The Exiled Life of the Noble Girl

Chapter 120

Li Mingwei had just heard her mother-in-law say yesterday that no one dared marry Little Seven, but today someone had already ordered a handkerchief with her name embroidered on it. She was a little curious and wanted to ask about it since she was Cui Cui's sister-in-law after all, but she did not actually recognize this young man.

Just as she was hesitating, the youth had already taken the handkerchief and left, so she could only watch silently as he walked away. Perhaps she could ask Cui Cui about it when she got home to see if Cui Cui recognized him.

The boy looked quite decent, seeming honest and reliable as well, a good match for Cui Cui.

After measuring the fabric for Lady Liu, the female embroiderer Yu led Cui Ying out. Seeing Li Mingwei standing in a daze inside the counter, she stretched out her hand and waved it in front of Li Mingwei’s eyes, “What are you looking at?”

Li Mingwei came back to her senses and pushed the tray towards her, “Someone just came to collect a custom-made handkerchief. You collected the money, right?”

“I did.”

For custom-made goods, if she did not collect the money in advance and the customer did not want the item after she finished making it, her effort and materials would be wasted. She would not do something so foolish.

Since she had collected the money, Li Mingwei put the tray back under the counter and started selecting fabric for Cui Ying, choosing a few brighter colors based on what Cui Ying’s mother had told her.

Cui Ying was somewhat dissatisfied. She was afraid her mother would really make her wear it for the matchmaking session, which would be bad. So she pointed at a few darker colors, “I like these.”

Li Mingwei felt a headache coming. What girl would like those kinds of colors? She had guessed Cui Ying’s thoughts already and said with a smile, “I don't know if the person you are meeting will like you in those colors, but I reckon the one you’re trying to impress probably won’t like them too much.”

Cui Ying fidgeted with her fingernails, struggled for a while, and finally selected one of the colors Li Mingwei had suggested.

Lady Yu laughed lightly and shook her head, noting it down for her.

After selecting fabric for her mother-in-law and Lady Liu, Li Mingwei touched her own belly and looked to Lady Yu for help, “What about me? I can’t get measured right now since the belly keeps growing.”

If she directly made it oversized, she would only be able to wear it this one time if she didn’t have another child in the future. That would be such a waste.

Lady Yu counted for a moment and figured at eight months along currently, her belly would still be quite large next February. She looked at Old Lady Wang’s measurements—she was also quite slender, not really suitable as a reference. Otherwise, she could make it according to her own mother-in-law’s size and pass it down to her mother-in-law after Li Mingwei did not need it anymore next year.

“None of your family members are fat.”

Li Mingwei thought for a moment, well, Chunhua was quite plump, but would it be improper to pass on used clothes?

“Then just bring me what you wore last year. I can alter it for you, and we’ll make new ones again next year.”

“You can alter clothes?”

It made sense to adjust larger clothes to be smaller, but how do you make small clothes bigger? Just adding some fabric patches?

“Yes.”

Lady Yu spoke with certainty. Li Mingwei believed her and paid the money for the others. She would come back another day after gathering her own clothes.

After Cui Ying paid, she followed Li Mingwei out the door to escort her home per her mother’s orders.

“You really don’t need to walk me back. Your home is probably closer to here than mine. It’s out of your way.”

Li Mingwei remembered Aunt Cui’s family was in North Town so her niece should not live too far either. It would be extra walking for Cui Ying to come back again after sending her off.

Cui Ying did not say anything and pulled Li Mingwei along towards their destination. Li Mingwei could only acquiesce.

Not long into their walk, Cui Ying suddenly stopped and mumbled softly, “The market should still be quite crowded around this time, right?”

“Probably. We weren't in the shop for too long.”

Cui Ying suggested: “Then sister Li, let me take you along that other road over there with fewer people, to avoid bumping into you.”

Without thinking too hard, Li Mingwei nodded and agreed. Cui Ying immediately seemed happier and changed direction, pulling Li Mingwei into a small alley and through a couple more lanes onto a main street.

Another road that Li Mingwei had never traveled before. Most buildings lining the two sides were residences with sparse shops scattered around. Her sharp eyes spotted that same young man from the morning in one of the stores.

He was currently drenched in sweat, stir frying something in a huge wok set up in the store. Li Mingwei could not resist going closer for a look but was held back by the person beside her. Turning around, she noticed Cui Ying seemed a bit embarrassed.

She asked curiously: “What’s the matter?”

“They sell dried fruit and snacks like roasted peanuts, red dates. Are you allowed to eat those while pregnant?” Cui Ying struggled then asked.

“Red dates should be fine.”

Although Li Mingwei did not like eating them herself, she could not control her urge to go take a look and hopefully get acquainted with that young man.

While the two women hesitated at the entrance, the young man had already glanced over. He used the towel around his neck to wipe the sweat off his face and called out, “What would you ladies like to buy?”

Li Mingwei nodded and pulled Cui Ying inside with her.

She walked right up to the wok and peered in, “What are you stir frying?”

“Melon seeds.” The youth smiled then shifted his gaze to Cui Ying behind Li Mingwei, his voice gentler, “You’re still upset? Just standing outside the entrance not coming in.”

Cui Ying fidgeted anxiously with her sleeves, stuttering, “I’m n-not...”

Li Mingwei sensed something amiss, “You two know each other?”

“Yes.” Cui Ying replied softly, “He is Ye Hui’s second brother, Ye Cheng. This store belongs to their family.”

“Ye Dong’s older brother?”

Li Mingwei had heard Ye Dong mention an older brother before but had never met him until now. So he was the one. No wonder Cui Ying did not want to come inside. Yesterday her mother had said something about grievances between their two families.

Ye Cheng’s lips twitched into a forced smile, still emanating awkwardness, “That’s right. My younger brother talks about you often.”

Li Mingwei glared. So you deliberately pretended not to recognize me at the embroidery shop earlier!

Hmm?

Since Ye Cheng knew who she was, he must also be aware she was Cui Cui’s sister-in-law. How dare he take a handkerchief from her? What exactly was he trying to imply? Wanted her help to set him up with “Little Seven” instead of Cui Cui?

Looking rather guilty from Li Mingwei’s stare, Ye Cheng gripped the wok shovel tightly and gathered his courage to stutter, “Sis-sister-in-law, feel f-free to look around.”

Sister-in-law?

Li Mingwei smiled. The lad was quite proactive; she liked that. Hahaha.

Glancing around, she peeked towards the backyard. Indeed the Ye Family was decently well-off, much better than Cui Cui’s at least. Ye Cheng seemed like an okay kid too. She decided to give him a hand and have Cui Cui come over later to say a few good words about him.

Though Cui Cui also disliked Ye Hui, and Ye Hui had been home all this time. Not sure if she would mind.

Li Mingwei randomly picked some things then pulled Cui Ying along to head back home. The obedient Cui Ying followed her out of the store but kept frequently turning her head to look back at the street.

Puzzled, Li Mingwei asked, “Who are you looking for? Did you run into an acquaintance?”

Cui Ying pouted, “No one.”

She was cute enough normally, but the pout just made her cuter. Li Mingwei could not resist pinching her cheek again. Seeing no resistance from Cui Ying but rather a somewhat dejected expression, Li Mingwei’s mind exploded at once.

“Don’t tell me your crush is Ye Cheng?”

Blushing, Cui Ying scurried away without answering, leaving the dumbfounded Li Mingwei behind.