Chapter 27 – She Endured It

When they arrived at the hunter’s house, Wen Lan didn’t invite Lin Father and Hehua inside. “It’s already too late. Father, Hehua, you two should head back first. I’ll come visit you in the village another day.”

Lin Father nodded but still cast a few glances in the direction of the hunter’s house. Finally, he pulled a small string of copper coins from his chest and stuffed it into Wen Lan’s hands.

“Your wedding happened so suddenly, and the family didn’t have time to prepare any proper dowry. Take this money.”

“Father!” Wen Lan looked at the copper coins, and her heartstrings were suddenly tugged by this simple, honest middle-aged man in front of her.

She had gone back to the Lin family with her own agenda, because she was no longer Lin Furong. The emotional bond she had with the Lin family existed only in Lin Furong’s memories.

But now, seeing Lin Father hand over this money, a wave of sour emotion surged in Wen Lan’s chest. Lin Mother had always controlled the household finances, so this money was likely all of Lin Father’s personal savings.

“Take it.” Lin Father again pressed the coins into Wen Lan’s hands. “Even if you’re marrying a hunter and have a good house to live in and meat to eat, it’s still unsettling not to have any money of your own. Your father doesn’t have the means to give you much, but take this and buy yourself some melon or fruit when you want some.”

“Thank you, Father!” Wen Lan lowered her head, tears falling, and tucked the coins—weighted with heavy fatherly love—into her bosom.

She opened the courtyard gate and stepped inside, turning around to wave at them.

“Big Sister, I’ll come see you another day,” Hehua waved at her too.

“Mm.” Wen Lan nodded firmly, watching Lin Father and Lin Hehua walk away.

Back in the woodshed, Wen Lan gave Iron General a bowl of clean water and then sat on the newly made bed, staring off into space.

By all accounts, things were much clearer now than when she first arrived. She had a place to stay, a small string of coins in her hand, and she now knew where the marketplace was. All that remained was for her to figure out how to earn money.

Foraging for mountain goods—that was the only method she could think of at the moment.

But when she went to the market today, she hadn’t seen any shop purchasing wild mountain goods.

It must be because Jiming Town was too small, and the people here could make a living farming rice and raising silkworms, so few relied on Yunzhong Mountain for sustenance.

That meant she could only try to sell the foraged goods to the townsfolk.

But how was she supposed to forage? She didn’t know Yunzhong Mountain at all. What if she got lost?

Wen Lan turned her gaze toward the outside of the woodshed. That hunter had been living here for three years and hunted in the mountains all this time. He was surely more familiar with Yunzhong Mountain than anyone. Maybe… she could go with him into the mountains tomorrow?

But… would he agree?

Wen Lan felt uncertain about the future, but she was determined to give it a try.

Having made up her mind, she tilted her head and lay down on the bed, quickly falling into a deep sleep.

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Before dawn the next day, Wen Lan got up to wash and dress. She changed into light, convenient clothes suitable for entering the mountains, then started washing vegetables and cooking porridge.

By the time Qingfeng and Xuanyue got up, Wen Lan had already prepared two refreshing side dishes and a large pot of porridge.

“Hunter sir, Young Master Qingfeng, you’re both up. I’ve already made breakfast. Please wash your faces first, and I’ll bring it over right away.” Wen Lan stood respectfully at Xuanyue’s door, holding a basin of wash water and mimicking the way servant girls in TV dramas greeted their masters.

Seeing her behave so appropriately, Qingfeng looked smugly at Xuanyue. “Master, don’t you think she’s even more clever than the servant girls at the residence?”

Xuanyue gave a faint smile. “She’s being overly attentive for no reason—definitely up to something.”

After speaking, he walked straight up to Wen Lan, dipped his hands into the basin, and began to wash his face.

Poor Wen Lan just stood there, holding the wash basin, watching him wash his face. In the end, she even had to endure him tossing the facecloth he used onto her head.

Clearly, he was treating her like a washstand.

But—for the sake of entering the mountains to gather wild goods—she endured it.