After the Scholar Rejected Me, I Married the Rogue and Got Rich - Chapter 65

As she led Lin Sang into the house, she looked her over with concern: “The weather has just cleared up, the road must be hard to walk on, right? Look at your little face, it’s all red from the cold! Come on, warm yourself on the kang!”

Lin Sang felt a warmth in her heart and replied with a smile, “It’s alright, Auntie. I’m still warm from walking around. I’ve come to bother you and Xiaoman again.”

“What are you saying! I’d love for you to come often! Why are you being so polite with your auntie!” Chen’s mother pretended to scold her, and quickly poured Lin Sang a bowl of steaming hot water.

Just then, the curtain to the inner room was suddenly lifted with a “whoosh,” and Xiaoman’s eyes lit up when she saw Lin Sang. She rushed over to her in a few steps and affectionately grabbed her arm and shook it.

“Sangsang! You’ve finally arrived! I was just thinking you’d come these past few days!” She immediately noticed the embroidery frame in Lin Sang’s hand and winked mischievously. “Is it stuck somewhere again? Let me take a look! I’m not bragging, but when it comes to embroidery skills, I, Chen Xiaoman, am second to none!”

She deliberately puffed out her small chest, looking smug, which made Lin Sang and Chen’s mother laugh.

———

In Xiaoman’s room, the kang (heated brick bed) was warm and cozy. Two girls sat side by side by the window, their red wedding dress fabric spread out on their laps like a splendid cloud.

Xiaoman held a fine needle, her fingers flying nimbly as she demonstrated and patiently explained, “Sangsang, look, it’s right here—the eyes of the mandarin ducks are the hardest to embroider!”

She pointed to the somewhat stiff mandarin duck head on Lin Sang’s embroidery hoop, “You can’t just fill it in with black thread, it’ll look like two dead ink blobs. You have to use light gray thread as a base first, to define the position and outline, and the stitches have to be extremely fine and dense…”

Xiaoman’s fingers deftly guided the needle and thread, the light gray silk thread outlining soft, rounded eye sockets on the red satin.

“Then, in the area above the eye socket, use the darkest black thread, just a tiny stitch, and pull out a little bit of the thread to create the depth of the pupil… See, doesn’t it immediately look more expressive?”

She handed the embroidery hoop back to Lin Sang and encouraged her, “You give it a try. Your hands must be steady and your mind must be calm. Think about how you want to bring out the spirit of this little creature.”

Lin Sang took the embroidery frame, picked up the needle as instructed, threaded the light gray silk thread, and tried her best to recall Xiao Man’s technique, carefully putting the needle down.

At first, the stitches were fairly steady, outlining the general shape. However, when she was about to switch to black thread to “finish the job,” her fingers involuntarily stopped.

Xing’er’s tearful eyes, filled with pain and despair, uncontrollably surfaced in her mind, overlapping with the empty eye sockets of the unfinished mandarin duck on the embroidery frame.

“…A hen that can’t lay eggs…” “…He didn’t even say a word in her defense…” Those words, tinged with sobs, were like cold needles, piercing through her attempt to maintain focus.

Her gaze gradually lost focus as she stared at the small embroidered face, as if she could see through it Xing’er’s trembling figure at her husband’s home and her cautious figure at her own home.

The needle in his hand hung in mid-air, hesitant to fall.

“Sangsang?” Xiaoman called out in confusion. Seeing that she didn’t respond, she gently touched her arm. “Sangsang! What are you thinking about? The needle is about to fall!”

Lin Sang suddenly snapped back to reality, her hand trembled, and the needle tip almost missed its mark.

She lowered her eyelashes somewhat flusteredly, trying to cover it up, saying, “No…it’s nothing, I just think this ‘finishing touch’ is too difficult, and I’m afraid I’ll ruin it…”

Xiaoman looked her over suspiciously, clearly not believing her: “Come on! You clearly understood when I was teaching you! Your hands are much steadyer than mine! What’s wrong with you? I’ve felt something was off about you ever since you came in. Is this trick too difficult, or… or is something on your mind?”

Lin Sang remained silent for a moment, put down her needlework, sighed softly, and briefly told Xiaoman and Aunt Chen about her encounter with Xing’er on the road and what Xing’er had said.

Finally, she whispered, “Seeing Sister Xing’er like that, I feel… quite sad. I understand that her words were for my own good, but my heart still feels heavy.”

Xiaoman was filled with righteous indignation and clenched her little fists: “Xinger’s in-laws are really awful! And her husband is so useless!”

She then grabbed Lin Sang’s hand and said urgently, “Sang Sang, don’t think such things! How can Brother Zhou be the same as that kind of person! He’s so good to you! We all see it!”

Hearing this, Sister Chen, who was sewing shoe soles nearby, also put down her work. She was experienced and saw things more clearly. She moved to Lin Sang’s side and said in a gentle and calm tone, “Sang girl, Xing’er is such a pitiful child. She met the wrong person. We all feel sorry for her.”

She gently patted Lin Sang’s hand. “She reminded you out of good intentions, afraid that you are too young and blinded by appearances. In this world, a woman’s marriage is like a second reincarnation, so it’s always better to be cautious.”

She changed the subject, looking at Lin Sang with a kind and wise gaze: “But people are different, just like crops in the field. Some seedlings look strong, but they are infested with insects; some seedlings look inconspicuous, but their roots are deep and they can withstand wind and rain. Zhou Han may not have a good reputation, but look at what he has done. Every single thing he has done is full of sincerity and responsibility.”

Sister Chen said firmly, “We neighbors all see clearly how he treats you and your family. His feelings and the way he protects you are genuine. Xing’er met a heartless family, but you are different. You are a discerning and independent child. Since you have decided that Zhou Han is someone you can rely on, don’t let other people’s experiences upset you and cause yourself unnecessary trouble.”

She looked at Lin Sang and said meaningfully, “Life is something you make yourself. Look ahead and manage your own life well, that’s better than anything else. As for Xing’er… sigh, I just hope her family can be strong enough to find her another way out.”

Sister Chen’s earnest and wise words were like a warm breeze, gradually dispelling the gloom in Lin Sang’s heart.

Yes, Xing’er’s experience is heartbreaking, but it is someone else’s path after all. She has her own judgment, her own choices, and more importantly, she has the confidence to back up her with Zhou Han’s earnest sincerity and actions.

She raised her head, and the confusion and heaviness in her eyes gradually faded, replaced by clarity and determination.

She smiled gratefully at Aunt Chen and said, “Auntie, thank you. I understand now. I misunderstood.”

She looked at Xiaoman again and took her hand: “Thank you too, Xiaoman.”

With the knot in her heart untied, Lin Sang picked up her embroidery needle again. This time, her hand was much steadyer, and her heart was calmer. She carefully embroidered the pair of mandarin ducks, stitch by stitch. The originally dull mandarin duck seemed to be instantly infused with a soul, its eyes becoming lively and gentle, lifelike.

The sunlight streaming in through the window was warm and bright.

“Wow! That’s it! Sister Sangsang, you embroidered so well!” Xiaoman exclaimed in surprise.

Lin Sang looked at the mandarin duck that had finally “come back to life” and the corners of her mouth turned up slightly.