Casting Nets to Catch a Husband

Chapter 176: Wen Shi (2)

When the food was served, Liu Yu had already eaten, but to make Wen Shi and Liu Sanlang feel more comfortable, she joined them for a little.

The dishes at the restaurant were quite good, and Liu Sanlang, who hadn’t had such good food in a long time, ate quickly, almost wolfing down the meal. Wen Shi, feeling a pang of sadness, didn’t say anything but placed a piece of fish belly into Liu Sanlang’s bowl. Noticing this, Liu Sanlang slowed down his eating and, glancing at Liu Yu, said to Wen Shi, “You should eat too.”

Liu Yu smiled, thinking perhaps adversity had strengthened their bond; it seemed her third brother and third sister-in-law were closer now than they used to be.

“Third Brother, Third Sister-in-law, now that you’ve both left home, who’s looking after Erya and Siya?”

At the mention of her children, Wen Shi’s expression softened. “I’ve left them with my mother to take care of. Now that you’re willing to take me in, I’ll work hard and send extra silver each month. My mother loves the children, so they won’t be neglected.”

Liu Yu nodded and looked at Liu Sanlang. “And what about you, Third Brother?”

Liu Sanlang swallowed his mouthful of fish and replied, “I usually move around, helping with carpentry work when I can find it. If not, I’ve started learning masonry and bricklaying. Today, I came with your third sister-in-law because I didn’t feel comfortable letting her come alone. Once I drop her off at the embroidery workshop, I’ll head back.”

As he said this, he glanced at Liu Yu and added, “A’Yu, thank you for being willing to help us.”

Liu Sanlang wasn’t one to overthink things, but Wen Shi had told him plenty about Liu Yu’s situation. He knew the eldest brother and his wife were heartless, and Wu Jin was no good either. He didn’t even want to imagine what would have happened to Liu Yu if she hadn’t been rescued. Liu Yu was too beautiful, and he was sure the eldest brother and his uncle would have sold her off to a brothel to make money.

If he were in her shoes, he wouldn’t have any dealings with the Liu family either, even if they were no longer connected. But after all, they were still blood-related.

Liu Yu shook her head. “The embroidery workshop is always hiring, and it’s all the same to hire one person or another. Besides, Third Sister-in-law has always treated me well.”

She hadn’t known that the third branch of the family had been kicked out with nothing. If she had known, she might have asked Cui Erniang to secretly reach out to Wen Shi earlier.

Cui Erniang wasn’t aware of Liu Yu and Wen Shi’s relationship, so it was a stroke of luck that she had sent Wen Shi to her.

Hearing Liu Yu say, “Third Sister-in-law has always treated me well,” brought tears to Wen Shi’s eyes. She lowered her head, too ashamed to look at Liu Yu.

She knew what Liu Yu meant by “treated well”—she was referring to the times Wen Shi had warned her about Wu Shi. But Liu Yu didn’t know that on the day she was in danger, Wen Shi had guessed what Liu Kangsheng intended but had still retreated, finding an excuse to send Wang Shi away while hiding outside with Liu Sanlang. Liu Yu didn’t know, but Wen Shi had always felt guilty about it.

If Liu Yu had known that Wen Shi had helped send Wang Shi back, she would have been even more grateful. Remembering how Liu Sanlang had gone to the Lu family to deliver a message, Liu Yu smiled at him and said, “I also need to thank you, Third Brother, for delivering the message to the Lu family.”

Liu Sanlang felt shy and said, “It was all because your third sister-in-law told me to.”

Their conversation brought back a bit of the closeness they once had. Once the two had finished eating, Liu Yu called for the bill and then led them to Ruyi Embroidery Workshop.

Since it wasn’t appropriate for Liu Sanlang to enter the workshop, they went through the side door. Just as they arrived, Liu Yanqing was preparing to head to the county office. He recognized Liu Sanlang as one of the men from Liu Family Village and immediately tensed up. Seeing Liu Yu’s calm demeanor, he relaxed a little.

Both Liu Sanlang and Wen Shi felt extremely uncomfortable. Liu Yu invited them to sit in the flower hall and called Aunt Lin to make tea. She then said to Wen Shi, “The embroidery workshop is managed by my eldest aunt. Please sit and have some tea while I go and inform her.”

Since Liu Yu hadn’t explained much about her situation to them, Liu Sanlang and Wen Shi were puzzled when they heard her mention an “eldest aunt.” But having seen Liu Yanqing earlier, they had a rough guess of what was going on. Wen Shi nodded, and Liu Yu left the flower hall to explain the situation to Liu Yanqing, who had been waiting in the courtyard.

After hearing the details and learning that Wen Shi had treated Liu Yu well in the past and had now cut ties with the Liu family, Liu Yanqing didn’t say much. He simply nodded and said, “As long as you know what you’re doing. Avoid contact with anyone else from that side as much as possible.”

After all, the agreement they had signed back then was essentially a trick, as they didn’t actually have Wang Shi’s indenture in their hands. If they got involved again, the blood ties alone could cause problems, and even without any real relationship, someone like Liu Kangsheng could still make a fuss about being her benefactor.

Liu Yu nodded. “Don’t worry, Brother. I understand. I’ll go and speak with Eldest Aunt now.”

Liu Yanqing nodded. “Go ahead. I’m off to the county office.”

After bidding her brother farewell, Liu Yu went to the front of the shop and soon returned with Wei Shi, who asked Madam Zhang to take care of things up front while she followed Liu Yu to the flower hall.

Liu Sanlang and Wen Shi had never been this nervous before. Their first impression of Wei Shi had left a deep mark on them, so much so that they felt a bit intimidated.

Having already heard from Liu Yu about Wen Shi and her husband’s current situation and their severed ties with the Liu family, Wei Shi was surprisingly kind. She looked over Wen Shi and found her to her liking. Liu Sanlang also seemed honest and simple. Wei Shi smiled and said, “I’m Yu’er’s eldest aunt. She’s told me about your situation. You can work at the embroidery workshop from now on. There’s a place to stay here as well, though it’s a shared dormitory with several people in one room.”

When Wen Shi first saw Wei Shi, her impression was still stuck on the night more than six months ago when Wei Shi slapped Wang Shi so hard her cheeks were swollen, and Liu Kangsheng, who was there watching, didn’t dare say a word. Wen Shi’s heart had been tense, but Wei Shi treated her kindly and agreed to let her stay at the embroidery workshop. Wen Shi felt a wave of relief and immense joy, quickly saying, “It’s fine, just having a place to stay is already great.”

With things settled, Liu Sanlang finally felt at ease. Knowing that the back of the workshop was filled with female workers, he didn’t want to stay any longer. As Wei Shi and Liu Yu took Wen Shi to see her living quarters, Liu Sanlang excused himself to go buy bedding and quilts for Wen Shi.

It was the cold winter season, and they had only one blanket where they lived, with nothing extra to bring along, so everything had to be bought.

Wei Shi and Liu Yu didn’t stop him. A little help was fine, but too much might make people feel uncomfortable. Liu Yu showed Wen Shi her bed and brought over some water to help clean up, then took her to the embroidery room to introduce her to the other embroiderers.

Wen Shi was surprised to see that just in the embroidery room alone, there were 13 embroiderers. She could hardly believe that a workshop in the county could employ so many.

Liu Yu also showed her around the cutting and sewing rooms. In the cutting room, Lu Shuang noticed them. She had just finished her work and, seeing Liu Yu leading a young woman and hearing her call her “Third Sister-in-law,” her eyes widened—Third Sister-in-law? Could it be that Liu Yanan had gotten married???

But that couldn’t be possible. Liu Yanan was still in Liangzhe and hadn’t returned yet.

When Liu Yu took Wen Shi to the front of the workshop, Lu Shuang kept peeking curiously.

Liu Yu knew what Lu Shuang was curious about but didn’t say anything in front of Wen Shi. After a tour of the front of the workshop, Liu Yu led Wen Shi back to the embroidery room and settled her at a workstation. Just then, Madam Zhang came over with newly cut clothes, and the embroidery work wasn’t too complicated. After checking with Liu Yu, she handed the work over to Wen Shi.

Wen Shi held the fabric, her first task, so nervously that her palms were sweating. Madam Zhang, being kind, patiently explained the details, then smiled and left.

Watching from the side, Liu Yu smiled and said, “Since Cui Erniang recommended you, Third Sister-in-law, she must know you can do the work. Just relax and start.”

Wen Shi nodded, took a deep breath, secured the fabric on the embroidery frame, and began selecting and splitting the threads.

Seeing her settle into the work, Liu Yu returned to the cutting room. Before leaving, she asked a nearby embroiderer to help Wen Shi if needed.

As soon as Liu Yu left, some of the embroiderers gathered around and asked, “I heard Little Boss call you ‘Third Sister-in-law.’ Are you related to the family?”

They all knew Liu Yu’s third brother, and he wasn’t even twenty yet.

Wen Shi smiled and shook her head. “I’m from Changfeng Town, introduced by Cui Erniang. The boss calls me that out of courtesy, in respect for Cui Erniang.”

She didn’t reveal her real connection to Liu Yu, as she knew that if she did, people would start digging into Liu Yu’s past. Wen Shi wasn’t sure about the specifics, but being sold by her family was never a good thing for a woman. Since Liu Yu and Wei Shi had kindly taken her in, she didn’t want to cause them any trouble.

The group of eavesdropping embroiderers, realizing she wasn’t really family, dropped their curiosity. Only the embroiderer Liu Yu had asked to look after Wen Shi stayed and offered some pointers, explaining some of the things to be mindful of while working there and the benefits of the job. When they talked about wages, and Wen Shi mentioned that Cui Erniang had told her the pay was around two or three taels, the embroiderer chuckled softly and whispered, “It’s more than that. Our boss’s clothes are beautiful, and the embroidery workshops keep ordering more. Business is good, and the more you do, the more you earn. Last month, the top earner in the sewing group next door got three taels, and our embroidery pays even more than that.”

As for exactly how much, the embroiderer kept it a mystery, saying it depended on one’s skill, the difficulty of the work, and how fast you could complete it. The wages varied greatly.

“Just do your best. There’s no better job than this in the county. All the embroiderers here are the main breadwinners of their households, earning more than the men. You’ve made the right choice.”

The embroiderer spoke with great enthusiasm, and Wen Shi was filled with excitement.

As Liu Yu had said, Cui Erniang wouldn’t have recommended Wen Shi if she didn’t have the skills. With the guidance of an experienced embroiderer, Wen Shi quickly got the hang of it. After working for a while, Liu Sanlang returned, carrying a bundle of bedding through the side door. He couldn’t find Wen Shi immediately and stood in the courtyard, unsure of what to do. The embroiderer next to Wen Shi called her attention to the window.

Wen Shi saw her husband and quickly put down her needle and thread, thanked the embroiderer, and rushed outside.

Since it wasn’t appropriate for a man to enter the women’s quarters, Wen Shi made up the bed herself. Afterward, she went to the cutting room to inform Liu Yu and then walked Liu Sanlang out.

In the alley, Wen Shi, holding Liu Sanlang’s hand, was both excited and happy. She whispered, “Qingnian, the embroiderer sitting next to me told me that when business is good, we embroiderers can earn more than just two or three taels. More than two or three taels!”

Liu Sanlang was wide-eyed. “How much then?”

Wen Shi shook her head, her face beaming with joy. “I don’t know, it depends on how much work there is. But from what I gathered, it could be more than three taels. When you go back, don’t work too hard. Take some breaks and spend more time with the kids at my mother’s. We’ll be able to live comfortably soon.”

Liu Sanlang nodded eagerly. “Alright, don’t worry, I’ll visit often.”

Wen Shi then pulled him aside and said, “One more important thing. When you go back, don’t mention A’Yu to anyone, not even Second Sister, whether it’s people in the village or at my mother’s. She’s been kind to us, and we shouldn’t cause her any trouble.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t say anything.”

“And also, buy two boxes of pastries when you’re in town and bring them to Cui Erniang. Thank her for recommending me to the embroidery workshop, but don’t mention anything more.”

As they walked, Wen Shi continued giving instructions, and Liu Sanlang agreed to everything.

They kept walking until they reached the end of the alley. There, they said their goodbyes, and Wen Shi watched as Liu Sanlang left. Just then, at the entrance of the embroidery workshop, a young man reined in his horse, looked up at the sign, dismounted, and called out loudly, “Is this the Ruyi Embroidery Workshop? Is Miss Liu Yu here?”

Sansukini: Please check out my new translation coming next week, with schedule Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

The title is “Please Bear With Me For Now,” the first book before “Getting on the Wrong Sedan and Marrying the Right Man,” I just felt my OCD acting up knowing that there’s a first book so I asked Mily for permission to translate this one.

Here’s the summary:

In the city of Yangzhou, there are two renowned beauties: one is the stunning yet thorny rose, Li Yuhu, who is breathtakingly beautiful but sharp-tempered; the other is the pure and elegant lotus, Du Bingyan. Both women were married on the same day, and while seeking shelter from the rain in the same temple, a mix-up occurred. Du Bingyan ended up mistakenly taking Li Yuhu’s wedding sedan and marrying General Dingyuan, Yuan Buqu.

She was exposed!

Wanting to explain what happened, Du Bingyan disguised as a man and travelled to find her “husband”, only for him to discover her identity as a woman while she was bathing in the river. Amidst a series of misunderstandings, the sparks of love begin to fly between them…

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