Chapter 39: It's Not a Coincidence That the Azure Bean is Pregnant

  "You... keep this money for yourself, what's it for me?"

  Li saw that there were several taels of silver, and immediately realized that it must have been given by her natal family. The talk about selling things was just her making excuses. Although this might not be a big deal for her natal family, in her own hands, it could sustain her livelihood for some time!

  "Mother! Don't be polite with me, at home we have food to eat and clothes to wear, I'm leaving it here but it's not of much use. Recently with all that's been happening at home, I know you've also been working hard, take this money and buy some brain supplements for my uncle, he really needs them now!"

  Xinzhī Lǐ shì tǐ nèi hái yǒu yī gǔ zǐ jiǎo jìn er, xiāng qián jiēshòu le zìjǐ niángjiā rén de bāngzhù, xiàn zài yòu zěnme huì píngbái ná zìjǐ de qián? Kěshì Shěn Hán què qīngchǔ tā ài zǐ xīnqiē, bān chū Zhào Xī Qiáo dìngdìng shì tā de yī dà ruǎndìe, zhǐshì Shěn Hán háishì rěn bùzhù yǒu xiē xiǎo jiūjié, zhè yǒurén sòng qián sòng dé zhème xīnkǔ de me?

  "That......" Thinking of her son who has also been affected by the worry, and with another person added to the family, their already difficult life is now even harder. They still haven't paid back the money they borrowed for fish that day!

  Li could only nod reluctantly and take the silver from Shen Huan's hand: "This is your private money, consider it a debt I owe you!"

  "Mom! What are you talking about......"

  "If you're giving it away for free, then I won't take it!"

  Li's words were unusually resolute, and the expression on her face was also a strong and unyielding one that couldn't be ignored. Shen Huan could only take a step back first and nod in response, letting her take the money for now, and if she didn't want to give it to herself later, then so be it!

  "I think I should find something to do and earn some money to support my family's livelihood."

  Shen Huan helped Li arrange the several pieces of embroidered handkerchiefs that she had hastily brought out, although they were done in a hurry, but the quality and quantity were equal, making Shen Huan, who didn't understand embroidery, couldn't help but admire those skilled hands every time she saw Li's embroidery.

  Especially when Li's flying needle was walking the line, Shen Han would often be distracted, and several times it was Li who made a soft call, and she found her own seven souls and six spirits.

  "Do you want to help out at home or are you feeling bored staying at home and wanting something to do?"

  Li didn't directly agree or refuse, but smiled and folded up her own embroidered handkerchief, borrowing a corner of Spring Flower's small stall, which was often visited. Spring Flower was a widow who made a living by weaving and selling fabric, and had been taken advantage of due to her beauty. She met Spring Father, who helped her, and they both having lost their other halves, got together and lived as husband and wife. Spring Flower was the child they picked up and raised after getting together, because they were both remarried, the neighbors simply called them Spring Father and Spring Mother.

  Shen Han has always had a good impression of women who are self-reliant, especially in ancient times when women were often the subject of gossip. A young and beautiful widow like her, who insists on doing things her own way despite public opinion, is quite unusual. She can be said to be an exception among many women who are forced into arranged marriages. Although not everyone may accept her union with Chun Hua's father, for Shen Han, striving for one's own happiness is not wrong.

  It's clear that Li and Chunhua have a good relationship, and Shen Huan's fondness for her mother-in-law has increased by several points. Perhaps it's also partly because of herself, Shen Huan can't help but think so, after all, she is also a widow who married into their family.

  Mr. Li's words also made Chunhua Nang unintentionally raise her eyes, and the charm of a young woman suddenly appeared on Chunhua Nang's face. It was only a glimpse, but it made Shen Han secretly wipe his sweat for Chunhua's father. Such a beautiful young woman at home, he... could bear it?

  Unconsciously, Shen Huan's thoughts had strayed, and she immediately turned her head to put her gaze back on her mother-in-law: "Of course, it's boring at home, except for cooking and cleaning, there's nothing else to do. If I can help with household chores, I'd be more than happy!"

  The constraints on women in Jian Guo were not as strict as those in many historical dynasties, where they had to stay indoors and avoid going out. Even after getting married, they had to be careful to avoid suspicion. In Jian Guo, there were also a number of women who went into business and became the bosses of their own households. Therefore, Li's requirements for Shen Huan, apart from asking her about the reasons, did not show too much displeasure.

  "What do you want to do then? Why don't you learn embroidery with me?"

  "Spare me, Mother!"

  Seeing Shen Huan's frowning eyebrows, just like the fortune teller's brush head opposite her, Li couldn't help but burst out laughing. Perhaps it was Chunhua's gentle laughter that caught her attention, so she turned around and struck up a conversation with Chunhua: "This child is just fond of shouting randomly, making you laugh."

  "She's actually quite similar to me when I was younger!"

  Chun Hua's wife was not a local, so few people knew what she did before coming to Fuli Town, only knowing that she was alone and later married Chun Hua's father and adopted Xiao Chun Hua. However, regarding Chun Hua's past, the people of Fuli Town who knew of her existence gossiped for a long time but couldn't dig up any information.

  Shen Huan also came from another town, she was not clear about these things, so she directly asked: "Sister's business is doing well now, does sister have any experience to share?"

  Everyone has a heart that loves beauty, and Chun Hua is indeed a beautiful woman, but she's not so beautiful that men would get an erection just by seeing her, or women would be so jealous that they'd want to poke their own eyes out. She simply has a certain charm, a subtle elegance and a down-to-earth quality that makes people feel comfortable around her. That's why Li chose to set up his stall next to hers, he must have found her easy to get along with, which is why he was chatting with her in a familiar way.

  Of course, wanting to gain some experience in doing business in this place is a bigger part of the reason.

  "including children..."

  She didn't know that everyone was curious about her, but no one would take the initiative to ask her. However, Shen Huan, who was unaware of this, went ahead and asked about others' pasts in a very casual manner. Li Shi immediately spoke up to remind her, but it wasn't easy to make the point clear without being too explicit.

  It was Chun Hua who laughed first, patting Li's hand and saying: "Sister, don't worry, actually my family used to be merchants, but after our family declined, I had no choice but to marry the person I was engaged to. However, they looked down on me, and after my parents passed away due to illness, a divorce letter, two sets of tattered clothes, and a few copper coins were all they gave me before kicking me out. Later, I was kidnapped by human traffickers, but I managed to escape by jumping off the boat. That's how I ended up here, and you must have already heard what happened afterwards."

  Shen Han listened and felt that life was very melodramatic, Chun Hua's experience was undoubtedly not the most common plot in a melodrama, but she didn't expect to hear it herself this time. However, when Chun Hua told her story, the kind of vicissitudes on her face were undeniable. Shen Han finally understood why there was something about her that made people feel a bit indifferent yet want to get close to her - it all came from her experiences!

  Having gone through the ups and downs of her family, emotional failures, perhaps without any emotions at all, she was truly abandoned, even walking a circle in front of the Ghost Gate, there are things on her body that other girls can't match.

  "So actually you're not a widow either..."

  Seeing the shock on Li's face, Chunhua looked at Shen Han again and saw complex emotions in her eyes, seemingly with sympathy, incredulity, and even a hint of indignation. She couldn't help but burst out laughing: "A dead husband is better than letting people know you've been abandoned by your husband. Anyway, I'm doing well now."

  "Then big sister you came here..."

  "Haonan, do you have your own ideas about what you want to do?"

  Mr. Li suddenly spoke up and changed the subject, turning his head to look at Shen Huan, winking at her to signal that she shouldn't ask any more questions. Shen Huan stopped talking and lowered her head, thinking about what she could do in this ancient era to help improve their family's life.

  "Actually, there's still no clue for now..."

  She happened to see her mother-in-law taking things out and selling them at someone else's place, thinking if there was a way to make money. Although she had thought about it before, due to one thing after another, she hadn't had time to think carefully.

  Now that it's been brought up, the mother-in-law doesn't seem to have any objections. When asked seriously, she couldn't think of a solution for the time being. After all, this is something that needs to be implemented in the long term, not just a sudden burst. Otherwise, anyone can become rich!

  "Hmm, I thought you had some ideas, girl?"

  "Actually, if I really want to make it on my own, it's not something that can be achieved overnight. The reason I can weave and sell fabric is entirely because of the skills I've accumulated from my old profession, as our family used to sell fabric in the past."

  Chun Hua Niang spoke up again to help Shen Han out of the embarrassing situation, and she couldn't help but cast a watery gaze at Chun Hua Niang, the implication of which was very clear: Big sister, you're really a good person!

  "How much is this?"

  Shen Huan was currently engaged in conversation with Li, and then due to Chunhua's joining in, she unknowingly had her back to the main street. At this moment, someone asked about the price, and for a moment, she only felt that the voice sounded somewhat familiar, but didn't pay much attention to it. Slowly turning around, however, when she saw the person who came, she couldn't help but widen her eyes, even forming an 'O' shape with her lips.

  At this moment, Qian Shui was not dressed as she had seen her that day, but rather in a completely youthful and girlish attire, which made her almost unrecognizable at first glance. If it weren't for seeing Mu Siyao standing not far behind her, she wouldn't have been so shocked!

  The sound of the water... became soft and gentle, completely unlike the neutral tone it had when speaking to itself that day. Can a person's change be so great just because of a set of clothes and a scene?

  Shen Han immediately closed her "O"-shaped mouth and cast her gaze on Mu Siyao, who had a calm but expressionless face. Was their appearance a coincidence or intentional? Could it be a coincidence that Qian Shui happened to like the handkerchief embroidered by Grandma? Would a woman like her use something like this?

  This is absolutely man-made and not a coincidence! Appraisal complete!

  Hehe, let me show you an expression

  Is there an expression of surprise?

  Haha, girls fill in the blanks themselves. When Shen Huan saw Mu Siyao, that shocked expression was quite vivid, wasn't it?

  Cough cough cough, running away quickly, to avoid being attacked by vegetable leaves and eggs!...