Chapter 15: Returning to Her Parental Home (Part 5)

The meal was finally ready just as Zhao Rushan and Zhao Ruhai returned.

Both had been working in the fields.
After the eldest sister-in-law called them home,
they put down their tools and immediately went to fetch wine.

Today’s meal was especially lavish.

Madam Hu slaughtered one of the wild pheasants that Zhao Ruhua and Yun Shiyue had brought back,
stir-frying it dry and fragrant.
Besides the wild chicken, there was also some pork and duck meat—
the ducks were ones Madam Hu had raised in the yard pen.

The family washed their hands and sat down together.
Looking at the table overflowing with dishes, Zhao Ruhua laughed.

“Why does it feel like New Year’s today?”

Madam Hu smiled.
“Today you’ve come home. Of course we should have a proper feast.”

Father Zhao had already poured the wine into bowls.

He offered a full bowl to Yun Shiyue, his face beaming.
“Shiyue, come, come! Let’s drink.
We must have a good, hearty drink today!”

Father Zhao normally didn’t drink,
but he was in such high spirits that he couldn’t resist.

Yun Shiyue lifted the bowl, nodded to Father Zhao,
and drained it in one gulp.

He looked genuinely bold and straightforward.

Father Zhao followed his lead and also emptied his bowl in one go.

The women chatted among themselves;
the men drank and spoke of men’s matters.

After Zhao Ruhua was full,
she moved to sit aside.

Her eldest sister-in-law, also finished, came over and whispered the latest gossip.

She said that the Li family was now preparing the wedding with the Shen family.

The Shen family’s daughter was already carrying Li Hongyun’s child.
Afraid her reputation would suffer,
her family hurried to negotiate with the Li family to finalize the marriage.

The eldest sister-in-law continued,
“I heard that when the Lis first went to give the betrothal gifts,
they ran into trouble.

The Shen family has decent standing,
and their daughter was naturally pampered from birth.

The Li family’s first set of gifts was too stingy,
which displeased the Shens.

They had to supplement the betrothal gifts
before the Shens reluctantly agreed.

But I also heard that this left the Shen family resentful.
If it weren’t for the pregnancy,
this marriage might never have happened.”

Zhao Ruhua nodded with sudden understanding.

She had wondered why the engagement had been delayed for so long.
So it had been about the betrothal gifts.

The Shen family clearly wasn’t to be trifled with.
The Li family had weighed their options and could only pay up.

Zhao Ruhua laughed lightly.
“Seems I was right to break off that engagement.

Their family is so stingy—
if I had married over there, my life would have been miserable.”

She then glanced at Yun Shiyue, who was drinking with Father Zhao.

See?
This “ugly man” was generous.

His betrothal gifts had been ample,
and he’d even brought special treats for her family when she returned home.

Compared to Li Hongyun’s family,
he was several leagues more generous.

The longer Zhao Ruhua looked at him, the more satisfied she felt.

Two years with this man—
she wouldn’t be losing out.

After the family ate and drank their fill,
it was already late.

Before Zhao Ruhua and Yun Shiyue left,
Madam Hu and Father Zhao loaded them up with gifts.

Father Zhao had even gone to the town ahead of time
to buy some items just for her homecoming.

Zhao Ruhua initially declined,
but her parents insisted,
so she and Yun Shiyue finally brought the things home.

After her home visit,
Zhao Ruhua devoted herself entirely
to improving their living conditions.

Yun Shiyue was a man who kept his word.

By the third day,
a man Zhao Ruhua had never seen before arrived,
carrying the items she had requested,
and asked for Yun Shiyue.

From Yun Shiyue, Zhao Ruhua learned that his name was Ling Han.

Hearing the name, she suspected
it was likely just an alias.

Ling Han was built similarly to Yun Shiyue—
tall and lean.

But his face was far more handsome:
fair skin, sharp lines, refined features—
obviously not a rural farmer.

When he approached Yun Shiyue,
his manner was deferential.

“Young Master, these are the items you requested.”

Ling Han handed them over,
but his eyes instinctively flicked toward Zhao Ruhua.

Meeting his gaze,
she straightened her back subconsciously.

This man gave off an unapproachable air.

His expression toward her was so stern
that it carried an intimidating weight.

“You can give them to her,”
Yun Shiyue said,
while he turned to search his ornate box.

Zhao Ruhua accepted the sewing supplies from Ling Han
and then deliberately went outside,
choosing not to eavesdrop on the men’s conversation.

She knew which matters were safe to hear,
and which were better left alone.

Out in the courtyard,
she perched on a stone,
happily examining the items Ling Han had brought.

Inside were ten pairs of shoe soles
and skeins of colorful yarn.

The yarn was thicker than the baby wool she’d used in the 21st century,
yet even softer to the touch.

She didn’t know the exact price,
but she could tell from the texture
that it was not cheap.

There were also several crochet hooks.

When she saw them,
Zhao Ruhua lit up with delight.

These were exactly the kind she needed.

And the hooks were made of white jade.

She couldn’t help but smile from ear to ear.

As expected of a true bigshot.

Even a simple crochet hook
was crafted from jade.

Whoever made these hooks
had exquisite craftsmanship.

The entire hook was smooth and polished,
and the small barb was perfectly finished—
not a single rough edge.

Zhao Ruhua was thoroughly satisfied.

Clinging to Yun Shiyue’s thigh
had indeed been the right choice.

The shoe soles were also top-quality.
She couldn’t tell what material they were made from,
but she could see they were waterproof.

Holding the items,
she couldn’t help thinking again:

Just who is this Yun Shiyue,
to be so outrageously wealthy?

She didn’t dwell on it for long.

Sorting the yarn,
she chose gray as the main color and blue as the accent for the shoe soles.

She wrapped the yarn around her fingers to form a loop
and began her starting stitch.

For the heel,
she planned a leaf-shaped pattern.

In her past life,
Zhao Ruhua had loved crochet work.

If she didn’t know a pattern,
she would search for tutorials online.

After crocheting a design once or twice,
she could memorize it without the tutorial.

By the time Yun Shiyue and Ling Han emerged from the house,
Zhao Ruhua had already finished most of the small heel motif.

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