“Girl, isn’t this rather inappropriate?” The speaker was an older woman, head wrapped in a kerchief, sharp eyes and a sharp tongue.
Gu Xiao cast her a light glance. “What’s inappropriate? We paid the fee. As long as it’s open space, we can set up anywhere. Or are you saying you paid one coin and want to claim two stalls?”
The old woman clicked her tongue. “There’s plenty of empty space—why squeeze in here!”
“So much empty space—squeezing anywhere is still squeezing. I see you also sell flatbreads. Feels like fate, doesn’t it? With both our stalls here, maybe we can even help each other out. Don’t you agree?”
Gu Xiao and Da Wa pushed the cart in, lit the firewood, and soon people began gathering around.
With two flatbread stalls side by side, customers didn’t know which to choose.
But Second Brother had been selling here for several days already, so faces were familiar, and business quickly started.
“Give me one with egg. Why didn’t I see you yesterday?”
Da Wa replied, “We came late yesterday, set up inside. Here’s your egg flatbread—two coins. This is our new braised beans, very soft. Try them.” He added a spoonful of beans without skimping on anything else. The customer was delighted. “Delicious—I’ll come back next time.”
Da Wa had already sold two flatbreads, while the stall next door hadn’t sold a single one.
The old woman grew impatient, tugging at Gu Xiao’s customers. “Our flatbreads taste better, and we give more. Try once and you’ll want a second.”
Gu Xiao wasn’t bothered. She ladled a spoonful of braised peas from the pot. Once heated, the fragrance of beans and meat filled the air. Taste couldn’t be decided by words alone.
The waiting customers glanced over. The pots and bowls looked similar, but the cabbage at the other stall wasn’t as green, the tofu was crumbled to bits, the eggs lacked color, and the stewed meat floated with a layer of grease—unappetizing at a glance.
On this side, the flatbread was wrapped with cabbage and tofu, topped with two small pieces of braised meat. The crust was golden and crisp, the beans plump and tender. Wrapped in oiled paper, drizzled with a spoonful of spiced broth, it smelled so good that people were swallowing their saliva—worth the wait, even if it took time.
Scallion oil, sauces, braised flavors, soybeans—every detail was Gu Xiao’s idea. Did they really think they could steal business just by throwing something together?
The old woman saw this and grew furious, pointing at Gu Xiao’s nose and cursing: “You little wretch, you came here just to steal business, didn’t you? With so many places in the alley, you had to set up next to me!”
Gu Xiao’s face cooled. “You dare scold others for what you yourself did? A stall here—whether you sell or not depends on your skill. Don’t point fingers at me. I’ve been frail since childhood—try pointing again and see what happens!”
Gu Xiao was small and thin, her complexion tinged with hunger-yellow. If this old woman truly wanted to make a scene, Gu Xiao would make sure she lost her stall entirely.
Sure enough, the tough fear the reckless, and the reckless fear those who don’t care about consequences.
With Second Brother and Da Wa standing beside her, the old woman didn’t dare say another word.
Gu Xiao said, “We’ve been selling here five or six days already, and only now you show up. And you still have the face to say we’re stealing business? Sell whatever you like—that’s none of my concern. But at least keep some dignity for yourself.”
People passing by overheard, and quickly pieced together the situation.
The old woman was fierce, but she had never faced this kind of confrontation. Her face burned hot with shame. The other two flatbread vendors nearby shrank their necks, not daring to speak.
That whole morning, with Gu Xiao keeping watch, the stall next door sold only three flatbreads before packing up before noon. The remaining two stalls sold quietly through the morning, then left in the afternoon.
Second Brother gave a simple, honest smile. “Thanks to Xiao Xiao—otherwise we really wouldn’t have known what to do…” He had farmed all his life, never quarreled with anyone. And with Madam Li heavily pregnant, she couldn’t risk confrontation.
Gu Xiao sighed. “Second Sister-in-law is far along. She should come to the stall less often.”
If she got hurt, regret would come too late.
Second Brother opened his mouth, but if Madam Li didn’t come to the stall, what would they do?
“Da-Ya is old enough.” The eldest daughter of the second branch was the same age as Gu Xiao. Gu Xiao thought Da-Ya was quite good—sensible and quick at her work.
Second Brother said, “I’ll go back and ask Mother.”
Business at home wasn’t something girls were supposed to handle—after all, Da-Ya would one day marry.
Gu Xiao nodded. “Then I’ll take a walk around the street.”
Only six coins of silver were left, and Gu Xiao felt uneasy.
Shen Xihe stayed home for half a day, while she busied herself making umbrellas. She managed to finish two ordinary folding fans.
The two fans sold for four hundred coins. Manager Zhang asked about oil-paper umbrellas. Gu Xiao said, “The handles are ready.”
Manager Zhang replied, “If possible, I hope Miss Gu can make more.”
He wanted to sell the umbrellas in Shengjing, not just the provincial capital. Shengjing had many noble ladies—if Gu Xiao could produce them, he could sell them.
Gu Xiao was short of money, so of course she would make as many as she could. But umbrellas were harder to craft than fans. Before Shen Xihe returned, she could at most finish two. “I’ll do my best.”
Manager Zhang then added, “Miss Gu, I also have another task. I don’t know if you can manage it.”
Gu Xiao was slightly taken aback. Manager Zhang ran a bookshop, so whatever task it was must be related to books or ink. “Please tell me, Manager.”
“A few days ago someone brought me a book. Many of its pages are damaged. Could you see if it can be repaired?”
Manager Zhang fetched the book. It was a rare copy, but unfortunately its pages had been splashed with some kind of liquid, leaving them warped and damaged.
Others could repair it too, but Manager Zhang preferred to let Gu Xiao do it.
Gu Xiao rubbed her hands. “I can—only, about the payment…”
Manager Zhang said, “If you can restore it, I’ll give you one tael of silver.”
One tael was quite a lot. Together with what she had earned from selling fans today, she would have two taels. Once the umbrellas were finished, she estimated she could save up seven taels.
Gu Xiao felt much lighter at heart and agreed at once. “I don’t have the tools at home, so I’ll need to repair it here. You can deduct the cost of the tools.”
Manager Zhang didn’t mind. “The tools are here. You can work here.”
There were iron irons, paste, binding thread, and wax paper. Gu Xiao rubbed her hands together and began. She patched the cover with matching paper, ironed out the creases with the iron. The work was painstaking, and before she knew it, an hour had passed.
Manager Zhang knew Gu Xiao didn’t live in the county town, so he came in to remind her that it was getting late.
Gu Xiao said, “Then I’ll come back tomorrow. Two or three days should be enough to finish the repair.”
One tael of silver wasn’t easy to earn. After sitting all afternoon, Gu Xiao’s arms and hands ached. She had repaired about half the book. Rubbing her wrist, she said, “I’ll come again tomorrow.”
Manager Zhang was very satisfied. Compared to other craftsmen, Gu Xiao was more meticulous and patient. “I bought an extra portion of these pastries—take them home for your family to try.”
Gu Xiao hesitated, then accepted them. “Thank you, Manager.”
Gu Xiao left the bookshop and went to the alley entrance to find Da Wa. At this hour, Second Brother and the others should not have left yet, so they could return together. She walked quickly, not noticing the two men standing at the bookshop door—one in a coarse blue robe with three bamboo leaves embroidered on the cuff, staring blankly at her back; the other in a silk robe of blue, holding a folding fan. They were Shen Xihe and Chen Ningyuan.
Shen Xihe saw Gu Xiao come out of the bookshop with his own eyes. Chen Ningyuan said, “Brother Xihe, isn’t that your…”
Shen Xihe clenched his fist. “I fear I can’t go with you to the bookshop today. Please bring me a ream of paper; I’ll pay you later.” He pushed through the crowd and hurried after her.
That was Gu Xiao. But in the blink of an eye, she was gone. Unable to find her, Shen Xihe went straight to the flatbread stall. Second Brother and the others were packing up, and Gu Xiao was there.
Da Wa hadn’t expected Shen Xihe to come. Surprised, he said, “Uncle, why are you here?”
Shen Xihe thought to himself—why shouldn’t he come? Besides, he wasn’t… He glanced at Gu Xiao and said, “I went to the bookshop and passed by here.”
Da Wa grinned. “That really is on the way.”
Gu Xiao blinked. She had just come from the bookshop, yet hadn’t seen Shen Xihe. “Third Brother, did you go to the bookshop to buy something? Do you still have money on you?”
Shen Xihe replied, “Yes, I still have…”
Seeing Second Brother had already packed everything, Shen Xihe couldn’t think of a single proper thing to say. Anxious, he blurted out, “By the way! Xiao Xiao, I…”
Gu Xiao nodded, waiting for him to continue.
Looking at the bamboo leaves on his cuff, Shen Xihe suddenly thought of something. “I have two robes with torn cuffs. Could you mend them for me?”
“I need them urgently—could you finish by tomorrow noon?”
He planned to bring her two robes, but to hand over only one at first, asking her to return it the next day. The other he would give her later.
Shen Xihe said, “It’s settled then—I’ll bring it to you tomorrow!”
The robe was only slightly torn, just a small hole that didn’t really matter.
Gu Xiao nodded. It wasn’t a big deal—if it needed mending, she would mend it.
Da Wa, listening from the side, said, “Such a small matter. Tomorrow I’ll bring it back to Little Aunt.”
Shen Xihe quickly interjected, “Da Wa, at noon the flatbread stall is crowded; you’ll be too busy. It’s settled—Xiao Xiao, I’ll bring it to you myself tomorrow.”
Second Brother finished packing everything and pushed the cart home. Shen Xihe walked beside Gu Xiao, silent. But the distance from the alley to the city gate was short, and they arrived quickly.
With his hands behind his back, Shen Xihe said, “It’s not dark yet, but the road isn’t easy. Be careful. Oh—Xiao Xiao, I think I saw you coming out of the bookshop. You…”
Gu Xiao couldn’t reveal she was saving money, so she replied casually, “I just went in to look around.”
Da Wa pushed the cart. “Uncle, why even ask? What else could it be for? You’re the only one in the family studying.”
Shen Xihe knew that, but he still wanted to ask.
Da Wa added, “I think your birthday is coming up soon, Uncle. Little Aunt must be planning to give you a birthday gift.”
In the Shen family, only Shen Xihe and the old master had birthdays celebrated. On that day, the food was better than usual—just once a year. No wonder Da Wa remembered.
Gu Xiao hadn’t thought of that at all. With a stiff smile, she said, “Da Wa, now that you’ve said it, what surprise is left?”