Chapter 41
Shu Rui led the carpenter into the shop and showed him around the main hall, the several rooms upstairs, and […]
The Husband’s Little Inn
The Husband’s Little Inn
After his uncle passes away, Shurui’s aunt arranges a marriage for him—
to become the second wife of Wu the Rich Merchant, a man in his forties from the town.
Shurui refuses.
Under cover of night, he packs his belongings and takes with him the deed to a shop his parents left behind, preparing to head to the prefectural city to seek a way forward.
—
While fleeing the forced marriage, Shurui causes trouble on the road—his cart runs into a handsome young man.
The young man opens his eyes, clutches his head, and says it hurts badly. He remembers nothing. Amnesia!
Shurui doesn’t believe it for a second.
With his dark, pockmarked face, he cries disgustingly at the man:
“Have you even forgotten me, husband? We’re loving spouses!”
The handsome young man stares at him in silence for a long while. He truly doesn’t remember having such a husband.
But, believing that having one is better than having none, he calmly accepts it:
“Then I’m hungry. I want to eat.”
“………”
—
On Ten-Li Street, there’s an old shop that had been closed for many years, its dust thicker than the roof tiles.
Slowly, it’s repaired and brought back to life.
A new signboard is hung—it’s an inn now.
The inn is small: four guest rooms and one communal bunk room.
The place isn’t large, but it offers lodging and meals alike.
The two young people running the business—one is a ge’er, who serves as both proprietor and cook.
The server is handsome, looks a little slow, but is surprisingly skilled.
Today’s menu includes sour bamboo shoots stewed with green fish, shepherd’s purse egg cakes, bitter tea broth…
The rooms are already full, no more guests accepted for the night……
Days drift by, and the little inn weathers sunny winds, rain, and snow, year after year.
—
Reading Guide:
Elementary-school-level romance
Ge’er fiction, everyday slice-of-life
Sweet, small-town living
Tags: Sweet Romance, Market Life, Daily Living
Main Characters: Ji Shurui, Lu Ling
Other: Daily Life, Business Management
One-line Summary:
Run the kitchen well, live each day well, and enjoy a happy little life.
Theme:
As long as you don’t give up, there is hope.
The Husband’s Little Inn
Chapter 42
In the afternoon, Shu Rui fed the donkey water and fodder ahead of time and hitched it to the flatbed
The Husband’s Little Inn
Chapter 43
After a few days passed, the end of the seventh month arrived. Carpenter Tong and his apprentice worked quickly. In
The Husband’s Little Inn
Chapter 44
Lu Ling’s gaze shifted from Shu Rui to the youth behind him. Seeing the astonished look on the boy’s face,
The Husband’s Little Inn
Chapter 45
The next day, they prepared breakfast and ate. Lu Ling figured that family members would inevitably come over to visit,
The Husband’s Little Inn
Chapter 46
At noon, after finishing class, Lu Ling went out early to wait at the gatehouse for Shu Rui. The old
The Husband’s Little Inn
Chapter 47
After returning to the shop, Madam Liu had grown closer to Lu Ling that day, and when she went home,
The Husband’s Little Inn
Chapter 48
At the Lu residence, Lu Yu finished warming his books and went to the kitchen to get a cup of
The Husband’s Little Inn
Chapter 49
Shu Rui went out to buy a slab of lamb and also picked up a few crabs that had just
The Husband’s Little Inn
Chapter 50
After some time, Shu Rui figured Lu Ling probably wouldn’t come tonight and was about to extinguish the courtyard lantern
The Husband’s Little Inn
Chapter 51
The He’er secondhand shop in the north part of the city was bustling. Being a new store, drums and gongs
The Husband’s Little Inn
Chapter 52
The two of them went into town. Lu Ling’s old bank in the capital, called Jingfan Pawnshop, was one of
The Husband’s Little Inn
Chapter 53
Mrs. Liu saw Lu Ling’s father coming back with one wet foot, his face drawn and long like a horse’s,
The Husband’s Little Inn
Chapter 54
Though Shu Rui remained at the shop, his mind was in turmoil. Sitting was uncomfortable, standing was uneasy. He worried
The Husband’s Little Inn
Chapter 55
The next day, Shu Rui and Lu Ling ate breakfast in the courtyard. They wondered if the Lu family would
The Husband’s Little Inn
Chapter 56
“Where did you get these books? The patterns are quite good and up-to-date,” she said. Shu Rui and Lady Liu
The Husband’s Little Inn
Chapter 57
“Have all the dishes been delivered?” Shu Rui waited for a while as Lu Ling delivered the food. Once he
The Husband’s Little Inn
Chapter 58
The county exams lasted three days. Lu Yu was no stranger to exams; he had passed the county and prefectural
The Husband’s Little Inn
Chapter 59
Shu Rui, hearing Lu Ling say Lu Yu had fallen ill at the exam hall, felt a wave of anxiety.
The Husband’s Little Inn
Chapter 60
Two days later, all the inn’s supplies had arrived. Shu Rui carefully checked everything twice, ensuring nothing was missing. The