Chapter 28

“Ahem… my mouth is a bit dry, I thought this was water.”

Yin Huaishan tried to compose himself as he turned around and exited the kitchen.

Jiang Wan didn’t laugh, but Yin Ning couldn’t stop herself. Even though Yin Huaishan hadn’t gone far, his ears had already turned red.

The atmosphere at home was quite good, and the sea urchins finally had a purpose. Jiang Wan had planned to go out and sell again for another day, but since the sea urchins were all gone, and her mother needed the mint leaves for other things, there was barely enough left for their own use, let alone for a market stall.

So, the two sisters spent the afternoon at home, learning from Song Wenhui how to cut fabric and make clothes, while also measuring sizes.

Jiang Wan had a face full of frustration.

It was late June, and the weather was already hot, yet she was wearing long sleeves. Now, she had to add another layer underneath!

People in ancient times really had it tough.

There was no freedom in clothing, no freedom in speech, no freedom in socializing, and marriage had to follow the will of the parents.

Luckily, her mother was still the same. In some ways, Jiang Wan had more freedom and happiness than ninety percent of the girls in this era.

People must learn to be content. Just wear it and be done. When the weather gets hotter, I’ll have Mother make me a bra. Even if I can’t wear it, my cousin and aunt will probably want to.

After all, no one can see what’s underneath.

Only those who are comfortable would know.

Jiang Wan’s mind spun as she became more and more drowsy. Before the clothes were finished, she had already fallen asleep on the bed.

Yin Ning smiled softly, grabbing her own skirt and gently fanning her cousin. As Jiang Wan slept, it felt like she had returned to her modern home, with a fan blowing on her, and she drifted into a deeper, sweeter sleep.

Seeing her daughter like this, Song Wenhui felt indescribable joy. Her daughter had been smiling more recently, finally showing some life. The lifeless look she had during their exile still haunted her, and whenever she thought about it, she felt afraid, as if her daughter might have fallen ill or something worse.

Now that the girl had grown up, she no longer shared much with her. On their journey, she had to care for her husband and the elderly, and after a whole day’s travel, she was too exhausted to have a heart-to-heart. Only after her in-laws had left did she start to notice that her daughter’s sadness wasn’t entirely due to the exile.

Though she still didn’t know what had made her daughter so downcast, she was glad to see her brighten up again. That was enough. Jiang Wan had been a great help, and she needed to cherish her even more.

The two of them continued without speaking—one quietly sewing, the other gently fanning the air.

Jiang Wan slept soundly, while Fu Yuanling, who had been searching for her, sweated in frustration as he waited, not finding her. He even sent a servant to ask around along the way, but no one had any information. Most people didn’t even know there was a stall selling water and sea urchins by the road, and those who did just glanced at it when passing by but didn’t stop to talk, so they didn’t know the details.

By the time it was nearly dark, Fu Yuanling could only helplessly return home.

“Uncle! Where are the sea urchins? Where did you hide them?!”

As soon as he entered the yard, a chubby little boy came running straight at him. Luckily, Fu Yuanling had practiced a bit of martial arts, so he was able to steady himself, or else he would have fallen.

“You little rascal, can you be a bit quieter? Every time you crash into me, I almost get hurt!”

The little boy frowned and said bluntly, “Uncle, you’re so useless. I bump into my uncle all the time, and he’s fine!”

Fu Yuanling: “…”

Little rascal! Can’t you think before you speak?

“Hmph!”

“Uncle, stop huffing. Where are the sea urchins? Didn’t you say you’d go buy them for me?”

The little boy blinked his big eyes, looking hopefully at his uncle, imagining that he would suddenly pull something out of his hand like he had done before.

Fu Yuanling felt a bit awkward and forced a smile. As he explained, he began moving toward his own yard.

“Ah Yuan, it’s not that I didn’t get you any, it’s just that no one set up a stall today. Wait until tomorrow. Tomorrow morning, I’ll go and buy some for you!”

Upon hearing that he hadn’t bought them, the little boy’s big, watery eyes immediately filled with tears.

“Grandma, Uncle lied to me! Wuwu…”

The little guy wailed loudly, his voice carrying across the yard.

Fu Yuanling had no choice but to follow, trying to explain to his mother-in-law.

Sigh, yesterday, the little rascal had clearly eaten the sea urchins, so why did he ask him for more? After eating them, he’d developed a craving, but the stalls didn’t have any. He had to go back and try buying them from those two girls, but they weren’t setting up their stall.

Could he be blamed for that?

Of course not.

His mother would understand, right?

“Third Brother!!”

It was his father’s voice!

Fu Yuanling jumped, startled, and walked into the yard with a heavy heart.

He knew he was in trouble. Since his precious grandson was born, his little son was no longer the focus of the family. When it came to the golden grandson, who could reason? He was sure he was in the wrong.

Tomorrow, tomorrow he would definitely buy sea urchins and bring them back!

Meanwhile, Jiang Wan, who had no idea someone was looking for her to buy sea urchins, slept in a little longer the next morning.

Since the tide wasn’t as early today, she didn’t have to wake up early. Her mother and aunt had gone up the mountain to collect herbs, her cousin was home cutting cloth to make clothes, and her uncle had left early, not sure where he had gone. Not wanting to stay home, Jiang Wan told her cousin and then grabbed a basket and a bucket to go harvest seafood.

The wooden bucket wasn’t too heavy, so it wasn’t tiring to carry it to the beach without any water. She mostly worried about encountering the same situation as yesterday, where she didn’t have anything to collect the sea creatures in. If she left them in the basket without water, they would end up dead, and she wouldn’t be able to sell them, which would be a waste.

To be on the safe side, she brought a bucket with her.

Once she reached the beach, she set the wooden bucket aside and, holding a small stick, made her way to the rocky tide pools.

Today, she wasn’t specifically looking for any particular seafood, so she picked up whatever she came across.

She heard a faint sound of water splashing—soft and without much force. It was clearly not a fish. The tail of a fish thrashing in the water wouldn’t make this sound.

Jiang Wan carefully circled the rocks and peered into a tide pool. The water was a bit murky.

Unable to see clearly under the water, she wasn’t about to stick her hand in. The cautious girl used the stick to poke around, and the next moment, a small black-and-white striped sea snake emerged from the water, leisurely swimming into a crack in the rocks.

Oh my god! A sea snake!

Jiang Wan’s heart skipped a beat, and her hand stiffened in shock.

Sea snakes were highly venomous! If she had been bitten, she wouldn’t even get a chance to see her mother for the last time before she died.

That was close… so close…