Lucky glanced at the Tofu Beauty, and when the Tofu Beauty got a closer look at Lucky, she thought, 'Wow, how can someone be so handsome!' She had never seen such a good-looking man before!
Unable to help herself, the Tofu Beauty played with her hair and struck what she thought was her most enchanting, pitiable pose. She softly said, "Thank you, Brother Lucky."
Unexpectedly, Lucky only glanced at her before turning to Lily Evans: "Wife, what do you think we should do?"
Lily Evans looked at the Tofu Beauty’s act and frowned.
Widows in the village had a tough life, and Lily Evans didn’t want to make things harder for her. But this flirtatious behavior—who was she putting on a show for? Did she really think Lily was blind?
"Sorry, Sister Tofu Beauty, we borrowed this cart too, so we can’t make the decision to take on extra passengers," Lily Evans refused.
Hearing this, Lucky drove the cart forward without hesitation.
The Tofu Beauty secretly resented Lily Evans, thinking she was just a jealous wife envious of her looks. So, the Tofu Beauty ran a few steps to block the cart, looking pitifully at Lucky: "Brother Lucky, look, my foot really is hurt. I can't walk. Please, be kind and take me along."
Lucky shook his head, "If my wife says no, then it's a no."
The Tofu Beauty was left speechless. She said, "Brother Lucky, what are you saying? You're a man, the head of the household. If you say you'll take me, would your wife dare object? Brother Lucky, just take me with you..."
The way the Tofu Beauty dragged out that last word made Lily's skin crawl.
Lucky just shook his head. "I always do what my wife says."
The Tofu Beauty turned to Lily, wiping her tears and sobbing, "Lily, we're neighbors—how can you be so heartless? It's tough for me, all on my own. It's just a ride, it's not like you'll lose anything. I can even give you a copper coin for the trouble. My foot is really twisted, I can't walk. I promised the merchants in town I'd deliver tofu today. If I don't go, they'll make me pay silver, and I don't have any! Are you really going to leave me with no way to survive...?"
Just then, Mrs. Thompson happened to pass by with a few young wives and chimed in, "Lily, just take her along. We're all from the same village, and should help each other out. She'll pay you for the ride."
A few young wives joined in, urging Lily to help. Lily felt helpless—if she didn’t take the Tofu Beauty into town today, the whole village would gossip tomorrow that she’d gotten rich and started snubbing her neighbors.
"All right, get on," Lily said, moving the mushroom bags aside.
The Tofu Beauty's face lit up. She hopped onto the cart and said, "Thank you, Lily. Thank you, Lucky. I really don’t know what I’d do without you two today."
Lily just made a noncommittal sound, clearly not interested in talking to the Tofu Beauty.
Lucky quietly drove the cart toward town. The Tofu Beauty behaved herself, sitting still and only occasionally tried to chat with Lily, who replied half-heartedly. After a few tries, the Tofu Beauty gave up, not wanting to make a fool of herself.
Hmph, what a bore. Poor Lucky, stuck with this shrew for so long, the Tofu Beauty thought, glancing at Lucky’s handsome profile and strong build. Her ears burned. A man built like that must be impressive in other ways... Me, the Tofu Beauty, am a hundred times more charming than that hag Lily. Just one night and this fool would be mine! Once I marry in and win his affection, I’ll kick Lily and that useless old woman Wang out. Then the big house, the maids, the whole estate—it’ll all be mine!