Shen Yun, clutching Su Xiaoqi's hand, couldn't discern any clues. He then put his arm around her and said,
"Leave the money-making to me. Now that I've passed the academy exams, I'll borrow more books to copy.
That's a hundred wen a month, and if we're thrifty, it'll be enough."
Su Xiaoqi shook her head, "That won't do. I've already made an arrangement with Shopkeeper Su of this inn.
From now on, I'll be delivering twenty fresh fish to him every day."
This was a deal Su Xiaoqi had just struck with Su Baiyi, the shopkeeper of this inn, which also served as a restaurant.
Because the fish she brought to sell were large and lively, and she could guarantee twenty fish daily without interruption, he was exceptionally pleased.
At Su Xiaoqi's suggestion, they wrote down a supply contract.
They agreed on the supply quantity, time, price, and the penalty for breach of contract.
Shen Yun glanced at it, his brow furrowed in thought.
"This is a year of famine. Let alone fish in the river, even the edible wild grass in the mountains has been stripped bare.
Where will you catch twenty fish for him every day?"
Su Xiaoqi smiled mysteriously, "I have my ways, don't worry about it."
As her space continued to upgrade, more good things would emerge.
She was determined to desensitize Shen Yun to the extraordinary, lest she be branded a heretic.
As they were talking, a "smash" sound came from the kitchen, the sound of a bowl falling to the ground.
Soon, a sharp scolding followed, "You useless woman! You can't even wash a bowl properly. You don't need to come tomorrow."
"I'm sorry, Aunt Huang. It's my fault. Please don't dismiss me.
My entire family of five relies on this meager income."
"Hmph, didn't you marry a scholar? Useless.
If you don't want to leave, then compensate me. Do you know how much this blue and white porcelain teacup costs?"
Su Xiaoqi tugged at Shen Yun. She recognized the woman washing dishes; her name was Zhao Simei.
They had met when she was selling fish earlier, and she wanted to go in and speak up for her.
However, Shen Yun had already stepped in ahead of her, asking directly, "How much?"
Old Mrs. Huang was in the middle of her scolding when a young couple unexpectedly entered. Seeing their ordinary clothes, not looking like wealthy individuals, she clapped her hands and said with a smirk,
"It's not expensive, just three hundred wen for this one."
"I'll pay for her!" As Su Xiaoqi saw Shen Yun's move, a jolt went through her mind. She suddenly remembered who Zhao Simei was.
Wasn't she Shen Yun's fourth aunt?
She had married a poor scholar, Jiang Min, in Mianzhou city, and they had three sons. Life was also difficult in this year of famine.
Old Mrs. Huang glanced at the string of copper coins Su Xiaoqi handed over, and her face, full of yellowish-brown spots, suddenly stretched into a grimace. She glared at Su Xiaoqi and said,
"I haven't finished speaking yet. Why are you in such a hurry? Three hundred wen for one, but this set costs two taels of silver.
If one is broken, there's no way to replace it, and the whole set becomes useless." As she spoke, she reached out to Su Xiaoqi, implying she should pay the remaining two taels of silver.
Su Xiaoqi had a large amount of rice, grains, and fish in her space, but she had no silver on hand.
She truly couldn't afford two taels of silver.
She subconsciously looked at Shen Yun, who shook his head.
The remaining money he had was used for their lodging, and now his purse was emptier than his face.
More importantly, this woman was clearly extorting them. How could he tolerate that?
Seeing their reaction, Old Mrs. Huang knew they were poor. She chuckled triumphantly.
She told them that if they had no money, they shouldn't meddle in other people's affairs, and she even grabbed Zhao Simei's arm to push her out.
Her distant relatives were waiting to take over her job.
Zhao Simei cried and knelt on the ground, begging.
This was a job she had finally found, and she didn't want to lose it.
Old Mrs. Huang took the opportunity to pinch and hit her repeatedly.
Su Xiaoqi, seeing Old Mrs. Huang's unbearable behavior, became enraged. She flashed forward and stood in front of Zhao Simei, "You've gone too far."
Old Mrs. Huang, undeterred, reached out to push her.
Su Xiaoqi fell to the ground with a deliberate stumble, her wrist flicking lightly. It dangled limply, as if broken.
She immediately began to wail, "Ah... Husband, quickly report to the authorities! This old woman has broken my arm."
Initially, it was a dispute between women, and Shen Yun found it difficult to intervene. He was contemplating calling the shopkeeper to handle the matter when he saw this scene.
He gently caressed Su Xiaoqi's wrist and found it truly broken. A pang shot through his heart, and his eyes blazed with sharp, cold light.
He picked up Su Xiaoqi and was about to seek a doctor, saying coldly as he walked, "You dare to harm my wife, and I will make you pay the price."
At this moment, Shen Yun was utterly cold, as if he had just emerged from an icy land.
The delicate smile on his face had vanished, replaced by a deep, fierce gaze, like a wolf seeking vengeance.
Su Xiaoqi was startled. She finally understood why Shen Yun was so terrifying when he "blackened."
She hugged Shen Yun's neck and whispered into his ear,
"I'm fine. Put me down. I want to extort her."
Shen Yun was taken aback. The darkness had not yet receded from his face, but he complied with Su Xiaoqi's request and set her down.
What followed was Su Xiaoqi crying and shouting, both scaring and bewildering Old Mrs. Huang half to death.
In the end, the matter of Zhao Simei breaking the blue porcelain teacup was dropped, the three hundred wen was returned, and Old Mrs. Huang even paid Su Xiaoqi three hundred wen as medical expenses.
Back in the room, Shen Yun immediately went to check Su Xiaoqi's wrist. She wriggled her fingers, and with a gentle twist, her wrist snapped back into place.
Zhao Simei, who had followed them up, her heart aching, watched as tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.
Su Xiaoqi helplessly rubbed her forehead, thinking, why do the women of the Zhao family love to cry so much?
After Shen Yun comforted his aunt, he looked at Su Xiaoqi and asked with concern, "Does it hurt?"
Su Xiaoqi shook her head, then paused and nodded, "A little." This was the perfect opportunity to make Shen Yun indebted to her, an opportunity she couldn't miss.
The more indebted Shen Yun was to her, the more leverage she would have.
"Don't do that again next time. It's not worth harming yourself for people like them," Shen Yun said, returning to his usual aloof demeanor.
If Su Xiaoqi hadn't acted, he would have found a way to deal with such people.
Su Baiyi, the owner of this inn, had always wanted a piece of his calligraphy. He hadn't readily agreed, listening to Su Xiaoqi's words.
If necessary, he would have complied.
Su Xiaoqi chuckled and took out the three hundred wen Old Mrs. Huang had paid, handing it to Zhao Simei.
"No, no, this is your medical fee. I can't take it," Zhao Simei hastily refused.
She had seen Su Xiaoqi selling fish in the kitchen earlier.
However, Shen Yun hadn't held a wedding banquet or invited guests, so she hadn't met her.
She had only thought she was beautiful.
She never expected her to be Shen Yun's wife, and that she would help her so much upon their first meeting.
"My hand is fine now," Su Xiaoqi rotated her wrist, indicating that she didn't need to see a doctor at all.
She asked Shen Yun to help persuade Zhao Simei, who finally accepted it tearfully.
Her family was at their wit's end, barely able to afford their next meal. These three hundred wen were a lifeline.
Su Xiaoqi left them talking in the room and went to the kitchen herself.
The cook, Old Mrs. Huang, felt a chill run down her spine as she saw Su Xiaoqi approaching.
She was afraid that this esteemed young lady might accidentally stumble again, break another limb, and extort her.