So, he truly believed that Youyou’s braised duck had potential.
Li Shi, who never had big ideas herself, nodded along when her husband said it was feasible. Her heart swelled with pride—her Youyou was really exceptional, far stronger and more capable than herself. And now, just after regaining her mind, she was already thinking of ways to make money.
Even though they didn’t know if it would work, the very determination was rare and admirable.
After a moment, Shen Shan added:
“Since you’ve just recovered your senses, you probably don’t even know where the town is yet. Tomorrow, let your mother accompany you—at least you’ll have some company and it’ll be safer.”
Li Shi looked at her daughter and husband, nodding enthusiastically.
Shen Youyou was about to respond, but a voice interrupted her:
“Uncle Shen, Auntie, how about I accompany Youyou to town? I’ve sold game there before, so I’m somewhat familiar with it. I can make sure she’s safe.”
Of course, Shen Fu and Li Shi didn’t hesitate to agree. Having Mo Yan, a man skilled in martial arts, accompany her was far safer than letting Li Shi, a woman, go alone.
“That would be wonderful. It’s just a bit of trouble for Brother Mo. Don’t worry about the kids—Li Shi and I will look after them. You can go without worry,” Shen Fu said.
Shen Nan, overhearing this, immediately chimed in:
“Exactly! Brother Mo, don’t worry. I’ll take care of Tuanzi and Yuanzi while they play. In return, you take care of my sister, okay?”
Mo Yan found the serious little boy adorable and readily agreed.
He also thought that since they’d probably be helping the Shen family often in the future, this was a good opportunity to make a positive impression. Having Shen Nan take care of the two children was far easier than him trying to manage them alone.
Besides, the Shen parents were far more experienced with children than he was.
“Uncle Shen and Auntie, it’s nothing, really,” he said politely.
Watching the three of them settle the plan, Shen Youyou was happy too. She liked going out with Mo Yan—it made her feel incredibly safe. She knew she could manage on her own, but having him along would surely put her parents at ease.
That evening, they shared a simple yet hearty dinner, with both meat and vegetables. The children kept praising Youyou’s cooking even after returning home.
Little Yuanzi even exaggerated:
“Uncle, you must take good care of Sister Youyou! Otherwise, we’ll never have such delicious meals again! Look how good her cooking is—even the green wild vegetables taste amazing. The food you made before was always bitter!”
“Yes, yes! Today’s duck was so good and fragrant!”
Tuanzi nodded enthusiastically in agreement with his sister.
After tasting Youyou’s dishes, he realized just how tough life had been before. Even if meat was served every day, it had been flavorless and fishy. Eating Uncle Mo’s food now felt almost unbearable compared to Youyou’s cooking.
Mo Yan couldn’t help but laugh at the children’s exaggerated praise. While he agreed with them, hearing it put him slightly on the spot.
Clearing his throat, he quickly changed the subject:
“All right, I still have some copper coins. Want some candy? I can buy you some tomorrow.”
“Yay! Uncle is the best! We want candy!”
The two children shouted in unison. They hadn’t had candy in a long time, and the thought of it made their mouths water.
Mo Yan felt both amused and a little heartbroken. These children had once been so privileged, yet now they had to endure hardships in this remote village. He couldn’t help but resent their enemies—but he had to stay patient. For now, the children’s safety was the top priority.
Although the village was desolate, it was far safer than the capital.
As he pondered these thoughts, the children slowly fell asleep.
Looking at their innocent faces, Mo Yan vowed to protect them—so that the sacrifices their mother had made to save them wouldn’t be in vain.
The next day, after breakfast, Mo Yan and Shen Youyou set off for the town.
Qingyun Town wasn’t too far from Shen Village, but it took them the equivalent of two incense sticks’ worth of walking to arrive.
Once there, Shen Youyou plopped down by the roadside, exhausted.
She hadn’t walked this far in a long time, and her body wasn’t used to it.
Seeing this, Mo Yan patiently stood by her side. For him, the walk was nothing, but for a young girl who had never traveled far, it was a challenge.
After resting, Shen Youyou felt much better. She realized that this body wasn’t her old one from the end-of-the-world era—otherwise, she wouldn’t be this weak. While she retained the strength traits of her previous self, this body wasn’t fully adapted, which explained why even a short walk had worn her out.
Once recovered, they continued into the town.
As they walked, Mo Yan asked:
“Youyou, where do you plan to sell? I know many village ladies sell vegetables at the morning market. Should we try there?”
Shen Youyou looked around. Qingyun Town was busier than she had expected.
It was already around noon, yet many people were still wandering the streets. Seeing so many lively, bustling townsfolk excited her—she didn’t even notice Mo Yan’s question.
When he repeated it, she finally responded:
“Do you know if there are any inns here?”
Mo Yan raised an eyebrow:
“Inns? Are you hungry?”
Shen Youyou continued:
“Yes, inns. I don’t want to sell the braised duck by the piece—that would be too troublesome. I want to partner with an inn. That way, I just focus on cooking, and it might even sell more.”
Mo Yan thought about it and nodded. She made sense—partnering with an inn would indeed be far easier than trying to sell everything herself.