Chapter 8 Integration

Chapter 8 Integration

Chapter Summary: To outsiders, she and Wu Da were, after all, husband and wife.

"Yunyun!"

On the way down the mountain, Pan Yue was preoccupied with Zhao Wan and the other woman, keeping her head down and not saying a word.

Contrary to his usual behavior, Songsong kept glancing back towards the mountain temple from time to time, and followed silently behind her, as if something was on his mind.

As they walked down the mountain where smoke rose from the chimneys, he seemed unable to contain himself any longer. He grabbed Pan Yue's sleeve, turned back to look at the misty mountainside, and said, "Yunyun, Songsong has something he doesn't understand!"

Pan Yue paused, glanced at the hem of her dress that he had been pulling, then followed his gaze back towards the mountain god temple amidst the towering peaks. After a moment, she looked at him and asked, "What's wrong?"

“When I was young, my grandmother often told me that if I ever came down from the mountain into the world, I must remember one of the most important principles in the human realm: In this life, apart from life and death, everything else is trivial. But those two…”

A look of bewilderment appeared in Songsong's eyes as she gazed at the distant, twilight clouds and murmured, "For each other, we would never betray each other, even in death... Why?"

Their eyes met, and Pan Yue saw the evening glow reflected in his eyes, as well as her own figure clearly etched in the glow. Her heart skipped a beat, and she subconsciously looked away, lowering her eyes.

When young people admire each other, they easily assume that their feelings are unique and that deep affection can withstand the test of time. But if survival is difficult, if the wind and frost are relentless and relentless, and if there is no rest for 360 days a year, how many deep affections in the world can withstand the test?

After a moment, she pursed her lips, frowned, and looked towards the foot of the mountain. She said in a deep voice, "Grandma is right. In this life, no matter when, where, or for whom, nothing is more important than one's own life!"

Why is Yunyun frowning?

Songsong suddenly stepped forward.

It was as if, the moment he saw her frown, all the thoughts that had been lingering in his mind, such as "to be together in life and death" and "to never betray each other in life and death," were thrown to the back of his mind.

He leaned closer to her frosty, sorrowful eyes, and said uneasily, "Is it because of Fan Sheng and Zhao Niangzi? As for today, everyone knows that as long as you and I don't say anything, the mountain god temple, though dilapidated, can still provide shelter from the wind and rain. The two of them will be fine for the time being!"

Nothing will happen, but is there a way out ahead?

Just as a ray of sunset passed by, Pan Yue was slightly startled by his approach. Her eyes followed the ray of sunset over his shoulder and looked down at the bustling, seemingly leisurely streets at the foot of the mountain.

If she asked herself honestly, the reason she unconsciously frowned was not so much because she didn't know where the road ahead lay, but rather because she knew all too well where the road was, so she couldn't help but furrow her brow.

As Fan Cheng said earlier: In today's world, even someone like Mr. Qingchen, who does not conform to the common ways, cannot completely avoid the worldly situation where "family background is more important than talent and learning".

In other words, the solution to the current problem is obvious: a high-ranking official can easily dominate.

However, Li Yanei's reliance was on his adoptive father, Li Ke, who was an official in the capital, serving as the Vice Minister of the Privy Council and a Councilor of State Affairs.

And the two of them... Pan Yue subconsciously looked at Wu Song in front of her.

No matter how much favored he was by his superiors or how famous he was in his hometown, Wu Song had no official position at the moment, so how could he possibly stand up to his superiors in the capital?

The sound of pine breezes wafting around my ears felt like layers of sorrow and worry piling up on my heart, making it hard to breathe.

"fine……"

After a long while, she came back to her senses from her contemplation, shook her head and said to Wu Song, "Whatever it is, let's go back to Zishi Street first. It's getting late, and if we don't go back soon, Wu Da will be worried."

"Okay, Yunyun, watch your step..."

As the evening stars faded and the new moon began to rise, Pan Yue and her companion walked side by side into the alleyway of Zishi Street, facing the gentle evening breeze.

"What would Yunyun like to eat? Songsong will go to the restaurant under Lion Bridge and buy a roast chicken, okay?"

On the way down the mountain, Wu Song gradually returned to his usual lively and energetic self, but Pan Yue, because of his undisguised closeness and the fact that her home was getting closer and closer, slowed down and couldn't help but feel apprehensive.

Although they never bowed to heaven and earth or drank the wedding wine together, Wu Da never forced her to share a bed with him. In the eyes of outsiders, she and Wu Da were, after all, husband and wife.

Now, he and his brother-in-law have gone into the mountains together and haven't returned all night... I wonder how Wu Da will react.

It's right at my doorstep.

Unlike the neighbors' cheerful laughter and the aroma of food, the Wu family's doorway was deserted and there was no smoke from their cooking fires.

"this……"

After knocking on the door for a while with no one answering, Wu Song subconsciously turned to Pan Yue: "Brother hasn't returned yet?"

Pan Yue frowned and stepped forward, saying, "Let's go in and take a look!"

"good!"

With a loud bang, Wu Song burst through the door.

Dust billowed into the air. A moment later, Pan Yue and her companion could finally see the lonely lamp flickering sadly on the table, and Wu Da standing before it, looking dejected, as if lost in thought.

Pan Yue's heart skipped a beat.

"elder brother?"

Wu Song strode forward, waved his left hand in front of Wu Da's face, and before he could react, he braced himself on Wu Da's shoulders and asked anxiously, "What's wrong? What happened?"

Pan Yue took a half step back, sized him up for a moment, and then followed his dazed gaze to the dim and gloomy corner.

The eight fan-shaped baskets were still full, exactly the same as when Wuhan University students left the campus a few days ago.

Pan Yue strode forward, picked up a steamed bun, examined it, and then turned to the two people below, saying, "This steamed bun... Wu Da, the people of the county don't like it?"

As soon as the steamed bun came into view, Wu Da shuddered. His wary eyes widened instantly, and he looked them up and down as if he had just woken up in surprise. "Sister-in-law, second brother, you're back!"

Pan Yue and her partner exchanged glances, and their brows furrowed even more involuntarily.

“Wu Da,” Pan Yue sat down on Wu Da’s face, holding up a hardened steamed bun in her hand, and said to him, “These are steamed buns from the other day? People in Yanggu County don’t eat steamed buns?”

It's not that I dislike it.

Wu Da was taken aback again, rubbing his short, thick fingers, his eyes filled with confusion, and he said timidly, "Yesterday I went to sell steamed buns in front of the county, and waited for two hours, but not a single person came to buy them. After inquiring, I found out that there was already a shop selling steamed buns and snacks in the market, and the people of the county were used to going to his shop. I am new here, and they are unwilling to patronize it."

Before the two could respond, Wu Da let out a long sigh, his eyes gleaming faintly in the candlelight, and said blankly, "Second Brother's monthly salary hasn't been paid yet, and the family's savings are dwindling day by day..."

Across from the four-person table, Pan Yue subconsciously frowned.

The Wu brothers spent all their savings to move to Qinghe, partly because of the baseless rumors and gossip directed at "her".

Even without this connection, she is now "living under someone else's roof," and everything she eats and uses comes from the Wu brothers... It is only right and wrong that she should do everything she can to help them.

Her transmigration was so rushed that she had no system or any amazing cheat codes...

She lowered her eyes to the cold, hard steamed bun in her hand, and said thoughtfully, "Since we're new here, if we want to attract attention, we should do something unusual."

"Unusual?"

Wu Song turned to look at the steamed buns in the corner, scratched his head, and then turned to Pan Yue, saying, "Yunyun, I often hear people say that in the human world, you can't move an inch without money. To attract the attention of the county people, why not sell the steamed buns even cheaper? Others sell them for three coins each, but you can sell them for three coins for two?"

“No!” Pan Yue shook her head, her eyes filled with thought. “Lowering the price is not a long-term solution, and at three coins each, neither of us will make much money.”

"What should we do then?"

The two brothers looked at each other, then both turned to Pan Yue, whose brows were furrowed.

The cost of steamed buns is already extremely low; to create new variations without increasing costs is truly asking too much.

Pan Yue frowned deeply, holding a steamed bun in her hand, and kept circling around the hall.

The crescent moon rose above the willow branches, making the area below even darker.

Wu Da got up to trim the candle wick, then turned to see Wu Song covered in mud and instinctively asked, "Second Brother, why are you covered in pollen? Did you fall into a flower field?"

The events that had occurred in the cave flashed through Pan Yue's mind, and a sudden inspiration struck her. She blurted out, "I've got it!"

"how?"

Wu Da put down the scissors and looked at Pan Yue with anticipation.

"Does Songsong still remember where we picked the wild fruits from the mountain?" Pan Yue turned to look at Wu Song, her eyes bright, and asked, "Are there many left?"

"I remember!" Wu Song took a half step forward and nodded. "What does Yunyun want?"

"Wild berries, though sour and astringent, are perfect for stimulating saliva and stimulating the appetite, and they go perfectly with steamed buns!" She looked at the steamed buns in her hand, her mind brimming with ideas, and her eyes shone brighter and brighter. "If we could boil the wild berries into a sauce and draw ingots, bouquets, and the like on the steamed buns, it would surely attract the attention of children and women!"

"My wife's idea is brilliant."

Wu Da's eyes were filled with thought as he rubbed his hands together, his expression uneasy. "My lady, you don't know this, but the shops that the people of the county frequent not only sell steamed buns, but also all kinds of pastries, and they are very exquisite. I'm afraid the people of the county won't buy into it just because it's a flower or a gold ingot."

Pan Yue had also heard of the tea and fruit processing techniques of the Song Dynasty.

After only a moment of hesitation, Pan Yue looked up and met Wu Song's worried gaze. Her eyes lit up, and a plan suddenly came to her mind.

"But it's not difficult!"

"Not difficult?" The two brothers looked at each other and said in unison.

"Yunyun has an idea?" "My wife has a solution?!"

Pan Yue smiled, looked Wu Song up and down, and then turned to Wu Dadao: "The way to break the deadlock may lie with Wu Er!"

"Me?" Songsong blinked, looking blank. "What does Yunyun mean?"

Pan Yue looked at Wu Song again.

Today, Shangguan Jian'ai, the tiger-fighting hero, is famous throughout his hometown and is at the height of his fame.

If not now, when?

A smile appeared in Pan Yue's eyes, and she nodded, saying, "What I mean is, later, Lao Songsong should go up the mountain again and pick more wild fruits. I'll boil them into a juice and then draw tiger heads on each of the steamed buns."

"Tiger Head?" Songsong was taken aback.

"It's not just any tiger, it's the white-browed tiger with piercing eyes that died under Songsong's fist on Jingyang Ridge!" Pan Yue nodded and explained with a smile, "Tomorrow morning, Songsong will go to the county to ask for leave. Before going on duty, he'll accompany your brother to sell steamed buns in front of the county for half an hour!"

"Sell steamed buns?" Songsong's eyes blinked, and he tilted his head, saying, "Yunyun wants Songsong to help sell steamed buns?"

"No need to personally hawk your wares!"

How can a brand ambassador lower their status?

A sly glint flashed in Pan Yue's eyes as she nodded and said, "Just stand tall and straight behind your brother, and half an hour will be enough!"

"Okay!" Songsong nodded crisply, "I'll do as Yunyun says!"