Chapter 28.1

Li Hehua had secretly visited the Zhang family’s house countless times without ever being seen. She never imagined she’d be caught today—it was simply bad luck.

Zhang Tieshan hadn’t expected to see Li Hehua at this time either. She usually came in the afternoon, and he hadn’t anticipated her arriving so early today.

Noticing Li Hehua’s awkward expression, Zhang Tieshan’s own initial discomfort vanished. After a moment’s pause, he said, “Visiting Shulin, I see.” It was a statement, not a question.

Li Hehua had braced herself for a cold reception, perhaps even being thrown out. After all, Zhang Tieshan had despised the original owner of her body. Yet here he was—calm, and even initiating conversation. Stunned, she instinctively nodded. “Yes, I came to see Shulin.” She fell silent, unsure what to say next, and the atmosphere grew awkward.

Zhang Tieshan said nothing more. He set his farming tools in the corner and went to fetch water to wash his hands.

Li Hehua blinked, thinking she should slip away quickly. If Zhang Qingshan or Madam Zhang returned, they’d surely suspect her motives again.

She patted the back of the little one in her arms, gently coaxing, “Bao Bei, I have to go now. Will you let go, please?”

But the he only clung tighter, silently refusing.

Li Hehua’s heart ached. She softly kissed his forehead. “Bao Bei, I can’t stay here with you. But I promise I’ll come back to see you soon, okay?”

The little one nuzzled against her, a mix of affection and pleading.

Zhang Tieshan reentered after washing his hands. Seeing the two of them, he pursed his lips and walked over to lightly pat the Shulin’s head. “A proper man shouldn’t act like a little girl. Let go.”

The nuzzling stopped. The boy nestled motionless in Li Hehua’s arms.

Li Hehua quickly stroked his head reassuringly. “Our Bao Bei is still small. Of course he can act like this. He’ll become a proper man when he grows up. But Bao Bei can’t keep me here, because I need to go back and make you delicious food. Otherwise, I won’t be able to bring you any treats next time.”

Zhang Tieshan listened absently, his gaze drifting from the child to the woman before him.

She had lost a significant amount of weight, but her facial features hadn’t changed much. If he didn’t know for certain that Li Hehua was the Li family’s only daughter, he would have suspected she had a twin sister with a completely different personality. How else could she have transformed so completely? The original Li Hehua would never have spoken so gently.

He could tell that her affection for Shulin in that moment was genuine. If she could deceive his eyes, she would be an extraordinary actress. But he knew Li Hehua had no such talent—neither for acting nor for cooking.

He remembered the one time she had cooked after marrying into his family—the result had been far from good. Yet now, everything she made was delicious, and many of her dishes were ones he’d never even heard of. Her culinary skills were far from ordinary. Could someone truly improve so drastically through self-study?

This woman was deeply suspicious.

Li Hehua remained oblivious to his repeated doubts, focused solely on soothing the Shulin. Finally, she managed to calm him down enough to let go.

“Good boy!” she praised, giving him a kiss. She picked up her basket from the table, nodded briefly to Zhang Tieshan, and turned to leave.

If the rest of the Zhang family came home, she really didn’t want to linger. It was best to leave quickly.

Just as Li Hehua was about to step out the door, a deep voice came from behind her. “Next time you come to see him, just come right in.”

It was Zhang Tieshan.

Surprised, Li Hehua paused and turned back. Zhang Tieshan was holding the child one, looking directly at her. Clearly, his words had been meant for her.

In modern times, divorced parents had equal rights to see their children. But in this ancient era, children were rarely given to their mothers. Even if a mother wanted to visit, it depended entirely on the father’s permission. If he refused, her pleas would be futile.

Li Hehua was astonished. The Zhang family should have been desperate to keep her away. She couldn’t understand why he would suddenly say this—but it was a blessing. She wouldn’t have to sneak around like a thief to see the little one anymore.

She nodded. “Alright.”

…..

With tomorrow’s move to town looming, Li Hehua finished baking and quickly packed her few belongings. Once done, she began contemplating her future life in town.

Living in town would greatly simplify her business. The market would be right at her doorstep, eliminating the hours-long treks she currently endured. This newfound time would allow her to finally realize her long-held plan: to set up a snack stall.

She had always dreamed of running a stall, but lacked the initial capital to acquire the necessary equipment. That’s why she had taken on catering jobs—to save money. Now that she had funds and a base in town, she could finally act on her dream.

Besides pots, pans, bowls, and utensils, Li Hehua needed tables and chairs. She could buy cookware in town for about two hundred copper coins. The remaining expense would be the cost of having the furniture made. After paying the rent, she had just over two taels of silver left. She wasn’t sure if that would be enough.

Li Hehua approached Cao Simei. “Cao jie, is there a skilled carpenter in the village? I need some tables and chairs made.”

Cao Simei assumed she meant furniture for her courtyard in town and replied without further inquiry, “Yes, we have Carpenter Qian. He’s worked with wood his whole life and his craftsmanship is excellent. People from other villages often come to him, and even townspeople sometimes hire him to save money.”

“That’s wonderful!” Li Hehua exclaimed. “Cao jie, could you take me to Carpenter Qian’s house? I want to ask if my budget is enough. If it is, I’ll commission the work.”

Cao Simei removed her apron and set it aside. “Alright, I’ll take you right now.”

She led Li Hehua straight to Carpenter Qian’s home. The carpenter was sawing wood in his yard when he saw them approaching. He quickly stood up to greet them. “Elder Sister Cao, what brings you here? Do you need something made?”

Cao Simei led Li Hehua forward and introduced her. “Old Qian, this is my younger sister. She wants to commission some tables and chairs, so I brought her to ask you directly.”

Carpenter Qian grunted in acknowledgment, pulled off the towel around his neck, and brushed wood shavings from his clothes. “What kind of tables and chairs are you looking for?”

“Just ordinary dining tables and chairs,” Li Hehua replied. “Like the ones used at noodle stalls in town. I need four tables and sixteen chairs. How much would that cost?”

The mention of stall furniture clarified things for him. After a quick mental calculation, he quoted, “Forty wen per table and twenty wen per chair. Does that sound acceptable?”

Li Hehua wasn’t sure if the price was fair, but she trusted Cao Simei. Cao Simei gave her a subtle nod, signaling that it was reasonable. Smiling, Li Hehua agreed. “That works. Thank you for taking the commission. I need them urgently. How soon can you have them ready?”

Carpenter Qian, with his years of experience, replied immediately, “If you’re in a rush, I’ll prioritize your order. Four tables and sixteen chairs should take about three days.”

Li Hehua nodded. “Perfect. Thank you for your trouble.” Just as she was about to leave, she remembered something else. “Oh, Uncle Qian, I also need a handcart to move things. Can you make one for me?”

How could she forget the handcart? Every snack stall needed one. She was relieved Carpenter Qian could handle it all—otherwise, she’d have to search in town.

He paused, then nodded. “I can make one. I’ve built plenty before.”

Li Hehua’s face lit up. “That’s wonderful! Please add it to the order.”

But Carpenter Qian didn’t agree right away. “Handcarts require a lot of wood, plus wheels and bearings. They’re more complex. They cost three hundred wen each. Are you sure?”

Li Hehua quickly calculated: after deducting the cost of pots, pans, and utensils, she would have about 1,800 copper coins left. Subtracting the price of the tables and chairs, she’d be left with roughly 1,300. After the handcart, she’d still have one tael of silver—enough for ingredients and daily needs.

She nodded. “I’m sure. Please make it for me.”

“Alright,” Carpenter Qian agreed. “But the handcart will take longer. You can pick up the tables and chairs in three days, and the handcart two days after that.”

Li Hehua had no objections. She planned to hire a cart to move the furniture to town in three days. As for the handcart, she could ask Cao Simei to bring it along when she went to sell pastries—saving her the trouble of coming back for it.