Chapter 20: What’s Happening to Xiao Heshuo?

Yan Ziyue choked on her words. She could hardly believe her past self was so thoughtless to have done such a thing.

“That was in the past. You can’t keep holding onto it. You have to give me a chance to make things right,” she pleaded.

Xiao Heshou’s thin lips curved slightly, but his tone remained unchanged. “I’m going to sleep.”

Yan Ziyue continued knocking on the door. “Husband, you can’t treat me like this.”

Xiao Heshou didn’t respond. He lay down and slowly shut his eyes.

After waiting a moment without hearing from him, she stormed back to her room, determined. Tomorrow night, she would succeed.

The next morning, as soon as Xiao Heshou stepped out, he saw Yan Ziyue standing by the door and his eyelids twitched slightly.

“How long have you been waiting here?”

“Just a minute or two. I just woke up too,” she said, grabbing his hand and leading him toward the kitchen. “Husband, you wash up first; I’ll make breakfast.”

“How about pancakes for breakfast?” Yan Ziyue suggested.

Xiao Heshou gave a short affirmative hum.

While watching him wash up, Yan Ziyue prepared the pancakes by the stove. “Can we go into town today?”

“Do you want to buy something?” he asked.

“No, I just want to check the prices of mushrooms and see if there’s any other business we can start,” she replied.

“Relying solely on mushrooms won’t work.”

Since she hadn’t thought of a better business yet, she wanted to explore the town.

Xiao Heshou glanced outside; it was just past seven in the morning.

“Then after breakfast, we’ll take the bus to town, look around, have lunch, and then come back.”

Yan Ziyue hesitated. “Husband, let’s walk. It won’t take long.”

“Walking through the mountains won’t take much time.” A round-trip bus fare for one was sixty cents, for two it would be a dollar twenty. So expensive!

Xiao Heshou didn’t want her to exhaust herself walking and insisted on taking the bus. He was capable enough not to make his wife walk all the way to town.

Yan Ziyue didn’t argue, thinking she’d just take him through the mountains after breakfast.

After they ate, Yan Ziyue went back to her room to gather some money—she had only a few coins left. Most of the money had been foolishly given away to Xu Lecheng and the Yan family before. She’d have to get it back someday.

“Husband, we should go now,” she said as she stepped outside.

Xiao Heshou handed her something wrapped in a handkerchief.

Yan Ziyue unfolded it, revealing a stack of large denomination bills and several tickets.

She was stunned—a whole stack of bills!

Looking at him as if he were a wealthy man, she exclaimed, “So, husband, you’re this rich?!”

Xiao Heshou stroked her head, a faint smile in his eyes. “My money is your money.”

“All right, let’s go catch the bus.”

Carefully tucking away the money and tickets close to her, she was still reluctant to take the bus. “Husband, let’s walk. It won’t take more than a few hours.”

“It’s too tiring.” Xiao Heshou took her hand and half-forced her toward the bus stop.

The bus stop was really just the roadside. Standing there, you wave your hand when a bus approaches, and it’ll stop. But when it does, you get a mouthful of dust.

Fortune favored Yan Ziyue and Xiao Heshou—they waited only a few minutes before a bus arrived, kicking up clouds of dust.

It wasn’t market day or any special occasion, so the bus wasn’t crowded.

Inside, there was an unpleasant smell, the floor was dirty with traces of feathers and dirt.

They sat together by the window at the back, keeping the windows closed to avoid the dust outside.

Yan Ziyue gave the conductor a dollar and received change and two tickets.

She slipped the tickets into her pocket and gazed out the window, filled with curiosity.

In her previous life, she rarely rode buses, mostly walking.

“Happy?” Xiao Heshou whispered.

Yan Ziyue nodded emphatically, smiling brightly at him. “Very happy! Especially going to town with you.”

His heart warmed. “As long as you’re happy.”

Holding his hand, she continued watching the scenery. He gripped hers in return, his expression softening.

After over two hours of bumpy travel, they arrived at Qingshan Town.

Stepping off the bus, they saw different buildings, people bustling about, and various shops. The air was rich with aroma.

“Anything you want to eat?” Xiao Heshou tightened his grip to keep her close.

Yan Ziyue was somewhat familiar with the town from her previous life working there but kept her knowledge hidden.

“No, let’s check out the street vendors first.”

“Okay,” he said, leading her toward the stalls.

She observed the shops and vendors carrying their loads, noting what they sold.

There were colorful clothes, various snacks—the busiest place was the supply and marketing cooperative.

It was packed.

Yan Ziyue craned her neck to look inside. The cooperative had many fine goods but required tickets to purchase.

Noticing her interest, Xiao Heshou took her inside.

“Husband, are we going to buy something here?” she looked around.

Wow! Watches!

Wow! A classic bicycle!

Wow! Color TVs!

All such desirable items.

He led her to the candy counter. “Want some candy?”

The counter displayed all sorts of sweets, attracting many buyers—some bought half a pound, others a pound or two.

Children and adults around looked on enviously.

Yan Ziyue’s mouth watered as she stared at the tempting candies.

“We’re not buying. We have no big plans, so no need for candy.”

Wanting to eat and buying were two different things.

But Xiao Heshou asked the clerk to weigh out two pounds of colorful candy.

Yan Ziyue didn’t stop him publicly; she took out money and tickets and paid.

The clerk packed the candy and handed it to her.

Among countless envious eyes, she accepted the candy and change.

She popped a piece into Xiao Heshou’s mouth and ate one herself.

“So sweet!”

Protecting her, Xiao Heshou carefully left the cooperative.

“Anything else you want to buy?”

“No.” She wanted many things but had no money yet and couldn’t spend all his money.

“Husband, let’s go to the street vendors.”

Once she earned money, she planned to buy him many things from the cooperative.

They continued toward the stalls.

But then—

Xiao Heshou’s eyes suddenly sharpened.