After Transmigrating, I Gained a Wife - Chapter 3

“You’re that good at painting?” Li Hanxue’s face was full of disbelief.

Luo Yan looked at her wife’s reaction and gazed at her indulgently, making Li Hanxue suddenly feel a little shy.

“Wife, can you ride a horse?”

“Why are you suddenly asking that?” Li Hanxue asked in confusion.

“We walked here on foot, but now we have money. Naturally, I can’t let my wife walk all the way back again.” Luo Yan looked at her wife and said seriously.

At the side, Wen Liang was watching the gossip unfold with an extremely serious face, observing the way his master and master’s wife interacted. He felt that his master was a very good person. While talking to his master’s wife, she was always taking care of her. This was very worth learning from.

Hearing what Luo Yan said, Li Hanxue felt warmth in her heart, and shyness began to show on her face. In the end, she did not even know what to say anymore.

“I… I don’t know how to ride a horse.”

Luo Yan said, “Oh, I see.”

Luo Yan turned around and asked Wen Liang where in the market they sold miscellaneous books, paper and ink, and livestock, then took her wife over.

Her wife was beautiful. People passing by could not help taking a second look, and once Luo Yan noticed it, her vigilance immediately rose!

Slowly, Luo Yan moved closer to her wife and held that tender, fair, smooth hand. The moment she grasped it, Luo Yan felt as if her entire body were floating!

When her husband held her hand, Li Hanxue’s heart was startled, and her body stiffened for an instant. Her husband’s palm was warm. Hanxue did not struggle free.

Her husband’s hand was much bigger than hers. Her own hand was almost completely wrapped in her husband’s palm.

When they passed by a jewelry shop, Li Hanxue took a couple more glances. After Luo Yan noticed, she directly pulled her wife over.

“Take a look. Which style do you like?”

Having been noticed by her husband, Li Hanxue felt somewhat embarrassed. But she still carefully picked one out. “Mm.”

Luo Yan smiled and also began looking through them.

The shopkeeper looked at the young couple, smiling with his whole face and eyes.

“Take a look and see which one you like~ They’re all newly arrived goods!”

Luo Yan saw a sandalwood hairpin that looked very nice. Hearing the shopkeeper speak, she nodded to him.

“Do you like this one?” When she looked at her wife, her wife was already holding an elegant hairpin in her hand. Her wife really had good taste.

“Mm, I think this one is nice.” Li Hanxue was a little shy. Was Luo Yan really going to buy it for her?

“Shopkeeper, how much are these two?” Luo Yan said.

Both of them had good eyes. The styles they had chosen were both very nice. “The hairpin the young lady is holding is one qian. The sandalwood hairpin in your hand is thirty wen each.” The price he gave the young master was not high, but he felt this deal could be made, so the shopkeeper was quite happy.

After Luo Yan heard the price the shopkeeper quoted, she did not haggle. She also had her wife pick another hairpin to give to her wife’s mother. The one her wife chose was also made of sandalwood, and compared with the one in Luo Yan’s hand, its style was a little more restrained and understated. In the end, she paid one qian and sixty wen. Note: one qian is about one hundred wen.

After seeing Luo Yan pay, Li Hanxue felt very happy deep down.

Luo Yan pulled her wife along and continued strolling around the market. “Wife, how about we buy a donkey cart?”

Hearing that Luo Yan wanted to buy a donkey cart, Li Hanxue naturally agreed. Her own family also had a donkey cart, as well as a horse carriage. As for how much they sold for, she really did not know. “All right. With a donkey cart, going back and forth will be much more convenient.”

Luo Yan said, “Yes, wife. The next time you come to the market, you can ride the donkey cart and won’t have to tire yourself out.” Thinking of how tired her wife had looked when they came here, her heart was full of distress. She had to treat her wife even better!

Along the way, they asked passersby for directions several times. Luo Yan and Li Hanxue first arrived at the place where livestock was sold.

After arriving there, Li Hanxue was still shy because of what Luo Yan had just said.

Luo Yan took Li Hanxue and walked once around the fenced-in livestock, making the shopkeeper unsure whether this person was actually buying anything or not.

The livestock all looked pretty good. “Shopkeeper, how much do you sell your donkey carts for? And horse carriages too!” Luo Yan said.

The shopkeeper said, “A donkey is five hundred wen, a donkey cart is eight qian, an ordinary horse is seven guan…”

Luo Yan said, “Shopkeeper, if this donkey cart can be five hundred wen, I’ll take it. I won’t buy a horse carriage for now. I’ll come buy one after some time.”

Looking at the thin and weak-looking young master, the shopkeeper had not expected her to be so good at haggling. A donkey cart for five hundred wen?! She really dared to say it.

“Young master, five hundred wen for a donkey cart really won’t do. How about this? I’ll calculate it at six hundred and fifty wen. What do you think?”

Luo Yan said, “Let’s count the donkey cart as six hundred wen. I see you also have cows here. I want one of those too. Pick me a cow. As for hens and ducks, I’ll take two of each. Shopkeeper, calculate how much I need to pay in total.”

Hearing the string of livestock the young master listed, the shopkeeper realized that the other party seemed very familiar with livestock prices. “Young master, this cow doesn’t have many living years left, so I’ll count it as one guan and two hundred wen for you. Ducks are one hundred and sixty wen each, but I’ll count them as one hundred and fifty. Hens are fifty wen each, but if I count them as forty wen for you, I can still earn a little.

“Young master, if you need a horse or horse carriage in the future, please consider my place first. How about it?”

Seeing the shopkeeper being so straightforward, Luo Yan also became happy. “Of course. I also need the shopkeeper’s help with something. I’ll pay an extra fifty wen. Help me find someone to lead the cow to my house.”

The shopkeeper said, “Of course.” Fifty wen to deliver it to her home was definitely fine. He just could not understand how this young master calculated accounts. Fifty wen was the cost of two or three chickens…

Li Hanxue: That was bought just like that? Also, were donkey carts this cheap? The price of horses did not seem expensive either.

Even with prices like this, Luo Yan could still bargain them down so low. She really was amazing.

Luo Yan and the shopkeeper agreed on a time. When the time came, the cow would be delivered, and they would set out together.

After buying everything, Luo Yan drove the donkey cart and took her wife around the market. She needed to buy some books, as well as paper and ink. Since she was going to teach someone painting, brushes, ink, paper, and inkstone were all necessary. It just so happened that she would need them herself later too.

But she did not know what day that kid Wen Liang would come to formally become her disciple. Still, thinking about how she had come to this world and could even teach someone, it was rather nice.

Li Hanxue asked, “Did you… know the prices of those livestock?”

Looking at her wife, Luo Yan answered seriously, “I didn’t know the prices. When I first asked, I only wanted to know roughly what price the shopkeeper would offer. When merchants sell things, they definitely want to make money. Take that donkey, for example. The shopkeeper definitely quoted at least several hundred wen higher. As for the horse carriage, seven guan actually wasn’t expensive, but it should still be possible to lower the price a little. The price he gave for the cow also seemed reasonable. I first pressed the price down low, then negotiated with the shopkeeper.”

“Looking at the shopkeeper’s expression, he probably thought I understood the market prices pretty well.”

Only after her husband finished speaking did Li Hanxue understand, and then she comprehended it.

She felt that Luo Yan still had many, many sides she did not know. They were probably all so outstanding that they would amaze her. Li Hanxue realized that she was becoming more and more curious about, and more and more attentive toward, her husband.

If women and women could also be like men and women, then being together with her husband would also be a pretty good choice. When she learned that Luo Yan was a woman, the other party’s honesty toward her had made her feel very at ease. So the reason she had not touched her was…

As she kept thinking, Li Hanxue’s cheeks began to flush red, and the roots of her ears had already been covered in red too.

However, Luo Yan was driving the donkey cart and did not notice.

At the market, Luo Yan bought vinegar and sauce, and even bought two liang of wine for her father. Two liang of wine cost fifty wen, and Luo Yan shamelessly asked the wine seller for a container to hold the wine.

Only after Luo Yan left did the wine shop owner sigh: Were young fellows nowadays all this clever?

Luo Yan also had not expected that a trip to the county town and one drawing would earn her so much money. But since it was the government office that had wanted the portrait, if they found that person, the reward money would be much greater. Still, none of that had anything to do with Luo Yan.

On the road, Luo Yan bought brown sugar and honey, and also bought some other things.

Then she went to the place that sold miscellaneous books. As for why Luo Yan had come to buy miscellaneous books, of course it was because they were cheap.

Hahahaha…

After asking the shopkeeper for the price, she confirmed that they were indeed very cheap. Three hundred wen per book, choose whatever you like.

Luo Yan only bought three books. One was about this world and politics, one was about medicinal herbs, and the last was on military strategy, though it was only one volume of it.

Li Hanxue said, “The shop next door sells brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones.” Seeing Luo Yan pay, she reminded her.

Luo Yan smiled and looked at Li Hanxue. “Mm, let’s go.” Her wife really was considerate.

For the Four Treasures of the Study, take brushes, for example. Different craftsmanship and different materials all had different prices.

Of course, Luo Yan still could not afford good brushes. In the end, she chose three ordinary writing brushes.

She bought two bolts of paper, which could be used for a very long time. Luo Yan bought one slightly better inkstick, worth one qian.

Luo Yan said, “Hanxue, let’s go eat.”

It was indeed time to eat. “All right,” Li Hanxue said.

Luo Yan asked, “What does Hanxue want to eat?”

Li Hanxue said, “Small wontons.” There was a little shop not far from here, and the taste was very good. In the past, every time she went out, she would try her best to come eat a bowl.

“I know a place. It’s nearby. The taste is very good,” Li Hanxue said.

Luo Yan said, “All right. If my wife says it’s good, then it must be very good. Wife, lead the way.”

“Mm,” Li Hanxue answered shyly.

After walking with her wife for a few minutes, they arrived at the place that sold wontons. It was a small shop, and the people eating there all looked very pleased. It could be seen that the taste really was good.

After sitting down with her wife, they ordered two bowls of wontons.

Luo Yan asked, “Did Wife often come here to eat before?”

“Mm.”

“Then in the future, whenever you want to eat it, we’ll come here,” Luo Yan said.

Words like these had been coming from Luo Yan more and more since last night, and she was saying them more and more naturally too.

Seeing that her wife did not speak, she realized this person was shy again. Ah, her wife was just that easy to make shy.

At that moment, the wontons were brought over as well.

The shopkeeper said, “Your wontons. Please enjoy.”

Luo Yan said, “Thank you.”

Luo Yan handed chopsticks to her wife. “Eat quickly.”

Li Hanxue said, “Mm.”

Luo Yan tasted the flavor. The wontons were very good, but the soup base did not taste good. Without dried baby shrimp and cilantro, it just felt like it had no soul.

“Wife, wait here for me for a bit. I’m going to buy some vegetables and come right back.” Luo Yan thought about it and still wanted to make a bowl herself right now.

Li Hanxue asked, “You’re going now?”

Luo Yan said, “Mm.”

“You’ve only taken two bites. You can finish eating first before going.”

Luo Yan said, “Mm… I’ll listen to my wife.” This was not fear of her wife. It was fear of wasting food. Mm!

Luo Yan quickly finished the wontons in her bowl, but she did not drink the soup. Her wife ate elegantly, and there was still half left in her bowl.

“Wife, I’m done eating. I’m going to buy vegetables.”

Before Li Hanxue could even say anything, Luo Yan had already gotten up and gone to buy vegetables. Was she in such a hurry?

When she arrived at the vegetable stalls, Luo Yan was very pleasantly surprised. She truly had not expected there to be cilantro, and there were dried small shrimp for sale too. Compared with the dried shrimp she had eaten in her own world, there was still a big difference, but Luo Yan still bought some. As for other vegetables, Luo Yan bought some that they did not have at home.

Luo Yan moved very quickly. When she went back, her wife had already finished her wontons. “Are you full? Do you want another bowl?”

Another bowl? She had not said she was very hungry. “I’m already full.”

“All right.” Luo Yan smiled and said.

Luo Yan called the shopkeeper over and said she wanted to discuss something with him, leaving the shopkeeper completely confused.

Luo Yan said, “Shopkeeper, hello. I’ll just say it directly.”

The shopkeeper said, “What does the young master want to say?”

Luo Yan smiled. “I’d like to borrow your pot for a bit. Would that be possible?”

Borrow his pot? The shopkeeper could not understand what this young master wanted to do, but letting her use it for a while was fine. “All right.”

Luo Yan said, “Thank you, shopkeeper.”

After saying that, Luo Yan took the cilantro and small shrimp she had bought and went over to make wontons. Luo Yan fried the shrimp in oil once, and the aroma was very fragrant.

Boiling water, wontons into the pot. Salt, lard, chopped scallions, sesame oil, an appropriate amount of garlic, then add the prepared shrimp and pour in the wonton cooking water to make the soup.

At this time, the shopkeeper and his wife both gathered around to watch her make wontons.

Watching Luo Yan’s method, the shopkeeper felt that, in truth, it was not that different. But actually, the ingredients for the soup base were very different. He just did not know how it would taste.

He had not expected Luo Yan to know how to make wontons too. Seeing how skilled Luo Yan’s movements were, he wanted to taste it as soon as possible.

Luo Yan looked at her wife and gave a silly smile. When the shopkeeper looked over, he also smiled. This young couple really did have a good relationship.

When the wontons floated up, they were cooked. Luo Yan scooped them out and placed them into the prepared soup base. She divided them into two bowls. One was for her wife to taste, and the other was mainly for the shopkeeper to taste.

Only after the three of them had sat down did Luo Yan speak. “Shopkeeper, have a taste.”

The shopkeeper said, “All right.” Just smelling it, it was already very fragrant.

Luo Yan said, “Wife, you have a taste too.”

Li Hanxue had only just eaten one when she heard the shopkeeper beside her speak.

“Young master, these wontons are truly delicious. The soup base adds the finishing touch to the wontons. Too tasty!”

Li Hanxue also ate some and felt that it was as beautiful as fireworks. Delicious. “The wontons are very good!”

Seeing her wife say they were delicious, Luo Yan’s heart bloomed like flowers.

The shopkeeper said, “Young master, would you be willing to sell this recipe to me?” His words were direct, and inwardly, he was also very nervous.

Luo Yan asked, “How much is the shopkeeper offering?”

Hm? So it could be sold. “Twenty taels. Young master, would that work?”

Twenty taels? Luo Yan naturally would not sell it. “Twenty taels? Shopkeeper, you really dare to say that. Although your shop isn’t big, judging by the number of people who come here to eat wontons, the money you can earn is definitely not small. If I give you this recipe, it will only make you earn a lot more!”

This young master was very sharp. He was afraid she would not sell it.

Seeing the shopkeeper fall silent, Luo Yan was not in a hurry either. She stated her own idea. “I am willing to cooperate with the shopkeeper and earn money together.”

The shopkeeper asked, “Cooperate… How would we cooperate?”

Luo Yan said, “I provide the recipe, but the ownership of the recipe remains mine. We’ll draw up a written agreement. Every day, from the money made selling wontons, after subtracting the costs, we split the profit. You take fifty-five percent, and I take forty-five percent. What do you think? Are you willing?”

After subtracting the costs? The shopkeeper said, “Then I’ll earn a lot less money. Young master, that isn’t worth it.”

Luo Yan naturally understood what the shopkeeper meant. Her wife, on the other hand, nervously tugged at her clothes from the side. Luo Yan smoothly took her wife’s hand and rubbed it, telling her not to worry.

Luo Yan said, “I originally planned to open my own shop, but my wife likes eating your wontons, so I followed her here. Your wonton filling is indeed good, but I can make even more delicious fillings. I’m afraid that when the time comes, you won’t be able to keep doing business.”

The shopkeeper was half-believing, half-doubting Luo Yan’s words. But he also did not want to lose this opportunity.

Luo Yan said, “How about this? When you have time, come to my home and learn from me for two days. Then try selling them and see how it goes. But I can only allow you to sell them for ten days. If you don’t cooperate with me but continue selling them, then we’ll have to meet at the government office! Of course, the money from those ten days will all belong to you.”

After the shopkeeper heard this, he felt that it was feasible. “All right. Then I’ll come over every afternoon for these next two days.”

Luo Yan said, “That works.”