FID – Chapter 666

Chapter 666: A Life So Good, It’s Jealousy-Inducing

“Actually, aside from that rumor, recently in Yunzhou city, there have been people using the name of the Liu family to gain profits. The governor’s wife, due to her pregnancy, hasn’t been out for a long time and hasn’t heard any of these rumors. We also didn’t dare to inform her directly, in case it made her angry.”

“Do you know who they are?”

The four women exchanged glances. “The Meng family’s daughter-in-law, Li Junhua.”

At this time, Liu Muqiu had already been summoned by Liu Zhiqiu, and the two of them were picking fabric for new clothes together.

It was already November, and the weather had started to cool. In just over half a month, the New Year would be upon them.

The elders in the family were focused entirely on their little grandson and hadn’t had time to prepare for the New Year.

Liu Zhiqiu felt that he needed to do something useful. After all, he had taken five liang of silver from his big brother, so he should give something back.

Therefore, he picked out his favorite fabric, took a piece of light yellow satin, and added a piece of fox fur and leather, leading Liu Muqiu out the door.

“Brother Zhiqiu, where are we going?”

“Since the New Year is coming, of course, we’re going to make new clothes for ourselves. The tailors in the city are skilled, and if we spend some money, they can finish the clothes in a few days. When they’re ready, we can take them home and celebrate the New Year.”

Walking closely behind him, Liu Muqiu followed step by step. “I can make clothes myself. Why don’t we just skip the tailor and save some silver?”

“Save what? It’s Big Brother’s money, don’t worry. Don’t you think it’s bad for your eyes to be squinting at embroidery needles all day long?”

“…” Liu Muqiu remained silent, but she decided that when they got back, she would cover up the embroidery charts in her room.

The prosperity of the prefecture capital could not be compared to that of Cangwu Town or Xiangshan County.

After the flood disaster, months of rest and recovery had already brought things back to normal. The streets were bustling with people, and the gloom caused by the disaster no longer showed on the faces of the common folk.

Having taken the fabric and fur to the cloth shop and given it to the shop’s embroiderers, Liu Zhiqiu leisurely walked down the main street with his little follower, not in a hurry to return.

“Brother Zhiqiu, since we’re making new clothes, shouldn’t we pick out more fabrics? Grandpa, Grandma, Uncle, Aunt, and the little one haven’t gotten their new clothes yet.”

“Don’t worry, they have something to wear. Big Brother already instructed the servants at the mansion to help make them.”

“…If the servants are making them, why are we still spending money at the fabric shop?”

Liu Zhiqiu paused for a moment and then continued walking forward, pretending nothing had happened.

Could he say that he was just making up an excuse to bring her out for a walk around the city?

The woman continued to follow him, step by step, looking like she wanted to speak but held back, like a little wife.

He sighed silently, reached out, and took her hand.

“There are many street vendors selling a variety of things. The prices aren’t high, and the quality isn’t the best, but if you like anything, I can afford to buy it for you.”

The moment her hand was taken, Liu Muqiu felt as though her soul had flown away.

Muqiu followed his steps, listening to his voice. She understood, but she couldn’t react in time.

Her heart was pounding in her chest, fast and hard.

“Why are your hands so cold?” The man turned his head, his thick brows furrowed.

“I… I’m afraid of the cold!” She quickly clasped his large hand tightly in hers, lowered her head to get even closer to him, her lips curving in a smile that she couldn’t suppress no matter how hard she tried.

He was holding her hand in the middle of the street!

Did this mean she was one step closer to him?

Turning his head, Liu Zhiqiu continued strolling leisurely through the crowd, a slight smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

Tsk, this reaction was not bad.

With the new year approaching, the street vendors were eager to make extra money before the holidays, and everywhere was filled with the sounds of people calling out, trying to sell their goods.

They passed by the small stalls, glancing at them briefly, before stopping at a stall selling hairpins.

“Look, see if there’s anything you like.”

Liu Muqiu suppressed her joy and shyness as she looked at the items on the stall. She saw that there were hairpins of all price ranges—cheap wooden pins, better ones with silver floral designs, and average jade pins. Although they couldn’t compare to the exquisite ones found in shops, they were the most suitable for their status as country folk.

After carefully looking at all the hairpins, she didn’t feel the least bit ashamed of the simple gifts the man was offering her.

In the end, she picked a carved wooden plum blossom hairpin. It was the first formal gift he had ever given her, and she was delighted.

“Do you want this one?”

“Yes, this one.” She nodded, her brows curved gently as she looked at him.

Her eyes were clear, without a trace of pretense.

Liu Zhiqiu smiled and took out twenty copper coins to give to the vendor.

Then, he looked at her, feeling that there were some things he needed to clarify. “Little White Lotus, I think you might have some misunderstandings about me. I can afford to—”

Before the words could leave his mouth, an unpleasant voice interrupted from nearby.

“Fifth Sister? Is that really you?!”

The two turned their heads and were met with a heavily made-up face.

Liu Zhiqiu immediately furrowed his brows, feeling the vulgarity.

Who was this person?

Fifth sister? From the Li family?

The gaudy woman was accompanied by a man, whose features were fairly handsome. However, the way he looked at Little White Lotus was even more unpleasant than the woman’s obnoxious presence.

“You’ve mistaken me for someone.” Liu Muqiu glanced at the woman, her grip on the man’s hand tightening slightly.

“How can you say I’ve mistaken? After all, we’ve been sisters for over a decade. Even now that you’ve climbed up to the Liu family, you shouldn’t be so proud as to pretend not to recognize people, right?” Li Junhua laughed while covering her mouth, but there was no trace of amusement in her eyes.

It was pure jealousy.

She then turned to the man beside her, “Husband, you’ve met Fifth Sister before, you should still recognize her, right?”

The man, Meng Yushan, looked at Liu Muqiu with a complex expression. After a pause, he nodded, “Junyue.”

“My name is Liu Muqiu, I have no connection to Li Junyue, nor any relationship with the Li family.” Liu Muqiu’s face grew cold, “Even the Matriarch Li admitted this. Young Master Meng and Madam Meng must know this too, right?”

Li Junhua’s eyes flickered for a moment. They had indeed known about that matter for quite some time.

Even someone as high-standing as their grandmother had to let go of Li Junyue, showing how strong the Liu family’s background truly was. The Li family was no longer a force they could challenge.

Li Junyue had really succeeded. She had escaped the Li family’s shackles and entered the Liu family’s prosperous fold.

A fate so fortunate it was enough to make others jealous.

And she, who had carefully planned to marry into the Meng family, never expected her circumstances to change overnight.

The Meng family lost their official position, falling from their status as a family of officials. In the end, they could no longer even be considered a prestigious family, only able to survive on the little family inheritance passed down from their ancestors.

When the walls fall, everyone pushes them down. With the change in their situation, their treatment also changed.

In the past, those who frequently visited the Meng residence to flatter them now avoided them, even finding themselves having to look to others for approval just to survive.

Same people, different fates. The more she thought about it, the more frustrated she became!

Her gaze fell on the wooden hairpin in Liu Muqiu’s hand. Li Junhua smiled mockingly, “Sister, you’re fortunate now that you’ve become a member of the Liu family. After all, they are a family with several wineries. But look, you went out just to buy something like this? Isn’t it a bit too shabby? Could it be that life in the Liu family isn’t as good as we thought?”