Shen Xuejin steadied her thoughts, stood up, and nodded at Huo Nanchi. "Second Young Master Huo."
Huo Nanchi looked at her. "Why is Miss Shen here?"
"I came to buy some medicinal herbs." Shen Xuejin pointed toward the backyard. "Bizhu went to the backyard to dry some clothes, and I am waiting for her here."
"I see," Huo Nanchi replied indifferently.
"Lord Huo, what brings you here?" The shopkeeper hurried over to welcome him.
"I need some wound-healing ointment to take with me."
"Right away. Please have a seat for a moment, and I'll go prepare it."
Wound-healing ointment...
Shen Xuejin's gaze shifted slightly.
Back in the carriage, she had offered the custom wound-healing ointment she made herself, but Huo Nanchi hadn't given her any reply. Yet now, he had come here to get wound-healing ointment.
Clearly, Second Young Master Huo did not trust her—neither her person nor her medical skills.
"Shopkeeper, do you have top-quality burn ointment?"
Hearing this voice, Shen Xuejin was somewhat surprised. She turned around and saw, as expected, Xiaolian, the maid who served Shen Wanya.
Xiaolian looked equally surprised upon seeing her and immediately turned to leave. A moment later, Shen Wanya walked in.
"Shen Xuejin, you still have the nerve to show your face outside?" Shen Wanya shouted angrily, only to notice that Huo Nanchi was also there. Her voice cracked sharply, sounding exceptionally jarring.
"Second Young Master Huo." Shen Wanya no longer cared about Shen Xuejin. She had been wondering when she might see Huo Nanchi again, never expecting to run into him right here. This showed just how meant-to-be they were.
Huo Nanchi only drank his tea, not sparing her a single glance.
Shen Wanya took dainty steps forward and began speaking on her own accord. "My mother was scalded by Shen Xuejin throwing tea at her the other day, and her condition hasn't improved over the past two days. I am extremely worried. Hearing that this shop's burn ointment is exceptionally good, I came to buy a box for my mother."
Burns...
Huo Nanchi looked at Shen Xuejin. He remembered that the back of her neck had also been scalded, though since she understood medicine herself, she must have already treated it.
After waiting for a moment, Shen Wanya didn't receive a single word of praise from Huo Nanchi acknowledging her filial piety and good sense—let alone a single glance. Hatred for Shen Xuejin flared up in her heart once more.
It must be that wretched girl Shen Xuejin who had spoken ill of her behind her back to Huo Nanchi! Otherwise, with her looks and talent, how could Huo Nanchi treat her this way?
"Second Young Master, once my mother's health recovers, she will come over to express her gratitude and return the courtesy," Shen Wanya said gently.
Huo Nanchi put down his teacup and looked at the person before him. "Your mother? Isn't Lady Shen already a guest at the Huo Residence?"
Shen Wanya's expression froze.
Because Shen Hong favored his concubine over his wife, and because the mistress of the Shen Residence had been away from home for more than a dozen years, Shen Wanya never called Qin Rong a concubine, always addressing her as "Mother."
She was so used to it that she had momentarily forgotten and slipped up!
"You must find it laughable, Second Young Master; I meant my concubine-mother," Shen Wanya said awkwardly. Seeing that Huo Nanchi's expression remained cold and silent, she poured all her frustration back onto Shen Xuejin. "Elder Sister, being a guest at the Huo Residence is nothing like staying at the countryside estate. You really ought to be more mindful of your behavior."
Shen Xuejin gave her a cold look.
"The loose rumors about you and those farmhands at the estate even reached Father's ears. If Father and my concubine-mother hadn't covered for you, your reputation would have been completely ruined." Shen Wanya put on a look of acting out of concern for Shen Xuejin.
By saying this, she was hinting that Shen Xuejin's reputation was utterly destroyed and her character questionable, making it certain that a prestigious household like the Huo Residence would never marry such a person.
As for Shen Xuejin, though she had no wish to marry Eldest Young Master Huo, she certainly would not allow Shen Wanya to trash her reputation like this.
"Putting everything else aside, I certainly can't match your thick skin. Clearly just a concubine's daughter, yet you put on airs grander than the legitimate daughter," Shen Xuejin said mockingly.
"You—"
"Miss," the shopkeeper walked over and said to Shen Wanya, "You've come at an unfortunate time. The last jar of burn ointment in our shop was just given to this young lady."
Huo Nanchi frowned slightly. The doctor had been by yesterday—did she really not mention her burns to him?
Shen Wanya stared at the small porcelain bottle in front of Shen Xuejin, her eyes widening in fury. "Shen Xuejin, what are you trying to pull? That burn ointment is what I wanted! I'm taking it back for my mo—for my concubine-mother."
"I was scalded by your concubine-mother, so I need burn ointment as well," Shen Xuejin replied calmly.
The shopkeeper was a perceptive man. Since Shen Xuejin had arrived in the company of a servant from the Huo Residence and was sitting at the same table drinking tea with Second Young Master Huo, Shenuejin was clearly the more important person.
He politely said to Shen Wanya, "Don't be upset, Miss. I'll have another batch made right now, and it should be delivered to your residence by tomorrow."
"We have to wait until tomorrow?" Shen Wanya raised her voice. "My concubine-mother's burns are severe. If it gets delayed until tomorrow afternoon, festers, and leaves a scar, can you bear the responsibility?"
"Don't worry, Miss. How about we work a bit harder and have it delivered to you tonight?" the shopkeeper offered coaxingly.
"No, my concubine-mother's burns can't wait," Shen Wanya said self-righteously. "I am a young lady of the Shen Residence! Is the Shen Residence someone you can afford to cross? I don't care how you do it, just get that ointment for me."
Internally, the shopkeeper was rolling his eyes all the way to the heavens, but out of a businessman's instinct, he kept his tone amiable. "This business runs on first-come, first-served. This young lady did ask for the burn ointment first."
At that moment, Shen Xuejin spoke up. "I am also a daughter of Minister Shen of the Shen Residence. I am the legitimate daughter, and she..." Shen Xuejin's tone carried a heavy dose of mockery, "...she is a concubine's daughter."
What Shen Wanya was most sensitive about was her status as a concubine's daughter, and Shen Xuejin had deliberately stepped right on her sore spot.
This left the shopkeeper utterly bewildered.
In the same household, a concubine's daughter acted this arrogant and domineering toward the legitimate daughter?
The household of Minister Shen? They certainly had thick skins.
If not for the presence of Huo Nanchi, Shen Wanya would have rushed over right then and there to tear Shen Xuejin to shreds!
Shen Xuejin picked up the porcelain bottle in her hand and drew out her words teasingly. "It seems you really are worried about your concubine-mother."
"That goes without saying. I am far more filial than you."
"Are you willing to get this bottle of burn ointment no matter the cost?" Shen Xuejin asked again.
"Naturally," Shen Wanya answered without thinking.
Filial piety was held in extremely high regard in this dynasty. Acting like this in front of Huo Nanchi today would surely earn her a stellar reputation for filial piety.
Huo Nanchi's eyes flicked—she was setting a trap.
Sure enough, the next moment he heard Shen Xuejin say, "I can give you this bottle of burn ointment. One hundred liang."
Shen Wanya's eyes widened as big as copper bells. "You're actually asking me for money? Shen Xuejin, you truly are despicable and shameless!"
"I'm only asking if you want it or not?" Shen Xuejin looked at her. "You said you'd get this bottle of burn ointment no matter the cost, and now one hundred liang is enough to make you give up?"
Shen Wanya's face turned exceptionally ugly.
"Or could it be that everything you just said was merely meant for Second Young Master Huo to hear?" Shen Xuejin saw right through Shen Wanya's little schemes, confident that once she brought this up, Shen Wanya would have no choice but to pay.