Chapter 313 - Chapter 313: Chapter 321: The Color of Greed (1/2)

Chapter 313: Chapter 321: The Color of Greed

As the New Year was drawing ever closer, Zhuangzi sent over a large batch of freshly harvested vegetables, presented in exquisitely woven bamboo baskets and intricately carved wooden frames, according to Su Wenyue’s instructions. They looked quite high-end.

Su Hengyi had initially wanted to clear out a store specifically for Su Wenyue to sell these vegetables. However, since they had started preparing later this year, and even though several large greenhouses had been planted in batches, the quantity that could be harvested was not too large. There was more than enough to give away as New Year’s gifts from home, but not enough to sell. Besides, Su Wenyue was not in the mood for it at the moment. Therefore, the vegetables grown in Su Wenyue’s greenhouses became priceless commodities—unavailable for purchase even if wealthy families were willing to pay a high price, which made them appear even more precious.

The surplus that Su Wenyue had left over was entirely purchased by the Su Family, which had many business connections. They were perfect as New Year’s gifts since they were both prestigious and fresh. Su Wenyue had intended to give them to her mother’s family first. But after the incident with the greenhouses, Su Hengyi would not take advantage of Su Wenyue anymore. With the devaluation of silver being so severe, he exchanged the vegetables for an equivalent value in food, medicinal materials, and so on.

Seeing that her big brother and her mother’s family were all insisting on this, Su Wenyue had no choice but to accept, yet her heart was filled with boundless sentimentality. Her mother’s family always had her best interests at heart, fearing she might be displeased in any way. They acted this way also because they did not want the Han family members to know and gossip about it, even though Su Wenyue had already separated from the family. Still, there would always be idle chatter.

Speaking of the Han Family, there were only a few days left until the Little New Year, and it was time to start making arrangements back home. Although they had said they would come on their own and she need not worry, Su Wenyue didn’t mind showing off her virtues to her husband’s family. Moreover, since Han Yu said the house was bought by her, her going to pick them up would make a different impression, ensuring Father-in-Law and Mother-in-Law felt more at ease staying at her place.

“Daughter-in-law, you’ve worked hard. I remember everything you’ve done for me,” Han Yu said, gratefully aware of how his daughter-in-law had sent people to clean up the courtyard and personally arranged everything for the guests’ arrival.

“You should remember well, I will be claiming it back,” Su Wenyue replied without pretense of undue virtue, which might have seemed fake. Instead, she nodded, seizing the opportunity to act coquettishly with Han Yu and butter him up for benefits.

Seeing his daughter-in-law’s playful manner, Han Yu was deeply in love. If not for considering that his daughter-in-law had been busy and tired all day, he would have liked to shower this little one with lots of ‘affection’. However, this did not stop him from asking for some benefits, as the atmosphere in the room became romantically charged.

Meanwhile, in the village, Old Man Han and Mrs. Yang, the old couple, were supposed to be joyfully preparing for their trip to the prefecture to celebrate the New Year. Yet misfortune struck one after the other. One evening, Han Lin came home late from playing cards and drinking, and due to the snow-slicked roads, he took a fall and broke one leg.

And that wasn’t all. Mrs. Wang was lazy and did not take proper care of Han Lin after his fall. With Han Lin already being irritable because of his injury, they quarreled. In a moment of lost control, he also injured his other leg. This was truly a lamentable situation.

“It looks like Third Child’s family won’t be able to make it to the prefecture. But with Third Daughter-in-law in this state, how can she take good care of Third Child? If I go to the prefecture, I won’t have peace of mind,” Mrs. Yang said, her heart heavy with worry. It was supposed to be a joyous occasion that she had finally convinced Fourth Child to let Third Child’s family go to the prefecture as well, and now this.