Qi Zhenzhen didn't know what to say. Perhaps fate was a matter of a single moment? Lin Ruixue had been married into Xinghua Village for seven or eight years. Zhang Erniu had seen her many times but had never developed any feelings for her. Of course, back then, Lin Ruixue was still Li Shan's wife, so he certainly wouldn't have thought much of it. Now that Lin Ruixue had been divorced, he had developed these feelings?
Upon careful consideration, there was nothing wrong with this.
Lin Ruixue was a good person, and Zhang Erniu was no slacker. If the man was willing and the woman was receptive, it could be a good thing.
But Lin Ruixue had just been hurt by her husband. How could she recover so quickly? If she could get over it, Zhang Erniu would have a chance. But what if she couldn't?
"Brother Zhang Er, this matter should proceed gradually. You cannot be impatient, nor can you force Sister Ruixue," Qi Zhenzhen said seriously. "It's easy to find an excuse for you to go to the county town. The noodle stall is a partnership between Sister Ruixue and me, so it's inconvenient for me to go. I can entrust you with it, and since the noodle stall is hard work, it should have someone to do the heavy lifting. However, during your work there, you must not make Sister Ruixue feel uncomfortable."
Zhang Erniu understood Qi Zhenzhen's meaning. If he acted too eagerly, it would make Lin Ruixue suspicious. Before she was ready to accept a new relationship, if he revealed his intentions, it would easily make Lin Ruixue resentful. In that case, if he wanted to win her heart, it would be very difficult.
"Don't worry, I promise to only do what's within my duties," Zhang Erniu said excitedly. "Miss Qi, how can I thank you?"
Qi Zhenzhen smiled. "Never mind thanking me. I have no other requests. If Sister Ruixue accepts you, I hope you will be devoted to her, not like Li Shan."
Zhang Erniu thumped his chest. "Don't you know what kind of person I am, Miss Qi?"
"You shouldn't speak too confidently. After all, no one knows what the future holds. I just hope you can stick to your original intentions, Brother Zhang," Qi Zhenzhen said faintly.
Zhang Erniu nodded heavily. "I will."
"Brother Er, you're getting slower and slower. It's only been fifteen minutes to send a wild pheasant to the kitchen?" Zhang Xiaoniu peeked in from outside the kitchen.
Zhang Erniu glared at him. "I was talking with Miss Qi."
Zhang Xiaoniu pouted. "What could be so important? I have something to talk to Zhenzhen about. I'm going back this afternoon, and I need Zhenzhen to prepare some persimmon cakes for me, and also some of those snacks she makes."
"Zhang Xiaoniu, don't be too much. If you want something, go buy it yourself. It's not easy for Miss Qi to make things, why should she give it all to you?" Zhang Erniu reprimanded. He had realized that his younger brother's face was very thick. Now he came to the Qi family as if it were his own home, asking Miss Qi to make whatever he wanted, and taking things as if it were his due.
"How can store-bought be as delicious as what Zhenzhen makes? Zhenzhen and I are good friends. What are these snacks compared to that? If I have something Zhenzhen wants, I promise I won't hesitate," Zhang Xiaoniu said loudly.
"Zhang Xiaoniu, don't you have any sense? After the New Year, you'll be sixteen. You should be sensible. Boys and girls shouldn't sit together after the age of seven. Although we don't pay much attention to this in the countryside, Miss Qi is a grown young lady. You should be more discreet," Zhang Erniu said indignantly. "What if rumors spread because of this?"
Zhang Xiaoniu was indifferent. "Brother Er, stop being like an old scholar. If anyone talks nonsense, I'll shut their mouths. As for you, if you continue like this, how will you find a sister-in-law for me?"
They had just finished talking about Lin Ruixue, and Zhang Xiaoniu was already teasing Zhang Erniu. The honest man's face turned red again.
Qi Zhenzhen helped Zhang Erniu out of the awkward situation and asked as she walked out, "Do you still want them?"
Zhang Xiaoniu trotted after her. "Yes, of course I want them! The Young Master said the persimmon cakes must be taken back. If I don't bring them back, I'll be punished. By the way, how many did you prepare for me? I'll pay you."
"The reward money the Young Master gave you, keep it yourself and save it to marry a wife in the future," Qi Zhenzhen said, rolling her eyes at him.
Zhang Xiaoniu was thick-skinned and didn't feel embarrassed at all. He grinned and said, "Alright, I won't be polite with you."
This time, Qi Zhenzhen contributed all her household inventory. Besides persimmon cakes for Gu Sinian, she also prepared five-spice peanuts, five-spice melon seeds, and five-spice crispy rice. Additionally, she packed various dried fruits, in short, all the small snacks she had fiddled with in her spare time. It wasn't that she was generous, but rather that the small stones Gu Sinian had brought back were too precious. Qi Zhenzhen showed them to Yun Shi, who said they were Qingwen Tianhuangdong, a very precious stone used for carving seals, which was rare and hard to find, even with money.
Qi Zhenzhen initially thought of returning them, but Zhang Xiaoniu said that Gu Sinian had instructed him to give the items to her and that she must accept them, adding that he would be punished if he didn't handle it well.
So Qi Zhenzhen had no choice but to accept them. Even if she wanted to return them, she couldn't let Zhang Xiaoniu do it. She would return them herself when she had the chance.
As a gesture of reciprocity, she couldn't be too stingy. She didn't have valuable items, but these small snacks were made with her heart, so they were a token of her sincerity. Da Feng Novel Network.
However, there was one thing Qi Zhenzhen didn't understand: why did Gu Sinian always send stones?
Zhang Xiaoniu happily carried the large bags and packages. Zhenzhen was thoughtful and prepared two portions of everything, so the Young Master would have no excuse to claim his portion as his own.
"Brother, let's go. Didn't you say you'd help me pack some things?" Zhang Xiaoniu tugged at Zhang Erniu.
Zhang Erniu peeked into the west wing, wondering how Sister Lin was doing. As a grown man, he couldn't find an excuse to see her.
Huzi happened to come out of Lin Ruixue's room. Qi Zhenzhen casually asked, "Huzi, how is your mother?"
Li Hu was a bit puzzled. Aunt Zhenzhen had visited his mother's room in the morning, so why was she asking again now? However, despite his confusion, he dutifully answered Qi Zhenzhen's question. "My mother is fine. She just drank a bowl of soup."
Zhang Erniu left contentedly, while Qi Zhenzhen began preparing the wild pheasant sent by Zhang Erniu.
As she cleaned it, she told Huzi that the wild pheasant was sent by Zhang Erniu.
Huzi listened excitedly. "Uncle Zhang Er said that if he has the chance, he'll take me to the mountains too. It's snowy everywhere in the mountains now, and the wild animals are hibernating. Not many come out to forage."
Qi Zhenzhen raised an eyebrow. Zhang Erniu did have some foresight. He knew how to win favor by winning over Huzi, which would make it easier for Lin Ruixue to accept him. It seemed he was determined to have Lin Ruixue. She only hoped that this would be a beautiful story, not a disastrous relationship.