Chapter 345 - Chapter 345: Not Having a Bad Heart
Chapter 345: Not Having a Bad Heart
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
“Little Wen, are you home?” Sister Chrysanthemum hollered as she stood outside Su Wen’s house. Su Wen usually left the courtyard door open during the day, so the house would not be so hot. It so happened that when Sister
Chrysanthemum shouted at the gates, she saw Su Wen sweeping the floor.
She quickly let herself into the compound.
“Sister Chrysanthemum, what brings you here?” Su Wen put down her broom. “I was just about to go to your shop to discuss business with you! I was hoping to ask if you’d agree to supply the family with oil, salt, sauces, and vinegar so we would not need to go to town to buy them.” Since Sister Chrysanthemum owned a small shop selling basic goods, it would only be right for her to patronize her neighbor over those in town.
It was all part of building a strong rapport with one’s neighbors.
“I heard that your Third Aunt’s family is also opening a small shop?” Sister Chrysanthemum blurted, stung by Su Wen’s innocuous remark.
“My Third Aunt! I’ll talk to her when the time comes,” Su Wen said, a faint smile tugging at her lips.
“Look at me! ” Sister Chrysanthemum slapped her forehead, annoyed with herself for getting distracted. It would not do to waste time. “Little Wen, Su Xuefang is here, and she’s about to enter the village. Hurry up and hide your valuables before she discovers them! You know how she is; otherwise, she’ll
‘accidentally’ leave with more things in her pocket.”
“Okay.” Su Wen had not let up her guard against Su Xuefang. She had the niggling suspicion that the older woman would return sometime soon, so she had hidden anything of value a while back. Having not seen her in a few days, Su Wen had thought Su Xuefang had given up, so she had retrieved the more important items she could use.
It seemed her initial estimates were still accurate. Su Xuefang had come.
“Thank you for telling me, Sister Chrysanthemum.” Su Xuefang’s actions were common knowledge in Trinity Village. She was not even afraid of tarnishing a reputation further. Why would she when it was already dirt poor?
To say Su Xuefang had a poor reputation was a gross understatement.
“Hah! I can’t accept your thanks; I’m partially to blame for telling her that you and He Yulan have gone into business together selling steamed cakes.” Sister Chrysanthemum could not hide her embarrassment. She and her big mouth! When a thought entered her head, it popped out of her mouth without being filtered.
Her frank, blabbermouth was the cause of several conflicts in the village, and she had offended several people because of it. Since she opened her small shop, Sister Chrysanthemum had done her best not to offend people. After all, if she offended too many, no one would patronize her shop.
She did not harbor malice and always tried to diffuse the situation before it could escalate; she just had a horrible filter. Hence, she ran to Su Wen as soon as she realized her mistake.
“I know you didn’t mean anything bad, Sister Chrysanthemum. Besides, everyone knows my family is in business with Sister Yulan. I’m not a thief or a burglar, so I’m not afraid of being told off by someone like Su Xuefang.”
Upon hearing Su Wen’s words, Sister Chrysanthemum felt relieved. She was afraid that Su Xuefang would stop her. Hence, she had found an excuse to leave with as few words as possible.
After Sister Chrysanthemum left, the whole family mobilized and stowed everything important or valuable, hiding them in the room on the easternmost side where the food and sundries were stored. Su Xiu pocketed the key once she locked the door- -just in time to be greeted by Su Xuefang at the gate.
“Little Wen, I’m here.” Su Xuefang was full of confidence and a sense of superiority as she came in with an empty cloth bag on her back. The moment she stepped into the courtyard, her eyes swept in an arc, taking in all the sights. Soon, the courtyard turned into a mess.
“Why don’t you have anything?” Su Xuefang sneered disdainfully. “1 say, Su Wen, is this how you live life? Why is your house so empty?” She had even brought a large cloth bag with her!
How could she go home when it was not even half full?
Su Wen sized up Su Xuefang. Su Xuefang and Su Xueqiang looked alike. They were both of medium height and girthier around the waist. She did not know whether the Tian family’s food was so good at fattening people or because they had plundered Su Xuewen’s portion for themselves to reach their respective sizes.
However, there was one thing that she could see very clearly- -Su Xuefang looked down on her and even more so on her six younger sisters..