No matter how hard he tried, Ran's image still kept surfacing in his mind. Simeon let out an irritated sigh and turned his head to look at Ran, who had almost curled herself into a ball.
The cold moonlight spilled in through the window lattice. Even though he couldn't see Ran's sleeping face clearly, the faint fragrance filling the air calmed his restless heart. He sat there until the sky began to brighten.
Simeon rubbed his aching head, glanced at Ran, who was still sound asleep, then quietly got up and left the room. "Simeon? Why are you up so early today?" The village chief had just woken up and heard some noise.
He thought Ran had gotten up, since she usually rose very early, but when he turned around, it was Simeon who looked completely worn out. "I woke up early, so I decided not to go back to sleep," Simeon said while washing up. "It's rare for you to have a rest day at home.
You should take the chance to relax." The village chief looked at his tired face and thought maybe he had stayed up too late reading again. He said with concern, "Don't stay up so late at night.
If you keep doing that, your body won't be able to take it." "Mhm. Don't worry, Uncle. I know what I'm doing."
Simeon smiled at him in a reassuring way. When Ran woke up, it was already bright outside. She hadn't slept this soundly in a long time.
It was probably because she had been exhausted from going into the mountains yesterday. She stretched lazily, picked up her outer robe and put it on, then opened the door and stepped out.
She yawned from time to time as she walked into the courtyard, but she found that everyone except Simeon was gone. After asking Simeon, she learned that the weather was getting colder.
Sarah didn't want to stay in the village anymore, so the village chief had taken her to her husband's home. Sarah had married six husbands and taken in eight concubines.
She usually rotated between their homes. Where she stayed and how long she stayed depended entirely on her mood. After Simeon's explanation, Ran nodded in understanding.
No wonder she rarely saw the other husbands of Sarah. They were all at the other estates. "What are you doing today?" Simeon asked when he saw Ran finishing her breakfast and getting ready to head out.
"The house will be done soon. I'm going into town to buy a string of firecrackers for the roof-raising ceremony. I also plan to sell the wild chicken and rabbit we caught yesterday to the gourmet restaurant.
Then I'll stop by the furniture shop and pick out a few pieces to put in the new house," Ran said as she took out a wild chicken and rabbit, placing them on the ground while explaining her plans. Simeon nodded at her list of errands.
Then he glanced at the chicken and rabbit she had set aside and asked curiously, "Didn't you say you were selling those? Why are you taking them out?" "These two are for us to eat!"
Ran said with a smile. "I hunted a lot, so I set aside a couple for us to enjoy!" Then she looked at Simeon and asked, "Do you have anything to do today?"
"If not, clean them up. When I come back, I'll let you try my cooking." "You should just sell them. It's okay if we skip a meal."
"Right now, you need money more than food since you're still building the house," Simeon said with a disapproving shake of his head as he reached out to put the chicken and rabbit back into the bamboo basket. Ran quickly stopped him.
She stared at him with wide eyes and said, "I picked these two out on purpose! You stay home and clean them up. Wait for me to come back, alright?"
He saw that she was determined to stay, so Simeon didn't try to stop her. He carried the wild chicken and rabbit, smiled, and nodded at her. "Alright, I'll clean them up nicely!"
"Then we'll trouble our talented scholar Simeon!" Ran joked with a smile. Hearing her call him "scholar Simeon" made Simeon feel a strange tingle in his heart. The tips of his ears quietly turned red.
Ran carried the bamboo basket and walked lightly toward Suzhou City. It was getting late. She looked around and saw no one nearby.
She put the basket into her storage space and continued on her way with ease. Half an hour later, Ran looked at the tall city wall ahead. She handed two coins to the city guard and after a simple inspection, she stepped into Suzhou City.
She first carried the bamboo basket to Zhenxiu Restaurant. As usual, she followed the attendant directly into the kitchen. After selling the wild chicken and rabbit, Ran put the coins into her money pouch.
She asked around and finally found a furniture store. As soon as she stepped in, a cheerful fifteen or sixteen-year-old boy came over smiling. "What would this young master like to buy?
We have everything here, stools, wardrobes, all the newest styles at fair prices. You'll definitely be satisfied." Ran looked around the store and asked the assistant beside her, "Do you offer delivery?"
She didn't have an ox cart now, and Shanghe Village wasn't that close. Even if she could hide everything in her storage space, she would still have to take them out at the village entrance. The uncles and elders there would definitely ask questions.
She'd still have to explain. "If the customer is buying large items, we offer delivery service," the assistant said with a smile. "I want a large bed, two meters wide, two wardrobes, a table, a writing desk, six chairs, and I'll take this rocking chair too."
"Also, one bath barrel, two small wooden basins, one big wooden basin, and two wooden buckets." Ran looked around and said, "That's all for now!" "Alright! Young master, are you preparing a dowry?"
The assistant grinned. "May I ask which day is the wedding? When should we deliver it?" It wasn't strange for the assistant to misunderstand.
Customers like Ran who bought so many things at once were usually preparing for marriage. "No, I just..." "She can't get married! Don't you know? She's a cripple!"
Before Ran could finish, a rough, raspy voice sounded behind them. She turned and saw a well-dressed boy around fifteen or sixteen standing at the door, lightly fanning himself. Though he had a smile on his lips, there was no warmth in his eyes.
His gaze toward her was full of malice. "S-sorry, young master! I'm really sorry!" The assistant hadn't expected this.
His expression turned awkward. Just a moment ago, he said she was preparing a dowry, and now he found out she was a cripple. Wasn't he just rubbing salt into her wound?