The Fortunate Lady and Her Mountain Man

Chapter 164: Chapter 164: Suspicion Breeds Devils

Cao Yunyun hesitated, still not quite believing it.

"Sister-in-law, are you sure you’re not overthinking this? I feel like she’s very nice, not like what you told me before..."

Mrs. Wang loved to go visiting, and she especially loved to dig up gossip. It wasn’t just in their own village; if there was any big news in the neighboring villages, she knew about it.

Recently, Mrs. Wang had been mentioning Ji Huan to Cao Yunyun quite often.

Almost everything she knew about Ji Huan came from Mrs. Wang.

"Oh, you silly girl, this is why I say you’re naive! Do you think a clever person like her would wear her intentions on her face for you to see? She’s much more cunning than that!"

Cao Yunyun couldn’t understand. "You’ve never met Ji Huan either, so how do you know she’s cunning?"

Mrs. Wang was taken aback for a moment, but then she said with a nonchalant expression:

"Just think about it. Her grandma, Aunt Kang, is infamous in Dafeng Village, and even she can’t get the upper hand with Ji Huan. Do you think someone like that is easy to deal with? A young girl with no backing whatsoever, who started a business and is building a house in such a short time... how could she do that without some tricks up her sleeve?"

Seeing Cao Yunyun still looking skeptical, Mrs. Wang put on an anxious and pained expression.

"Oh, Yunyun, I’m your sister-in-law, would I lie to you? I’ve eaten more salt than you’ve eaten rice. I can tell a saint from a devil with just one look! If you don’t listen to me, she’ll eat you up until not even your bones are left!"

Cao Yunyun was startled. "Is she really... really that formidable?"

Seeing that she had successfully frightened Cao Yunyun, Mrs. Wang pulled her down to sit on the edge of the kang bed, her tone softening a little.

"Let me ask you, did you observe Hu Liang’s attitude toward Ji Huan today?"

"Liangzi just sees Ji Huan as a little sister, the same as Ximei. Nothing more... Ji Huan didn’t seem to do anything wrong, either. She even called me sister-in-law..."

Mrs. Wang was exasperated. "She’s doing it on purpose! Talk is cheap! She called you sister-in-law to make you lower your guard. See? You’ve already fallen for it! You’re even speaking up for her, but for all you know, she’s plotting to steal your man!"

Cao Yunyun was on the verge of tears. "Then... then what do I do, Sister-in-law..."

Mrs. Wang patted her hand. "Don’t worry, your sister-in-law is here. I’ll help you figure this out. By the way, when Ji Huan ate at the stall this morning, did she pay?"

Cao Yunyun shook her head blankly. "I didn’t notice."

"Then go ask Hu Liang tomorrow morning. Just ask if Ji Huan usually pays when she eats at the stall."

"Why ask that?"

"You silly girl! Everyone says Ji Huan only stayed with the Hu Family temporarily because she had nowhere else to go. But think about it—they’re not related at all, so why would they be so devoted to her? They even act like a real family... And even though she moved out, I hear she still eats with them from time to time. If you tell me there’s nothing fishy going on there, I won’t believe it."

Cao Yunyun’s face paled, and she instinctively shook her head in denial. "No, no, Liangzi wouldn’t do that."

"He might not, but what can he do if someone is eyeing him every single day! Hu Liang is such a handsome young man. He’s tall, he’s good-looking, and now he’s running that profitable stall. Who wouldn’t be jealous? Plenty of girls want to snatch him up!"

Mrs. Wang paused intentionally, and only continued when she saw that Cao Yunyun was about to burst into tears again.

"The reason I’m telling you to ask this is to get to the bottom of things, to see just how close the Hu Family and Ji Huan really are. If it’s reached the point where they don’t even distinguish between their money, then your marriage is in danger. Forget about whether you can even marry him successfully; even if you do, it’s another matter whether you can keep your man. That Ji Huan is much smarter than you and way better at winning people over. When the time comes, she’ll have you completely under her thumb!"

Cao Yunyun was completely panicked.

’The more she thought about it, the more she felt that every word Ji Huan had said to her today was laced with hidden meaning. Even the playful banter between her and Hu Liang now seemed like flirtatious glances.’

Cao Yunyun trembled all over, not daring to think about it any further.

’How could such a terrifying person exist in this world? She’s not even that old, how can she be so malicious and scheming?’

"Sister-in-law, Sister-in-law..." Cao Yunyun gripped Mrs. Wang’s arm tightly, tears streaming down her face. "You have to help me. You must help me. I can’t let anyone steal Liangzi away..."

Mrs. Wang patted her hand. "Don’t you worry. As long as you do as I say, I guarantee no one will be able to steal Hu Liang from you."

「The next day.」 The morning rush had passed, and things at the stall were less busy.

After wiping the tables, Cao Yunyun saw Widow Xie and Hu Ximei tidying up on the other side, so she walked over to Hu Liang. She lowered her head before she even spoke.

"Liangzi, can I ask you something?"

She always had this cautious and timid temperament, and Hu Liang was used to it.

"Of course. Go ahead and ask."

Cao Yunyun’s gaze drifted for a moment before she stammered out in a tiny voice, "Um... yesterday, when Ji Huan came to eat at our stall, did... did she pay?"

Fearing Hu Liang would misunderstand, she quickly added, "I-I’m not asking about the money. I just thought... I just thought that since Ji Huan is an acquaintance, we should have charged her a little less."

Hu Liang immediately broke into a smile. "Wan is more than just an acquaintance. Besides, we could charge anyone, but we could never charge her."

When Hu Liang said the first sentence, Cao Yunyun’s heart began to sink. By the time he finished the second, her hands and feet had turned to ice.

"Wh-why? I mean, my mother said it’s not good for business to always be like this. If all your relatives and friends come for free meals, you’ll... you’ll lose money."

Cao Yunyun barely managed to keep a smile on her face, her words coming out in fragments.

Hu Liang nodded. "Of course I know that principle, but Wan is different. She owns a share of this stall. It’s only right for her to eat here, so how could we possibly charge her?"

Cao Yunyun was utterly astonished, the question in her heart tumbling out.

"Isn’t this the Hu Family’s business? Wh-why does she have a share? Liangzi, tell me the truth. What... what is your relationship with her...?"

Seeing tears welling up in her eyes, Hu Liang quickly took out a clean handkerchief to wipe them away, silently cursing himself for being so careless.

"Don’t overthink it, Yunyun. I really do see Wan just like I see Ximei. Please don’t get the wrong idea."

Cao Yunyun stared at him with red, suspicious eyes. "Then tell me, why does she have a share in the stall?"

Afraid that Cao Yunyun would misunderstand and not wanting her to be upset, Hu Liang gave her a rough outline of the situation.

"You should be able to rest easy now, right?"

Cao Yunyun was only half-relieved; the other half of her heart was still suspended in anxiety.

She was naturally relieved that Hu Liang hadn’t given Ji Huan a share of the business because they were in a relationship.

’But if Ji Huan also has a share in this stall, doesn’t that make it a joint venture between her and Liangzi?’

’Then what does that make me?’

The more Cao Yunyun thought about it, the more uneasy she became. She was even more afraid that Ji Huan would use this as an excuse to cling to Hu Liang and never let go.

"Liangzi, please don’t be offended by what I’m about to say... We’re the ones who are always busy with this stall, and we’ve hardly ever seen Ji Huan come by. To give away half of it for nothing, isn’t that a bit..."

She didn’t finish, but Hu Liang already understood what she meant, and his expression turned serious.

"Yunyun, you can’t look at it that way. Wan taught me how to make the crullers and the hot and spicy soup. The whole idea was hers, and she helped set it all up in the beginning. Without her, my family wouldn’t have even known where to start, let alone set up a stall to make money. Giving her half is the least we can do. Even if I just collected a monthly wage and worked for her, it would be what she deserves."

Hu Liang had never spoken to her in such a tone before. Cao Yunyun couldn’t accept it, and the tears she had just wiped away began to flow again.

"I... I was just thinking of you. I want you to save up enough money sooner, so I..."

Seeing he had scared her, Hu Liang quickly softened his tone to comfort her.

"It’s all my fault. I should have explained it to you sooner. Don’t worry, even after Wan’s share, I’m still earning quite a bit. If I save for another half a year or so, I should have enough to build a new house, and then... I can bring you home."

’Another half a year? Isn’t that still a long time?’

’It could have been so much sooner...’

Although this was what Cao Yunyun was thinking, she was afraid of upsetting Hu Liang. She forced back her tears and gave him a smile.

But inside, her heart was in a panicked and chaotic state.

’My sister-in-law was right about everything. Ji Huan really is something else. Not only does Liangzi take her side in everything, but she even has a share in the hot and spicy soup business.’

’What on earth should I do? Do I... do I really have to listen to my sister-in-law?’

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