"Lady, it's time to get up."
"Lady, it's daylight. Didn't you say you wanted to go into town today?"
"Lady, lady...?"
A rich, magnetic voice gently echoed in her ear, carrying a bit of warmth. Long Yue felt as if a brush was softly stroking her earlobe, causing her whole body to itch.
She quickly opened her eyes. What she saw was a handsome face, wearing a satisfied smile and an indescribable tenderness. Seeing that she was awake, he smiled again, extended his arm calmly, and took a small blue cloth shirt from the side. He said slowly, "Lady, let me help you dress."
Long Yue, "..."
She glared fiercely at the man in front of her, almost biting her silver teeth in anger. In her previous lifetime, she divorced him while still a virgin, yet last night...
This damned man casually set up some candles to create an atmosphere and whispered some sweet words close to her ear. After several rounds of coaxing, he succeeded and troubled her for over an hour!
It's unbelievable. She had been reborn, but could this man have been reborn too? Otherwise, how could his character change so much?
Shameless!
She glanced at him sideways, her cheeks puffed out with anger, but said nothing. The man just smiled, his eyebrows showing not only tenderness but also a bit of mischief. He slowly dressed himself and then carefully took away a hint of plum blossom red.
"Bastard!"
Watching his departing back disappear, Long Yue finally couldn't help but curse and angrily pounded the bedding.
But once her feet touched the ground, her heart suddenly became clear.
Yes, she had been reborn and wanted to live well with him. But those unfounded and impure rumors were like a thorn between them.
Resolving that thorn is actually quite simple.
"I was the one who was confused."
She lightly tapped her head, showing a charming smile.
After a while, Li Qingmu came in with water and a towel to help her freshen up.
Today, he seemed even more spirited than usual, as if he had taken ten doses of a powerful tonic. Shouldn't a night's toil have exhausted him?
Long Yue looked bewildered, letting him help her wash.
Once everything was set, Li Qingmu smiled and said, "Lady, you were tired last night. How about we go to the town and eat today? The snacks there are excellent, like soup cakes, dumplings, and..."
"I want to eat steamed buns!"
Long Yue interrupted the man's rambling moodily, then went out and called her little brother-in-law. She placed the Lingzhi she had collected yesterday in a small basket, covered with coarse burlap. Long Yue carried the basket, her little brother-in-law carried a small basket of herbs, and Li Qingmu carried a book basket as they set off.
Mrs. Zhang leaned against the door frame, watching the three gradually walk away, and spat.
...
Long Yue and the group had to catch a bull cart to go to town, but since Li Qingmu was a scholar, villagers showed some respect, making it not difficult to borrow a cart.
However, many people went to town for market day today, and the bull cart was packed with people. Li Qingmu looked at the crowded cart, frowning unhappily.
His wife was delicate, and wouldn't it be inappropriate to squeeze into a bull cart with so many people?
Besides, he didn't like his wife having any contact with strange men.
He wasn't sure if this was a fault or if he was just being petty.
Just then, Chai Tieniu came driving another bull cart.
Yesterday, he hunted a large python, skinned it, and got many valuable items. Today, he was heading to town to sell them, and Long Yue thought she could hitch a ride.
But Li Qingmu glanced at Chai Tieniu and said coolly, "You sit inside for a while, and I'll sit outside."
Long Yue was bewildered. What was wrong with this man this morning? Did even the order of seating in a cart have to be dictated by him?
Before she had time to figure it out, she found herself being carried onto the bull cart by him.
Long Yue: "..."
After witnessing his shamelessness and ruthlessness last night, Long Yue was no longer surprised by his actions.
She sat expressionless inside the cart while the man beside her combed through her wind-tousled hair, and they entered the town.
The group separated at the city gate, agreeing to meet there before noon.
"Third sister-in-law, let's go, let's go sell the herbs!"
As soon as they got off the bull cart, Li Qingqiu jumped around like a monkey, thrilled at the thought of exchanging money for candy skewers later.
Li Qingmu's gaze lingered on his brother holding his wife's hand. He stepped forward subtly to separate them and conveniently took the basket, "The road ahead turns left from here. Lady, I need to go to Zui Mo Pavilion to sell paintings, it's the same direction, let's go together."
Long Yue didn't realize the man was being petty, even jealous of his own brother. She thought it would be easier if he helped carry the basket, and agreed.
Zui Mo Pavilion was still a distance away, so their first stop was a pharmacy: Jishi Hall.
Once inside, a young servant approached and asked if they were here for treatment or medicine. Long Yue pointed to the basket on Li Qingmu's back, "To sell herbs, do you accept them here?"
"Miss, we have specific suppliers for the herbs we collect..."
The servant glanced at the Plantain and other herbs in the basket, looking slightly embarrassed. Without saying much, Long Yue removed the top layer to reveal a stack of Lingzhi below.
The servant's eyes instantly lit up, and he smiled, "Miss, please come this way."
The servant led the three into a back room where sat a middle-aged man with a goatee, his hair tied in a Taoist bun, draped in a wide-sleeve robe. If he had a horsetail whisk, he would truly resemble a worldly master.
"Miss, this is our manager, Qin. You can discuss any sale with him."
"Alright, greetings, Manager Qin." Long Yue gave him a slight smile, then took Li Qingmu's basket and placed it on the table, "I have some Lingzhi I'd like to sell; do you accept them?"
These were all courteous words. The real negotiation was in the bargaining that followed. Manager Qin got up, eagerly eyeing the Lingzhi in the basket, his eyes suddenly turning red with greed.
"Ahem, Miss, do you want to sell all these Lingzhi?"
"Yes, do you accept them?"
"Yes, we accept everything, just about the price..."
He squinted, making his eyes seem small, while Long Yue smiled, "What's the price?"
"Miss, to be honest, these Lingzhi are freshly picked and still have moisture, making them heavier. Our pharmacy pays ten cents per tael..."
Upon hearing this, Li Qingmu immediately grabbed the basket and pulled Long Yue to leave.
Long Yue was taken aback and glanced at the man beside her, finally realizing he had been sharp all along. In her previous life, her disregard made her think he was useless.
"Hey, young sir, don't go, miss, don't leave, we can still negotiate the price. I haven't finished..."
Manager Qin hadn't expected this couple to be so straightforward. They simply walked away without uttering a word if the price wasn't right, making him suddenly anxious as he hurried to chase after them.
Long Yue sneered. Although the manager seemed nice, he was actually sly, thinking he could bully honest people? Did he believe the couple knew nothing about Lingzhi prices?
In her past life, she had worked in a pharmacy. Perhaps she didn't know other herbs, but she was familiar with Lingzhi, ginseng, and deer antler.
Seeing Long Yue about to leave without another word, Manager Qin quickly concocted a clumsy excuse, though he really was someone who could read the room.