Chapter 9

Li Hehua patted her chest, her heart still pounding. “Why were you standing there silently? You scared me half to death!”

Zhang Tieshan’s expression remained impassive, but his piercing gaze sent a chill down her spine.

Uncomfortable under his scrutiny, Li Hehua secretly pursed her lips, gave up on trying to reason with him, and lowered her head to continue walking with the steamed bun.

“Cut the act!” Zhang Tieshan’s voice, his eyes fixed on the bowl on the stove, dripped with icy menace.

Li Hehua froze. “I’m not playing any games. I just gave the child something to eat. What’s the big deal? If you don’t want him to have it, just throw it away.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Zhang Tieshan’s gaze sharpened further, as if knives were piercing her skin. She desperately wanted to escape his sight.

What’s wrong with this man? He’s just an ordinary villager. How can he have such a piercing gaze? Has he figured something out?

Li Hehua’s heart raced with alarm, but she maintained a calm facade. “If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going.”

“Li Hehua, I’m warning you: don’t try any tricks under my nose. If you dare to target Shulin again, I’ll make you regret it.”

The sharpness hidden within his seemingly calm words was unmistakable. Li Hehua believed that if she truly harmed that child in any way, this man would show her no mercy. But she wasn’t the original owner of this body, and she had never intended to hurt the little boy. She simply wanted to be kind to him. So, what did she have to fear?

Li Hehua met the man’s gaze fearlessly. “Rest assured, I have no ulterior motives regarding Shulin. I simply want to be good to him.”

Her words drew a cold snort from the man. “Good to him? After how you treated him before? Do you think anyone will believe that now? Li Hehua, I don’t care what schemes you’re plotting in that twisted mind of yours. Keep them to yourself. This is no longer your playground. I’ve already shown you extraordinary mercy by letting you stay here. Don’t even think about testing my limits again.”

Zhang Tieshan didn’t believe a word of Li Hehua’s claim that she wanted to be good to Shulin. After all, how could someone who had treated her own son so cruelly in the past suddenly change her ways?

He knew that old habits die hard, and this woman’s core was rotten with malice and filth. She could never truly become good—at least, not as good as she pretended to be.

He knew the food Shulin had been eating for the past two days came from her, but he refused to believe it was out of genuine kindness. This woman must be plotting something. He had been observing her silently for two days, but he hadn’t detected anything unusual. She was more cunning and patient than he had imagined.

Regardless of her intentions, he wouldn’t let her succeed. A stern warning was necessary.

Li Hehua had no idea what Zhang Tieshan was thinking. His warning made her angry and resentful. All she had done was give the child some food—nothing else. Why was he treating her like a criminal, scolding and warning her? But her rational mind reminded her that this man still saw her as the original Li Hehua, unaware that she was not the same person.

In the end, it was all the original owner’s fault. Li Hehua’s grievances were simply the consequences of shouldering the blame for her predecessor’s actions.

Li Hehua mentally told herself to stay calm, taking a deep breath. “Whether you believe me or not, I truly have no ulterior motives,” she said. “If you’re worried, just keep an eye on me. I won’t do anything else—I’m just making some food for the child.” With that, she turned to leave, pausing at the doorway to add, “There are some fried dumplings I made for the little one on the stove. Do what you want with them.” She then strode into the woodshed without looking back.

……

Sitting on the bed, Li Hehua lost her appetite. A heavy feeling settled in her chest. This constant suspicion, where even the simplest act was interpreted as a sinister scheme, was suffocating. Would she forever be viewed through the distorted lens of the original owner’s reputation? Could she never simply be herself?

Sigh, the original owner’s sins ran deep. As long as she remained here, she would be trapped in her shadow. There was no escaping it unless she fled this place, leaving behind everyone who knew her, to finally be herself—the carefree Li Hehua she once was.

It seemed earning money was truly essential. Li Hehua resolved to quickly save enough to buy her own courtyard house in town and move away from this place.

No, no, no, she thought. Buying a courtyard house felt too distant a goal. I should focus on earning enough to rent a place first. Then, I can slowly save for a courtyard house. That way, I can move out sooner.

With this thought, Li Hehua mentally cheered herself on. I must work hard to earn money!

……

There were still a few days before she was scheduled to prepare a feast for the Wang Family. With no immediate commitments, she could use this time to find ways to earn some money. Otherwise, she’d be living off her dwindling savings.

But what could she do?

She had considered selling a recipe to a restaurant. She believed a single recipe could fetch enough to buy a courtyard house. However, all her recipes were unique to the Li Family, and their Family Precepts strictly forbade sharing or selling them. Even in this new world, even without anyone watching, she refused to break this sacred tradition.

So, she needed to find another way.

Li Hehua chewed on her steamed bun, racking her brain for a solution. Suddenly, her gaze fixed on the bun in her hand, and an idea sparked: That’s it! I could make some novel and delicious pastries to sell at the market. People coming to the fair and town residents would surely buy them. No matter the era or place, food never goes unsold.

Li Hehua’s eyes lit up as she began to carefully consider what kind of pastries would attract customers.

After much deliberation, she decided on red bean cakes and sponge cakes. Both were simple to make, requiring no complicated machinery, and could be easily prepared in the kitchen’s basic conditions. Moreover, they could be made exceptionally delicious.

However, making these two pastries required eggs, red beans, and white sugar—all of which she lacked. She needed to buy them separately, but she only had five wen to her name, nowhere near enough to cover the cost of the ingredients. What was she going to do?

She’d finally come up with a brilliant idea, only to realize she couldn’t even afford the materials. Could anyone be more unfortunate?

Frustrated, Li Hehua scratched her head so vigorously she nearly drove herself mad.

Should she just give up? No, no, she couldn’t! She desperately needed money. With her skills, this plan was sure to make a profit—if only she could gather the ingredients.

But where could she possibly get the money? She didn’t know her predecessor’s family and wouldn’t consider asking them. The original Li Hehua had no close friends or confidantes, and her reputation in the village was abysmal, making borrowing impossible.

Her only option was… Li Hehua’s gaze drifted to the courtyard outside, where the rhythmic sound of wood being chopped echoed. It was that man, splitting firewood.

Li Hehua stood up, tiptoed to the door, and cracked it open a sliver to peek outside. Her eyes fell upon a robust figure, sleeves rolled up to his elbows, revealing muscular forearms. In his right hand, he wielded an axe, each swing causing his muscles to bulge rhythmically.

In the past, Li Hehua would have taken her time to admire such a handsome man. But now, her mind was preoccupied with whether to swallow her pride and ask him for money.

If she asked, she risked rejection and likely a humiliating scolding. But if she didn’t, she had no other options.

Torn between these possibilities, Li Hehua finally resolved to ask. What’s a little pride anyway? she thought. Let him mock me—at least I’ll have tried. I can’t give up without even trying.

Gathering her courage, Li Hehua pushed the door open and slowly walked into the courtyard, approaching Zhang Tieshan. But Zhang Tieshan didn’t even glance at her, continuing to chop wood.

Li Hehua opened her mouth, closed it, then opened it again, repeating this awkward dance several times before finally managing to speak, “Zhang Tieshan.”

Zhang Tieshan shot her a sidelong glance before lowering his head to resume his work.

Li Hehua had never asked anyone for money in her life, and the embarrassment was overwhelming. She rubbed her hands together, forced a smile, and said, “Zhang Tieshan, could you do me a favor?”

Zhang Tieshan ignored her, having no intention of humoring her.

Li Hehua wrinkled her nose, already knowing this wouldn’t go well. But she had no choice—when you’re under someone’s roof, you have to lower your head. If I ever make it big…

Snapping out of her daydream, Li Hehua continued, “Zhang Tieshan, would you lend me some money? Don’t worry, I’ll definitely pay you back. I’ll even write you an IOU.”

Unfortunately, her words earned only a cold glare from Zhang Tieshan, a look filled with both disgust and warning.

Li Hehua bit her lip in frustration but decided to ignore his icy stare. “Zhang Tieshan, I want to make some pastries to sell on the street, but I don’t have red beans, eggs, or sugar. If you lend me some money to buy them, I’ll pay you back as soon as I earn enough. You don’t have to worry about them not selling—my skills are excellent. How about you try one when they’re done?”

Li Hehua poured out every persuasive argument she could think of in one breath, then watched the man anxiously, hoping he would nod.

Instead, he spat out a single word: “Get lost! Stop pestering me.”

Li Hehua: “……”

Why is this man so difficult to deal with?!

Refusing to back down, Li Hehua persisted: “If you don’t believe I can make money, I’ll make you a sample right now! Try it and you’ll see it’ll sell for sure, okay?”

No response.

Li Hehua continued: “If you don’t like it, I can make it for Little Treasure! Kids love cake, it’s really delicious. Just let him try it, okay?”

Still no response.

Li Hehua tried again: “Zhang Tieshan, I just want to sell some pastries to make money. I only have five copper coins. Please lend me a few—just twenty will do! I’ll pay you back thirty! That’s a clear ten-coin profit for you!”

The man remained deaf to her pleas, showing no sign of acknowledging her. He only swung his axe harder, the sound of splitting wood growing louder and more violent, as if he were hacking at a person. Li Hehua feared he might lose his temper and turn the axe on her next.

Li Hehua mustered her courage for one last attempt. “Zhang Tieshan, don’t you hate me? If I earn enough money, I can move away quickly. Then you won’t have to see me anymore. So lending me some money would benefit you too. And I promise I’ll pay it back.”

Having said this, Li Hehua had truly run out of words. If he still refused, she would have no choice but to give up.

She stared silently at Zhang Tieshan, awaiting his response.

Zhang Tieshan stopped chopping wood, straightened up, and coldly regarded Li Hehua, axe in hand.

Just as Li Hehua feared he was about to strike her, he reached into his inner pocket, pulled out a string of copper coins, and offered them to her.

Li Hehua’s eyes widened in surprise. She reached out to take them, but her hand closed on empty air. Frowning, she looked up at him.

The man held the coins indifferently. “I’ll lend you the money, but you must move out within two months. Never set foot in this village again, and never appear before us again. If you break this promise, don’t blame me for what comes next.”

Li Hehua considered for a moment, then nodded. “Fine, I agree.” She had no desire to stay here anyway, and she certainly wouldn’t have any further dealings with this place or its people.