The Formidable Lady of the Poor Scholar’s Household

Chapter 7: A Mess

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

This was the first time Qian Sishui was at such a loss. When there were only the two of them left in the courtyard, she lowered her head like a child who had done something wrong.

Shi Jinhua heaved a sigh of relief. He did not know if it was because she had not left him or because the fire had not burned the kitchen down. In any case, his heart had calmed down. He looked at the messy kitchen and then at the woman who was also in a mess.

In the end, Shi Jinhua could not get angry. “It’s getting cold. Hurry up and change your clothes. I’ll boil water for you to wash up.”

She had to wash up—her clothes were all scorched!

The clothes that had been left behind by his mother totaled all of two sets. They had burned the rest after her death. He slapped his forehead, saying, “I forgot to buy clothes for you. Let’s go get some clothes tomorrow.”

Indeed, what men paid attention to was different from women. Qian Sishui didn’t really care about what she wore. The two of them were lived no different from bachelors.

“I just wanted to help with cooking,” Qian Sishui lowered her head and said in a hoarse voice.

Shi Jinhua had not expected her to say anything, but he was a little excited when she suddenly said this.

“It’s fine if you don’t know how to cook. I’ll cook in the future.” Burning the kitchen would cost money! Just thinking about it made his heart ache so much that he couldn’t breathe.

“Hurry up and go.”

Looking at the beggar-like Qian Sishui, the man had the premonition that he would need a strong heart in the future!

Qian Sishui looked at the man who was rushing in and out. He looked a little short of breath and she wanted to step forward to offer a helping hand.

“Don’t move. I brought back a few books for you. You can read them!” Anyway, she wasn’t suitable to work in the kitchen. The more she helped, the more trouble she created!

“Copying books?”

Qian Sishui thought that copying books could make money. That was all she wanted to do.

“If I bring it back to copy, I’d have to pay a tael of silver as a deposit. I don’t have that much money at the moment.” So these books weren’t for copying.

Qian Sishui thought for a moment. She had a jade pendant that she could pawn.

When a jade pendant appeared in front of the busy Shi Jinhua, he was slightly stunned!

“Pawn it and get some money,” Qian Sishui said coldly.

The man looked at his wife and thought, This girl probably feels sorry for me.

Inwardly, Qian Sishui thought, Haha, you’re thinking too much!

“No need. Keep it. This is the only thing you have with you. You can’t just exchange it for money. I’ll be able to get one tael after a few more days of copying.” Shi Jinhua seemed to have thought of something. “You’re not allowed to secretly exchange it for money! Do you understand?” His tone was fierce.

No matter how much he loved money, he couldn’t get it by doing this! This was her only piece of jewelry. Perhaps it meant something different to her. How could she pawn it just like that?

Seeing that her husband was unwilling to pawn it, Qian Sishui hung the jade pendant around his neck and turned to leave, leaving him looking at her cold back view.

Shi Jinhua looked helplessly at the jade pendant on his chest. Although he didn’t know much about such jewelry, the quality of the jade looked good.

“Sigh…”

Were all women like that? She was even harder to serve than his ancestors. Besides, did this woman even realize that she was already someone’s wife?

Ever since they found out that Qian Sishui almost burned down the kitchen, many women in the village had always laughed at Shi Jinhua.

He already had no parents. It was laughable that he found a wife who couldn’t manage the household too!

This news gave Widow Yao a new spark of hope. At the very least, she could manage the house and tend the fields! What was the use of having a woman who could do neither of those? Sooner or later, Shi Jinhua would not despise her. When that time came, she would appear gentler and more virtuous. Then, Shi Jinhua was sure to be tempted by her.

Qian Sishui felt a little more relaxed recently and was alone at home, . She saw that there was a plot of land at the back of the courtyard. There were many vegetables planted in the field, but the grass had already grown higher than the vegetables.

Fortunately, there were no chickens in this house. Otherwise, the vegetables would be gone by now.

Since she had nothing to do anyway, she thought about plucking weeds and changing the environment. No, this change of her environment, background, and even life was slightly surreal.

Her fair and tender hands felt uncomfortable after pruning for a while. After thinking for a while, she found a cloth and wrapped it around her hand.

“That’s much faster.”

After tidying up half of the vegetable field in the morning, she felt very accomplished. It would be better if not for the pain from her palms.

When Shi Jinhua entered the house, he did not see anyone. However, he was no longer panicked. She had to be somewhere at home. He looked around, only to find her amongst the grass in the vegetable field.

Seeing that Qian Sishui’s hands were wrapped up, he was taken aback. He couldn’t help but think, Oh my goodness! She won’t stop until he spends all my money, will she?

“Why is your hand wrapped up? Are you injured?” He quickly picked up her hands and pulled the cloth away to take a look. “I beg you, can you just sit still? Won’t I have to spend money if you’re injured? It’s very difficult for me to earn money to support this family.”

“Aiya, look at the blisters. Does it hurt?”

Qian Sishui didn’t even know that she had blisters. Now that she looked at it, wasn’t this body too delicate?

“Don’t continue. I’ll do the rest myself. Hurry up and get Doctor Wang to deal with it.” As he spoke, he pulled Qian Sishui out of the door.

Along the way, they met many people. Everyone was squatting at the door eating and chatting when they saw Shi Jinhua pulling his wife out.

“Hua really cherishes his wife. He even holds her hand when they go out,” the man who was slurping noodles said.

“Tsk, if I had such a beautiful woman, I would do that every day too!” The man opposite him replied sourly.

“You? You’re unlucky.” That was to say that Shi Jinhua was so lucky!

Many single men in the village were jealous of Shi Jinhua. Alas, the latter did not have any time to care about this trivial matters.

“Doctor Wang, Uncle Wang, are you at home?” Shi Jinhua no longer had the aura of a scholar.

“Brother Jinhua, my father went to the village chief’s house. He should be back soon. Come in and wait for a while.” The woman who opened the door was wearing a light yellow traditional dress. She quickly glanced at the person in front of her, and a blush crept up her face.

“Miss Xiaoling,” Shi Jinhua replied as he took a step back.

“Brother Jinhua, you can just call me Xiaoling.” The young lady was very amiable.

“I’ve brought your sister-in-law to see Uncle Wang.” As he spoke, he pulled Qian Sishui over.

Wang Xiaoling quickly lowered her eyes to hide her hurt feelings. “Just wait for a while.” As she spoke, she turned around and walked away.

“Let’s wait for a moment. Uncle Wang should be back soon. Does it still hurt?” He asked as he picked up Qian Sishui’s hand and gently blew on it.

Wang Xiaoling, who happened to come out, saw it and felt especially uncomfortable.

“Brother Jinhua, take a seat.” There was no one at home. She really did not want to talk to them!

Qian Sishui was practically being treated as invisible. The other woman had brought out only one stool. She probably liked Shi Jinhua too.

Of course, Shi Jinhua realized that there was only one stool. However, he did not think too much about it. “Sit. Don’t touch your hand.”

Wang Xiaoling’s heart ached when she saw how gentle and warm the man was to his wife.

“Brother Jinhua, what have you been busy with recently? Why don’t you come to my house to look for my brother?” It had to be that woman’s fault!

“I’ve been busy.” Shi Jinhua took two steps back to keep a distance from Wang Xiaoling.

“Look, you’ve lost weight. Don’t go home so early today. Stay here for dinner. I dare say I’m the best cook around here.”

Hmph! Who in the village doesn’t know that this woman almost burned down the kitchen? She doesn’t know anything and didn’t leave even after she recovered. How shameless! Wang Xiaoling ranted inwardly.