Chapter 66: The Village Goes Overboard
By morning, Su Yanyue regretted ever stepping foot in the market.
It began with vegetables.
Not one or two baskets—but an avalanche. Turnips, radishes, bok choy, carrots—all deposited neatly at her doorstep by grinning villagers.
"A tribute for the Phoenix Lady," one said with a solemn nod.
"May your tea bloom as our cabbages have," another added, leaving behind an entire gourd larger than Su Zhi.
The triplets were thrilled.
"We've been upgraded to royalty," Su Lin declared, lounging on a pile of yams like a tiny emperor.
Su Zhi draped a towel over his shoulders. "Henceforth, call me Little Duke!"
Su Rui just whispered to a chicken, "Your Highness, please prepare the golden eggs."
Su Yanyue stared at the mountain of produce and muttered, "Should've let the oracle read my palm. Maybe then I'd be cursed with silence instead."
But the vegetables were only the beginning.
Next came the matchmakers.
Three widows, a baker's aunt, and one overly enthusiastic elder came bearing scrolls, gossip, and dramatic stories of "hidden noble suitors who would suit her divine destiny."
"She needs a man with ambition!" one proclaimed.
"No, a quiet one who listens!" another argued.
"Someone who likes ducks," Su Rui helpfully supplied, earning glares and a biscuit from Widow Zhang.
When Yu Shiming opened the door during round two of the matchmaking war, silence fell.
The air dropped a degree. The triplets blinked.
"Good day," he said.
Five women fled in a flurry of scarves and excuses.
Yu Shiming turned to Yanyue, raising a brow. "Should I be worried?"
"No. I should be," she sighed, sipping tea.
Later that afternoon, she tried to return the vegetables to their original owners. Every single attempt failed.
"No, no, Phoenix Lady! It's not a gift—it's... destiny!"
Even the village blacksmith tried to present her with a "sacred horseshoe," claiming it would bring fortune to her tea shop.
By sundown, she was exhausted. Her pantry overflowed. A goose now lived on her porch.
Yu Shiming found her in the back courtyard, staring blankly into the distance.
"Thinking about running away?" he asked mildly.
She groaned. "Do phoenixes migrate?"
He chuckled and poured her a cup of calming herbal tea. "You did say you wanted attention for your business."
"Yes. Not a cult."
"Maybe it's time to take a small break from the market," he suggested. "Focus on supply."
She nodded wearily. "That... sounds safe."
From inside the house, a loud crash echoed. Followed by giggles.
"I taught a chicken to dance!" Su Lin yelled proudly.
"You bribed it with peanuts!" Su Zhi accused.
"Now it won't stop following me!" Su Rui added, as clucking chaos erupted.
Yanyue dropped her head on the table.
Yu Shiming patted her back. "At least the phoenix lady has minions."
"I need a nap. Or a sword."
He leaned closer. "You already have both."
She glanced at him, heart suddenly skipping.
He was looking at her differently—soft, amused, fond.
Dangerously fond.
She quickly looked away.
Outside, villagers lit lanterns for an evening festival. Someone began singing. Children danced with fireflies. Her little stall glowed in the fading sun, its sign fluttering gently.
She had no idea what fate had in store, or if she truly had a destiny beyond the mountains.
But for now…
It didn't feel so bad to be the village phoenix.