Thunder struck in Qin Jiu’s mind as if five bolts had hit him at once, and he murmured, “Why…”
Ye Qiuling was startled by his reaction, then confidently said, “Of course, I can make other things too.”
Qin Jiu’s mood was like a rollercoaster, swinging from despair to elation in an instant. One moment he was lost in gloom, the next he was grinning from ear to ear. “Really? Can you make desserts as delicious as Qingtuan?” His eyes sparkled as he looked at Ye Qiuling.
Ye Qiuling shied away from his intense gaze, feeling slightly guilty and unsure, “Of course,” though she wasn’t certain she would make it next time.
Overjoyed, Qin Jiu packed up the remaining marinated sausages and kept chattering about how delicious Qingtuan was, how much he loved eating it, and that he hoped to enjoy such tasty desserts again next time.
Desserts reminded Ye Qiuling of cakes, maybe she could sell cakes next time.
It wasn’t until Ye Qiuling and the others had finished packing that Qin Jiu reluctantly left the stall.
Nearby, Chen Xuanmo was watching Ye Qiuling from the loft, his gaze sharp as he fixed on Qin Jiu, thinking, my wife belongs to me.
Walking down the street, Qin Jiu felt as if a cold, venomous gaze like a snake was following him. He quickened his pace, returning to his carefully arranged room.
They had all worked hard today; it was time to make a big meal to reward themselves. Ye Qiuling smiled, “Father, Mother, Xiao Feng, let’s go buy some meat, it’s been a long time.”
Shen Wanru felt a little indebted to Ye Qiuling since she had organized everything herself and they hadn’t been able to help much. She patted her daughter’s head to ease her frustration and said with a smile, “Alright, anything you want to buy, Qiuling, we’ll get it.”
Ye Dazhi glanced at the thermal container before him and said, “You go ahead, it really stays warm here.”
Ye Qiuling remembered this and replied, “No need, Father, I’ll deliver the thermal container first.”
She moved to lift it, but Ye Dazhi stopped her, “It’s too heavy, Father will help you carry it.”
Ah, that wouldn’t do. He couldn’t tell them the friend was fictional and that he had exchanged for the thermal container through the system’s shop. No, better to go to the alley ahead and secretly store it in the system space.
Ye Qiuling agreed, “Alright, Father, set it down first. We’ll carry it together to that alley,” pointing toward a dark, narrow passage.
Obediently, Ye Dazhi set the container down. They each lifted one side, and seeing Xiao Feng struggle, he also reached out to help lift the container’s midsection.
Shen Wanru assisted her daughter as well. The family carried the heavy marinated ingredients without complaint, their faces glowing with smiles.
Passersby made way for them, and finally, they reached the alley.
Ye Qiuling said, “Wait outside, I’ll deliver it myself.”
The three obeyed, and Ye Qiuling swiftly slipped the thermal container into the system space and came out as if nothing had happened, saying, “Let’s go.”
Walking along, they reached a bustling alley, the chatter loud and cheerful. Stalls lined both sides, filled with a dazzling array of goods, including many strange and exotic items she hadn’t seen before.
Ye Qiuling’s eyes fell on a stall displaying a beautiful hairpin, perfect for her mother.
She crouched in front to examine it: a wooden hairpin carved and embroidered with peach blossoms, carrying a faint, pleasant fragrance.
Ye Qiuling asked, “Shopkeeper, how many copper coins for this hairpin?” Her hair was pinned back with a bright hairpin, her almond-shaped eyes and delicate nose accentuating her gentle beauty.
The shopkeeper replied, “12 copper coins.”
Her soft, warm voice captivated Ye Qiuling, but the price startled her—twelve coins was steep, and she inhaled sharply.
Shen Wanru bargained, “Miss, could it be a bit cheaper? My daughter really wants it.”
The shopkeeper firmly refused, “No, this is the lowest price. Other shops sell them for twenty or thirty copper coins.”
Ye Qiuling thought it over. If she couldn’t get it, she would exchange it through the system instead—it was just too expensive.
She put down the hairpin and, holding her mother’s and Xiao Feng’s hands, moved on. Passing a poultry shop, she asked about prices: a chicken cost about thirty copper coins, a duck twenty-five.
She decided on a duck, which could be cooked as marinated duck or steamed.
“Shopkeeper, one duck, please. Pack it, no need to cut it.”
The shopkeeper, seeing the young girl with a thin face but neat clothes, asked, “Twenty copper coins, are you sure?”
Ye Qiuling nodded, “Yes, I’ll buy it.” The shopkeeper, seeing her quick decision, didn’t hesitate and handed it over.
She pointed at a large basin filled with discarded duck intestines and gizzards, smiling, “Shopkeeper, can she have these?”
The shopkeeper explained, “These are unwanted innards, but I can pack them if you want.”
A kind woman nearby cautioned, “Little girl, these are dirty, not for eating.”
Ye Qiuling reassured her, “Thank you, ma’am, but there’s a great chef at home who can cook them.”
Thanking the shopkeeper, she lifted the package, only to feel a large hand, calloused from farm work, take it—Ye Dazhi had come to help. For the first time, Ye Qiuling felt how good it was to have a father, as no one had helped her carry things on past shopping trips.
Ye Feng found everything fascinating and shared with his sister, “Sister, everything is so pretty.”
Ye Qiuling smiled at her little brother, “Xiao Feng, what do you want? Sister will get it for you.”
Xiao Feng looked at Shen Wanru, who nodded before he spoke, “Sister, I want a candied hawthorn.”
Hawthorn was expensive, but she could make it through the system at a lower cost. Ye Qiuling replied, “Alright, tonight Sister will make it for you.”
Xiao Feng beamed, “Sister, you can make candied hawthorn? Amazing!” He looked at Ye Qiuling with the admiration of a devoted follower.
They walked further and came to a small shop at the end of the street, quiet and mostly empty. Ye Qiuling looked up at a three-story loft.
Buying here meant she could avoid the donkey cart, the back-and-forth travel, and nausea.
The loft was elaborately finished with redwood tiles, made entirely of the finest timber—it had to be expensive.
She entered and saw a man in his thirties, dressed in black, with a kind expression. “Little girl, what would you like to buy?”
Ye Qiuling noticed the shop sold books, arranged in three large frames, but the place was deserted. She asked directly, “I want to rent it. How many copper coins for a month?”
The man, Uncle Chen, hadn’t expected her directness. He thought she was buying books, not taking over the space. He liked her straightforwardness, unlike others who were shy or evasive.
As he hesitated to quote a price, Chen Xuanmo walked in, smiling warmly at his wife, “Do you want to buy this?” pointing at the loft.
Ye Qiuling, pleased by his timely arrival, replied, “Yes, but I want to rent. I can’t afford to buy it yet and don’t know the price,” smiling.
Her husband’s smile was so beautiful as he looked at her, “Oh, how much does the shopkeeper say?” He glanced at Uncle Chen with a slight wink.
Uncle Chen quickly said, “Two hundred copper coins.”
Chen Xuanmo frowned at the low price. Uncle Chen, noticing his displeasure, raised his voice, “Really? Why so cheap?”
Sweat broke out on Uncle Chen’s forehead; he dared not speak further and made an excuse to leave, “Miss, I suddenly need the restroom, I’ll come back later.”
Ye Qiuling asked her brother, “Chen Xuanmo, what do you think of this shop? I want to use it for cooking.”
Chen Xuanmo approved, “It’s good. Your idea works.”
Uncle Chen returned, respectfully saying, “Miss, the owner now says 500 copper coins.”
Ye Qiuling inwardly cursed the greedy owner for raising the price again, then asked, “Can it be cheaper? I really want it.”
Uncle Chen shook his head apologetically, “Sorry, Miss, the owner says no. The earlier price was a slip of the tongue.”
Gritting her teeth, Ye Qiuling asked, “Can I pay in installments? I don’t have that much now.”
Uncle Chen hesitated, glanced at Chen Xuanmo, who gave no signal. Realizing the owner would not budge, Uncle Chen replied apologetically, “No, that’s not possible.”
Chen Xuanmo said, “Miss, he can advance the payment for you.”
Ye Qiuling’s mouth said, “Ah, that won’t do,” but her eyes sparkled mischievously.
Grateful for her brother’s timely help, she took his hand and shook it, “Thank you, brother.”
Hearing the word “brother” made Chen Xuanmo almost lose his composure, though he smiled politely, grinding his teeth inwardly—brother? Still, he consoled himself, at least he was a step closer.
He handed a stack of silver notes to Uncle Chen to handle the transaction.
“Brother,” Ye Qiuling kept thanking him, and her parents joined in. Seeing this, Ye Feng remarked, “Thank you, brother-in-law.”
For a moment, the room fell silent.