As soon as they were out, Li Wencai severely reprimanded Fan Zhang, not caring whether anyone in the courtyard could hear him.
"Fan Zhang, look at you. You're this old, and you still think your skin isn't thick enough? This matter is over. If you keep pestering, you can get out of the village and never set foot in it again. I mean what I say!"
After the village chief roared at him, he turned back to Zhao Jiaqi and said, "Go home quickly. I've made the decision. You can continue selling your things as you please. If anyone dares to bother you again, tell me, and I'll deal with them."
With that, the village chief flicked his wide sleeves and strode away.
Fan Zhang lost all face. As he left, he gave Zhao Jiaqi a hostile glare with his venomous eyes. He didn't speak, but his gaze felt ominous, as if he wanted to skin her alive.
Thinking of this, goosebumps rose on her back.
It seemed she needed to earn more silver and build her house as sturdily as possible, especially the walls and the gate.
Before she could even get home, Fan Zehao rushed up to her. Seeing that she was unharmed and uninjured, he finally let go of his worried heart.
The next day, before dawn, Zhao Jiaqi and Fan Zehao got up. She hadn't forgotten that there was still a wolf cub at home.
"Wife, sleep in. Going up the mountain is tiring, so you don't have to go. I promise, I'll return the wolf cub to where it was caught."
Fan Zehao, worried that his wife had slept late last night, wanted her to rest at home and made a promise. However, Zhao Jiaqi didn't feel at ease with him going alone.
She got up, shook her head, and said, "Let's go together. You can keep me company while we wander on the mountain and look for any mushrooms or wood ear fungi."
Seeing that he couldn't dissuade his wife, Fan Zehao got out of bed, put on his clothes and shoes, moving as swiftly as a gust of wind, and went out to heat water for her to wash up.
The couple went up the mountain. Zhao Jiaqi carried the wolf cub, which was sleeping soundly. Fan Zehao, on the other hand, kept an eye on her. Not long after entering the mountain, he found two half-dead pheasants in a trap.
Once in the mountain, he was as agile as a monkey. His large body moved with lightning speed. The spark in his eyes made him seem like a spirit, completely contrasting with his honest demeanor.
He caught two plump, live rabbits. Holding his prey, he grinned and waved his arms at her to show off, "Wife, look, two rabbits, just like us, one male and one female, haha."
Zhao Jiaqi put her hand to her forehead. What kind of man would describe his wife like this? She smiled awkwardly at Fan Zehao, but her hand reached out and pinched the flesh around his waist fiercely.
"You silly goose, you can't describe people with animals."
Fan Zehao winced in pain, but still wore a silly grin, "I know, I was just teasing you. Actually, I wanted to tell you that these two, male and female, can have baby bunnies together. Let's raise them. These rabbits can have several litters a year."
Suddenly, her face flushed hot as she realized what he meant. She shyly pushed him away, "What nonsense are you talking about? Go do your work and don't forget the important task!"
Fan Zehao chuckled and quickly tied the rabbits' legs, placing them into the bamboo basket behind his wife. He stopped teasing Zhao Jiaqi and turned back to immerse himself in the woods.
She followed behind him, smiling silently. Every day spent with him brought unexpected surprises. Although life was a bit hard, it was peaceful and warm.
After more than an hour in the mountain, the bamboo basket was full. They were both very satisfied with their haul for the day.
Fan Zehao led her to the place where they had caught the wolf cub, warily scanning their surroundings. Not sensing any danger, he gently placed the little wolf cub in the grass.
He lightly patted its head, and with a rough face, spoke to it in a tender voice, "Go find your mother. And if you see me again, you're not allowed to bite, understand!"
The wolf cub, not understanding what he was saying, thought he was playing with it. It scampered around him on its little legs, whimpering "awoo awoo" incessantly. The couple watched the cute and naive little creature with reluctance for a moment before hurrying away.
They were genuinely afraid that its cries might attract a wolf. While they liked the wolf cub, their lives were more important.
As soon as they entered the house, they saw a man sitting in the courtyard. He was dressed in brocade robes and smiled before even speaking. Zhao Jiaqi recognized him at once: Song Mingliang, the manager of Tianxiang Tower.
Seeing the visitor, Fan Zehao frowned, "Manager Song, why are you here?"
Song Mingliang was taken aback. He knew this simple-minded brute was honest.
But he hadn't expected him to be so direct from the moment they met, not even offering a polite preamble or feigning a few pleasantries.
He chuckled awkwardly. If he were to engage in pleasantries now, he might be chased out by this simpleton after just a few words.
So, it was better to get straight to the point. After considering how to speak, he said, "It's like this, the braised meat and dishes you sold outside Tianxiang Tower last night, I saw them. I also heard from the customers that the taste was good. So, that's why..."
Hearing this long explanation, Fan Zehao's head began to ache. He immediately passed the matter to his wife, "My wife makes the decisions in our household. Ask her. I'm not involved."
With that, he ran off to help his wife with her chores, grumbling to Zhao Jiaqi as he worked, "If it weren't for that shopkeeper dawdling, I would have finished killing this chicken long ago."
Zhao Jiaqi glanced at Manager Song behind her. The latter felt even more awkward, his face flushing slightly. Not only was he being ignored, but he was also being looked down upon.
"Manager Song, please don't mind him. My husband has a straightforward personality!"
"It's nothing, nothing at all. People like him have genuine character, they don't scheme or put on a false front. I actually prefer dealing with people like him; they're honest."
Song Mingliang breathed a long sigh of relief. Finally, there was one normal person in this household. If he had to deal with someone like Fan Zehao again, he feared he would go mad.
Zhao Jiaqi quietly listened to his assessment of her husband, a faint smile on her lips. She didn't respond, waiting for him to continue.
"We at the restaurant really like the braised meat and dishes you sell. Name your price. How much silver would it take for you to sell the recipe?"
Song Mingliang's words were even more direct than Fan Zehao's just now. He secretly thought that dealing with a woman would be much easier than dealing with cunning men.
His intention was clear and concise. Zhao Jiaqi also gave a direct answer, her red lips parting slightly, "I'm not selling."
Her reply was even more decisive!
Song Mingliang frowned and stared at her, wondering if she thought he hadn't offered enough.
He held up two fingers, "Two hundred taels, for your braised meat recipe."
Zhao Jiaqi remained unmoved. She replied with a faint smile, "I have no plans to sell the recipe for now. If you're looking for cooperation, I'd be willing to discuss it with your restaurant. If you insist on buying, then I can only apologize."
Her attitude was firm, her words were strong. At this, Song Mingliang understood clearly that she had no intention of selling the recipe and didn't care about the two hundred taels. Her refusal wasn't due to the price.
Thinking this, it seemed that from the moment he entered the house, he hadn't seen any surprised reactions from them. The simple brute being honest, it was understandable he wouldn't be surprised, but his wife also showed no surprise.
At this moment, he felt that they might have known he was coming.
The thought of this possibility made Song Mingliang cautious. Without showing anything on his face, he tried to probe, "If it were other women, hearing me offer this price, they would have happily sold it already. But you are different. Could it be..." You were waiting for me?
He didn't utter the last three words, but instead, tested her reaction to see if it was as he suspected.