awkwardly at the three men. "Don't mind him; my husband is just like that."

The three men kept their eyes on their noses and nodded repeatedly.

The wasteland wasn't far. Cheng Yuan led them to the spot, gave a few instructions, and headed back. It was getting late; in another hour, it would be dark, and she had to prepare the ingredients before Cheng Zhi started cooking.

There was no other way—Cheng Zhi was far too frugal! With little oil and little meat, the meals were tasteless!

***

Perhaps because everyone had been busy, there was only the sound of chopsticks clinking against bowls during dinner.

Taking advantage of the meal, Cheng Yuan laid out her plans, mainly for Cheng Zhi to hear. Her mother paused, her eyes complex, and she only asked, "Yuan'er, is there anything Mother can help you with?"

Gaining her mother's support brought joy to Cheng Yuan's heart, but she shook her head. "The journey is long. Mother, you should rest well at home; Changzhi can just accompany me."

If she didn't need the manual labor, she would have preferred to go alone—it would have been easier to move freely. Cheng Zhi was clearly hesitant, but in the end, she simply nodded. After what had happened, she had decided to support Yuan'er in everything from now on. Her Yuan'er had grown up, and she shouldn't use her own narrow perspective to say things that made her unhappy in the name of "doing what's best."

Xie Yanzhi remained focused on eating. "If we're going to the county, can we buy some things back? I want to eat..."

Cheng Yuan let it go in one ear and out the other. However, Xie Tingjun, upon hearing she intended to go into business, seemed disapproving. Yet, as the others left, he specifically remarked, "If you can't find a good path to sell your goods, go see the county magistrate and mention my name. Perhaps you'll have a chance."

Before Cheng Yuan could ask about his relationship with the magistrate, he grumbled and retreated to his room, sounding as if he held merchants in utter contempt.

Cheng Yuan felt a bit helpless and grabbed Xie Yanzhi, who was yawning and heading to his room. She gave him a tempting smile. "Yanzhi, do you want to eat cake for breakfast tomorrow?"

"Cake? Really?" Xie Yanzhi's sleepiness vanished instantly, and his eyes widened. He had assumed all the ingredients were meant for sale. Was she finally realizing that compared to his brother, his looks were more dashing and his temperament more refined?

It wasn't until a basin of egg whites larger than his face was pushed in front of him that he heard the most terrifying whisper.

"Finish whisking these before you go to sleep. Not just this basin, but this one and this one too—three basins in total."

Xie Yanzhi was shocked; Xie Yanzhi was furious; Xie Yanzhi submitted.

As tears dampened the stove, Xie Yanzhi vowed that when his father rose to power, he would make this farm woman, who treated him like a servant, pay!