Chapter 3
Chapter 3
The rice shop was in East Market.
When I married into the Yu Family, my family included a rice shop in my dowry.
The noble young ladies in the capital laughed at me for having such a rustic dowry.
But back then, Yu Huaiqian said, “A rice shop is good.”
“Eating matters more than listening to music.”
I blushed for a long time after that.
Later, he often went with me to the shop.
He did not know how to choose rice.
But he would stand off to the side and listen as I discussed the color, moisture, and warehouse smell with the shopkeeper.
Once, he looked at me and smiled.
“Jiang Tang, your eyes light up when you talk about rice.”
I asked him if he thought I was ridiculous.
He said, “I think you’re beautiful.”
I remembered that for a very long time.
Even today, I still felt those words had been true.
But hearts could change.
Now, when he watched Fu Qingxiu write lyrics, his eyes lit up too.
Even brighter than before.
When the shopkeeper saw me arrive, he hurried out to greet me.
“Owner, today’s batch of autumn rice is quite good.”
I scooped up a handful.
The grains were plump.
Only the tips were a little damp.
“Air it out for another half day.”
The shopkeeper acknowledged the order.
I had just entered the rear hall when Yu Huaiqian came after me.
He stood beside the sacks of rice, his moon-white robe utterly out of place here.
All the shop assistants lowered their heads.
I asked, “What is it?”
He said, “There is nothing between me and Qingxiu.”
I picked up a handful of rice.
“Nothing? Do you mean her bringing you soup at night?”
“Or do you mean the lyrics you wrote for her?”
His expression turned ugly.
“She only asked me to revise her lyrics.”
“Then revise them.”
“Must you speak so sharply?”
I looked up.
“Yu Huaiqian, listen carefully.”
“If you revise her lyrics, I won’t die.”
“If you look at her, I won’t die either.”
“But don’t do those things while making me out to be petty.”
He froze.
I poured the rice back into the sack.
“I don’t understand lyrics.”
“But I understand people.”
“When she cries in front of you, she wants you to feel sorry for her.”
“And you did.”
“It’s that simple.”
Yu Huaiqian’s face slowly turned pale.
“She just had her engagement broken off.”
I said, “See? There it is again.”
He closed his eyes for a moment.
“I know you mind.”
“You don’t know.”
I walked up to him.
“What I mind isn’t that she can write lyrics.”
“Nor is it that she’s beautiful.”
I pointed at my own chest.
“What I mind is that you once said I was perfectly fine as I was.”
“Yet now that she’s back, I have become someone who doesn’t understand.”
Yu Huaiqian looked at me.
For that moment, he seemed as if he wanted to explain.
But then a pageboy rushed in from outside.
“Young Master, Miss Fu fainted at the gates of Yu Manor.”
Yu Huaiqian’s expression changed.
He turned and left.
After two steps, he looked back at me.
“I’ll come back later and talk to you.”
I smiled.
“No need.”
He did not hear me.
He had already hurried out of the rice shop.
The shopkeeper stood to the side, so furious his face had changed color.
“Owner, this is too…”
I raised a hand.
“Check the rice.”
The shopkeeper fell silent.
I continued inspecting the goods.
Halfway through, a rice husk pricked my palm.
It left a small red mark.
I stared at that bit of red for a while.
Suddenly, I remembered how Yu Huaiqian used to take my hand and look it over.
He said rice husks hurt when they pricked people, and Ah Tang must be in pain too.
Now, he was probably supporting Fu Qingxiu.
She had fainted.
Her pain must be prettier to look at.