The Spirited Daughter-in-law and the Mountain Man

“Just taking a stroll.”

“Oh.” Mrs. Qian Zhang enthusiastically suggested, “Why don’t you come over to my house for a visit?”

Su Qingyue very well knew what Mrs. Qian Zhang was up to. All she wanted was the recipe for the stir-fried tasty fern. “No, thank you.”

“No worries…” Mrs. Qian Zhang attempted to pull her in. Su Qingyue quickly stepped back, “It’s getting dark, I haven’t prepared dinner at home yet. I need to head back to cook soon.”

“Well then, as you please.” Mrs. Qian Zhang forced a smile, “Wife of the Xiao Family, could you tell me how to reduce the bitterness of the fern?

“If I were able to tell you, I would have done so long ago.” Su Qingyue didn’t want to be entangled with her, she flatly said, “I sold the stir-fried fern recipe to the Rich Source Tavern in town. They paid me silver taels and we agreed that I would not sell stir-fried tasty fern anymore, nor would I disclose the recipe.” “You are clearly just making excuses not to tell the recipe …”

“Believe it or not, it’s up to you.” She was growing impatient and she didn’t want Mrs. Qian Zhang to ask her … ridiculous questions.

Bypassing Mrs. Qian Zhang, she headed to the village well where many people gathered.

After washing her face in the afternoon, Su Qingyue reapplied medicine to her face, walking around bearing the greenish blistered face caused by the medicine. Everyone seemed to have gotten used to her appearance as the reactions were not as great as before. Every one of them greeted her with an artificially enthusiastic greeting and then found ways to ask her about the stir-fried fern recipe.

She simply ignored them, ready to ask questions before anyone else whenever she saw someone.

Strolling around aimlessly, Su Qingyue ran into Li Wangcai on one of the village paths.

Having been swindled by Su Qingyue before, Li Wangcai knew how cunning she was. He didn’t bother asking how to prepare the stir-fried fern, knowing it would be pointless trying to get the recipe out of this formidable woman. He just wanted to pretend he hadn’t seen her and walk by, but Su Qingyue spoke before he could, “Brother Li.”

Her voice sounded more pleasant than the oriole’s warble in the valley. Even though he was already married, Li Wangcai had to pause for a moment, “Just out for a walk?”

“Yes.” She didn’t bother with small talk, she directly asked, “Brother Li, let me ask you a question.”

Having been taken advantage of by Su Qingyue before, Li Wangcai responded warily, “What question?”

He always felt that this woman could scare the life out of someone.

“Who do you think is better looking, my third brother or fourth brother?”

“Is that all?”

“Mmhm.”

“Of course your third brother is better looking. Is that all? I’m going now.” He found her question very odd, but he didn’t want to engage with her much, fearing that he might be duped by this ugly woman someday.

Su Qingyue had already asked multiple people. They all had the same response as Li Wangcai.

The village well was in the center of the village. It was a vast area with a high concentration of households and it also had a well. The villagers liked to carry water from there. There were wells in other places too, however, this well had the most people carrying water.

It was the period before dinner time and everyone was queuing to carry water.

Everyone greeted Su Qingyue enthusiastically when they saw her, and again, a crowd gathered around her asking about the recipe. She simply repeated what she told Mrs. Qian Zhang, saying, “If I leak the stir-fried fern recipe, I’ll have to pay compensation.”

“Never mind then.” One of the villagers, a man named Ding Er said, “Everyone, let’s stop asking. If it leaks, the Xiao family definitely won’t be able to afford to pay.”

“Yes, Brother Ding is right.” Su Qingyue agreed quickly, “I will not be able to afford it. Most of the money I made from selling the recipes has been spent. I have a little left and that needs to be saved for household use..”