Chapter 53: Are We Starving People Too Harshly?

Su Yanhua felt like she had fire wheels under her feet, racing back to the Su Family, heart blooming with joy and panting heavily.

As soon as he entered, he couldn't even notice Wang Juhua picking vegetables; Da Zhuang was smoking a dry pipe nearby, and, with a shrill voice, shouted excitedly and incoherently:

"Dad, Mom, I have huge news!"

"Guess what I discovered? I uncovered that little slut Su Ruan's secret!"

"I'm telling you, if Jiang Ran learns this secret, she'll be completely ruined!"

Wang Juhua jumped in fright, scolding irritably, "You damned girl, what are you shouting about? What secret? What could she possibly have?"

Da Zhuang also furrowed his brows, exhaling a smoke ring, "So what now?"

Su Yanhua danced forward to them, her face unable to hide wild joy and malice, "This time I saw it with my own eyes: Su Ruan has been raising two Illegitimate Children outside."

"One boy, one girl. She just now was sneaking to bring food to those two Illegitimate Children, and those two little mixed‑bloods were getting extremely close to her. You say, if not her Illegitimate Son and Daughter, what else could it be?"

"What?!" Wang Juhua and Da Zhuang both exclaimed, nearly dropping the vegetables and the dry pipe in their hands.

"Really, absolutely true!" Su Yanhua swore, "I saw it with my own eyes!"

"Those two little mixed‑bloods are being raised by Su Ruan in that broken Alley in West City."

"No wonder she's eager to get married; she's definitely looking for a patsy to raise her Illegitimate Children!"

The news hit Da Zhuang and Wang Juhua so hard they felt dizzy; stunned by this unbelievable and explosive revelation, they were so caught up in excitement and the thrill of imagining Su Ruan's downfall that they completely ignored the most crucial question.

They forgot to ask Su Yanhua the ages of those two children.

After all, Su Ruan is only eighteen this year; how could she possibly have eleven‑ or twelve‑year‑old kids?

"Great! Great!" Da Zhuang slapped his thigh hard, a gleam flashing in his murky eyes, "That little slut, I knew she's just like her mother—nothing but trouble!"

Wang Juhua caught on too, a spiteful smile on her face, "She brought this on herself; we can't be blamed."

"Yan‑hua, we must make good use of this, pick the right moment, and expose her in front of everyone!"

"Let the Jiang Family, let the whole city know what a worthless trash she is!"

The three of them immediately huddled together, heads pressed, excitedly and viciously plotting.

Meanwhile, Su Ruan was completely unaware of the Su Family's malicious scheme, busy planning how to advance her own business.

After several days of sales, the trinkets Douzi and Yaya brought back were almost always sold out, and word of mouth spread gradually.

But Su Ruan didn't keep them in one spot; instead she demanded they change selling locations every day.

Today in East City, tomorrow perhaps to West City, the day after that to near the school.

This now bittered some customers who had gotten a taste, wanted to repurchase or recommend to friends.

Many people went looking based on yesterday's location, only to find nothing and return dejected, their hearts itching like a cat's scratch.

Douzi and Yaya were puzzled by this.

Yaya blinked her big eyes and asked, "Sister Su, why do we have to keep moving? Many older sisters and aunties say they can't find us; if we stayed in one place, wouldn't we sell more and faster?"

Even Zhou Da Niang thought it was a bit regrettable.

Su Ruan looked at their puzzled faces, smiled faintly, and patiently explained, "That's called Hunger Marketing."

"Hunger Marketing?" Douzi repeated the unfamiliar term.

"Right." Su Ruan picked up a pouch, "Think about it: if this thing could be bought easily anytime, anywhere, would people still find it rare and be so eager to want it?"

She paused, then continued, "Now we change locations daily, making it hard for them to find us, which actually sparks a stronger buying desire."

"If they don't buy today, they'll keep thinking about it, want it more tomorrow, and might even ask friends to watch where we are."

"That way, when they finally manage to find us, they'll cherish it more, buy more decisively, maybe even purchase several at once."

Jiang Ran, who had been listening absentmindedly nearby, suddenly brightened, sat up straight, his gaze blazing at Su Ruan.

Although he didn't understand the technical terms, the logic in Su Ruan's words clicked for him instantly!

This is literally... a master of teasing!

His daughter‑in‑law's business mind is unbeatable!

Douzi and Yaya half‑understood, but out of absolute trust in Su Ruan, they obediently nodded, "We understand, Sister Su."

Su Ruan smiled, "So, starting tomorrow, you both take a few days off, stop selling."

"Huh? Rest?" Yaya exclaimed in surprise, "Why, Sister Su? Aren't we selling just fine now?"

Douzi also wore a puzzled expression.

Su Ruan patted their heads, her gaze deep, "Let them stay 'hungry' a few more days. When they're almost fed up searching for us, we'll reappear; the effect will be better."

Sure enough, over the next three or four days, Douzi and Yaya vanished as if evaporated from the world.

Those customers searching everywhere for the trinkets ran through all the places they had previously appeared, only to return disappointed each time.

Discussions and cravings for those exquisite pouches and handkerchiefs grew even more intense within the small circle of women.

And during these days, Jiang Ran also became elusive.

Not only did the Jiang Family often not see him, even Su Ruan felt as if he had disappeared.

He often left early in the morning and didn't return, exhausted, until the dead of night.

She felt a bit puzzled, reflecting whether she had been so focused on her business that she had 'starved' her little wolfdog too harshly.

So that night, Su Ruan deliberately didn't rest early; instead she changed into an outfit she had quietly altered over the past few days during free time, using a soft, water‑red silk fabric modeled after a later‑era sling nightgown.

The fabric was soft against the skin, its color making her snow‑white complexion stand out; the cut wasn't as daring as later styles, but in this era, especially worn only in the bedroom, it was already bold and alluring.

She loosely draped a coat over it, sat under the lamp, sketching new designs while waiting for Jiang Ran.

It wasn't until the moon was high at midnight that familiar footsteps echoed in the courtyard.

Jiang Ran pushed the door open, his face bearing the fatigue after a busy day, yet his eyes were bright.

He looked up and saw Su Ruan sitting at the table, the lamp outlining her slender figure.

"Wife, still not asleep?"

He seemed a bit surprised, closed the door and walked over.

Su Ruan put down her brush, stood up, and her coat slipped slightly with her movement, revealing the water‑red little garment underneath.

She had a faint shy flush on her face, her eyes flickering, and softly asked him, "Back? Look… does this outfit look good? This is a new design I've created…"