Originally, being liked by someone could also be a "mistake." Li Mingwei now felt that Ye Cheng was so wronged. He didn't do anything but was rejected.
Cuicui was a girl with her own opinions, and it was not easy to persuade her otherwise.
Li Mingwei looked at the time. It was about time to go to the academy for lunch. She tidied up the things on the table and stood up, "Alright, I'm going to the academy for lunch now. Go back and have your meal too."
"Okay."
Liu Cuicui put away the stool and followed Li Mingwei out of the room. She bid her goodbye after watching her close the door.
"Goodbye, sister-in-law."
"Mm."
Li Mingwei nodded. As Cuicui turned to leave, she couldn't help calling her back, "Cuicui, do you think with the current situation between the Ye family and the Cui family, the Cui family would marry Ying to them?"
"No."
"So no matter if anything happened between you and Ye Cheng, Ying's wish won't come true anyway."
How could Cuicui not know this? But she just didn't want Ying to be saddened, nor to have anything to do with her sadness.
"Hmm?"
The two were silent for a while. Sensing the chill in the air, Li Mingwei looked up at the sky. Flurries of snowflakes were mixed in the wind. It was snowing!
First snow!
"Cuicui!"
"Yes, sister-in-law?"
Cuicui was baffled. Her sister-in-law was looking somewhat melancholic just now, but suddenly became elated.
"Let's go buy mutton!"
Li Mingwei grabbed Cuicui's hand and ran towards the market. Who knew if there would be any mutton left at this hour? If not, there would be no mutton soup to drink today, and the winter would not feel as warm.
Cuicui didn't understand but seeing her sister-in-law running so fast, she hurried to catch up and supported her. If her sister-in-law were to fall or bump into anything, she wouldn't be able to bear the responsibility.
As they ran, Cuicui also noticed something amiss. Her face felt cool and when she paused to look closely at the tiny snowflakes, she finally understood their significance.
"My sister-in-law, please slow down. It's just mutton soup, after all."
Whether they had it or not, it wouldn't make much difference. They had lived well without it before too. More clothes and firewood were what really kept the cold away.
But Li Mingwei persisted. She must have the soup and wanted to send some to the Dong family for Older Sister Chunhua to stew for her. Though, she didn't know how good her mother-in-law's mutton soup was yet. It shouldn't be too bad, right? Or should she try it first?
Mumbling to herself, she arrived at the market. Her little face instantly dropped.
Quite a number of people living near the market had also come. She and Cuicui had to be quicker. Li Mingwei could only bring Cuicui to queue behind while counting the number of people ahead. She also peered at the mutton on the meat stall, wondering if there would be any left when her turn came.
"Oh!"
More than whether she could buy mutton, Cuicui was worried about her health, "Sister-in-law, are you alright after running so fast just now?"
"It's nothing, don't worry," Li Mingwei brushed her off.
Her eyes were fixed on the mutton now, unable to look elsewhere. Where was the time to care about anything else?
The older women ahead were still picking and choosing. The queue moved painfully slowly, and Li Mingwei was agonizingly impatient. She was nearly huffing in frustration.
Cuicui leaned in and whispered, "Sister-in-law, it's just mutton. There's no need to get so worked up."
"There is!" Li Mingwei sounded a little aggrieved, "I just want to eat it, or I won't feel well."
Cuicui scratched her head in puzzlement. Were pregnant women all like this?
She remembered her mother saying she had to eat whatever she craved when pregnant, morning or night. If her father didn't buy it for her, they would quarrel, especially when carrying her. Her appetite was particularly voracious then.
But she was already the seventh child, not as precious anymore. Often her father was unwilling to buy what her mother wanted. The two quarreled far more in those months than the ten years prior.
By the time it was their turn, there was hardly any good meat left. Li Mingwei was disappointed, her voice dropping, "Old Brother Su, only these are left?"
"That's right. No one expected it to snow today. You should've come earlier too."
There was nothing Old Boss Su could do. He had only slaughtered one sheep today, so there was still some to buy.
"Did Older Sister Chunhua come by?"
"Didn't see her."
So the Dong family had none either.
There were still people behind, so Li Mingwei couldn't dwell on it too long. Just as she pointed at a piece of meat to speak, Old Boss Su's son came running over with a freshly slaughtered sheep slung over his shoulder.
He flung the sheep onto the chopping board, "Dad, mom said business would surely be good today, so she told me to bring another slaughtered sheep over."
Li Mingwei's face brightened instantly.
Satisfied, she squeezed out from the crowd with a few bones and two pieces of meat, passing the slightly smaller piece to Cuicui for her to bring home.
"Sister-in-law, I..."
Cuicui was about to decline but Li Mingwei shoved the meat knot into her hand, then called out, "Ye Cheng."
Cuicui was taken aback for a moment before turning to look behind her. Seizing the chance while she was searching earnestly, Li Mingwei wanted to slip away. But just as she turned, she heard Ye Cheng's voice.
He stood in the queue scratching his head while peering in the direction Li Mingwei had pointed, "Sister-in-law, I'm here. Who were you pointing to just now?"
Cuicui glared at him, "Who's your sister-in-law!"
Ye Cheng lowered his head.
Li Mingwei was surprised by the coincidence but most families would probably come this way now. Bumping into each other wasn't too strange.
She smiled, "It's alright, call me whatever you like."
"Sister-in-law~"
"Oh!" Li Mingwei stopped Cuicui's words, "You grew up together since you were young. It's nothing that he calls you that."
With people around, their matter was still unsettled. Li Mingwei didn't want to discuss it in front of outsiders. She nodded at Ye Cheng and walked out of the crowd with the meat.
Carrying the meat, Cuicui chased after her. She saw Li Mingwei turn a corner and vanish, so she could only accept her kindness.
"Don't know if Older Sister Chunhua bought mutton. I'll go ask after lunch," Li Mingwei mumbled to herself as she headed straight for the academy. It was much later today, her mother-in-law must be anxious.
Reaching the street corner, she saw a man and woman conversing up ahead. Out of instinct, she retreated a few steps and hid behind the wall, peeping out at them.
They were quite far, so Li Mingwei couldn't really make out what they were saying. But Ye Hui suddenly covered her mouth and laughed after chatting for a while. Hu Jin also pulled up the corners of his lips, seeming to converse delightfully.
Hu Jin bent slightly with his hand pointing at the road ahead. Ye Hui nodded in understanding and bowed to him. Hu Jin cupped his fist and strode towards this direction.
Seeing this, Li Mingwei shifted towards the center of the road to meet him, "Where are you going, Old Brother Hu?"
Staring at Ye Hui's retreating back, she asked knowingly, "Who were you talking to just now?"
Seeing her, Hu Jin's smile became more genuine. He quickly came forward to take the things from her hands, "Looking for you. I didn't see you come for lunch after waiting a while, auntie went back to find you too. Mr. Jin was worried so he sent me to take a look as well."
In case something happened, he was stronger too.
Swinging up the meat in his hand to look, he turned his head in the direction Li Mingwei was gazing. Somewhat puzzled, he asked, "Younger sister doesn't recognize her? She said she often embroiders flowers with you and that you've mentioned me to her before."
What did she mean by often?
Just twice, and when did she ever mention Hu Jin to her? Ye Hui was an accomplished liar!
Squinting, Li Mingwei said, "The back looks vaguely familiar but I can't remember clearly. Not very acquainted."
Then why would she say...
Hu Jin didn't really understand but he didn't think much about it either. Perhaps she was just being polite.
