The village's acceptance, won by Li Wei's cooking, was a double-edged sword. Their small enterprise was thriving. Madam Zhao was now a loyal weekly buyer of the Scent of the Daxia Hills, and other small food vendors in the market were clamoring for Li Wei to create specialized blends for their own dishes.
The constant demand meant Guo Fucheng had to dedicate nearly a full day each week to intense pestle work, and Li Wei was constantly refining her inventory.
Their success brought coins, a new, sturdier roof for the house, and the quiet satisfaction of self-sufficiency. But it also brought something else.....envy
The whispers started subtly. Elder Chen mentioned in passing that the Lu family, who sold common dried pepper, were complaining about the new competition. The women drawing water would look at Li Wei's cleaner, patched-but-mended clothes and then glance at their own, their smiles strained.
One evening, as Fucheng was finishing his chores, a new figure appeared at their gate: Auntie Mei, the busiest gossip in the village, accompanied by her shiftless son, Wei Lin.
"Guo Fucheng," Auntie Mei called out, her tone dripping with false sweetness. "You are blessed to have such a clever wife. She has brought you great fortune."
Fucheng straightened, his posture immediately reserved. "We work hard, Auntie Mei. We are grateful for the kindness of the village."
"Kindness, indeed," she sniffed, her eyes darting around the courtyard, taking in the drying cedar and the neat spice preparations. "But you know, Fucheng, it is not proper for a farmer's wife to be so involved in commerce. It should be the man who handles the money."
Li Wei emerged from the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron. She stepped smoothly to Fucheng's side, her presence a silent challenge. "We manage our home together, Auntie. Fucheng's hands are needed in the fields, and my mind is best suited for the market."
Auntie Mei waved a dismissive hand. "Nonsense. The truth is, my son, Wei Lin, is well-versed in trade. He knows the best prices. He would be happy to 'help' you manage your sales, for a small share, of course. A proper husband would delegate."
Wei Lin, a pale youth with greedy eyes, stepped forward. "I could protect your wife from the rough market men," he offered, a smirk on his face.
The implication was clear, they wanted a slice of the profit, and they were using the village's traditional hierarchy to force their way in.
Fucheng felt the heat rise in his chest. His natural inclination was to send them packing with a harsh word, but he remembered Li Wei's earlier warning: they needed the village's goodwill. He squeezed the back of Li Wei's hand, a familiar signal of shared understanding.
Li Wei smiled, her gaze cool and unwavering. "That is kind of you, Wei Lin. But you see, my husband has already found a role far more important than sales."
She turned to Fucheng, her voice full of genuine admiration. "Fucheng, show them the newest creation."
Fucheng immediately understood. He walked over to a stack of finished cedar boxes and picked up a new, slightly larger one. It wasn't a spice box. It was a perfectly constructed, small wooden loom used for weaving silk borders a piece of intricate craftsmanship he'd finished that morning.
"Auntie Mei, Wei Lin," Fucheng announced, holding up the loom. "My wife's genius for flavor is matched only by my skill with wood. We are not merely selling spices; we are selling bespoke containers that double the value of the goods inside. I cannot waste my hands on bartering when I must fulfill orders for wealthy merchants who value my carving and joinery."
The display silenced them. Wei Lin, who couldn't mend a broken chair, stared at the craftsmanship in awe. This was not the simple farmwork he understood; this was a refined trade that demanded high prices.
"We are too busy with our craft to worry about small sales," Li Wei concluded sweetly. "Perhaps you could help Mr. Luo with his chicken plucking? That sounds like a trade that truly needs extra hands."
Auntie Mei, defeated by the combined display of skill and unity, gathered her dignity. "Well. We will pray for your continued success," she muttered, pulling Wei Lin away.
As they left, Fucheng and Li Wei stood side-by-side, watching them retreat.
"You are so quick, Xiu'er," Fucheng whispered, a deep satisfaction in his eyes.
"We must always show them our worth, Fucheng," Li Wei replied, leaning her head briefly against his shoulder. "And we must always show them that we are a single wall. You revealed your skill, and I spoke for our partnership. That is the only protection against small-minded envy."