Chapter 386: Chapter 395: No Sign of Improvement
After descending the mountains, they entered the city.
Shen Hua leaned on the car window, her little finger unconsciously raised.
The street was bustling with mostly ordinary folks, unlike Shengjing, where prominent youths were abundant.
The highest official was the Magistrate, followed by various Prefects, then the county magistrates.
"What else are you looking at?"
Seeing her engrossed, Cui Yun asked indifferently.
Shen Hua leisurely said, "A bit further ahead is the Zheng Family’s rice shop. I saw Zheng Qianyu there. The one in the green skirt, her dad is scolding her, it seems she has caused trouble again. Tsk, always the same, no sign of improvement."
"Years ago, she clumsily burned down the village."
Cui Yun followed her comment, asking, "Why?"
"Craving roasted sweet potatoes."
Shen Hua didn’t mention it was her own craving.
Zheng Qianyu, in order to show off her roasted sweet potato skills and thinking the fire wasn’t strong enough, poured oil into the flames.
The girl at that time was lazily resting under a tree, only to see Zheng Qianyu’s hair catch fire significantly, and her skirt was burned in several places, frantically running towards her while batting away the flames.
"Shen Hua! Save me!"
Shen Hua watched her.
"What about the sweet potatoes?"
Zheng Qianyu: "What potatoes? I am on fire!"
At that time, Shen Hua was remorseless: "Ha."
"I told you to buy from outside, but you insisted on dragging me here, expecting you had some skills, never thought each time you act, it turns out more spectacularly than I imagined."
"To win my happiness, you really put in the effort."
"And yet, you still manage to laugh!!!"
Shen Hua checked her injuries: "Lady Mi got hurt, it truly breaks my heart."
Zheng Qianyu: ..."There’s no need for such hypocrisy."
Better keep your sarcastic comments!
As the carriage approached, the scolding nearby grew louder.
"You clumsy girl, let’s see which family dares to take you in the future? Hardly managed to drag a marriage broker to set up a match with a child student, didn’t you always like scholars? Said you wanted someone literate! It’s fine if you didn’t fancy him, but how could you publicly make faces at him?"
Shen Hua commented, "Before I left, she was being matched, and now I’m back, she’s still being matched."
The girl melancholically, "The market’s really bad."
Old Master Zheng, furious, didn’t care this was happening in the middle of the street. Besides, lesser families and merchants have fewer rules.
"Daddy, didn’t you hear what he said? He despised me for not knowing many characters, saying if not for the Zheng Family’s generous dowry, he wouldn’t have come at all. What about the future, managing household and teaching kids, to top that, he even said once in his house, contact with my family should be reduced."
Old Master Zheng: "You indeed don’t know many characters."
Yet, he was very annoyed.
"I haven’t even despised his family’s poverty yet! Less contact indeed, treating himself like some hot cake? Pah! Nonsense."
Zheng Qianyu: "He also looked sneaky, seven years older than me!"
"You’re barely passable in looks yourself, don’t be too demanding on others."
Zheng Qianyu was furious.
But as she looked up, she saw a carriage passing by. The profile of the girl who lowered the curtain looked incredibly like someone.
"Daddy! I think I saw Shen Hua."
Old Master Zheng was shocked.
"Don’t scare people in broad daylight, didn’t you say she died?"
Zheng Qianyu realized. Somberly, "That’s right, must have been my mistake."
Shen Hua didn’t hear the rest of the conversation. If she had, she might have angrily gotten off the carriage.
The residence Shen Hua purchased before leaving was right next to Magistrate Liu’s mansion.
The gate was tightly closed, Yicui stepped forward and knocked on the door with the knocker. After a short while, someone inside came to open the door.
"Who is it?"
That person slightly opened the door, and upon seeing Yicui’s face, hesitated to recognize her.
Yet Yicui remembered.
This is a third-class maid from the Madam’s courtyard, bought from the baby broker together with Nanny Cheng.
"Huanhuan." She smiled calmly.
Huanhuan’s gaze drifted elsewhere.
The girl approached leisurely, her walk was seemingly casual, yet the pearl hairpin barely swayed.
"Madam?" The person exclaimed in surprise, hurriedly opened the door, and even ran inside joyfully, forgetting the rules.
"Manager Sun!"
"Manager Sun, Madam has returned!"
Shen Hua’s eyes curved into a smile as she walked inside, hands behind her back, she turned her head slightly to speak to Cui Yun aside.
"This is my first time coming to this residence. Previously, the property transfers were handled by Nanny Cheng."
Although it was her first time here, this place was her stopover upon returning.
Cui Yun never asked what Shen Hua had planned for her return.
It was the same at this moment.
He knew Shen Hua too well.
The girl looked around and pointed to a spot: "Later, we should get Cheng Gui to make a lounge chair and place it under that tree, so you can enjoy the shade and take short rests."
Shen Hua: "Plant some grapes as well. Send someone to inquire and spend some silver to buy them, plant them in that corner. Hopefully, we can taste them next year."
"The courtyard feels a bit bare, we should plant some flower beds too. Waking up in the morning and seeing them would brighten the mood."
"Right, ..."
"..."
She talked a lot, her mouth dry from talking, but she didn’t forget to ask Cui Yun.
"What do you think?"
Cui Yun, showing no emotion, replied indifferently: "Are you planning to settle down here?"
"If I’m staying, I must fine-tune it."
"Madam!"
Manager Sun approached quickly.
Her face had gentle fine lines, now more evident and intimate in her excitement.
"You didn’t even mention you were coming back."
Even in her joy, she did not forget to bow to Cui Yun.
"During these days, Madam has been under the care of the Marquis."
As she spoke, she pulled Shen Hua in for a closer look.
"The last time you left was before the New Year. I’ve been waiting ever since..."
"Has Madam’s illness really healed?"
Shen Hua: "It has."
Manager Sun said affectionately: "Madam has the protection of the Master and Madam, so naturally, nothing would happen."
She then added sympathetically: "Traveling has been tough, do you want to rest first?"
Shen Hua’s eyes flickered, and she clasped her arm.
"I’m not tired. Where are the embroidery ladies?"
"They are all in the back courtyard; these days, they have been rushing work. For convenience, I had the old women in the yard prepare meals so they don’t have to go home to eat. With that time saved, they might as well rest a bit. Would you like to see them? I’ll call them over."
"No need, we’ll talk about it later."
"There’s something I need to deal with first."
"Buy the shop opposite the embroidery workshop. As soon as possible."
Aunt Sun frowned.
"At this time... it might be difficult."
She explained, "Madam knows that was originally a tavern, then something happened, and it was pawned off. Two months ago, someone bought it at a high price, but I haven’t seen it open for business or even people going in. It looks less like a business, and finding a tenant might be difficult."
Just then, Cui Yun pulled a thin contract paper from his sleeve.
"I’ve already taken care of it for you."
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