Exile after Divorce? Empty the Scumbag Husband First!-Chapter 216 - 213: She Couldn’t Understand Why Yuanxi Came to Buy Such Things
Where’s the spare money to buy things in the garrison? With doubt, Ruan Qing went to that shop and saw something like incense in her hands.
After seeing the same incense, she asked the shopkeeper what it was.
The shopkeeper, seeing she looked like a young lady, spoke meaningfully.
"Miss, are you sure you want this? It’s not something you’re supposed to buy, huh?"
Ruan Qing frowned and her tone hardened: "What do you mean? Shopkeeper, since you’ve displayed it for sale, why can’t I buy it? Besides, I don’t even know what this is. When I asked you, how do you know I’m not buying?"
The shopkeeper laughed heartily and teased her: "This is used for matters between husband and wife. It’s fragrant and enhances pleasure. Miss, you haven’t married yet, have you?"
Ruan Qing paused, her ears turning slightly red, muttering as she turned and hurriedly walked away.
She couldn’t understand why Yuanxi came to buy such things.
Later, while helping in the medicine shop, until Yuanxi came to find them, Ruan Qing suddenly came to her senses and looked over.
"Miss Yuan? Why have you come here?"
Yuanxi smiled slightly, glanced around the medicine shop, and asked her, "I’m feeling a bit unwell and wanted to see if Ruan Qing’s brother is here."
Ruan Qing frowned, with a hint of wariness.
"Why are you seeking my brother for your illness? Besides, we’re not familiar with you, if you truly seek treatment, don’t expect credit! Our shop does not extend credit!"
Yuanxi’s face stiffened briefly, then showed a bitter expression, speaking with grievance.
"Ruan Qing, don’t misunderstand me. Although I used to be close to the Qi Family, that’s only because I was sold into their household as a servant from a young age! I had no choice."
"Now they’ve received their retribution, I’m finally free, and I just want to live a good life."
After saying this, she even squeezed out a couple of tears. The shopkeeper next to them, unaware, simply thought she was pitiful.
But Ruan Qing remained unchanged in demeanor, without sounding kind but also without making things difficult for her.
"What’s the use of crying in front of me? My sister said, everyone has their fate. If you’re dissatisfied with your fate, the only one who can change it is yourself!"
"It’s your own incompetence not striving for change. Crying to anyone now is useless."
She turned a blind eye and went to the side to help with work.
Yet in her heart, a multitude of thoughts arose.
Coming to seek her brother out of the blue, usually she doesn’t have interactions with their family.
At this moment, Ruan Qing recalled some things Nanny Fang had said.
At that time when they were on the road to exile, whether it was Ruan Jiao or the already deceased Aunt Chen of Uncle’s Mansion, once they lost their support, they thought of ways to depend on others.
This thought barely crossed her mind when Ruan Qing returned home in the evening, planning to ask Nanny Fang for advice, and saw her brother coming out with some things.
Upon inquiry, she found out he was preparing to set off for Xingjia the next day.
"Your sister is a girl after all. Mother and I are not at ease, so I plan to go to Xingjia to bring her back. This afternoon, I asked Vice Minister Dong to convey the message to General Huo. Tomorrow, I’ll pass by Longchang Post Station where someone will take me out of the city."
Thinking of setting off tomorrow, tonight he planned to wash at the hot spring.
When Ruan Qing saw him carrying some clothes, she laughed and pushed him back: "Why should brother travel so far? Let me boil some hot water for you, isn’t that enough?"
Ruan Qingsong looked puzzled: "How can I make you boil water? Setting up the stove and fetching water is too troublesome!"
"It’s not troublesome at all! Besides, when I went to deliver clothes for father today, I heard a magician say it’s not advisable to go out tonight."
Ruan Qingsong didn’t believe in these things. At that moment, Mr. Xue brought some vegetables over to their family. The harvest from the fields was abundant, so he thought of giving each household a share.
Seeing this, Ruan Qing had a flash of inspiration: "Grandpa Xue! You’ve come at the right time! Tomorrow my brother plans to go to Xingjia to find my sister. You mentioned discussing the private school matter, right? Don’t delay, let’s talk about it tonight in detail."
Upon hearing this, the old man came over immediately: "Asong, you’re leaving for Xingjia tomorrow?"
Seeing him nod, the old man thought about it too: "It’s uncertain how many days you’ll be gone, so the private school matters should be discussed thoroughly tonight."
With that, Ruan Qingsong was pushed into the house by Ruan Qing. After coming out again, Ruan Qing headed straight to where Yun Xiu lived.
Meanwhile, the night wind swept through with a chill.
The hot spring area was shrouded in mist, and the warm water continuously filled the pool.
Yuanxi changed into a thin dress, applied rouge and powder on her face, covering her usual haggard and dirty appearance. Alas, though it was only late autumn, it already felt like winter onset; the night wind was biting cold.
It made her shiver!
But thinking that her combative effort might secure a good future, she didn’t mind as much.
Now that the Liu Family was burned to death, Qi Nanfeng’s whereabouts were unknown, and the remaining servants of the Qi Mansion had long gone their separate ways.
She had left nothing behind; the copper coins used to buy these clothes and powders were from pawning her own hairpin.
There being no dependence, only a desperate struggle to attach to a good family, she might have a chance at survival.
Looking around the village, there’s no better prospect than the Ruan Family’s young man.
In both character and appearance, as well as household status, he’s first-rate.
Even if it’s Ruan Mian’s brother, so what? If I gain the brother’s favor, no matter how much Ruan Mian detests me, she can’t do anything to me!
Thinking of this, her heart surged with determination.
She saw the hour was about right; the moon had hidden behind the clouds, and the surroundings were pitch black.
Hurriedly, she scattered some incense powder from the sachet all around, especially encircling the pool thoroughly.
As the fragrance spread, Yuanxi gradually felt her feet becoming light.
The longer she waited, the more her consciousness grew muddled.
Realizing, she thought to herself that the incense powder’s effect was strong, and she had also been affected, trying to use her remaining rationality to get up.
Turning around, she saw a silhouette of a man approaching from nearby.
Delighted, Yuanxi watched as the man drew close and entered the pool, she immediately stumbled from the bushes into the water, being caught by the man.
In her daze, Yuanxi seemed to see her long-cherished Ruan Qingsong, her hands instinctively reaching out: "Husband..."
Her words were seductive, her posture soft and pliant like a boneless creature. The man, still surprised, was frightened by the sudden embrace.
Yet, at this moment, waves of emotions surged within him, however, struggling, ultimately yielding to the softness of her embrace, he held Yuanxi close, both sinking together into the warm spring...
The next morning.
Mrs. Chen packed Ruan Qingsong’s luggage, and Mrs. Zhang prepared many dry rations for the journey.
And now Jing can babble and talk.
