“Oh my, how can I accept this?” The woman deftly counted out seven wen and handed them over. “My husband’s surname is Guan. Just call me Sister-in-law Guan. We’ve rented this stall for three years and are always here.”
Sister-in-law Guan had a round, slightly chubby face and was enthusiastic and straightforward. She and her husband were both honest and warm-hearted people. In her previous life, when Ye Yao struggled to make a living while supporting her husband’s studies, Sister-in-law Guan had frequently helped and pitied her. Yet, it was precisely such a kind soul who, for speaking a few words of justice on Ye Yao’s behalf, was shoved to the ground; she had bled, lost her unborn child, and nearly lost her mind.
Ye Yao’s heart was filled with a mix of complex emotions. In her previous life, she had set up a stall in Nanyu Alley for two years and received much kindness. But back then, she could barely protect herself, let alone those who had treated her with sincerity. Even though she eventually took revenge for them, she could never turn back time. In this life, she would never be that weak again.
“Sister-in-law Guan.” Ye Yao accepted the copper coins and specifically picked out a thick, hearty piece of zeng gao for her. Because their stalls were adjacent, the two moved closer to chat. Sister-in-law Guan asked if Ye Yao was married. Ye Yao pointed: “I am. My husband is selling wild game over there; he is a hunter.”
Sister-in-law Guan followed her gaze and gasped softly: “Oh my! Your husband is so tall! And quite handsome too… though his face is a bit dark.” She felt he looked rather stern and intimidating, so she swallowed the second half of her sentence.
Hearing this, Ye Yao couldn’t help but chuckle. She recalled the only time Xie Moyan had appeared in her previous life; he had complained about the bustle of the market and the loss of a scholar’s dignity, never setting foot there again. Sister-in-law Guan had pitied her then, whispering secretly: “You must plan for your own future; that husband of yours doesn’t look like he has a long life ahead.” Thinking back now, what did a dark complexion matter? It was far better than dying young!
Ye Yao laughed inwardly, finding a sense of absurd humor in it. Especially when she saw the second Xie son’s tall figure clumsily beckoning customers, she found it hard to keep a straight face. Seeing her smile, Sister-in-law Guan laughed along and envied: “A hunter is good! You won’t lack for meat. Look at that goat; it will surely fetch a good price. You are a fortunate one.”
While they were chatting, the zeng gao sold out. Ye Yao ended the conversation and walked to Xie Hanshuo’s stall. “Hungry? I’ll go buy two bowls of noodles.” They hadn’t eaten since they left early in the morning and must be starving. But with the game not yet sold, Xie Hanshuo couldn’t leave. He handed all the copper coins from the rabbit sales to Ye Yao, not keeping a single one. Three rabbits and two chickens—exactly two hundred wen.
“Hmm, you watch the stall, I’ll go buy the noodles.” He let Ye Yao guard the stall while he went to buy the food. Ye Yao stuffed another twenty wen into his hand, instructing him to buy two more scallion pancakes. A bowl of noodles was eight wen, and a pancake was two; the twenty wen would be spent entirely, but Xie Hanshuo’s lips curled up slightly, clearly in a good mood. This kind of plain, dependent life, with its bitter and sweet moments, was exactly what he desired.
With the hot soup noodles and savory, oily pancakes in their stomachs, the two were very satisfied. Ye Yao had also earned over two hundred wen from the zeng gao, and most of the game on the cart was sold, leaving only the goat and three pheasants. Rabbits were in high demand and sold out, but the pheasants remained.
“The whole goat is hard to sell; why don’t you go to the nearby Yuefu Restaurant and ask if they will take it?” Ye Yao suggested. Large restaurants often bought wild game and offered fair prices. Although there were many restaurants nearby, she only trusted Yuefu Restaurant. In her previous life, she had dealt with them and knew that the manager and the staff were decent people who wouldn’t look down on one’s origins or intentionally drive down prices. Xie Hanshuo agreed, gave a low grunt, and set off.
As the sun sank, the street where Yuefu Restaurant was located had passed its busiest noon hour. They packed up their stall; even if the restaurant didn’t buy it, Xie Hanshuo was determined to get rid of the goat today. Ye Yao whispered to him: “Why don’t you go sell the goat first? I want to buy some things and visit my uncle’s family in Xinghua Village. After the visit, I’ll head back early.”
Xie Hanshuo had planned to have her take the village ox cart back anyway, and since he still needed to go to the North Market, it was indeed inconvenient for her to accompany him. Seeing she had a plan, he nodded: “Hmm, I’ll pick you up then.” After a brief pause, he added: “Buy whatever you want. Don’t skimp on food or necessities. I can earn money to support the family; you needn’t worry.”
Once the goat was sold, he would have another sum of silver. Xie Hanshuo was now exceptionally eager about earning money. It was vastly different from before; in the past, he had no attachments, and whatever his mother demanded, he gave. Now that he had a home and a wife, he could no longer live a muddled life. He needed to earn money, and he felt a surge of drive. What was so great about marrying a scholar? He would show everyone that even by following a “mud-legged farmer” like him, Ye Yao could be well-fed and warmly clothed, living a prosperous life!
Ye Yao held the money, feeling secure, yet she understood that this confidence came mostly from Xie Hanshuo. This cold-faced, warm-hearted man was sincere and simple, far superior to Xie Moyan of her previous life. Thinking of this, her heart warmed, and her voice became sweet and soft: “I know. With you here, you would never let me suffer.” She looked up at him, her almond eyes clear as water, rippling with shallow tenderness. Smiling, her eyes curved like crescent moons, shining brightly, giving one the impulse to pluck the stars and moon to gift to her.
Xie Hanshuo turned his head away, avoiding her scorching gaze, his posture slightly flustered. He gave a low cough, his tone softening involuntarily: “It’s getting late today; I’ll go ahead.”
“Hmm.” Ye Yao waved goodbye with a smile. After the brief moment of tenderness, she didn’t delay and turned into a nearby shop. Before long, she came out carrying several packages: coarse cloth common for country folk, a box of pastries, two catties of pork with a balance of fat and lean meat, and a block of sugar. Fat meat could be rendered into lard; her uncle’s family was impoverished and rarely saw oil, so these practical items were the most useful.
There was an ox cart back to the village at the city gate for three wen per person. Ye Yao carried her things onto the cart, her heart filled with the joy of seeing her relatives, not noticing a sharp-faced, shifty-eyed woman on the cart eyeing the items in her hand with ill intent…
Xie Hanshuo pushed his cart to Yuefu Restaurant and loudly asked if they bought wild game. Soon, a middle-aged man in a long robe, appearing to be a manager, came out. After sizing him up, he said: “Follow me to the back door to discuss.” It was inconvenient to haggle in the front hall. Xie Hanshuo understood and pushed the cart to the back alley. The manager asked: “You hunted this goat? What price do you want?”
“Yes, I am a hunter from the countryside.” Xie Hanshuo pondered for a moment and stated his price: “Ten taels.”