The Wealthy Eldest Sister Rules Supreme

“That’s right.” Zhuang Qingsui blinked, “If Brother Wencheng suffers on our account, that would be unfair.”

“True, so we need to think of another way for this herbal sachet instead,” Zhuang Qingning gently patted Zhuang Qingsui’s head.

“Yes!” Zhuang Qingsui nodded eagerly.

The sisters walked and chatted, and soon they arrived at Zhuang’s Cloth Shop.

The shop front was neither large nor small, with a human-height signboard at the entrance that gave it a pretty grand look. The constant flow of customers and the continuous laughter from inside indicated that business was good.

Before Zhuang Qingning and Zhuang Qingsui could enter, Mrs. Meng happened to be seeing off a customer. When she saw them, her eyes widened in joy, “Miss Ning, Miss Sui, you’re here!”

“Master, Master, quickly come over. Miss Ning and Miss Sui have arrived.”

Upon hearing this, Zhuang Yutian asked the clerk inside the shop to take over and took two steps at a time to the door, “It is indeed Miss Ning and Miss Sui. Please come in and rest your feet in the backyard.”

With that, he led Zhuang Qingning and Zhuang Qingsui to the backyard, quickly brought over stools for them to sit on, and hurriedly asked Mrs. Meng to pour some tea and bring over some snacks.

“Watermelon, watermelon, quickly cut some watermelon.” Zhuang Yutian instructed Mrs. Meng, and then turned to Zhuang Qingning and Zhuang Qingsui with a smile, “The season’s first watermelon, although the skin is a bit thick, it’s really sweet. Have a taste.”

“Miss Ning, did you come to the county town because you have things to do, or are you just roaming around? If you have things to do, have lunch here first and then go about your business. Let your aunt accompany you. She may not be able to help much, but at least she knows her way around and can save you some trouble.”

“If you are here to roam around, you can have lunch and then your aunt can accompany you to browse. Don’t underestimate it, there are quite a few bustling places in the county town that even people from the provincial city would like to visit. If Miss Ning comes to the county town for fun, go check them out. It’s worth the trip.”

Either way, seeing as Zhuang Qingning and Zhuang Qingsui seldom come to the county town, he must duly perform his duties as a good host.

“There’s no need for all this fuss, Uncle Yutian,” Zhuang Qingning quickly held up her hands, “Qingsui and I have already done a bit of walking just now, and want to head back soon.”

“We didn’t want to bother you and Aunt Meng because we knowyou’re busy, but we came because of this…”

Zhuang Qingning took the shoes out of the small bundle she was carrying and handed them to Zhuang Yutian, “One pair for you and one for Uncle Yucheng.”

Seeing Zhuang Yutian a bit stunned, Zhuang Qingning pursed her lips and laughed, “Aunt Wen specifically made them for you. When she heard I was coming to the county town, she asked me to bring them. Please remember to give a pair to Uncle Yucheng.”

Shoes made by Mrs. Wen for him and Zhuang Yucheng?

Zhuang Yutian was even more stunned, and it took him a long time to come back to his senses. He wiped his hands on his clothes several times before daring to take the shoes, “For me and Yucheng?”

“Yes.” Zhuang Qingning nodded vigorously and smiled, “I’ve seen Aunt Wen sewing the soles several times before, it must have taken her some time. She even said she wasn’t sure if the shoes would fit…”

“They will fit, I guarantee it!”

Even if they don’t fit, they have to fit!

Zhuang Yutian nodded like a pecking chicken.

He couldn’t remember when was the last time Mrs. Wen made any clothes or shoes for him and Zhuang Yucheng. To be precise, he had not even seen a pleasant face from her for many years. It was only recently, thanks to Zhuang Qingning’s good words, that she was kind enough to give them some friendly conversation, and occasionally say a few caring and praising words. In Zhuang Yutian’s eyes, this had already seemed like the peak to him, thinking Mrs. Wen wouldn’t do any better than this.

But to his surprise, this time she made shoes for them.

That was a luxury he had only enjoyed when he was young.

He never expected that after so many years, and at his age, he would be able to enjoy such a luxury again.

Zhuang Yutian was so moved that he almost wanted to cry. He held the shoes in his hand, rubbing them over and over again, unable to put them down.

He even considered keeping Zhuang Yucheng’s pair for himself and wearing them as a replacement.

Even though Zhuang Yucheng’s feet seemed to be smaller than his…

But that’s okay, if the shoes were a bit tight, they’d expand with use. And if the shoes were a bit small, they would serve as a constant reminder of the need to move around more, and not to be idle, as being idle doesn’t bring in money.

“I really can’t thank you enough, Miss Ning, forgoing out of your way.” Zhuang Yutian kept expressing his gratitude.

“It wasn’t intentional, you could say it was on the way here,” Zhuang Qingning explained.

“Whether you deliberately came here, or simply passed by, you have to stay for lunch,” Mrs. Meng brought some cut watermelon, selecting the two best pieces for Zhuang Qingning and Zhuang Qingsui, “You must try my cooking for lunch…”

“Huh?” Mrs. Meng tilted her head.

“What’s wrong, Aunt?” Zhuang Qingning stood up immediately after taking a bite of her watermelon, looking around.

“No, it’s nothing.” Mrs. Meng quickly told Zhuang Qingning to sit back down and smiled awkwardly, “This is indeed a joke, Miss Ning. Normally, the backyard is swarming with mosquitoes because of a few trees we have planted. Especially these hot days, you can be bitten several times just sitting here for a while. I’m particularly prone to being bitten, and it’s unbearable in the summer. But ever since we came in here, I haven’t seen a single mosquito or been bitten. But there seems to be a smell of medicine, which is a bit strange. I wonder if I’m just overreacting…”

“Actually, it’s not that you’re overreacting, Aunt. There is a reason for this,” Zhuang Qingning unloaded a small bundle from her back, spread it out on the table, and showed Mrs. Meng everything inside, “Look, Aunt. The lack of mosquitoes is because of this.”

“This is…”

Mrs. Meng picked up a sachet, took a close look at it, sniffed it, and then sniffed it some more, “This is a mosquito repellent sachet? I smell mugwort leaf and calamus, and…”

Mrs. Meng sniffed it again closely and laughed, “The rest has a faint fragrance, but I can’t make out what it is. It does smell good.”

“This is the mosquito repellent herbal sachet I formulated. I’ve tried it at home, and it works wonders for repelling mosquitoes.” Zhuang Qingning explained to Mrs. Meng why she and Zhuang Qingsui had come to the county town and what had happened with Zhuang Wencheng and Doctor Ge.