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“Even less won’t work. There is a limit to everything, and three times is a charm. Our family isn’t exactly wealthy—we have so many people to provide for at home. The first time I lent to you, it was because your husband and our master are colleagues. The second time was because we live in the same neighborhood. Don’t talk to me about not having enough food to survive. The portion I lent Madame He before was enough for your family for a month or two, and now, after just a few days, Madame He is back asking for food again. Do you think my home is the county government’s grain warehouse?”

Su Wenyue refused without a second thought. Had she known Madame He was this kind of person, she wouldn’t have lent anything the first two times. It was certain there would be no return. Although she didn’t begrudge the food, giving it to someone like Madame He was worse than feeding it to pigs—at least pigs would fatten up and yield more meat when slaughtered for New Year’s.

Madame He’s face stiffened. She had thought Su Wenyue was easy to talk to, and since Mrs. Su’s mother’s family was famously wealthy, she wouldn’t lack this bit of food. She had hoped to borrow again and hadn’t been frugal with what she had. Her mother-in-law had been more generous when asking for food, and the relatives from her husband’s family were too troublesome to deal with. Not giving to them was out of the question. If she couldn’t borrow food this time, her family would have to tighten their belts. After all, prices are soaring, and food isn’t something that can be easily replaced—it’s needed every day.

Madame He had intended to bully Su when she refused, using the same tactics her husband’s relatives used to force her to comply. Coming from a wealthy family like the Su’s, what mattered most was reputation. If she played that card, she thought Su would surely lend. But seeing Su’s actions, she couldn’t be sure anymore.

“Madam Han, I really had no choice, else I wouldn’t have come to borrow food from you. Although I had borrowed some before, my husband is the sole support for such a big family. We could make do before, but under the current conditions, it’s just impossible. I know you’re kind-hearted, so I’m begging you to help me this one last time. Don’t worry, as soon as my husband’s army provisions are issued, I will return the food to you—I won’t take advantage of you,” Madame He said with a solemn vow, but her words lacked any believability.

“I’m sorry, Madame He, but just like your family needs to survive, so does ours. We have even more people to support. It’s not fair to expect us to stop living our lives just so your family can get by. Please, put yourself in my shoes; being too selfish isn’t the way to be!” Su Wenyue had made up her mind and didn’t hold back at all, effectively blocking any argument Madame He had planned.

Madame He was fuming, “Madam Han, are you joking with me? Your mother’s family is quite large and wealthy; surely they wouldn’t miss a bit of food—it’s just an excuse. If you don’t want to lend, just say so.”

Madame He thought her words would provoke Su Wenyue into changing her stance, but it only backfired.

“Let me be clear with you, Madame He: I don’t want to lend you food. You may leave now!” When Su Wenyue said this, she was already gesturing the guest out—utterly unapologetic and bold.

“Mrs. Su, so kind of you, truly kind!” Madame He’s face darkened with anger until it looked like it could drip with malice.

“I’m quite well! No need for you to worry about me.” Su Wenyue felt good about upsetting someone she disliked and was naturally in high spirits.

“Humph, don’t gloat for too long. Just because your man got promoted doesn’t mean much. The higher you climb, the harder you fall. I’ll be waiting for that day.” Madame He couldn’t stomach the defeat and, as she left, couldn’t resist tossing a few barbs at Su Wenyue, thinking that Han Yu’s military foundation was unstable and that, having offended the general magistrate, it was only a matter of time before he met with disaster. That’s why she didn’t take Su Wenyue seriously. As for the incident at the Su Mansion, neither Su Wenyue, the magistrate’s wife, nor Mrs. Sun would speak of such an embarrassing experience, and the rumors heard by others wouldn’t be taken seriously after a while.

“I don’t know if that day will ever come, but I’ll be waiting for you to return the food to me sooner rather than later.” Su Wenyue said with a sarcastic smile, sending Madame He off with her anger inverted, huffing away from the Han Family. There was no way the food that landed in her hands would be returned—she hadn’t planned on returning it at all.

Watching Madame He storm off, Xiao Xi clapped and cheered, “Madam, you were amazing! That’s the only way to deal with people like Madame He—cannot be too polite.”

Grandma Chen, however, was somewhat concerned. She had avoided clashing with Madame He before, both because of her status and other worries, “Madam, Madame He left in such a fury this time—she’ll surely badmouth you and sully your reputation when she’s back.”

“No worries, just let her talk.” Su Wenyue waved her hand carelessly. She had considered everything that needed to be thought through before acting. In today’s tough times, more and more people would come knocking on her door for favors. She wanted to use this opportunity to let everyone know that Su Wenyue was not someone to be trifled with, which would make those thinking of approaching her to reconsider.

Feng Susu watched Madame He leave in a huff, and after quietly inquiring with the servants, felt concerned. Lady Yue appeared to live the life of an official’s wife, but life wasn’t easy for her either. She had to manage a large household and deal with people like Madame He. Feng Susu couldn’t offer much help to Lady Yue, but she would do what she could to do her job well.

Before long, the news that Madame He had gone to borrow grain from Su Wenyue only to be turned away spread far and wide. People’s reactions to these rumors varied—some laughed at Madame He’s embarrassment while others criticized Su Wenyue for being stingy. But it did have some effect; most of those who had been thinking about asking Su Wenyue for help dropped the idea.

Most of these people weren’t very familiar with Su Wenyue but had heard through the grapevine that Madame He had received food from the Han Family twice and wanted to benefit likewise. They were just about to reach out when they heard that Madame He had been turned away.

“Master, here’s the latest update on Miss Su,” the man in black handed a report to Sikong Ling.

Since that day at Lingyin Temple, Sikong Ling hadn’t seen Su Wenyue again. It wasn’t for lack of trying to create opportunities, but Su Wenyue was pregnant and staying home to rest, leaving no chance for a meeting. He could only rely on updates from his subordinates about Su Wenyue’s wellbeing. Lately, she seemed busy and was causing quite a stir. Although he couldn’t see her personally, he heard quite a bit about her.

“Is the information over there reliable?” Sikong Ling asked, his expression complex as he rubbed the report in his hands.

“It’s reliable. It seems they’re just waiting for the right moment to act.”

“Send a copy of that report and the information to Han Yu’s hands,” Sikong Ling instructed, a hint of hesitation in his tone.