Chapter 17: Sour Tongues and Bitter Tea
The village market bustled with morning energy—vendors shouting prices, chickens darting under carts, and the rich smell of steamed buns floating in the air.
Su Yanyue's medicine stall sat beneath the old elm tree, neatly arranged with bottles, balms, and dried herbs. Today's crowd was lively, and she moved efficiently—recommending cooling powders for fevers, offering wound salve to an old farmer, and wrapping pain relief oil for a mother with a crying infant.
Despite her calm presence, her stall always drew attention. Some came for her remedies. Others, like Aunt Liu, came simply to gossip.
"You really should wear brighter clothes," Aunt Liu said, biting into a peach. "A young woman with no husband or parents… You should try to catch a man while you're still fresh."
"I'm doing just fine," Yanyue replied, sorting herbs with calm precision.
Aunt Liu leaned closer, her eyes narrowing. "Although I hear you already caught one. That tall man with the sharp jaw. Lives with you, doesn't he?"
"He's the boys' uncle," Yanyue said, not missing a beat. "And a guest."
"Oh? Three identical boys call him Father. And you 'Auntie.' What an odd arrangement." She clicked her tongue. "Some folks think it's indecent."
Before Yanyue could reply, a new voice cut in.
"People with empty minds often have busy tongues."
The crowd turned. Madam Zhao stood at the edge of the stall—wealthy merchant's wife, layers of silk wrapped tightly around her plump form. Her expression was pleasant, but her eyes were sharp.
Yanyue tensed inwardly.
"I came for burn ointment," Madam Zhao said, handing over a coin pouch. "My daughter touched the teapot again."
"Of course." Yanyue handed her the salve.
But before Madam Zhao left, she added with a falsely sweet smile, "You've become so capable, Miss Su. Though I must say… it's strange for someone so skilled to have come from nowhere."
Yanyue smiled gently. "Stranger things have happened, Madam Zhao. Like people using my medicine while questioning my existence."
That earned a chuckle from the crowd. Madam Zhao's smile faltered.
"You must be careful," she said softly. "People admire rising stars. Until they shine too bright."
She turned and left, skirts swishing behind her. Aunt Liu muttered something and scurried off after her.
Yanyue let out a slow breath.
A gentle tug at her sleeve startled her. Su Zhi looked up at her with large eyes.
"Are they bullying you?"
Yanyue forced a smile. "Just barking dogs. Nothing to worry about."
Su Lin and Su Rui had followed their brother. Su Lin crossed his arms. "We'll scare them away. We'll use frogs."
"No frogs in the market," she warned.
"But what if they say bad things again?" Su Rui asked seriously.
Yanyue crouched to their level and ruffled their heads gently. "Then we let our actions speak. Let's give them nothing to mock, and everything to envy."
The boys looked at her like she'd just cast a spell.
Behind them, a pair of young women whispered quietly, glancing toward the stall.
"She doesn't even have a family name to rely on. But look at how she carries herself…"
"She's more noble than Madam Zhao. I heard she even treated the County Magistrate's wife last week."
Su Yanyue pretended not to hear.
Let them talk. Let them wonder.
She had work to do.
And no one—not petty women nor curious nobles—was going to slow her down.