A Good Country Wife
Chapter 344 - 338_1

Chapter 344: Chapter 338_1

Zhao Erhu and Lin Yue didn’t know that Master Wei was plotting against their family again. With that matter on his mind, Zhao Erhu had prepared breakfast early and kept it warm in the kitchen, intending to take the horse carriage out soon.

At this time, Lin Yue was still indulging in a lie-in. The weather had turned even colder, with frost forming outside, making the morning glow white. Lin Yue used to have to get up early for work, but now she finally realized how blissful it was to sleep in on a cold day, especially since there was nothing at home requiring her early attention.

"Wife, I need to make a trip to the city. I’ve prepared breakfast and kept it warm in the pot. Remember to eat when you get up, don’t go hungry. If you want to sleep, you can do that after eating, it’s all the same," Zhao Erhu told Lin Yue before he left the house.

Actually, Lin Yue was already awake by then. Considering there was nothing that required her to rush this morning, she chose to stay in bed. But hearing that Zhao Erhu was heading to the city, she quickly got up. It was a perfect opportunity for her to go to the city and buy some fabric to make clothes, and she could ask Zhao Erhu to give her a ride.

"Zhao Erhu, wait for me, I also need to buy some things in the city," Lin Yue said as she hurriedly dressed. She hadn’t heard anything about Zhao Erhu going to the city yesterday, otherwise, she would have been prepared and not in such a rush now.

Zhao Erhu displayed an unusual expression upon hearing that Lin Yue wanted to go with him. "Wife, do you have business in the city?"

"Nothing much, just that I want to pick out a few good fabrics to make some clothes. Brother Dahu and Brother Wu Qiang are taking care of the workshop, so I don’t need to worry about it. I’m quite free, and it’s been a long time since I last strolled around the city. It seems like the weather is nice today."

"I’m busy with things today and won’t have time to accompany you. I’d also be worried letting you wander alone. How about we don’t go today, and I’ll accompany you tomorrow instead?" Zhao Erhu said somewhat unnaturally.

Lin Yue gave Zhao Erhu a puzzled look. This old man was being a bit too much. "How could that be? I often shopped alone before and it was fine. Zhao Erhu, you worry too much."

"Let’s just go tomorrow. I’m really in a hurry to leave right now." Zhao Erhu saying he had business in the city was just a pretext, and now that Lin Yue wanted to go with him, of course, he couldn’t agree.

"Is there something so urgent? I didn’t hear you mention it yesterday?"

Zhao Erhu had anticipated his little wife would ask for a reason, so he said, "Qiangzi has something on today, and I need to deliver food to the Government Office and the Su Residence. There are also some end-of-year affairs to discuss, so I’m truly busy. It’s better if you don’t come along."

"You have to deliver food to the Government Office and the Su Residence? Then you really must hurry. I won’t delay you any longer. Go ahead, I’m not in a rush; going tomorrow is just as good." Upon hearing Zhao Erhu’s words and seeing that it was getting late yet he still hadn’t left, Lin Yue hurried him out the door, feeling a bit anxious for him.

After Zhao Erhu’s departure, Lin Yue took out the warm food from the pot to eat breakfast, then tidied up the kitchen before heading to the workshop for a visit.

The workshop was doing quite well, with Zhao Dahu overseeing things. Plus, after last time’s troublemakers were fired, most of those left were hardworking and dependable. Managing the place had become much easier, and Lin Yue didn’t need to constantly be there. Suddenly finding herself with some free time, Lin Yue decided to take out a bag of glutinous rice from the storage room and grind it into flour to make some delicious snacks.

"Yueyue, are you grinding rice flour? Has your Zhao Erhu gone out?" Zhang Chunhua had originally planned not to come over today because of housework, so Zhao Erhu had made up the excuse of needing Wu Qiang. He thought he could simply instruct Wu Qiang later on and get away with it.

"Sister Chunhua, don’t you have things to do at home today? What brings you here?" Lin Yue was somewhat surprised to see Zhang Chunhua.

"Yes, today is my father-in-law’s birthday. We’ve got a lot of guests at home, and I wanted to make some plain steamed buns, but our steamer is too small to fit everything. I came over to borrow a larger steaming basket from your place." It wasn’t actually a birthday celebration, but, as luck would have it, both her sisters-in-law decided to return to their mother’s home today. Zhang Chunhua had been busy since dawn and would have offered to help Lin Yue with the rice flour, if she hadn’t been so pressed for time today.

"You only have one stove at home, and you need to cook and steam food. Can you really manage that? Why don’t I make them for you, and you can come to pick them up later at noon?" Lin Yue knew the situation at Zhang Chunhua’s home and since Zhang Chunhua had always been helpful with her family’s affairs, she took the initiative to offer her help. After all, she didn’t have anything else to do at the moment.

Zhang Chunhua was indeed terribly busy and was tempted by Lin Yue’s offer, but thinking of how Zhao Erhu doted on his wife and wouldn’t like her toiling away, she still shook her head, "How could I let you do that? Zhao Erhu is so fond of you, he’d hate to see you work hard and would rather do everything himself. I can’t let you tire yourself out."

"Look at what you’re saying. Making a few plain buns is easy, it’s hardly tiring. We don’t need to speak so formally between us. Besides, I’m really free right now. You just hurry back home, and don’t bother with the steaming basket. Later, have Brother Wu come over and pick up the steamed buns," Lin Yue insisted.

Zhang Chunhua, always straightforward, didn’t refuse anymore when she heard Lin Yue’s words. "Alright then, I’ll leave this task in your hands. You’re really saving me here; I’ve been so frazzled, I wish I had an extra pair of hands. I’ll head back now, I’ve still got things waiting for me at home. Wu Qiang is probably still in the city delivering food supplies, and it’ll be nearly noon by the time he gets back. Just have him bring them to me when he returns."

"Huh? Brother Wu is out delivering food supplies to the city today? Wasn’t there something... Zhao Erhu, he..." Lin Yue felt puzzled as she heard what Zhang Chunhua said. Zhou Erhu had clearly stated that he needed to go to the Government Office and the Su Residence to deliver food supplies because Wu Qiang was busy, so why was Zhang Chunhua saying that Wu Qiang had gone to the city? It was all very strange.

Zhang Chunhua, unaware that Zhao Erhu might have lied and misunderstanding Lin Yue’s concern, thought Lin Yue was being considerate of her, believing it was wrong for Zhao Erhu to assign tasks to Wu Qiang. "No trouble at all. In fact, it’s just my father-in-law’s birthday and I needed to keep busy in the kitchen, so Wu Qiang wasn’t involved. He’ll definitely be back before noon, it won’t delay anything so I’ll head home."

"Ahh, okay, go ahead then; leave everything to me."

After sending Zhang Chunhua off, Lin Yue felt somewhat preoccupied but since she had promised to help, she took out the flour and started kneading it while her mind was occupied with what Zhao Erhu might be up to and why he would hide it from her, something that had never happened before.

After the dough was prepared, it needed some time to rise. Wondering if Zhang Chunhua could have been mistaken, Lin Yue went to find Liu Aniu.

"Brother Liu, are you certain that Wu Qiang delivered the food supplies to the Government Office and the Su Residence?" Lin Yue still couldn’t quite believe it and felt that Zhao Erhu wouldn’t deceive her.