Chapter 2 — Broken Pearls Are Hard to Heal

I didn't understand the sarcasm in his words, I just thought he was intentionally trying to cause trouble, so I turned around to get more fabric samples. I had just stood on tiptoe when a sentence suddenly rang out from behind.
“Miss Shen, where is your husband?”
My movements paused slightly and I replied in a low voice.
“He's not here.”
Quy Hanh smiled slightly, his meaning unpredictable.
“No wonder women always take the responsibility.”
He gently tapped his fingers on the table top.
"It seems that this husband of yours is truly blessed. There is no need to do anything, there is someone to take care of everything for him. If there is a woman in the world who is willing to take care of this official like that, this official will also be able to relax."
I couldn't stand the endless insults in his words, so I turned around and looked at him seriously.
"Sir, it's not what you think. He has never let his people suffer resentment."
"Not?"
Quy Hanh looked at me coldly.
“So what is it?”
"Miss Shen, I've always been curious. The scholar you quickly wanted to marry, has he passed the exam yet?"
I paused and nodded slightly.
“Passed, but did not become an official.”
He smiled softly.
“It seems that his reading is just that.”
Finally I couldn't bear it anymore.
“No, he's very nice.”
The words just ended. The store suddenly fell silent. The ironic smile at the corner of Quy Hanh's lips became even darker, his eyes also became cold.
"Very good?"
"Tong Van Am, say it again. Is he better than me?"
I was stunned, I didn't expect him to lose his temper like that. I have never compared the two of them. For me, Tham Thuc Ngoc is the benefactor who pulled me out of the abyss of despair. And Quy Hanh is the past that we don't even dare to reach in our dreams. I was scared by the ferocity in his eyes and took half a step back, shaking my head repeatedly.
“The woman didn't mean that.”
Quy Hanh laughed again, only that smile was colder than before.
"That's right. If he wasn't good, Lady Tham wouldn't have left so decisively that year."
The cloth in my hand could no longer be held and fell hard to the ground. I hurriedly sat down to pick it up. Tears blurred my vision. Picked it up twice, but the cloth still slipped from my trembling fingers.
“It's not like that.”
This is the second time today I argued with him. It was also the first time my eyes turned red in front of him. Seeing my tears, Quy Hanh's whole body suddenly stopped. He didn't say anything more, seemingly waiting for me to give him another answer. But things have come to this, what is the meaning of explaining the past? In the end, I just choked up and said.
"Sorry."
“Tong Van Am!”
It seems that that meaningless apology angered Quy Hanh.
"You're still the same. You don't know how to explain when you're angry, you don't know how to talk back when you're bullied! Do you know that resigned look of yours? This official only sees..."
“It's the boss who came to the store.”
I tightened my grip on the hem of my shirt, and finally couldn't help but interrupt him. Quy Hanh was stunned, an awkward look flashed in his eyes, then stiffly turned his face away.
"This officer is just on patrol, stop by on the way."
At that moment, the sound of rapid footsteps suddenly sounded outside.
“Big sister!”
Tham Truong An walked in, and as soon as he saw Quy Hanh, he quickly bowed his head and bowed.
“The villagers of Tham Truong An pay their respects to the district governor core."
Quy Hanh glanced at him.
“Who are you?”
“Thao Dan is Tham Thuc Ngoc's cousin. Currently helping the eldest sister take care of the store."
Tham Truong An answered honestly, then turned to look at me.
“Eldest Sister, the carriage is ready, we can go.”
It's time to go outside the city to visit the grave. My heart suddenly tightened, I instinctively raised my head to look at Quy Hanh. As soon as he heard the words "departure", his face immediately darkened. He conveniently picked up the fabric that he had just criticized as not worth a penny on the counter, and laughed coldly.
“It's really fun. It seems like you two really have deep feelings for each other."
I always felt that his words had hidden meanings, so I could only nod along.
“My mother-in-law treats me like her own child. The people in the Tham family are also very good.”
The words haven't ended yet. Quy Hanh forcefully slammed the rattan brocade on the counter, making a dull sound. There was an incomprehensible self-mockery in his eyes.
“Good. Very good."
"It seems that these past few years, Princess Tham has truly lived the magical life she always dreamed of."
Instinctively I intend to explain. But Quy Hanh coldly pulled out a silver bar from his sleeve and threw it on the counter.
“Wrap this sheet up.”
I'm a bit stunned. That was the same cloth he had criticized for its rustic color earlier. When tying the rope, for fear that the rope will damage the rattan brocade, we also carefully add a layer of soft paper.
“I hope your wife will also like it when she receives it.”
A flash of extremely complicated pain flashed in Quy Hanh's eyes. But very quickly, he regained his indifference.
“I hope so.”
Quy Hanh turned around to leave. Tham Truong An scratched his head and muttered in a low voice.
“Sister-in-law, does this noble gentleman not like sister-in-law? Big sister, let's go quickly, otherwise we won't have time to go out of the city to visit big brother."
Quy Hanh just walked to the door and suddenly stopped walking. He slowly turned around, his sharp eyes like an eagle shooting straight at Tham Truong An.
“Where to?”
Tham Truong An was startled and trembled. I quickly spoke up.
“Sir, just going out of town to take care of some personal matters.”
Quy Hanh stood under the shade of the eaves, bowed his head and leisurely adjusted his sleeves, his tone was indifferent but carried an order that did not allow refusal.
“Today, this official has just announced that he will have to patrol the west side of the city.”
“By the way, let's go too.”
… The atmosphere in the carriage was so heavy that it made people suffocate. I also did not expect that as soon as Tham Truong An drove the car to the front of the fabric store, Quy Hanh leisurely followed behind and calmly said:
"This official went to inspect the people. It was just too convenient, so I had to bother."