A Good Country Wife
Chapter 169 Going Too Far_1

Chapter 169: Chapter 169 Going Too Far_1

Chen Qi thought that it would be best if the dishes made from the ingredients sent by Zhao Erhu and his wife could be seen on the magistrate’s table tomorrow. The faster the tasks were accomplished, the more the magistrate would recognize his efficiency, which would ensure his position in the magistrate’s heart. He knew well that being an intermediary these days was no easy feat. Even with money and power, too many people were eying his position greedily, like the maidservant’s pet nephew of the lady of the house, or the younger brother of Aunt Lan, each one intent on ousting him.

"No problem, although these foods take time to prepare, we have readied some to sell at the market tomorrow. We will make sure to deliver them early to the Government Office, and your work, Brother Chen, will certainly not be spoiled," Zhao Erhu assured with conviction. Since Zhao Erhu had woken up, Lin Yue had stepped back, leaving all such negotiations to Zhao Erhu.

Seeing that the matter was nearly settled, Chen Qi felt relieved. After making small talk with Zhao Erhu for a bit, he was about to leave when Lin Yue and Zhao Erhu quickly took out the items they had prepared to give to Chen Qi, helping load them into the carriage. The gifts took up quite a bit of space, including an array of foods made by Lin Yue, freshly harvested popular green vegetables from their field, and the most precious of all, several handkerchiefs embroidered by Lin Yue with the double-sided embroidery technique, perfect for gifting to the womenfolk in Chen Qi’s family.

The double-sided embroidery items on the market were very expensive. Even a small object could cost several or even dozens of taels of silver, which ordinary families simply could not afford. Such a gift was already very presentable, and Lin Yue had even specially used an exquisite box for it.

Seeing how well Zhao Erhu and his wife handled themselves, Chen Qi repeatedly declined with his words but was truly pleased at heart. The smile on his face became much more sincere. Although Zhao Erhu and his wife were appointed by the Magistrate to be looked after, ultimately they were under his management. If they were not sensible, he had ways to deal with them, leaving them in a predicament they could not complain about. Now, it seemed that this couple was quite astute and smoothly generous in their dealings. Lin Yue’s food tasted excellent, not to mention that a large bag of it must have cost quite a bit just for its ingredients, and the box appeared delicate, no doubt containing something valuable. He concluded that such people were worth making connections with, deciding then and there to look after Zhao Erhu and his wife a bit more in the future.

After sending Chen Qi off, Lin Yue and Zhao Erhu didn’t have a moment to idle. They had to urgently prepare the items to be sent to the Government Office, for they had to be delivered first thing tomorrow. Being their first time handling a task for the Government Office, they could not afford any mistakes.

Zhao Erhu was concerned about Lin Yue and wanted her to rest, saying that he could handle these matters just fine. However, Lin Yue did not trust him to do it alone. She had always been the one to prepare the food for the market, and this was Zhao Erhu’s first time. Fearing he might not know the ropes, Lin Yue insisted on doing it herself. Left with no choice, Zhao Erhu let Lin Yue take on some lighter tasks.

"Listen to me, wife. Dr. Jiang is still tending to your health, how could you overwork yourself? Just direct me on what to do, and don’t lift a finger yourself," Zhao Erhu said, repeating himself perhaps for the nth time. The moment he saw Lin Yue move to do something, he couldn’t help but chime in again.

Rolling her eyes, Lin Yue found Zhao Erhu had become more rambling than ever since his recovery, continuing to repeat such simple things three or four times in her ear, as if she were developing calluses from listening so much, threatening to become a nag.

"I know, I know, so naggy, Zhao Erhu, you’re not getting senile in your old age, are you? Continue like this and I might just start complaining about you," she teased.

"How dare you talk back to your husband, Niuniu," Zhao Erhu replied, affectionately ruffling Lin Yue’s hair. "No matter how old I get, I am still your husband, and you’re stuck with me for life. Be good." Zhao Erhu was a bit despondent. This wasn’t the first time his little wife had made quips about his age. His old man’s heart was shattered. Was he really that old? He looked in the mirror and still saw a young man, strong and full of vigor, in the prime of manhood. Why then did she find fault with him?

The next day, as dawn broke, the couple ate a simple meal and left their home. After delivering the food and vegetables to the Government Office and having Chen Qi personally check everything and settle the payment in silver, Zhao Erhu and Lin Yue could finally relax completely.

Chen Qi’s wife had especially liked the handkerchiefs that Lin Yue had sent the day before, treating them like treasures and unwilling to use them casually, only bringing them out when hosting guests or going out to demonstrate with a bit of show-off in front of everyone. Remembering his wife’s instructions, Chen Qi made a point of thanking Lin Yue once again.

After leaving the Government Office, Zhao Erhu and Lin Yue first bought the ingredients for their food business and loaded them onto the ox cart. Since they needed to hurry back for Doctor Jiang to give Lin Yue acupuncture treatment, they didn’t have time to stroll around. Lin Yue thought about Zhao Xinglin’s wife from the Han Family who was about to give birth. They had been too busy to prepare anything before, but now they really had to start preparations or it would be too late. Usually, people sent gifts after the full month after the birth, but due to the special relationship with Zhao Xinglin’s family, they needed to send a gift when the child was born and had only about ten days to get it ready.

Lin Yue, pulling Zhao Erhu along, went directly to the fabric shop intending to pick out some fine cloth to make a few good-looking baby clothes as a birth celebration gift. With her skilled embroidery, such a gift was both respectable and substantial, and not too expensive. In addition, they would purchase fabric to make two sets of clothes for each of the men in their family. The weather was gradually warming, and it was almost time to set aside the thick winter clothes. Moreover, now that they were doing business outside, they couldn’t afford to dress too shabbily.

That morning, when she and Zhao Erhu were delivering goods to the backyard of the Government Office, because Zhao Erhu wore simple coarse cloth for convenience, Lin Yue noticed the disdain in the gatekeeper’s glance towards them. However, thanks to Chen Qi’s prior instructions, they were not treated with any particular disrespect; otherwise, they might have been chased away. Lin Yue felt uncomfortable about it, and thus didn’t give the silver she had prepared beforehand as a tip, feeling that keeping up appearances was important. Of course, she wouldn’t neglect herself and planned to purchase some light-colored fine cotton to make two summer outfits for herself.

Lin Yue and Zhao Erhu headed to the fabric shop where Erhu used to sell furs, as it had a large selection of fabrics, fair prices, and was known for being good value, and the shop owner, Wang, was an acquaintance of Erhu, usually giving him a better deal out of respect.

Indeed, upon entering the fabric shop, Shopkeeper Wang saw Zhao Erhu and came over to greet them personally, "Brother Erhu, it’s been a while. Are you here today to pick out some fabric to make new clothes for your little wife?" Shopkeeper Wang teased, seeing that Lin Yue had come with Zhao Erhu.

"I suffered a bit of an injury while hunting in the mountains and had to rest at home for a while. How has business been for you, Big Brother Wang?"

"Not bad, getting by," Shopkeeper Wang said with a smile, his words not quite matching his expression, indicating business must have been quite good.

Upon hearing that Zhao Erhu had been injured while hunting in the mountains, Shopkeeper Wang showed no surprise; it had happened a few times before, and it was normal to get injured in that line of work. Nonetheless, Shopkeeper Wang still offered a few words of concern.