My five ghostly husbands-Chapter 315 Trade

"Thank you so much, Ruby," Leader Kerry said softly, her voice shaking with emotion.

She stood in the middle of the village square, surrounded by the people who had once been tired, hopeless, and afraid but now stood tall with pride and smiles.

Leader Kerry’s eyes shimmered. "You didn’t just help us, Ruby. You protected our home, our pride... our dignity."

Ruby looked at her quietly, surprised by the weight in her words.

Kerry stepped forward and held Ruby’s hand, gently but firmly.

"If you ever need anything—we mean anything—this village will stand behind you. You’ll never have to face anything alone again."

The villagers around them all nodded, their faces full of emotion. Some were already wiping their eyes. Others smiled and murmured in agreement.

"Y-Yes... If you want anything, we’ll help!"

"Ruby, if you ever call—we’ll come!"

"You helped us like family. You are family now!"

Voices overlapped, kind and sincere, rising into the quiet evening.

Ruby stood in the center, suddenly surrounded by so many hands reaching out, so many eyes full of respect. She didn’t expect all of this. She never helped them for praise. But hearing their words... feeling their warmth... something deep in her chest softened.

She smiled slowly, touched by their loyalty.

Julian stood beside her, watching quietly. He didn’t speak, but his hand rested on her back gently, like a quiet reminder—You’re not alone.

"IT’S YOU!" Old Uma shouted at Ruby, her long finger jabbing the air as if she was casting a curse.

She was being lightly restrained by a cute ghost, who also glared at Ruby like she’d stolen his lunch.

Ruby and Julian both froze.

Their hearts thudded hard, like drums banging inside their chest.

Julian leaned toward Ruby and whispered in panic, "Isn’t she the same witch who yelled at us before... when we came here the first time?"

Ruby nodded stiffly. "The exact same. She made us run like thieves."

Leader Kerry stepped forward, clearly confused. "Old Uma, what are you talking about?"

"I’m saying the truth!" Uma snapped, loud enough for the whole market to turn and stare. "She’s not some kind angel! She’s the foreigner who came here weeks ago, wanting to trade and cheat us! Wearing fancy clothes, speaking sweet words! I remember her face clearly!"

The cute ghost huffed. "She’s the one you spoke about? Huh, she does look suspicious."

Ruby blinked. "Suspicious? I literally just helped you catch thieves—"

But Uma wasn’t listening. She was on full dramatic mode.

"And now she returns quietly, acting like a guest! Hah! I will personally make sure she never comes back again! Do you hear me?! Never again!"

She pointed at Julian too. "And him! Look at his quiet face. Too quiet! That’s the face of someone hiding intentions!"

Julian frowned, completely lost.

Ruby looked like she was being scolded by a nosy grandma in front of a grocery shop.

Old Uma kept going, waving her cane around. "Our real savior would never show off like this! They’re kind, humble, selfless—probably long gone by now!"

She turned around and shouted toward the crowd, "WHERE IS SHE?! Our hero?! The one who saved this village?! Bring her forward, I want to thank her myself!"

The entire crowd went awkwardly quiet.

Someone coughed.

A few villagers looked at each other... and then pointed slowly toward Ruby.

One of villager stepped closer, clearly trying not to laugh. "Uma... this is her."

Old Uma blinked. "Huh?"

"That’s Ruby. She’s the one who saved us. She tricked the thieves. She helped us write to the government."

Old Uma turned slowly toward Ruby, her angry face freezing in place.

"...What."

Ruby smiled slightly, crossing her arms. "Still think I came to cheat you?"

Old Uma’s mouth opened. Then closed. Then opened again.

She looked at the Cute ghost beside her and whispered, "I think I scolded the wrong person..."

He nodded slowly. "Yes. Yes, you did."

Julian tried not to laugh, but Ruby elbowed him lightly.

Just when the laughter had begun to soften the air again...

Leader Kerry’s smile faded.

Her voice, once warm and full of gratitude, dropped into something colder. Sharper.

"Is it true..." she asked slowly, turning toward Ruby, "...that you also came here for trade?"

The words cut the air like a knife. The crowd fell silent again.

Ruby’s heart skipped a beat.

She stood still, eyes wide, caught off guard. That was the one question she’d been hoping wouldn’t be asked—not yet.

Julian turned toward her quickly, brows furrowing. "Wife—"

Ruby raised her hand just slightly to stop him. Her eyes were still locked on Kerry’s.

She didn’t speak right away. Because deep down... yes, it was true. She had first come to this village for business. She had dreams. Plans. And she didn’t think they would give her a chance unless she earned their trust first.

She took a slow breath.

"...Yes," Ruby finally said, her voice quiet but clear. "I did."

A ripple went through the crowd.

"You also want to trade with us like that Lex Witch?" one of the villagers asked, voice cautious but not harsh.

Ruby didn’t flinch. She nodded gently.

"Yes," she said calmly, "I do want to trade... but I don’t want to cheat you."

She looked around at the faces watching her. Some were still suspicious, but others were simply curious now. She slowly opened the flap of her bag, hands slightly trembling—not from fear, but from nervous hope.

"I have a proposal," she said softly. "I want to show you what I do. Will you give me a chance to explain it?"

There was a pause.

Leader Kerry looked at her for a long moment. Then she gave a single firm nod. "Speak, child. You earned that much."

Ruby bowed her head slightly, thankful, and then she stepped forward, pulling out a set of carefully folded files.

She placed them gently in Leader Kerry’s hands in front of the villagers.

"I make robes," she said clearly. "Simple, elegant ones. Like the kind Julian and I are wearing right now."

Some people leaned closer to look. A few softly gasped when they noticed the stitching, the comfort stretch, and the way the fabric seemed light but strong.

"This isn’t just cloth," Ruby continued, her voice warming now with passion. "This is something that can be expanded. Right now, I’m selling in small areas of the city. But very soon, my brand will expand to state level."

A few villagers murmured in surprise.

"State-level?" someone whispered.

"But that’s not all," Ruby said, her voice growing firmer. "I want to invent a rainproof robe and shoes using your Dreadmire flowers—so people don’t suffer during rain."

Many villagers nodded.

Because everyone in this world knew—when the rain came, it wasn’t soft or normal. When the rain touched the ground, it made a sizzling sound like something was burning. That’s why many people wore protective suits to go outside. But...

"Most of those rain suits are made from chemical-based fabric," Ruby said, "and even though they protect people from the rain, they are harmful to the skin. They cause redness, peeling, and sometimes pain after wearing for long time."

Ruby took a deep breath again and looked at everyone and explained her robe idea clearly.

"I heard from someone... that Dreadmire flowers, when dried carefully and turned into thread, can help block rain. Not completely... but enough to make fabric safer. That’s why I want to try making robes from it."

Everyone listened closely.

"But," Ruby added softly, "I don’t just want to stop there."

She looked around the room, gathering courage. "I want to try using... something extra. Something to make it more powerful—maybe even make a small shield against monsoon rain."

The villagers looked at each other, confused. freewebnoveℓ.com

"Something extra?" one of them asked.

And that’s when the old ghost, who had been listening quietly, spoke up for the first time.

"There’s a vine," he said. "Grows near the misty hills. We call it Mistvine."

Ruby turned to him.

"I didn’t know about that," she said honestly.

He nodded. "Not many do. But long ago, during heavy rains, my grandmother used to boil it and coat our sleeves with the water. It made the cloth stiff but safe... rain would bounce off."

Everyone was surprised.

Ruby’s eyes lit up.

"Do you still have it?"

The old man scratched his chin. "Haven’t used it in years... but I know where it grows. You mix it with flower thread... it might work better."

Ruby smiled and immediately noted it down.

"Then let’s try that," she said with sudden excitement. "We’ll mix Dreadmire flowers with Mistvine... and maybe we can make the first ever soft rain robe with natural protection."

The villagers started nodding, slowly getting excited.

"So you want us to become supplier of fabrics to your company?" Leader Kerry asked, her voice calm but serious.

Ruby nodded gently. "Yes... if you agree, I want to work with you long-term."

"Not only that..." Kerry continued, raising an eyebrow, "you also said... you’ll provide us travel service?"

Ruby smiled softly. "Yes. I know your village is far from city. And sometimes people don’t get chance to sell their products outside. So I want to arrange a proper travel connection to carry goods."

—To be continued...🪄

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