With their new registration papers in hand, the pair left the magistrate’s office without a second glance at the village chief or Old Man Qiao.
They had a shopping list, and their top priority was transportation. The ox cart that had brought them to town was far too slow. Buying a horse would be too flashy, but a mule cart would be perfect—faster than an ox, with better stamina, and far less likely to draw unwanted attention.
Lin Qing had long since scouted the town. He led Qiao Xin to the livestock market. Although it was already noon, the market was still active. There were a few private sellers, and two livestock brokers nearby if they couldn’t find what they wanted.
Only two vendors were selling mules. One mule in particular caught their eye; it was sturdy and well-muscled, clearly well-fed by its owner. Lin Qing took Qiao Xin’s hand and walked over. “Uncle, how much for this mule?”
The middle-aged man saw two teenagers and looked momentarily disappointed, but he answered anyway. “I’ve raised this mule with great care. It’s never known hunger, and it’s just reached its prime. If you want it, eighteen taels of silver.”
“Eighteen is too expensive,” Lin Qing countered, eyeing the animal. “The one over there is sixteen. Give us a better price.”
“Are you serious?” The man looked at them, surprised he hadn’t just been asked a casual question.
Lin Qing nodded. “We’re here to buy. Give us a fair price, Uncle.”
The man patted the mule’s head. His family could no longer afford to feed it, so he had to let it go. “Seventeen taels, at the very least. I’ve cared for this mule for a year without a single complaint. Look at its teeth, look at its coat—you won’t lose money on this deal.”
Lin Qing glanced at Qiao Xin; she gave a subtle nod. He smiled. “Fine. Seventeen taels it is.”
After paying the silver, the man took one last lingering look at the mule before disappearing into the crowd.
Lin Qing and Qiao Xin went to a broker to purchase a high-quality carriage frame. It was spacious and would be comfortable once fitted with cushions, though it was a bit pricey at eight taels.
Once harnessed, the mule seemed restless and dug its heels in, refusing to move after just a few steps. Qiao Xin stepped over to “soothe” it. She palmed a small handful of fresh grass from her space—she’d noticed all the animals there loved it, and she wanted to see if the mule agreed.
The mule caught the sweet scent, let out a cheerful whinny, and dipped its head to devour the grass from her palm, even nuzzling her affectionately. Seeing it worked, Qiao Xin shielded them from view and slipped a handful into Lin Qing’s palm so he could bond with the animal, too.
Lin Qing understood instantly. He fed the grass to the mule, and from that moment on, the beast became docile as a lamb, obeying every command.
With the mule settled, their first stop was a general store. They bought an abundance of oilcloth, tarpaulins, umbrellas, baskets, backpacks, fire starters, and ceramic jars of all sizes—items they could openly display as their “supplies.” Once everything was loaded into the carriage, Lin Qing gave the mule a gentle tap, and it responded with a huff, pulling the cart forward smoothly.
Qiao Xin sat inside the carriage, tucking the items into her space. “A-Qing, where to next?”
“The clothing shop. I want to get you more clothes, shoes, and fabrics.”
“I’ve already stocked up on plenty of fabric—cotton, silk, all sorts,” Qiao Xin replied, mentally scanning her inventory. “Let’s see what patterns they have here. If they’re too different from what I have, we’ll just buy a little for backup.”
The mule cart turned a corner, and they found a row of clothing shops. Choosing the largest one, Lin Qing jumped down and helped Qiao Xin out. Inside, a clerk greeted them with a flat, bored tone: “Feel free to look around. Let me know if you need any recommendations.”
Qiao Xin’s current appearance was far too reminiscent of a street beggar. Lin Qing, on the other hand, while not dressed in silk, wore high-quality cotton; the young man had handsome features, an upright posture, and a calm, collected tone. The shop assistant, though not exactly enthusiastic, certainly didn’t dare to offend them.
“Do you have suitable clothing for her?” Lin Qing asked, gesturing toward Qiao Xin.
Just as the assistant was about to answer, a beautiful woman sitting behind the counter stood up to intervene. “Yes, yes, of course! That entire row has sizes suitable for a young lady. Why don’t you see if there’s anything you like?” As she spoke, she stepped out from behind the counter, smiling warmly as she began to show them around.
Qiao Xin wandered over to take a look. The clothing style here was somewhat similar to the Song Dynasty, yet distinct. The tops were mostly front-buttoned or side-fastened with toggles, paired with skirts, though there were also long shirts and trousers for women—the shirts being slightly longer to cover the hips.
Qiao Xin selected two outfits in different patterns of lotus-root pink, one in water blue, one in pale yellow, and one in bright red—a mix of skirts and long-sleeved tunic sets. She asked for three sets of each size. She also picked out twenty pairs of layered-sole cloth shoes, ten pairs of embroidered shoes, and ten pairs of high-top cotton-padded boots. She didn’t neglect Lin Qing, either, ordering ten sets of clothing in every variation, twenty pairs of regular shoes, and ten pairs of cotton boots.
They also selected ten sets of cotton-padded jackets, long robes, and trousers in various sizes, along with two cloaks each, and ten sets of heavy cotton work clothes for both men and women.
For fabric, she chose ten bolts each of high-quality floral cotton, azure cotton suitable for men’s wear, and thick, sturdy navy blue cotton. She skipped the needles and thread; she already had plenty stashed in her spatial dimension. She finished by adding ten thick quilts—each weighing six to ten pounds—to their haul.
Seeing the sheer volume of their purchase, and noting the high quality of the items, the proprietress beamed from ear to ear. She voluntarily offered a ten percent discount, bringing the total to thirty-two taels and five hundred copper coins.
Qiao Xin changed into a lotus-root pink outfit right there in the shop and restyled her hair. When she stepped out, her entire demeanor had transformed; she looked both adorable and spirited. Her face now bore an eight-or-nine-part resemblance to her original self. If she kept nourishing herself, she would undoubtedly grow into a great beauty. It was hard to miss the way Lin Qing’s gaze fixed intently on her, completely stunned.
One wondered if the Qiao family would regret their actions once she returned. In the past, “Qiao Sanya” had worked day in and day out, never truly clean, and no one had ever paid much attention to her looks. Now, with a clean face and proper clothes, she was a different person entirely, despite her still-slender frame. The beautiful proprietress looked on and praised her repeatedly, “What a little beauty! I shudder to think how many fine young men will be pining after her once she grows up a bit more.”
Lin Qing’s expression soured instantly. He cut the woman off, saying, “Proprietress, the money has been paid. My wife and I must be taking our leave.”
Qiao Xin watched his petty reaction and chuckled as she bid the proprietress goodbye—the woman’s smile nearly freezing on her face. The two left the shop, where the assistant had already loaded their belongings onto the mule cart.
Next, they headed to the apothecary. Lin Qing had the doctor check Qiao Xin’s pulse to ensure there were no underlying health issues. The elderly physician examined her for a long time before saying, “The young lady’s body seems to have suffered damage in the past, but it has already been well-regulated. From now on, she simply needs to focus on a nutritious diet, and there will be no major concerns. There is no need for medicine for the time being.”
Only then did Lin Qing’s anxiety fully subside. Qiao Xin gave him a mischievous look—she had told him she was fine, but he was just too worried to listen and had insisted on this check-up.
Regardless, Lin Qing asked the doctor to prescribe some medicine for colds and injuries, citing their upcoming long journey as a precaution. They also purchased plenty of insect and rodent repellents before finally exiting the shop. They didn’t stop there, though; they visited two other apothecaries in town, buying out their entire stock of mosquito and insect repellents.
To finish the day, Lin Qing drove the cart as they toured the town, buying anything that caught Qiao Xin’s eye. They even went to the town’s largest restaurant and ordered a table full of signature dishes. The flavor was lackluster—the local spices were incomplete, and the cooking couldn’t compare to her past life. However, Qiao Xin loved the two complimentary pastries they served: red bean cake and pea flour cake.
The two then proceeded to visit every pastry shop in the county town. They bought up the entire stock of mung bean cakes, water chestnut cakes, nine-layer pastries, crystal cakes, osmanthus sugar cakes, lv da gun (donkey rolls), and, of course, Qiao Xin’s favorite red bean and pea flour cakes.
Holding her massive haul of pastries, Qiao Xin smiled with pure, silly delight.