Chapter 29: Your Brain Needs a Workout

Lu Suzhen looked from Ji Ling to Shen Yi, asking tentatively, "Where are you two from? I don't recall ever seeing you before."

"We're from Shixi Village. We don't come into town often."

Lu Suzhen nodded, though her expression betrayed her skepticism.

A moment later, Shen Silan emerged. She looked dashing, a far cry from the scruffy girl she had been moments before.

"Here, try these." Ji Ling handed her a pair of leather shoes with a slight heel, then reached out to thread a ribbon through the waistband of the white straight-leg trousers, her fingers deftly tying a stylish side knot.

Shen Silan slipped into the shoes, one hand tucked into a pocket, the other pushing back her hair. She looked incredibly cool and sharp.

"Well, you almost look like a human being now. Not bad. When you go back, my dog might actually recognize you." Lu Suzhen stepped out from behind the counter and quickly tallied up the bill. It wasn't that Shen Silan didn't want to try on more, but her pockets were currently cleaner than her face.

"Big sister, let me treat you to a meal," Shen Silan said, holding onto Ji Ling’s hand, clearly reluctant to part ways.

"When it comes to eating, we should be the ones treating you. You helped me find all these things; otherwise, I wouldn't have known where to look," Ji Ling said with a smile, inviting Shen Silan and Lu Suzhen to the state-run restaurant.

"Alright, let me lock up and find someone to cover for me for a while." Lu Suzhen always felt that Ji Ling and her companion had ulterior motives, and since this foolish girl was so easily deceived, she felt resigned to tagging along.

Cold-tossed shredded potatoes, stir-fried green beans, pickled cabbage with vermicelli and pork, braised pork belly, and an egg soup—it was quite a feast.

Of course, this was partly due to the influence of Lu Suzhen and Shen Silan. The chef at the state-run restaurant knew them both, which was the only reason they could secure such dishes; otherwise, money and ration coupons alone wouldn't have been enough.

At the table, Shen Silan spoke without thinking, "Big sister, are you two a couple? You really make a perfect pair."

Ji Ling nodded. "That's right. We came to town today specifically to meet the parents. We're planning to get married."

"Cough, cough!" Hearing this, Shen Yi choked, nearly spraying his food. This woman—every word she spoke was just another link in a chain.

"Oh, really? Big sister, then I must congratulate you! You’ll definitely need to procure a lot of things for your wedding. You should come to Lu Suzhen in the future; she’ll definitely help you." Shen Silan remained incredibly enthusiastic, ignoring the repeated glances Lu Suzhen was shooting her.

Shen Yi sighed silently. *Alas, this silly child across the table is no match for Ji Ling; her intellect is simply insufficient. She’s practically begging for a lesson from Ji Ling.*

Ji Ling lowered her head, silent for a moment, before looking up again. "Little sister, since you've called me big sister, I shouldn't keep things from you. I’m actually quite worried about one thing."

Lu Suzhen could no longer bear Shen Silan’s naivety. She tugged at her arm and said, "Miss Ji, we're just from ordinary families. Aside from helping you buy a few things, we probably can't help with much else."

Ji Ling looked startled, then lowered her head in disappointment. "I understand. It’s just that I was hoping to have a wool blanket as part of my dowry. But I'm not looking to buy one; I know they are precious and hard to come by. We have sheep in our village, and I was wondering if it might be possible to send the wool out for processing."

"Little sister, I figured since you live in town, you must know many people. Could you perhaps give us a recommendation?"

"Look, here is the pattern I sketched. I was hoping to have this design woven into the wool blanket."

Shen Silan took the paper Ji Ling handed her. It clearly depicted several small lambs: one with a chubby body in a cute sitting pose; another with perked ears and an innocent look in its eyes; and a third with limbs stretched out, blissfully lost in a dream.

"This is so adorable! If it could be woven, it would surely look beautiful." Shen Silan turned to Ji Ling. "My father is the director of the textile mill. Big sister, I can ask for you."

Lu Suzhen covered her face in frustration. *I suspect Ji Ling has been waiting for exactly this sentence the whole time.*

"Well, well, if it isn't my ex-fiancé? You turned your nose up at my family's bride price, so why are you here now, hooking up with this little wolf cub?" Just as Ji Ling was about to dive deeper into her performance, a commotion erupted at the doorway.