Chapter 181: A Surprise

“This is the first tofu I’ve ever made. For you to eat.”

In front of Lin Xun, Bai Luoxue handed over a food basket.

Looking at the expressionless girl standing before him, and then at the crowd of onlookers gathered around.

The gossiping aunts and neighbors covered their mouths, all of them quite shocked!

They hadn’t expected that the always gentle and refined Mr. Lin would actually have a connection with this veiled woman!

But then again, scholars are often romantic; it’s normal for women to admire them. Given Mr. Lin’s status, taking her as a Secondary Wife wouldn’t be out of the question.

However, whether Miss Jiang Qing would agree to it was hard to say.

According to the laws of the Qian Kingdom, if the primary wife does not agree, the husband is not allowed to marry a Secondary Wife or take a Concubine.

But if the husband wants to take a Concubine and the primary wife disagrees, she would be guilty of “jealousy” under the Code of feminine conduct.

As for the other men, they felt it was a pity, and some were even clenching their fists in frustration!

They were all just passing by, drawn in by the newly opened tofu shop.

They thought it was just an ordinary tofu shop, but they didn’t expect the proprietress to be so beautiful!

Even though the proprietress wore a veil, her cat-tailed peach blossom eyes alone were enough to make one lose themselves in a dreamlike trance, wishing to be completely enthralled!

But who would have thought that this young proprietress already admired Mr. Lin?

In addition, some women who knew Jiang Qingshang had their eyes darting around; they felt this matter must be reported to Qinger.

Otherwise, this woman had already opened a shop right at her doorstep! This was a blatant challenge to Qinger’s status as the Primary Wife!

Even if she were to enter the household, she could only be a Concubine or at most a Secondary Wife. What, did she think she could become the Main Wife?

Only Lin Xun…

At this moment, Lin Xun’s heart was incredibly complicated; he suspected he was dreaming!

That’s right! This must be a nightmare!

Once he woke up, surely everything would be fine!

But when the girl’s familiar fragrance drifted into Lin Xun’s nose, he knew this wasn’t a dream! This was real!

That fellow Bai Luoxue really opened a tofu shop right in front of his house!!!

You, a Saintess of the Huanxi Sect, opening a tofu shop in the Mortal World? What on earth are you doing?

Aren’t you afraid your enemies will come knocking on your door?

Or do you think that by covering your face and hiding your Spiritual power, they won’t be able to find you?

Well, if he were Bai Luoxue’s enemy and learned that she was openly running a tofu shop in the Mortal World, he might also question his life and think he had the wrong person.

But regardless, even if you cover your face, those charming eyes and that graceful, water-like figure of yours will still attract many people.

Do you think that just because Luo City has good security, there aren’t any playboys around?

Fine, if those playboys actually came looking for trouble, they’d just be seeking death.

But you can’t just deliver tofu straight to my doorstep! If Qinger comes back, I’ll be buried under stones.

No! Stay calm!

Lin Xun, you need to be calm!

What great storms haven’t you seen? It’s just a mere basket of tofu sent by the Saintess of the Huanxi Sect.

Taking a deep breath, Lin Xun calmly accepted the tofu and intentionally raised his voice: “Thank you, Miss, for delivering the tofu I ordered yesterday. Yaya and I love eating tofu the most. Here is the money for it. I wish you a prosperous business!”

The tofu was taken from Bai Luoxue’s hands, replaced by copper coins in her palm.

Looking at the copper coins in her hand, Bai Luoxue looked directly at Lin Xun and blinked: “I don’t want money.”

“No! You must take it! How can I not pay? However much tofu I took, I’ll pay that much!”

Lin Xun spoke with righteous conviction.

“Miss Bai’s family has fallen on hard times, which is why she came to Luo City. As a young lady from a prestigious family, she has never done manual labor before, but now she is self-reliant. If I, Lin Pei, don’t pay, how could my conscience be at peace!”

“?” Bai Luoxue tilted her head and looked at Lin Xun, her cat-tailed peach blossom eyes seemingly saying, “What are you talking about?”

Even Yaya tilted her head in confusion.

However, Lin Xun’s righteous speech was very effective.

Hearing Lin Xun’s “explanation,” an impression began to form in everyone’s minds.

So that’s how it is!

So Mr. Lin and Miss Bai just know each other. This Miss Bai must be a young lady from a sheltered background whose family met with misfortune, and she encountered Mr. Lin after coming to Luo City.

Mr. Lin is a kind person and probably gave Miss Bai some help. Then Miss Bai became self-reliant and opened this tofu shop, intending to give this first basket of tofu to Mr. Lin to repay his kindness.

Yes, it must be like that!

We misunderstood Mr. Lin.

Indeed, if Mr. Lin were to marry a Secondary Wife or take a Concubine, he would surely talk it over properly with Miss Jiang Qing.

“Alright, I still have exam papers to prepare, so I won’t disturb Miss Bai any longer. If Miss Bai needs any help, as a scholar filled with integrity, I, Lin Xun, will certainly assist her.”

With those words, Lin Xun bowed. Without waiting for Bai Luoxue to say anything more, he quickly shut the courtyard gate!

Standing outside the courtyard, looking at the tightly shut gate, Bai Luoxue blinked.

Although she didn’t know what Lin Xun had been talking about from start to finish, the tofu had been delivered.

The books said that if someone accepts something you made personally, it means they are interested in you.

Then Lin Xun must be interested in her.

Even though he gave her money…

The commotion outside continued, and in less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the tofu Bai Luoxue made was sold out.

That basket of tofu for Lin Xun was made by Bai Luoxue specifically for him; it was truly the first batch she had ever made.

The rest of the tofu sold was from the second and third batches.

But in fact, the taste was all the same; because she became more skilled, the later batches even had a better texture.

In less than a morning, word had already spread through Dongma Street about a Legendary Beauty from a fallen family who was selling tofu.

Many people began to come, drawn by her reputation, but all they saw was the “Closed” sign. It was a pity they didn’t get a single glimpse.

“Miss Bai, I think we need to have a good talk.”

And the Legendary Beauty these people were longing for was currently sitting in Lin Xun’s courtyard.

Bai Luoxue sat before Lin Xun with her well-proportioned, slender legs together and her hands on her thighs, appearing somewhat well-behaved.

However, Lin Xun’s mind was already as tangled as a fried dough twist.

Qinger would be back tomorrow; he had to resolve all the uncertain factors!

At the same time, at the Luocheng City Lords Mansion, a girl wearing a narcissus-patterned long dress appeared gracefully.

“Qingshang?” Qu Ke stood up happily upon seeing her best friend. “Aren’t you supposed to be back tomorrow?”

To help Jiang Qingshang hide her tracks, Qu Ke had spent a month strolling through the Imperial Capital of Qian Kingdom before returning to Luo City, where she had stayed in her room without going out. Qu Ke was bored to death.

If she had known, she wouldn’t have come back so early.

“Shh.”

The girl raised a finger like a jade scallion and winked playfully.

“I want to give my husband a surprise.”