CHAPTER 20: CHAPTER 20: SCHEMING

EDITOR: ATLAS STUDIOS

"Ahem, what about me then?"

Zhang Meihua, with her head wrapped like a rice dumpling, coughed and said in a sarcastic tone.

Long Yue rarely showed a smile, "As long as second sister-in-law behaves herself, you won’t be left out."

Zhang Meihua really disliked Long Yue’s pretentious pose, but the thought of getting a new set of clothes for free made her quickly say, "Of course, who likes having constant arguments?

Ha, she really knows how to talk to people in different ways.

Long Yue pursed her lips; when people are shameless, they are truly invincible!

At night, Long Yue was embroidering by the oil lamp when Li Qingmu came in and wanted to extinguish the light.

"What are you doing?"

"My dear, it’s late, you should rest; the dim light can harm your eyes."

He said gently, and Long Yue found reason in his words. Besides, she was indeed tired after a day of embroidery, so she put down her needlework to rest.

Li Qingmu immediately embraced her and happily pulled her into the bed...

The next morning, Long Yue had saved up twenty embroidered handkerchiefs and went to the county again, still riding Chai Tieniu’s ox cart, with his sister, Qiao’er, accompanying her.

"When we have money in the future, we must get an economical and practical carriage!"

The ox cart was so bumpy that her butt hurt; how could it compare to the comfort and spaciousness of a carriage?

"Alright."

"Third sister-in-law, here’s a fox fur; if you lay it down, it might be more comfortable." Qiao’er cheerfully fetched a fox fur from beneath the cart’s wooden planks and said with a smile, "The first time I rode my brother’s ox cart, I also felt the bumps, so he specially got this fur mat."

Long Yue touched the large lump of fox fur, feeling its comfort and softness, reminding her of the endless fur she used to have at the Minister Mansion — fox fur, mink fur, deer leather boots... She had them all, and now she didn’t even have a decent piece of fur!

Her miserable state was all thanks to that "dear sister" of hers!

A surge of intense hatred arose in Long Yue’s heart. She clenched her fists and murmured, "I’ll make her pay!"

"What’s wrong, my dear?"

Li Qingmu sensed a chill emanating from his wife and was somewhat taken aback.

"It’s nothing, just remembered some unpleasant things, no need to worry."

Li Qingmu, seeing she was unwilling to speak, tactfully refrained from asking further. Soon, they arrived in the county, and Chai Qiao’er and Long Yue went to the "Jinxiu" embroidery workshop and sold the silk scarves.

This time they didn’t encounter Miss Lu and exchanged the goods for money smoothly. Then Long Yue bought a set of dark blue clothes, meant for her mother-in-law, Mrs. Li Zhou.

On the way back, Li Qingmu looked at the new clothes in his hand and said with a smile, "My dear, this plan of yours is brilliant."

"What brilliance?"

"Gradual progress—starting with your mother, then the elder sister-in-law, the second sister-in-law, making them all hopeful and eager. Once the benefits increase, they won’t be able to do without you..."

Li Qingmu’s eyes darkened as he spoke these words to Long Yue, but wasn’t he also talking to himself?

Tasting the pleasure now, he feared he could never leave her.

Upon returning home, as soon as Long Yue stepped through the door, second sister-in-law Zhang Meihua’s eyes were immediately fixed on her hands: "Where are the clothes?"

Long Yue gave Li Qingmu a look, and he quickly brought out the set of dark blue clothes.

"This color looks too drab; I don’t want it!"

Zhang Meihua pursed her lips and arrogantly turned her head up in disdain. Long Yue just laughed and said, "Don’t misunderstand, second sister-in-law. These clothes aren’t for you; they’re for our mother!"

Mrs. Li Zhou had heard the commotion outside and had stayed quiet due to an innate fear of Long Yue. But upon hearing this, she hurried out.

"Ah? Are the new clothes here?"

"Yes, mother, look, these are for you. This color isn’t as heavy as black and suits your age very well. I think it’s the best choice."

Mrs. Li Zhou didn’t care about the color; she was content as long as she had new clothes. She hurriedly went up to take the clothes, fearing Long Yue might take them back.

Seeing Mrs. Li Zhou take the new clothes, Zhang Meihua was displeased and said, "What about me? Mother has hers; where are mine? Why didn’t I see mine?"

"Yes, third sister-in-law, why did you only bring back one set?"

Mrs. Wang also came out, looked around, and found they couldn’t possibly be hiding any clothes on themselves, feeling frustrated. So it was only for the mother, not them?

She immediately put on a long face, her tone sour, "Third sister-in-law, you can’t go back on your word!"

Long Yue noted their disgraceful behaviors with disdain but smiled and said, "Eldest sister-in-law, second sister-in-law, don’t worry! Today’s sales were low, so we could only afford to buy for mother. Next time, I’ll get yours."

"What? I saw you take a basket full of embroidered handkerchiefs in the morning; how could you only buy one outfit? Didn’t you buy two last time?"

Zhang Meihua widened her eyes and shrieked.

"Yes, that’s because I had saved up a lot of silver. If you doubt it, second sister-in-law, why don’t you make a few pieces yourself and try selling them?"

Zhang Meihua certainly couldn’t do such delicate embroidery work, so she was rebuked and felt a bit resentful. But it wasn’t the time to fall out with Long Yue, so she forced a smile and said, "Alright then, third sister-in-law, it was second sister-in-law who was impatient. Don’t take it to heart, and um... don’t forget me next time!"

She didn’t forget to keep staring at Long Yue as she said this.

Long Yue smiled and agreed, and the matter was put to rest.

Long Yue and Li Qingmu ruined their own house, Zhang Meihua went back to rest, leaving only Mrs. Wang and Mrs. Li Zhou. Mrs. Wang looked at the new clothes in her hand, feeling envious. Seeing that embroidery could sell for so much money, she felt her heart itch.

She looked around to make sure nobody was there and quickly pulled Mrs. Li Zhou into a corner, muttering, "Mother, this embroidery pays well? Why not let my Xiangxiang learn from her? When she learns, she can bring in more income for the family, right?"

"This..."

Mrs. Li Zhou hesitated; she was somewhat tempted by Mrs. Wang’s proposal, but considering Long Yue’s temperament, "This doesn’t seem right... After all, it’s their livelihood..."

"Ah, mother, what’s wrong with sharing a lucrative opportunity with family? With more money, won’t everyone’s lives improve? Besides, she’s teaching the Chai girl to embroider too, isn’t she? Teaching outsiders too — why not family? Mother, this isn’t reasonable!"

Mrs. Li Zhou was still hesitant, but Mrs. Wang’s words made sense. If outsiders could have a share, why shouldn’t they let their own family earn money?

She feared Long Yue, but thinking of those shining silver pieces...

She made up her mind and said, "Alright, I’ll speak to her about it!"

"Oh, mother, you don’t need to! I think it’d be better if my Xiangxiang talks to her directly!"

"Is that... okay?"

"Why not? If a child acts coy or something, she can’t refuse, right? I’m just letting you know so you’ll be aware, right?"

Mrs. Wang said, her eyes gleaming with conniving calculations.