Rebirth of a Farming Wife

“Daughter-in-law, take a look and see if this is pretty?” After pulling Su Wenyue back to the room, Han Yu took out a package, opened the box inside, which held an exquisite butterfly gold hairpin of superb artisanship. No, it shouldn’t be called just a gold hairpin, it was gold inlaid with jade, with carved white jade pieces set into it, a level of craftsmanship not typical fair by any ordinary artisan, truly a work of genius.

“I love it, this hairpin is really beautiful. Is this for me?” Su Wenyue stared unblinkingly at the gold hairpin in her hand, where the gold met the jade there wasn’t a single seam visible, as if they were naturally formed together, which evidently couldn’t be the case. This only highlighted the craftsmanship’s excellence, comparable even to her own embroidery skills.

“I’m glad you like it.” Han Yu watched his daughter-in-law delightedly, his own heart filling with happiness. He thought if his daughter-in-law knew he had also brought back the artisan who crafted the hairpin, she would be overjoyed; his efforts in locating the artisan would not have been in vain.

“So the reason you rushed to bring me back here was to give me this gold hairpin. You didn’t really give me many gifts before, so I must take good care of this hairpin. It’s rare for my husband to be so thoughtful.”

Su Wenyue treasured the gold hairpin, holding it as if it were precious, not because she hadn’t seen finer things but because this hairpin, given by Han Yu, held a different meaning. Of course, Su Wenyue was also performing intentionally. A man sometimes needs to be humored. Seeing how hastily Han Yu had acted, it was clear he had really put his heart into it. Other men might not behave this way, but for Han Yu to do so was not easy. Remembering Han Yu’s cold and unfeeling manner in her previous life, Su Wenyue sometimes doubted if this was the same person, sometimes feeling the happiness was unreal.

Han Yu hadn’t expected that giving such a small gift to his daughter-in-law would elicit such a reaction and words from her, her treasuring it so. He felt somewhat ashamed and self-reproachful. His nature wasn’t one to show off his feelings; even with affection, he kept it hidden in his heart. Consequently, he had never given his daughter-in-law anything before. Reflecting on this, he honestly felt like an incompetent husband, having let his wife suffer without caring for her feelings. He had always taken her efforts for granted, now swearing in his heart that he must treat her even better in the future.

“Daughter-in-law, I’ve been so busy these days that I’ve neglected you,” Han Yu’s voice carried a note of apology. They say a man aiming for great achievements shouldn’t be entangled in romance. Although he didn’t quite agree, he indeed hadn’t had much time to take care of everything at home, and his concern for his wife had diminished compared to before.

“Husband, don’t talk like that. I know you’ve been busy outside, and everything at home is just fine. When you’re done with your busy schedule, just spend more time with me,” Su Wenyue had no issues with this. In fact, with her previous life as a reference, she felt Han Yu was already doing very well, plus she was busy too. Even if Han Yu had time, she might not be able to make herself available, but she still expressed her need for him appropriately.

Han Yu, looking at his wife being so understanding, felt both gratified and moved: “Certainly, once I finish this busy period, I will definitely spend more time with you and the three little guys.”

Su Wenyue felt that enough had been said, the gift had been received, and there were things in the kitchen waiting for her to instruct: “Husband, I have some things to take care of in the kitchen. If you’re bored, go and play with the three little guys for a while. I’ll be back soon.”

“Wait, I haven’t finished talking yet. You don’t think I brought you back here just to give you a hairpin, do you?”

“Ah? Is there something else?” Su Wenyue looked at Han Yu somewhat blankly, wondering if he had prepared another gift for her.

What Han Yu had prepared wasn’t a gift, but a person: “I have good news for you. I have found the gold and silver craftsmen you were looking for. This gold hairpin was made by one of these master craftsmen. How about that? Are you satisfied with the talent I found?”

Su Wenyue appeared stunned, and once she realized what Han Yu meant, surprise was all that remained, along with a hint of the thrill of striking treasure.

“Really? Husband, you’re not lying to me, are you? You’ve actually brought such a talented person back for me? Such craftsmanship, I’m afraid it would be hard to find better even in the Daming Dynasty.” Su Wenyue said this, but her heart was already convinced. If Han Yu had spoken the words, he surely meant to make them come true. Having acquired such an impressive talent, it was no wonder Han Yu rushed her back home. The hairpin was just an appetizer; the real surprise awaited her.

“Of course it’s true. When have I ever lied to you? All the other gold and silver craftsmen have already arrived. It’s up to you to figure out how to settle them in. The only one left is the old master who crafted this hairpin. He set out early from Chang’an but it’s a long journey, and he’ll likely need another three or four days to arrive. We’ll have to wait a bit longer.”

“No worries, I’ll wait. For someone so talented, I’d be willing to wait not just three or four days, but three or four months,” Su Wenyue cheerfully said. Han Yu had catered to her wishes so perfectly she was already thinking of coming up with several new designs later. With such skilled craftsmen, she didn’t need to restrain the complexity of the designs, focusing solely on their aesthetic.

“Husband, where did you find this master craftsman with such great skills?” Su Wenyue asked curiously. Han Yu had mentioned that the old master was coming from Chang’an, and in her previous life, she knew all about the best gold and silver craftsmen in Chang’an City, yet she had never heard of this person. A craftsman with such exceptional skills wouldn’t be without a reputation.

“Actually, this old master is from the Zhang Family lineage. But after the Zhang Family was eradicated by a ruthless tyrant, he was lucky to escape, though he dared not stay in Chang’an any longer. He lived under a pseudonym, and if it weren’t for the clues provided by Zhang Xing, I wouldn’t have been able to find this person. Even then, it took a great deal of effort, and only with the token provided by Zhang Xing was I able to invite him. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have been dragged out until now. If I hadn’t brought the people today, you might have thought I only cared about my own promotion and wealth, not taking your concerns to heart, right?”