Chapter 10: The Annoying Huang Yingrong

“Now she still wants me to pay compensation? Just look at her—her size like a fat pig. How could my small frame possibly knock her down?”

The villagers compared and thought it over carefully. Indeed, Jiang Lihua was as slender as a bean sprout.

Sun, on the other hand, was well-padded. If the two had collided, it would certainly be Jiang Lihua who got knocked down.

Having realized this, the villagers began to scold Sun.

“Sun, bullying a young girl like this is too much.”

“Exactly, what’s your real motive here?”

“I know, you’re just trying to extort money, right?”

Seeing the situation turn against her, Sun slunk away in disgrace.

Those lurking in the shadows, witnessing the outcome, cursed Sun for her foolishness.

With Sun gone, the crowd dispersed.

Ni Wenyu accompanied Jiang Lihua back home.

“Lihua, Aunt Yang has no grudge against you. Why would she come to cause trouble?”

Jiang Lihua recounted her previous encounter with Yang Wenbin.

“So that’s how it is. Lihua, you’re too bold. What if they recognize you and drag you back?”

“That won’t happen. Look, no one in the village has recognized me all this time.”

“Still, you should be careful. It’s better to be safe than sorry.”

“All right, all right, I got it. Come inside, I want to show you something.”

Jiang Lihua led him indoors and showed him a pen and a notebook.

She even wrote his name in the notebook.

“Well? This is my handwriting. Not bad, right?”

“Lihua, what kind of pen is this? And this paper—what’s it made of? It’s so good.”

Ni Wenyu took the pen and paper, holding them with great fondness.

“It’s a gift for you.”

“Lihua, you keep it. I don’t need it. Aren’t you planning to do business? This will help you keep accounts.”

Although he liked it very much, Ni Wenyu declined. Such things must have been hard to come by.

“Take it. I have more!” Jiang Lihua said as she pulled out another identical notebook and pen.

“See, this one is mine. The other already has your name on it.”

“Lihua, I…”

“No ‘but.’ If you feel awkward, when I start my business, you can be my accountant.”

“All right!”

“Now, look at my handwriting. Not bad, huh?”

Ni Wenyu finally focused and carefully examined the first page, where “Ni Wenyu” was written.

The strokes were strong, the characters square and precise, dignified yet spirited. After the name was a small smiling face, adding a touch of playfulness.

It was clear the writer had practiced hard; such handwriting could not be mastered overnight.

But Lihua had only started learning characters with him yesterday. Could she have already known how to read and write?

Ni Wenyu was filled with doubt.

Jiang Lihua gave him a light push. “What are you daydreaming about? How’s my handwriting?”

Snapping back to attention, Ni Wenyu replied seriously, “Very good. Your cousin feels inferior!”

“Ha ha ha… It’s rare for you to joke.”

“I’m not joking. Your handwriting really is excellent.”

“Ni Gege, you’re at Lizi’s house too?”

Suddenly, Huang Yingrong burst in. The two, chatting and laughing, were startled.

“Huang Yingrong, why didn’t you knock before coming in?”

Jiang Lihua was annoyed.

Huang Yingrong lowered her head and spoke softly, “Lizi, I didn’t mean to. Your courtyard gate was open, so I just came in.”

Jiang Lihua, harboring little fondness for her, no longer bothered to hide her dislike and spoke directly to shoo her away.

“What do you want? If you have something to say, say it. Otherwise, leave.”

“Lizi, are you angry?”

“Yes.”

“I wanted to invite you to go shopping tomorrow.”

“No, I broke my leg.”

“But, your leg is fine!”

“So, do you understand?”

“Lizi, you… you…”

Huang Yingrong’s face flushed with shame. She had never seen Jiang Lihua be so blunt, so unwilling to save face.

Tears welled in her eyes as she looked at Ni Wenyu.

“Ni Gege…”

Ni Wenyu never liked her. He remembered how Huang Yingrong used to look down on him, always holding her chin high whenever she saw him.

But since he passed the scholar exam, Huang Yingrong had changed. She now called him “Ni Gege” every time they met.

“Miss Huang, please leave.”

Huang Yingrong left, clenched her fists outside the courtyard, and glared hatefully inside.

“I will make you pay for this.”

Then she turned and hurried away.

Back to Sun, who failed in her extortion and became the laughingstock of the village. Upon returning home, her son Yang Wenbin scolded her.

“Mother, why do you act without thinking? If that girl were so easy to deal with, how could I have lost?”

“Today I just happened to pass by. You were sulking at home, but that girl was chatting and laughing with that ill-omened man. I couldn’t stand it, so I…”

“You should have come up with a better plan. Look at the mess now.”

Lately, Liang Lihua’s restless spirit had kept them awake at night, leaving them exhausted by day. Now with this trouble, nothing went smoothly.

Yang Wenbin’s face was ashen with anger, so furious he felt like vomiting blood.

“Wenbin, I’ll be more careful next time. You go rest now, I’ll make dinner.”

“Hmph.” Yang Wenbin went inside with a cold face.

Sun cursed Jiang Lihua in the courtyard for a while, then went to cook.

A few days later, early in the morning, Jiang Lihua went alone to the carpenter Wang’s house to pick up small wooden boxes while Ni Wenyu stayed home to study.

Wang the carpenter greeted her warmly. “Lizi, you’re here! Take a look—are you satisfied?”

Jiang Lihua examined the boxes carefully. “Yes, very smooth. Exactly what I need.”

Wang scratched his head embarrassedly. “That’s good, that’s good.”

“Here’s 250 wen. Please count it.”

“No need, no need.”

“Please count anyway. Even between close friends, accounts must be clear. Just in case I miscounted.”

Wang had to give in and counted. “Just right.”

“That’s good. I’ll be going now.”

“Wait, Lizi,” called a woman’s voice—Wang’s wife.

“Anything else, Aunt Wang?”

She handed Jiang Lihua two fried cakes. “Lizi, these are freshly made. Take them with you.”

“No, thank you, Aunt Wang.”

“Just take them, Lizi. Thank you for taking care of our family.”

Knowing that Aunt Wang referred to paying Wang more for his work, Jiang Lihua didn’t refuse and accepted the cakes.

“Thanks, Aunt Wang. I’ll need more wooden boxes like this. When I’ve used up fifty, I’ll come back to order more.”

“All right. For any carpentry work, just come find your uncle.”

After leaving Wang’s house, Jiang Lihua went straight home. Since it was still early, she repackaged the BB cream into small containers to take to town.

The small wooden boxes were very useful. After packing fifty boxes, it was already noon.

She ate a little and then took a bullock cart to town.