Lin Si Yao enjoyed his tea in silence, occasionally taking a glance at Su Shuilian, who was merrily chatting just right by. She met his gaze, and they slipped smiles at each other. She mustâve been worried that she was ignoring him. Lin Si Yaoâs mouth curved upward, and sipped his tea.
What Jiang Yangrui started as a polite business deal became a full-fledged conversation and gossip. She was secretly impressed by Su Shuilianâs extensive knowledge, and assumed that she was definitely not someone who was raised in a common household.
Judging from the natural atmosphere she created, Jiang Yangrui couldnât help but suspect her real identity.
Of course, she didnât dare ask with a mere shopkeeper-seamstress relationship. After all, she had the right to her own privacy.
If her hunches were right, Su Shuilian must be a daughter from an aristocrat family running off with Lin Si Yao. But her flawless embroidery skills dissipated Jiang Yangruiâs doubts.
âFirst Shopkeeper, the verification is finished. Hereâs the verdict.â The craftsman returned from the back, and passed up an envelope for her to read.
Jiang Yangrui skimmed through the content in a flash, a smile slowly formed on her lips, as she looked up from the envelope and met Su Shuilianâs curious stare. And spoke: âShuilian, congratulations, <drunken beauty=""> has been determined as First Class Goods.â
The country of Dahui had a uniform system of measuring quality. Each embroidery floor had a validating craftsman, in order to determine the value and legitimacy.</drunken>
Embroidery is judged through size, difficulty, art, and materials, and divided into three quality levels- first, second, and third classes, then split into upper, mid, and lower subcategories. Any goods below Third Lower Class was considered crude, something that even a normal housewife could embroider and unsuitable for the market. So even if a business were to take those in stock, the goods would be repressed and unsellable.
The
âSure.â Lin Si Yao grinned as he touched her joyful face. He felt a little surprised: She can be satisfied with just these twenty pieces of silver?
He thought about the glittering treasure and jewelry stored under the dresser. Any of them was well worth ten silver, and there was one piece that was worth well over a hundred. Even when they first met, he was carrying close to fifty silver. Back then, she didnât care too much about money anyway. They spent only what they needed, and sometimes he had to suspect, did she even know their true market value?
Though those twenty silver were the result of half a month of labor, so it naturally wasnât the same.
When the two arrived at Wu Qin Restaurant at noon, it was a long wait since it was full of customers. They managed to find a table at the very corner.
âWaiter, please prepare two crispy-skin ducks to go, weâll pick it up after the bill.â Su Shuilian beckoned. She wanted Dabao, Xiao Chun, and Xiao Xue to have a taste at home.
âSure thing! Donât worry, madam, Iâll take the order to the chef now. You just need to tell them your table number when you come pick up.â He smiled kindly at them. The waiter was the same one back then, when the pair came to eat here for the first time. It was a rare sight to see such a handsome young man and elegant lady coupled together in Fanluo City. They were quite hard to forget.
The other customers occasionally glanced at Su Shuilianâs table, too. Their eyes were filled with amusement, with a hint of envy.
âŠ.
Lin Si Yao furrowed his brows unhappily, and gave a quick exhale. His iciness and pressure immediately negated the entertained gazes of the nearby.
âAâYao? Whatâs wrong?â Su Shuilian heard his grunt, and stopped eating. Seeing his darkened expression, she worriedly asked: âAre you feeling alright?â
âItâs fine. Just a little stuffy in here.â Lin Si Yao looked away, and threw an excuse.
âStuffy?â Su Shuilian looked around in confusion. With the howling winter outside, the warmth of the indoors should be comforting. Though maybe he was the same as her, and was not used to large dining halls.
âThen letâs finish quickly, and go shopping for some New Yearâs goods.â Su Shuilian beamed, and pinched a piece of fried fish to his bowl.
âSure, you should eat more yourself.â Lin Si Yaoâs unhappiness disappeared in an instant with Su Shuilianâs act. He filled her a bowl with the mixed stew of chicken, mackerel, soy beans, bamboo shoots, and carrots, and started eating. She was already his wife, and that was enough. What did othersâ envy involve him for?
But, Lin Si Yao hadnât realized that a gaze from nearby wasnât for Su Shuilian, but specifically for himâŠ. Lu Wanâer, sitting under the window on the west side.