Chapter 160: Cao Yunyun’s Thoughts

Chapter 160: Chapter 160: Cao Yunyun’s Thoughts

He wore a simple, coarse blue robe. He was quite thin, with somewhat plain features. Not striking at first glance, but his was the kind of face that grows on you—the more you looked, the more pleasant he seemed.

To be honest, he looked less like a doctor and more like a scholar. The air around him seemed to carry the scent of books rather than medicine.

"Since you put it that way, I feel much more at ease."

Ping’an, who had been listening from the side for a long time, finally couldn’t help but voice his worries.

"Young Master, Miss Ji, this seems a little...unreliable. Winter is almost over. The hand cream won’t sell for much longer..."

Ji Huan raised a finger and wagged it at him.

"Little Ping’an, even though winter is almost over, it will always come again. You have to think long-term. There are many benefits to claiming the high ground early. Besides, who says hand cream can only be used in winter? For laborers who work with water all year round, once they experience the benefits of hand cream, they won’t be able to go a day without it. What’s more..."

She seemed to be speaking to Ping’an, but her gaze shifted to Xin Ziqi.

"The market for hand cream isn’t just limited to the Northern Pass. As for how to conquer the market and how far our reach can extend, that will all depend on your Young Master."

Xin Ziqi naturally understood the deeper meaning in her words. He cupped his hands in a salute. "I’ll be relying on your guidance from now on."

Ji Huan mimicked his gesture. "I wouldn’t dare presume to guide you. Let’s aim for mutual benefit and a win-win. May our partnership be a pleasant one."

Just as she was about to step over the threshold, Ji Huan suddenly turned back with a meaningful smile.

"I’m not doing this just to help Yide Hall’s business. I have my own considerations and goals. You could say this hand cream is a test. We’ll see what the final results are. If they satisfy me, perhaps we can have a deeper collaboration."

After a brief pause, Xin Ziqi said with conviction, "You won’t be disappointed."

Ji Huan, already outside Yide Hall, waved over her shoulder without looking back. "Do your best!"

Having settled an important matter, Ji Huan took Dabao and headed straight for the hot and spicy soup stall.

As expected, she saw Cao Yunyun at the stall.

She was indeed very pretty. An oval face, delicate brows and eyes, and average height. Even in a thick, padded winter coat, it was clear she had a slender figure.

She bustled between the tables, clearing dishes and wiping surfaces with practiced speed. When a customer occasionally asked her a question, her cheeks would flush slightly.

"Wan, you’re here?"

Hu Liang was frying dough sticks and called out a greeting when he saw her.

Widow Xie quickly found a spot for her and Dabao to sit, and two bowls of steaming hot and spicy soup and a few freshly fried dough sticks were brought over right away.

"Hurry and eat. It’s so early, you must be starving."

Ji Huan thought Widow Xie was just worried about her being hungry and was feeling quite touched, but then she heard the woman add, "Honestly, you could have just come by yourself. Why’d you bring Dabao along? Look at his little frozen face! You could have left him at my house for Ximei to watch so he wouldn’t have to suffer out here. Dabao, quick, have something warm. Are you cold? You must be frozen, aren’t you?"

Ji Huan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

’To think, Widow Xie didn’t even want me to raise Dabao back then. And look at her now...’

She took off her gloves and poked Dabao’s forehead. "You little rascal, you’re more doted on than your big sister now."

Dabao glanced at his sister, then turned his head back to stare at the steaming hot and spicy soup.

Resigned, Ji Huan took off his gloves too and pressed a spoon into his hand. "Go on and eat, you little tyrant."

The siblings buried their heads in their food. Nearby, Cao Yunyun, who was clearing a table, gradually slowed her movements.

She had noticed Ji Huan the moment Hu Liang called out, "Wan."

Although she had never met her, she was already quite familiar with the name Ji Huan.

During her days helping at the Hu Family’s stall, Ji Huan’s name was mentioned often.

By Hu Liang, Widow Xie, Hu Dacheng, Hu Ximei, and even the regular customers.

The others were one thing, but it was mainly the Hu Family—the tone they used when they spoke of Ji Huan...

’How should I put it? It was a tone of exceptional intimacy and pride.’

A faint unease stirred in her heart, a feeling that she was an outsider.

Moreover, she had asked Hu Liang before what Ji Huan looked like.

Every time, he had just said she was a "little lass."

Only after seeing her today did she realize that wasn’t the case at all.

’Would a "little lass" be taller than me? Would a "little lass" have such beautiful features?’

Ji Huan was in the middle of sipping her hot and spicy soup when she sensed someone standing beside her. She looked up to see Cao Yunyun smiling shyly at her.

"You must be Ji Huan. You’re almost finished. Would you like another bowl?"

As she spoke, she reached for the bowl in Ji Huan’s hands.

Ji Huan pulled back slightly and quickly said "no, thank you" several times.

But Cao Yunyun was insistent. "Don’t be polite. Just treat this as your own family’s stall. If you want to eat or drink anything, just let me know."

She said this with the air of a hostess.

Ji Huan felt a bit helpless and said, "Really, it’s alright, sister-in-law. I’m almost full."

The term "sister-in-law" slipped out so naturally that Cao Yunyun froze for a moment before her face turned red.

At the same time, she quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

"You... you can’t just call me that!" she stammered.

Ji Huan feigned ignorance.

"How is it improper? You’re about to marry Brother Liangzi, so what should I call you if not sister-in-law? Aunt Xie is always telling me how pretty you are, but seeing you today, I realize you’re more than just pretty! And you’re so capable, too. Brother Liangzi is truly lucky..."

Cao Yunyun was both shy and excited.

"Did they really praise me like that?"

"Of course! Ximei and I are both hoping Brother Liangzi will hurry up and marry his beautiful and virtuous sister-in-law."

Cao Yunyun lowered her head, fidgeting. "You’re all just teasing me."

"What are you talking about? You seem to be having a happy chat." Hu Liang, having freed up his hands, walked over and joined the conversation.

Ji Huan teased, "What else? We’re talking about how you can’t wait to marry your bride."

"Hey! You!" Cao Yunyun stomped her foot, overcome with shyness.

Hu Liang’s face reddened too. "Aren’t you a little old for this? You’re starting to act like Dacheng and Ximei..."

Ji Huan held up her hands. "What’s the big deal? I haven’t even mentioned what Dacheng told me you shout in your dreams..."

"Alright, you win." Hu Liang beat a hasty retreat.

Cao Yunyun, fighting back her shyness, asked Ji Huan, "What did he shout in his dream?"

Hu Liang turned back just in time to see Ji Huan lean in and whisper something in Cao Yunyun’s ear. Cao Yunyun glanced over at him, her face turning as red as an overturned dye vat.

Hu Liang was too embarrassed to look their way again and turned back to his work.

Cao Yunyun sat down on the other half of the bench and continued to chat and laugh with Ji Huan.

Ji Huan was a smooth talker and praised people in a way that felt completely natural. Cao Yunyun was beaming as she listened.

By now, she had let go of her earlier subtle misgivings and had taken an almost immediate liking to Ji Huan.

Reading her expression, Ji Huan also breathed a sigh of relief internally.

’Of course I knew. Cao Yunyun’s curiosity and probing were born purely from a woman’s instinctual wariness. That wasn’t hard to understand, nor was it a big deal. But if I didn’t handle it well, it could easily breed trouble and might even affect my relationship with the Hu Family. Thankfully, the potential problem was resolved with just a few words, so it wasn’t much trouble in the end. This also showed that while Cao Yunyun had her little schemes, she wasn’t very cunning. That was a good thing. However, she was also easily swayed, lacked firm convictions, and was susceptible to being fooled. And that was not a good thing at all.’