Ye Wanmian tentatively asked, "Does Mr. Chen have any other suitable jobs to introduce to me? I've been a bit strapped for cash lately. If I could land a job there, I wouldn't have to worry about my livelihood."
She had thought Zhou Wang would share some information, but instead, Zhou Wang said, "If we get married, there's no need for you to work for money. You can just stay at home and take good care of my mother and our children."
Ye Wanmian's face darkened. "Brother Zhou, watch your words!"
"I turned down Matchmaker Wang yesterday. I've no intention of remarrying. It was you who kept chasing after me saying you had something to tell me, so I gave you this chance. But I never said I'd marry you."
Zhou Wang was rejected so bluntly that his face turned a bit ugly. He stammered, "I can earn five taels of silver every month. What else are you not satisfied with?"
What did she look like, selling herself for just five taels of silver?
She wasn't that naive. Zhou Wang was only interested in her because he wanted her to take care of his sick mother, fetching tea and water for her.
She had just managed to jump out of one pit of fire. There was no way she'd fall into another.
However...
She suddenly thought of a perfect excuse to reject him.
She reached up to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear and said with a smile, "I met a Taoist priest in the market yesterday. He read my face and said I'd surely be wealthy and noble in the future, even ruling over the country."
"Although the Crown Prince is currently missing, no one can predict the future. Compared to the position of the Crown Princess, your measly five taels of silver is nothing."
Xiao Jingcheng: ???
Ye Wanmian's words shocked Zhou Wang as well.
He looked at her in disbelief, sizing her up from head to toe. His expression seemed to say, "With your looks, you dare to dream of the Crown Prince?"
Having made her stance so clear, Ye Wanmian didn't want to waste any more time on him. She turned around and said, "Dahuang, let's go."
Xiao Jingcheng snapped out of his daze. Remembering her words, he was so angry that he chased after Ye Wanmian, barking "woof woof". He bit the hem of her dress and tugged hard.
He knew it! He knew this village woman had designs on him!
She had cried so pitifully in front of him yesterday. She must have been trying to attract his attention, lower his guard, and arouse his pity.
What a scheming woman!
But...
At least she had good taste.
Zhou Wang didn't chase after them anymore. Ye Wanmian was annoyed by the yellow dog. When she could no longer see Zhou Wang in the distance, she stopped and coaxed the barking dog.
"Alright, alright, Dahuang. I hate that dog Crown Prince so much. How could I possibly marry him? I was just lying to Zhou Wang."
The "dog Crown Prince" Xiao Jingcheng: ...
Audacious!
Audacious village woman!
How dare she call him a dog!
Even if she was beautiful, he would never forgive her!
Ye Wanmian didn't expect the yellow dog to bark even louder. Scared, she dodged while shouting,
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Dahuang, I shouldn't have compared you to him. He's not even as good as a dog. Right, that's it. He's worse than a pig or a dog!"
"Woof! Woof woof! Woof woof!"
Ye Wanmian wasn't watching her step and tripped over herself, falling into a haystack. The yellow dog pounced on her and bit her hand.
The girl's hand was soft and delicate, with a faint fragrance. After putting it in his mouth, Xiao Jingcheng came to his senses and felt a bit regretful.
A dog's teeth were very sharp. With just a little more force, he could bite off her hand at the root. It was so fragile.
Forget it. He was a magnanimous person. He'd settle the score with this reckless and audacious village woman when he got back into his own body!
In the end, he just gently bit the girl's hand. To Ye Wanmian, it was just a playful gesture. She hugged the yellow dog and lovingly rubbed its furry head.
...
After the playfulness, Ye Wanmian continued on her way with the yellow dog.
They encountered patrolling soldiers from time to time on the road. Ye Wanmian would carefully avoid them. She led the yellow dog through most of the town, stopped to buy a pastry, and then continued winding through the complex alleys. Finally, they arrived at the east of the town and stopped in front of a courtyard hidden in an unassuming corner.
Xiao Jingcheng looked at the overly quiet courtyard and then at Ye Wanmian, feeling puzzled.
Where was this? Why did this village woman come here specifically?
Ye Wanmian didn't rush forward. Instead, she first checked the surroundings. After making sure no one was around, she led the yellow dog to the back of the house and stopped in front of a locked door.
Leaning against the wall, Ye Wanmian imitated a cat's meow, "Meow meow meow."
Xiao Jingcheng watched the suspicious girl and couldn't help but mutter in his heart.
Sneaky. Who knew what bad things she was up to.
As soon as her voice died down, several meows from a woman came from inside the courtyard. Ye Wanmian let out a sigh of relief. She bent down and said to the yellow dog beside her leg,
"Dahuang, stay here and keep watch for me. If someone comes, remind me. Do you understand?"
Xiao Jingcheng: ???
Did she really think he was a watchdog?
The Crown Prince gritted his teeth angrily. Just as he was about to turn his head and ignore her, the girl added, "If you guard the door well, I'll stew a big chicken leg for you when we get home tonight. How about that?"
Before Xiao Jingcheng could react, his stomach growled with hunger. The sound was so clear that Ye Wanmian heard it clearly.
"Pfft." The girl burst out laughing. She reached up to rub his furry head. "Alright, I'll definitely keep my promise. Dahuang is the most obedient good dog."
The girl's voice was soft and charming. Coupled with her gentle scratching of his ears, a tingly sensation shot straight to the top of his head. Xiao Jingcheng's tail wagged vigorously, and his eyes closed in enjoyment.
Alright, fine.
For the sake of the big chicken leg she was willing to buy, he'd reluctantly keep watch for her outside the door.
Hearing the yellow dog's "woof" in response, Ye Wanmian then neatly climbed over the low wall beside her, and her figure disappeared from sight.
Xiao Jingcheng looked at the locked door and couldn't help but feel curious.
He was curious about why Ye Wanmian had come here, who was locked inside, and what their relationship was.
Judging from the response just now, it seemed to be a woman?
At this moment, inside the locked courtyard, a woman in loose clothes with disheveled hair rushed towards Ye Wanmian. She affectionately grabbed Ye Wanmian's hand and meowed.
If Xiao Jingcheng had been there to see it, he would have been greatly shocked.
This woman looked eight - tenths like Ye Wanmian!