The copper coin was still spinning, Yuan Niang’s heart tightened, her eyes never leaving the coin as it spun slower and slower.
“Clink…” The copper coin collided with the blue brick, emitting a crisp sound, finally settling the matter.
The coin happened to land face up.
Yuan Niang widened her eyes in delight, wanting to jump up and laugh, but remembering how Xu Chenger and the stall owner had both kept their voices low and acted stealthily, she quickly covered her mouth. Yet the smile on her face overflowed, impossible to hide.
She also lowered her voice, but her eyebrows danced with excitement, “I won!”
Xu Chenger proudly straightened her chest alongside her, tilting her chin toward the stall owner, “We won!”
The stall owner frowned, puzzled inwardly—he had clearly tampered with it, how did this young lady win?
But in public, Guan Pu was a game that couldn’t be openly displayed, so he couldn’t back out.
The stall owner had to swallow his misfortune, though his business had cultivated a natural smiling face. Even though he sold the item at a loss, he still spoke kindly and praised, “Young lady, you have good fortune. From now on, you will surely walk with lotus steps and everything will go smoothly.”
Such auspicious words almost made Yuan Niang blush.
Who wouldn’t be happy when praised?
Just then, the stall owner’s daughter returned carrying a basket, filled to the brim with flowers.
In Bianjing, both men and women loved wearing flowers, so there were many flower sellers. From elderly people in their sixties to young maidens in their teens, carrying bamboo baskets to sell flowers in streets and alleys, it supported many livelihoods.
Bianjing’s prices were high, renting houses was expensive too, but commerce was prosperous. If one was willing to work, opportunities were everywhere.
The stall owner’s daughter looked dejected, holding the full flower basket, shaking her head sadly at him.
Clearly, she hadn’t made much business today, hence her low spirits.
After paying, Yuan Niang held the Daphne in her hands, weighing the copper coins in her money pouch—there were still thirty-eight left inside. A little splurging shouldn’t be a problem!
She pointed to a small five-petal flower in the basket that looked like pale red ink stains on a plain white base, “What is that flower? How many coins per blossom?”
Not expecting Yuan Niang to buy, the stall owner’s daughter was very happy, the sapphire blue ribbons tied behind her ears on both sides fluttering, “Plain Disk Flower, two coins per blossom, truly inexpensive!”
Her eyes sparkled brightly, she was a young lady about the same age as Yuan Niang and Xu Chenger, with a plain but pleasant face, clear speech, coupled with youthful freshness, every smile and frown was quite charming. When she smiled, revealing white teeth and two sweet dimples, it naturally evoked goodwill.
Perhaps fearing that a rare customer might run off, she quickly added, “You’re my first customer today, how about I charge you two coins for two blossoms? You and your elder sister can wear them together, so beautiful!”
The stall owner’s daughter was truly persuasive, also mentioning Xu Chenger, so Yuan Niang hesitated no longer, promptly handing over two coins.
Finally making a sale, the stall owner’s daughter became even more radiant, carefully selecting with scissors wrapped in red thread, saying as she did, “I’ll pick two fresher ones for you.”
“Thank you.” Perhaps because the other was of the same age, Yuan Niang felt unusually shy, her voice softening a bit.
Yuan Niang and Xu Chenger each held a flower, pinning them to each other’s ears. The Su Pan flower was small, less than an inch long, and wearing such a delicate blossom by the ear indeed made one appear more charming—an indescribable springtime radiance, with lovely features.
If nothing else, at least the person wearing the flower felt different inside, as if every movement became more refined.
“Yuan Niang looks so beautiful!”
“Elder Sister Xu does too!”
The two young ladies giggled and teased each other with compliments.
After strolling a bit longer, Yuan Niang stopped at a tangerine stall, unable to tear her eyes away. The small cart was piled high like a tower with tangerines in shades of gold and emerald green, looking quite beautiful.
But what caught Yuan Niang’s attention was the wooden sign standing above.
“Six wen per jin.”
Six wen per jin?
This was tangerines!!
Perhaps because the rural area where Yuan Niang had lived previously had inconvenient water transport, such fruits were exorbitantly expensive, while locally grown fruits were dirt cheap, and farmers couldn’t fetch a good price. Tangerines were among the fruits that had to be arduously transported overland, selling for an extremely high price in their county—twenty or thirty wen for a single one.
Twenty or thirty wen!
For a tangerine not even as big as a fist, what poor family could afford it?
Back then, life wasn’t prosperous, and Yuan Niang naturally couldn’t save up that much money. She had also heard Tao Niang describe them after attending a banquet at her uncle’s house, and she craved them so much she even called out for them in her dreams.
Later, Grandma took her to the county market and happened to buy a tangerine. She still remembered there were nine segments in total. To reward her for willingly accompanying them to sell vegetables at the market, Grandma gave her three segments, while the remaining six were divided equally among Grandma, Mother, and Xi Lang.
However, she had been quarreling with Xi Lang at the time, and to make peace, he offered her one of his segments, thus achieving reconciliation between sister and brother.
To this day, when Yuan Niang recalls it, the sweet, sugary taste of tangerines seems to linger in her mouth, especially when biting into them—the juicy flesh, the delicate citrus fragrance.
Oh, she was craving it.
And now, tangerines were only six wen per jin, such a low price. If this couldn’t make her unable to walk away, then she would be ungrateful.
“I want one jin of tangerines!” Yuan Niang declared, chest out and head held high, her voice resounding and her tone firm.
Those who knew thought she was buying tangerines; those who didn’t might have mistaken her for a general swearing loyalty before battle.
Xu Chenger looked at the tangerines, where the greenish hue dominated the peel, and hesitated to speak.
Perhaps Yuan Niang preferred sour tangerines?
Her uncle’s daughter loved sour things—green plums, wild berries, all her favorites. Xu Chenger preferred sweetness and would even stand aside to avoid the sour smell.
But for Yuan Niang…
“Here!” Before Xu Chenger could finish her thought, a bright green tangerine appeared before her eyes, accompanied by Yuan Niang’s radiant, sweet smile. “Elder Sister Xu, try it. Tangerines are delicious; I love them the most.”
Ignoring the thought of her teeth aching from sourness, Xu Chenger promptly took the tangerine and declared with equal conviction, “Alright!!”
Her voice was so firm and loud it almost sounded like she was marching to her death.
Xu Chenger felt her heart surging with emotion, stirred beyond measure. If Yuan Niang liked it, she would like it too.
This!
Was sisterly affection!!
No matter how sour the tangerine, she would eat it all herself.
And so, the two returned fully laden, taking the small path back to San Ji Di Lane. If Yuan Niang were alone, she certainly wouldn’t dare to wind through the alleys, afraid of getting lost. But with Xu Chenger, who had roamed the streets and lanes since childhood, it was different.
The two walked along the alleyway chatting and laughing, thinking they would drop off some items at Sister Dou’s place along the way. Unexpectedly, just as they turned behind the wall of the Dou residence, they overheard voices. To show enthusiasm, the speaker deliberately raised his voice, making it clearly audible even without intentionally listening.
“Uncle Li is truly too kind—not only visiting us but bringing so much. My sister will be fortunate indeed to have such loving parents-in-law as you and Auntie when she marries into your family.” This youthful voice likely belonged to Dou’s elder brother.
Another voice, somewhat hesitant and elderly, carried the anxious manner of a simple, honest farmer—probably Dou’s sister’s future mother-in-law. “You flatter me, nephew. These are just things we grow ourselves, hardly worth much. We only hope you won’t mind them, won’t mind them.”
Dou’s elder brother was warm and adept at handling situations. “What are you saying? Each of these fruits and vegetables is large and fresh—hard to even buy in Bianjing. It’s truly thoughtful that you remembered our family.”
That Uncle Li didn’t know how to respond, only offering awkward smiles and saying he’d come again to deliver more next time.
The manners of the Dou and Li families were strikingly different.
As Uncle Li departed, Yuan Niang and Xu Chenger, hiding behind the corner wall, glimpsed half of his true appearance—a sturdy, dark complexion. Most importantly was the clothing he wore: a faded, nearly white blue Duanhe jacket on top, loose gray trousers below. Though he had deliberately wiped them before leaving, once the shoes dried, dust and grime still showed on the surface, with mud and grass stuck in the seams of the soles.
Even though his clothes weren’t patched, he clearly looked like a farmer’s attire.
This… didn’t seem to match the wealth of someone who could live in the Three Honors Alley.
Before Yuan Niang could finish puzzling over it, the Dou family, watching Uncle Li leave, began to change their expressions.
Dou’s sister-in-law complained disdainfully, “He couldn’t even spare money for a proper box of pastries. Go inside and look—all these fruits and vegetables that cost just a few coins for a pile. Why bother picking them and hauling them all to Bianjing? With a casual twenty coins, I could buy two loads!
“Really, you don’t know how embarrassed I was earlier. He stopped me right in front of others—people who didn’t know might think he was a porter I hired.”
“Alright, alright, say less. If Second Sister hears, she’ll be upset.” Dou’s elder brother sounded somewhat impatient.
Dou’s sister-in-law continued grumbling incessantly. “Bah, I insist on saying it. How could their family possibly match your sister, a delicate beauty raised like a precious flower? Raised delicately at home, if not aiming for nobility or official families, at least they should have some wealth. Now look—she’s going to be married off by your father to become a farmer’s wife in the suburbs.”
“Say less, please.” Dou’s elder brother was agitated, pleading with his wife to stop.
Dou’s sister-in-law lowered her voice and snorted coldly. “Your father ruining your sister’s marriage to repay a debt is one thing. If in the future any stray cats or dogs come knocking, trying to delay my Zhu Jie’er’s marriage, I absolutely won’t tolerate it. Can’t you say something? Look at what your father did—shouldn’t you plan ahead for your daughter? So eloquent outside, why mute at home?
“Hah, I tell you, if that day really comes, I’m not afraid either. Zhu Jie’er’s uncles aren’t pushovers. If any unclear-minded ones show up, I’ll have her uncles beat them out!”
Ignoring her husband’s silence, Sister-in-law Dou continued, “What do you think about settling it now? My sister-in-law has no daughters and treats Zhu Jie’er quite well. My second brother said all three of his sons are for Zhu Jie’er to choose from. I think Mingde is a good child—he’s diligent in school.”
Brother Dou, whose ears were nearly calloused from hearing this, irritably flicked his sleeve. “Zhu Jie’er is only seven. What’s the rush? Besides, Mingde is already thirteen—can he really wait for her to grow up properly?”
The two of them bickered noisily as they entered the courtyard, their voices gradually fading away.
Only then did Yuan Niang and Xu Chenger dare to peek out. Accidentally overhearing someone’s family affairs left them feeling awkward and flustered.
But there was something even more unsettling than that.
It was the matter of this Sister Dou’s marriage.
So behind what seemed like a joyous occasion lay so much helplessness—heartaches that couldn’t be spoken of to outsiders.
Compared to Yuan Niang, who had only been here for a few days, Xu Chenger had grown up in Sanjidilane and was on good terms with most of the families in the lane. Having grown up alongside sisters and friends, she shared a different kind of bond. Now, hearing the unpleasant truth behind the marriage, she was visibly upset and dejected.
Yuan Niang held Xu Chenger’s hand and whispered a reminder, “Today… let’s not deliver them. We should head back first.”
Xu Chenger couldn’t snap out of it and only mumbled in agreement, “Alright.”
Although Yuan Niang also felt sorry for the never-met Sister Dou, her sympathy was just that—sympathy. Unlike Xu Chenger, her emotions weren’t as turbulent. As they approached the path to their doorstep, Xu Chenger suddenly stopped.
She grabbed Yuan Niang’s wrist, her expression still dazed, but her eyes now held determination. “Yuan Niang, we must never end up like that!”
Xu Chenger was older than Yuan Niang and understood the urgency and importance of marriage more keenly. The Dou family’s affairs had truly shaken her.
Yuan Niang, though less affected, was close to Xu Chenger and thus shared her resolve. “We definitely won’t!”
Though they had made up their minds, the impact of the Dou family’s situation hadn’t faded, and there was little they could do about it for the time being. So, they each went their separate ways home.
Yuan Niang watched as Xu Chenger actually entered her house before she herself headed home, holding the tangerines.
It was still early, so Chen Kuocang naturally hadn’t returned from school yet.
But Wan Guan was already tidied up, wearing Yuan Niang’s old clothes. Her hair had been soaked in medicinal water, and most of the lice had died in it. Now, she was drying her hair in the sun, repeatedly combing it with a fine-toothed comb to remove any remaining lice.
To be fair, after washing up, Wan Guan was somewhat presentable.
But only somewhat. Her face was dark, her lips deeply colored, and she looked rustic, lacking the grace of ordinary young ladies in Bianjing. This was why she had been sold as a maid rather than a concubine—she wasn’t beautiful.
Madam Cen was inside the house, while Granny Wang was bustling about in the Zao, doing who knows what.
The first person Yuan Niang saw upon entering was Wan Guan. She wasn’t quite used to having another living person in the house and felt somewhat awkward. She merely nodded and smiled at her before heading toward her own Gelou.
One foot had already stepped over the threshold into the main hall when she retreated, thought it over, and walked up to Wan Guan, handing her a tangerine.
“Here, this is a tangerine. You can eat it—it’s very sweet!”
Yuan Niang, worried that Wan Guan might never have had one, kindly explained.
Wan Guan held it with both hands, still reserved. “Thank you, young lady.”
Yuan Niang smiled warmly, as lively and bright as a swallow soaring freely in the clear sky, spreading its wings and dancing with abandon.
She skipped over to find Madam Cen and Granny Wang, handing out the oranges one by one. She chattered excitedly about how she had saved eight coins playing Guan Pu, proudly showing off the fragrant daphne flowers and even tilting her head to let them see the side of her ear, hoping for compliments.
As for the matter with the Dou family, Yuan Niang didn’t mention it. Although she knew Mother and Grandma weren’t gossipy, she still felt that when it came to someone else’s reputation, the fewer people who knew, the less risk there was. Otherwise, if word got out and people talked freely, it would be pitiful—especially since that marriage arrangement was already unsatisfactory to begin with.
Suppressing the strange feeling in her heart, Yuan Niang focused on pleasing Grandma.
She praised herself eloquently for her sharp eye, how she had spotted oranges priced at just six coins per jin, her chin lifted high and her expression so proud it was impossible not to laugh.
To make Grandma happy and earn herself a hearty meal, Yuan Niang even peeled an orange, intending to feed it to Grandma herself.
Granny Wang glanced at the orange peel, which was mostly green, pursed her lips, and with rare gentleness and a soft tone, coaxed Yuan Niang, “How could I taste it first when you bought it? Come on, dear, you try it first.”
Truly, Granny Wang was clever. Yuan Niang was so charmed she actually took a bite herself.
The next moment, her eyebrows, eyes, and mouth all scrunched together. The fair, delicate young lady turned into a wrinkled sheet of tofu skin, her face twisted in pain, so sour she couldn’t even open her eyes.
Granny Wang was doubled over with laughter at Yuan Niang’s misery, pounding the Zao counter as she bent over, her whole body shaking with mirth.
It was rare to see Granny Wang so amused.
Indeed, teasing one’s own child was the most fun.
Meanwhile, Madam Cen stepped out to pour Yuan Niang a bowl of water, letting her drink to ease the sourness.
Granny Wang, feeling she hadn’t teased enough, added sarcastically, “Silly girl, silly girl, why didn’t you think a little longer when buying oranges?
“It’s still early in the season. Most oranges are sour and dry right now. You can’t get good oranges for six coins per jin at this time. Besides, have you forgotten the ones I bought with you last time? They were light red all over. Oranges like these, mixed with green and yellow, are at best sweet and sour.”
Granny Wang shook her head as she spoke.
Once Yuan Niang recovered, she pouted, displeased. “But I bought a whole jin! What do we do with the rest now? We can’t just not eat them, can we?”
Not eating them would break her heart!
As for giving them away—wouldn’t that be tricking others?
“Hmph, only an old woman like me can clean up your mess.” Granny Wang took all the oranges from her hands, lifting her drooping eyelids. “Granny Fang next door just told me there’s beef for sale today. Go buy a jin—it’ll go perfectly with the oranges in a dish.”
“Huh?” Yuan Niang was shocked, stammering in surprise. “Oranges and beef? Can that even be eaten?”
“Whether it can or not, you’ll know once I cook it,” Granny Wang said impatiently. She took out thirty-five coins and handed them to Yuan Niang, shooing her off to buy the beef.
Yuan Niang weighed the coins in her hand before tucking them into her small purse, muttering to herself, “Why is beef so cheap? It’s delicious—the taste isn’t any worse than lamb.”
Granny Wang complained every day that Yuan Niang talked too much and found her annoying, but whenever Yuan Niang had a question, she would patiently explain, “What do you know? This law was made by the authorities to protect plow oxen—they had no other choice. Think about it yourself: if beef were sold at a price far higher than the value of a plow ox, then even if the authorities strictly forbade it, people would still take risks for the sake of profit, not hesitating to kill plow oxen and sell the meat.
“By setting the official price at twenty wen, isn’t killing a plow ox and selling its meat a losing business?”
Yuan Niang seemed to understand but not quite, nodding blankly.
Granny Wang grew impatient and told her to hurry and buy the meat before it sold out.
Just as Yuan Niang was about to leave, Granny Wang called her back, telling her to take Wan Guan along so she could learn the way and share the errand-running duties in the future.
Yuan Niang naturally had no objections.
She grabbed Wan Guan and rushed out like a gust of wind. When running errands, the faster the better—that way, the elders would be pleased, and she could also have more time to play.
By the time Yuan Niang arrived, the beef was almost sold out. Fortunately, she made it in time, and because she was sweet-talking and likable, she even managed to buy the tenderest beef tenderloin. On the way home with the meat, Yuan Niang didn’t forget to pass on her experience to Wan Guan, “Don’t be fooled by how fierce Butcher He at the meat shop looks—he’s actually quite easy to talk to. Just greet him boldly, and if you praise his cat, he’ll definitely be happy and often give you a little extra.”
Wan Guan was plain-looking, reserved in her actions, and seemed a bit dull. Fortunately, no matter what Yuan Niang said, she listened very attentively.
Whether she remembered or not was uncertain, but her attitude was still quite gratifying.
Just then, an old man selling malt candy passed by. Hearing the hawker’s call, Wan Guan’s ears seemed to twitch, but she didn’t even dare to glance in that direction.
Yuan Niang had no such reservations. She directly called out to the old man selling malt candy and bought three wen’s worth. Then, she gave a small piece to Wan Guan. At first, Wan Guan didn’t dare to take it, but Yuan Niang shoved it into her palm, “Try it, it’s sweet!”
Wan Guan put the malt candy into her mouth and gently savored it.
Her eyes gradually brightened, conquered by the sweetness of the malt candy, no longer as lifeless as before.
Mmm, so sweet!
She secretly glanced up at the spirited Yuan Niang and thought to herself.
What a wonderful young lady!
She must work diligently and not disappoint the young lady’s kindness.
On the way back, Yuan Niang also pointed out to Wan Guan what was sold along the road and which shops had better goods—all things Xu Chenger had told her, and now she could use them to teach Wan Guan.
After returning home, Granny Wang cut the meat into chunks and marinated it with soy sauce and wine.
Then she peeled the oranges and arranged them one by one on a plate.
But she didn’t immediately start cooking the orange dish. Instead, she took a small piece of the reserved beef, minced it, and mixed it with soy sauce, salt, ginger, and other seasonings.
She asked Wan Guan to help light the stove, then added lard to the clay pot, letting it melt. After that, she added scallion whites, frying them until golden and fragrant, then added the minced beef. After briefly stir-frying, she added water and tofu, covered the clay pot, and let it simmer.
In no time, the white steam rising from the clay pot filled the air with a delicious aroma.
Granny Wang told Wan Guan to keep an eye on it, making sure it simmered over low heat, while she herself went to make the Orange Stir-fried Beef that would leave Yuan Niang amazed.
Soon, the table in the main hall was set with food.
Yuan Niang came downstairs, drawn by the smell, “So fragrant, so fragrant!”
“Dog nose,” Granny Wang scolded with a laugh.
She complained to Madam Cen, “She doesn’t need to be called for anything else, but when it’s time to eat, she always comes running as soon as the food is ready.”
What could Madam Cen say? She was gentle-natured and didn’t like to scold children, so she simply replied, “Being able to eat is a blessing.”
After sitting down, although the minced beef stewed with tofu was also fragrant, Yuan Niang couldn’t resist her curiosity and moved her chopsticks toward the Orange Stir-fried Beef. The beef wasn’t prepared in the usual way; it was coated with flour, fried once, and then stir-fried again.
She picked up a piece and bit into it. Because it had been stir-fried again, it was soaked in sauce, sweet and sour, and delicious, but the outer layer of the meat remained crispy, not soft or soggy.
It combined the advantages of frying and stir-frying.
It had both a crispy texture and a rich flavor, sweet and sour, appetizing.
Clearly, the orange alone was so sour it was hard to swallow, but stir-fried, it was surprisingly delightful.
After finishing it, Yuan Niang swallowed a mouthful of rice and praised enthusiastically, “Delicious!”
“Grandma, your cooking skills are so good, you could even go to the palace to cook for the Imperial Family.”
Granny Wang appeared quite indifferent, even somewhat amused, by the praise for Yuan Niang. In her family’s prosperous days, they had indeed hired a retired palace cook, and she had learned a thing or two. However, most of those dishes were far too intricate for one person to manage alone.
A few such dishes might even deplete all their current savings in one go.
Forget about dishes once served to the Imperial Family—even the dish before them wasn’t originally made with oranges but with mandarins. During orange season, a pound cost only six or seven wen, while a decent mandarin could cost one or two hundred wen each. Premium tribute mandarins even reached one guan apiece. The recipe also called for ground pepper—a precious ingredient that added a rich, tangy flavor without being cloying.
Which of these could ordinary folks afford?
But there was no need to explain all this to Yuan Niang. Perhaps it was better she remained unworldly, finding joy in whatever she ate.
Granny Wang snapped out of her thoughts and suddenly announced to everyone at the table, “I’m not renting out the shopfront in front of our house anymore. I’m opening a shop myself.”
Her words sent ripples through the room. Yuan Niang and Madam Cen stopped what they were doing, staring at Granny Wang in astonishment.
Granny Wang, however, leisurely scooped some minced pork stewed with tofu into her bowl. Tasting it with her spoon, she nodded to herself—yes, it was delicious.
Madam Cen never questioned Granny Wang’s decisions but voiced her concern, “Mother, won’t this be too much for you?”
As for Yuan Niang…
Yuan Niang didn’t say much. She simply widened her eyes and listened quietly as Mother and Grandma spoke.
She prided herself on understanding Grandma well enough. Since Grandma had announced it publicly, she must have made up her mind, and further discussion was unnecessary.
Besides, she trusted Grandma.
There was nothing in this world that Grandma couldn’t do well!
All she had to do was stay by her side, occasionally lightening the mood and helping with some chores.
So, after Granny Wang and Madam Cen finished their casual conversation, Yuan Niang just grinned and asked whether, once Grandma opened the shop, there would be lots of delicious food to eat. In response, she earned a playful poke on the forehead, with Granny Wang teasing her as a little glutton.
Just then, Xiao Hua brushed against Yuan Niang’s ankle, meowing innocently as if it truly thought it was being called.
Instantly, the room erupted in laughter, the sound echoing joyfully.
Yuan Niang ended up finishing the minced pork stewed with tofu herself, especially the sauce mixed with rice, savoring it so blissfully she squinted her eyes. Thankfully, she didn’t have a tail—otherwise, it would have been wagging as wildly as Xiao Hua’s.
Finally, evening arrived. Chen Kuo Cang returned home under the dimming sky, only to regret missing out on the Orange Stir-fried Beef.
But Grandma had boiled him a duck egg, saying it was to nourish him.
After all, they couldn’t slaughter chickens or ducks every day—no household could sustain such extravagance.
As for Grandma’s plan to open a shop, he listened in silence for a moment, his young face serious, and calmly said it sounded fine, offering no objections. It wasn’t that he was indifferent—he could likely guess Granny Wang’s reasons for doing this.
And so, another ordinary day passed quietly.
Soon, it was time to sleep. Granny Wang settled Wan Guan in the small storage room next to Yuan Niang’s Gelou, which had originally been used for storing odds and ends. After tidying up, it was just spacious enough to live in—about six or seven feet wide—perfect for fitting a Chuang Ta, a clothing chest, and a Mian Pen stand.
Everything seemed neatly arranged, but there was one minor flaw.
Whenever Yuan Niang opened the door to her Gelou, Wan Guan was bound to hear it.
At night, Yuan Niang tossed and turned on her Chuang Ta, unable to resist any longer. She had grown accustomed to playing with Xiao Hua for a while before falling asleep, so she simply threw on her clothes, got up, and tiptoed to Wan Guan’s small partition, calling out softly.
Wan Guan was already lying on her Chuang Ta when she heard the noise. She immediately sat up, tense, and asked, “Young Miss, do you have any instructions?”
Yuan Niang smiled warmly and affectionately linked arms with Wan Guan. “Nothing at all! I just couldn’t help wanting to chat with you. Try this!”
Chen Yuanniang handed Wan Guan a small paper packet. When opened, it revealed three pieces of Preserved Fruit.
This Preserved Fruit was cheaper than what she had bought at Xiangguo Temple before, but still more expensive than malt candy. This was all Yuan Niang had left.
Wan Guan hesitated to accept it and tried to decline, but Yuan Niang directly brought it to her lips, urging her to taste it. With one bite, Wan Guan was stunned—sweet with a fruity aroma, it was truly delicious.
Seizing the opportunity, Yuan Niang said, “I won’t disturb you any longer. It’s your first day here, so rest well. I’ll go downstairs to bring Xiao Hua up.”
“Oh, oh, alright,” Wan Guan replied dazedly.
She didn’t have much of a reaction to this.
Yuan Niang was merely informing her, as opening and closing doors would inevitably make some noise anyway.
Eagerly, Yuan Niang hurried downstairs to fetch the cat, tiptoeing as she had done before. When she returned to bed with Xiao Hua, whose paws had been wiped clean, she couldn’t contain her excitement, waving a small flag to play with the cat.
Suddenly, Xiao Hua stopped chasing the flag and instead dashed to the door, scratching at it and meowing.
Yuan Niang listened closely and heard another cat’s cry from outside the door, louder and more commanding than Xiao Hua’s.
Chen Yuanniang peered through the window paper but saw no one, so she unlatched the door. On the threshold stood a black-and-white kitten, slightly sturdier than Xiao Hua.
It even had a small fish in its mouth, which it dropped upon seeing Xiao Hua, as if it had brought it specifically for her.
Yuan Niang remembered—this was the black-and-white Little Tabby Cat from the same litter as Xiao Hua, the one who loved to fight.
Yuan Niang was delighted to see Xiao Hua’s kin, but fearing fleas, she simply carried Xiao Hua outside the threshold and stayed with the two Little Tabby Cats as they reconnected.
Resting her chin on her hand and leaning against the railing, her eyes curved into a smile.
Except…
Yuan Niang suspiciously glanced out of the corner of her eye. She felt as though something was moving.
Trying not to make a sound, she scanned the area with her eyes. Sure enough, a shadowy figure was lurking in the alley, pacing back and forth.