The System Wanted Me to Be a Landlady (GL) - Chapter 12: Peeking

Chapter 12: Peeking

First, she was a girl, still in her growing years, living a tough life and looking scrawny. Nobody had time to notice someone dressed so dirty.

But if things went on like this, she would grow up eventually, and the parts that should stand out would stand out.

Binding her chest? She couldn’t imagine how uncomfortable it would be to be wrapped in cloth all day.

So, she couldn’t hide it.

Instead of getting exposed after drawing attention at the school, she’d rather build up some wealth now, so even if people found out she was a girl, they wouldn’t dare bully her!

As for eating up the household? What valuable things did the original owner’s family have left for anyone to “eat”?

Second, Song Bing and Aunt Fierce, though they seemed fierce and hard to get along with, were kind-hearted. If they really made her go back to school, she’d drag them down, so she couldn’t be a leech.

Thinking this, she turned down Aunt Fierce.

A petty person would surely say she didn’t know a good thing, but Aunt Fierce wasn’t petty. She understood her concerns and didn’t bring it up again.

When Song Yuyan finished work and got her wages, Aunt Fierce gave her an extra ten coins.

Song Yuyan quickly refused: “Aunt Fierce brings me food to take home every day. I’m already so grateful. Why give me more today?!”

Aunt Fierce poked her forehead: “You’re so stubborn. My business is doing well. Is it strange to give my workers a little reward now and then?”

Song Yuyan: “…”

Why was she getting physical? Fine, I’ll take it!

Though Song Yuyan accepted it, she didn’t forget about it. Back home, she thought it over and decided to finish weaving a mat the next day. She carried the straw mat to Aunt Fierce and gave it to her.

Aunt Fierce thought she didn’t need to work anymore, so why was she back? She didn’t expect Song Yuyan to bring her a straw mat.

The mat looked good. The straw was evenly thick, the surface was greenish-white, and the straw was spaced just right—too dense, it would bulge unevenly; too sparse, it would have gaps and not be smooth.

The white hemp threads were hidden under the straw, invisible. The mat was sun-dried and brushed free of debris. The hemp edging was neat, making the mat look clean and pretty.

Most importantly, the surface was well-treated and smooth. It would surely be comfortable to sleep on, with no worry of sharp bits scratching the skin.

“Is this a mat from Gulin? Must’ve cost a lot, right?” Aunt Fierce asked.

Song Yuyan felt shy. Gulin was the most famous place in Mingzhou for making fine mats. Besides a straw market, there was a special mat market where merchants bought Mingzhou mats in bulk.

Mats from other parts of Mingzhou were also gathered there for sale, like a distribution center. Aunt Fierce’s question was an unintentional nod to Song Yuyan’s skill.

“I wove it myself.”

At her words, Aunt Fierce’s eyes widened in disbelief, staring at her hands: “You wove it? Aren’t you bragging too much, forgetting it’s just talk?”

Song Yuyan laughed and cried: “Aunt Fierce, I wove it straw by straw. No need to lie to you. You’ve been good to me, and I have nothing to repay you with. This mat is all I can offer. Please don’t tease me.”

Aunt Fierce touched the mat, reluctant to accept, but said: “Why give it to me? Sell it. It’s worth twenty coins!”

“I’ll weave more to sell later. This is my small token. Aunt Fierce, don’t fuss with me.”

Hearing that last bit, Aunt Fierce glared like she’d eat her alive.

“Fine, I’ll take it!”

Song Yuyan left happily. This trip was to thank Aunt Fierce and to do market research. She wasn’t sure if her finished product was good. Only after a picky customer like Aunt Fierce approved would it be worth investing further.

If someone as fussy and hot-tempered as Aunt Fierce liked her mat, could she worry about being on the wrong path?

Seeing her leave so cheerfully, Aunt Fierce turned to Song Bing: “Look at this kid, really turning over a new leaf. She’s so happy just because I accepted her gift. What a good kid!”

Song Bing stayed silent, wondering who it was that couldn’t stop scolding the kid before!

Aunt Fierce thought it over, happily carried the mat upstairs, and spread it on her bed. Song Bing saw it was too short and said: “This mat’s for one person. Let’s give it to Yaoyao!”

Song Yaoyao was their only child, a daughter. That’s why, though they made money from their business, they had no child to inherit it.

Seeing Song Yuyan turn over a new leaf, they had some thoughts.

Of course, whether it was Song Yuyan or Song Yuban, they were their father’s only sons. He wouldn’t ask to adopt them, lest their family line die out.

He just thought, if Song Yuyan succeeded and had a good heart, she could look after Song Yaoyao after they were gone, so she wouldn’t be bullied.

But after Song Yuyan refused to go back to school, they had to put those thoughts aside for now.

Hearing Song Bing, Aunt Fierce said: “Short or not, we’ll make do!”

Song Bing glanced at Aunt Fierce’s figure, thinking: Are you that confident about your size?

…

Song Yuyan didn’t care how Song Bing and Aunt Fierce argued over a mat. After leaving, she went straight to the straw market.

But markets were only held on the third, seventh, and tenth days. It was two days since March seventeenth, and the next market was tomorrow.

She couldn’t wait another day, so she followed her memory, asked around, and finally reached the Shi family.

The Shi family lived in Wangjiang Lane, Shitai Village, not too far from the county town. Song Yuyan walked for half an hour to get there.

The two Shi brothers were processing straw. Seeing Song Yuyan, they were surprised. Shi She saw her dusty and tired, quickly poured her a bowl of water, and asked her business after she drank.

Song Yuyan spent her first day’s wages, but saved the next two days’ earnings, except for a few coins for eggs. With Aunt Fierce’s extra ten coins, she had sixty-seven coins left.

Keeping some for emergencies, she had fifty coins. She planned to use them to buy more straw.

Shi She listened and said seriously: “I thought you were just talking before. You’re really doing it?”

Song Yuyan nodded: “The trial mat got approval, so I decided to keep going.”

Shi She nodded: “Since you’re determined, good. I meant what I said. If you buy straw from me, I’ll sell at the price we agreed.”

Song Yuyan bought enough for five mats. Shi She said: “That’s too much for you to carry alone. I’ll help carry some back.”

Free delivery too?!

Song Yuyan looked at the not-so-bulky materials, thought it over, and didn’t refuse. One more friend, one more opportunity!

Shi She’s younger brother saw his brother so eager and rolled his eyes.

…

Song Yuyan and Shi She chatted as they headed home. At her doorstep, they ran into Tang Zhi, coming back from the vegetable garden.

Tang Zhi couldn’t believe Song Yuyan brought back so much straw. Yesterday, Song Yuzhuan, that little kid, said Song Yuyan wove a beautiful mat, but she took it away early today.

Tang Zhi hadn’t seen it herself and wasn’t sure a child’s taste was reliable, so she didn’t think much of it. But now, seeing this, Song Yuyan weaving mats was real!

Usually not one for gossip, she couldn’t help peeking toward the Song family’s door.

Song Yuyan was about to offer Shi She water when she saw Tang Zhi’s sneaky look and waved happily: “Miss Tang, come in for a bowl of water!”

Tang Zhi, caught peeking for the first time, blushed. She didn’t know whether to stay or go. After hesitating, she marched in boldly.

Looking at the water Song Yuyan poured, Tang Zhi almost said she wouldn’t drink. But then, if she didn’t drink, why come in? If Song Yuyan noticed something odd, wouldn’t she become a laughingstock?

So she quietly took a sip and said thank you.

Shi She finished his water and left. Song Yuban and Song Yuzhuan circled the straw pile. Tang Zhi asked: “You really know how to weave mats?”

“Yes. When Mother was alive, she wove mats to support the family. I watched her, and over time, I learned. Later, hanging around the markets, I didn’t learn much else, but I picked this up,” Song Yuyan explained.

She suddenly thought of a way to explain her changes. She gathered her emotions and said: “I was foolish before. After Mother died, I gave up and forgot her teachings. But a few days ago, Mother came to me in a dream, saying Father scolded her in the afterlife for how I turned out. I can let anyone down, but not Mother, so I decided to change.”

Tang Zhi: “…”

It wasn’t that she lacked sympathy, but Song Yuyan’s excuse was so lame, and her crying was so unconvincing. Was she trying to fool a child?