She said I must get married and have a husband first…
Mentioning this, Lu Runrun felt helpless.
She shook her head, her tone gloomy, and casually kicked a stone on the ground. "My mother won’t allow it."
"Why won’t she allow it?" Wei Yangyang had been curious about this for a long time.
Beside them, Yu Liuniang couldn’t help but prick up her ears.
"Why else?" Lu Runrun spread her hands, her tone tinged with annoyance. "It’s the same old story. Because my household is made up entirely of women. Working as a professional female chef is one thing—when my mother takes on banquet jobs, she only chooses families with good reputations, all wealthy and respectable households. They treat outsiders politely, so there’s no chance of any unpleasantness. But if we were to open a shop, we’d inevitably encounter all sorts of people, dealing with customers coming and going. My mother has been widowed for many years, and I’m still unmarried. What she fears most is gossip. If some unsavory characters were to latch onto us, it would truly be more trouble than it’s worth. To avoid being talked about, she said I must get married and have a husband before she’ll agree to open a shop."
Yu Liuniang, who grew up in Lushi Alley alongside her masters, deeply understood this point.
She nodded vigorously, her thin, hunched shoulders tensing and straightening as if on guard. "Those lowlifes are like maggots clinging to bones—once they latch on, they’re hard to shake off. They’re utterly detestable and hateful!"
Lu Runrun glanced at her in surprise, not expecting her to express her emotions so openly. It was clear just how much she despised those scoundrels.
Hearing Lu Runrun’s explanation, Wei Yangyang stopped pressing about the shop and instead asked curiously, "Has your mother started looking for a match for you?"
At her question, Lu Runrun couldn’t help but burst out laughing, leaving Wei Yangyang bewildered.
Wei Yangyang looked at Lu Runrun in confusion, then opened her hands and glanced down at herself from side to side, utterly puzzled. Had she said something funny? Probably not. Or was there something wrong with her appearance?
Lu Runrun laughed because, upon hearing Wei Yangyang’s words, she thought about how she hadn’t even started looking for a husband yet, but her mother already had prospects for a stepfather. The absurdity of it struck her as hilarious.
But she wasn’t foolish enough to say this out loud in public. She simply couldn’t help but raise her head and continue laughing. "I don’t know why, I just feel like laughing."
Wei Yangyang pursed her lips in exasperation, rolled her eyes at Lu Runrun, and said disdainfully, "With so many people coming and going, stop laughing already. Others might think a laughing ghost has possessed you."
As she spoke, Wei Yangyang glanced around, clearly not wanting to embarrass herself. But when someone actually looked over in surprise, she glared at them fiercely. Protective as she was, she turned back and told Lu Runrun to stand farther away—she didn’t want to attract attention.
But if Lu Runrun would listen to her, she wouldn’t be Lu Runrun.
The more Wei Yangyang said, the closer Lu Runrun got, until she forcibly linked arms with her, pressing against her and leaning on her shoulder, laughing so hard she swayed back and forth.
Wei Yangyang was all talk—in reality, she had no way to deal with Lu Runrun. She could only turn her head away and let Lu Runrun laugh herself silly.
Yu Liuniang, who didn’t like to speak in front of others, walked alongside them, happily smiling with her lips pressed together.
The night breeze was slightly cool, causing the long hems of the young women’s robes to flutter. To their left was the dimly lit Zhouqiao Night Market, where thousands of oil lamps illuminated the dusky sky. To their right was the long bank of the Bian River, where, from afar, they could see two or three points of light. The closer they got, the larger the lights appeared, slowly drifting toward the Bian River.
Around them, pedestrians and small vendors passed by continuously.
The river breeze cleared the ears and sharpened the eyes. Just then, a stout, broad-shouldered grandmother passed by carrying a bamboo basket, calling out, "Jiaoya candy, jiaoya candy, sticky jiaoya candy~ sweet~ two wen a piece! Xingbing, xingbing, crispy and delicious xingbing~ long-lasting xingbing~ one bite and you'll feel like an immortal~"
Such exaggeration was truly over the top. Becoming an official might rival becoming an immortal, but how could a bite of candy compare to immortality?
However, merchants in Bianjing often exaggerated like this to attract customers.
Yet Yu Liuniang couldn't help but glance twice. The grandmother selling jiaoya candy, hawking her wares through the streets and alleys, had sharp eyes. She immediately stopped and asked with a beaming smile, "Young lady, would you like to buy some xingbing? They're sweet and fragrant!"
Yu Liuniang glanced back at Lu and Wei, then turned around and asked softly, "How much for the xingbing?"
"Five wen each. Many have bought them today, and only these are left. Would you like some, young lady?"
Yu Liuniang unconsciously pinched her light, empty purse at her waist. She lowered her head. "N-no, thank you."
The grandmother, eager to keep her, offered a discount. "How about this? Those two are your close friends, right? If you buy three xingbing, I'll give you a piece of jiaoya candy for free. How does that sound?"
Yu Liuniang declined again. Her face flushed, and her fingers curled unconsciously as she said with little confidence, "J-just three pieces of jiaoya candy."
Perhaps the grandmother sensed something, for she didn't press further. She lifted the cloth covering the bamboo basket, revealing one side with neatly broken jiaoya candy and the other with stacked, still-warm xingbing.
"These here are all two wen a piece. You can pick, young lady. I also had xingzhou, but it's all sold out. Next time you see me, you must buy a bowl to try. My xingzhou is famously delicious—everyone at the Zhouqiao night market knows Grandmother Li's xingzhou."
Yu Liuniang didn't quite believe it, but she wasn't as eloquent as Lu Runrun nor as bold as Wei Yangyang. So she merely looked up with a shy smile and said nothing.
Soon, she selected three pieces of jiaoya candy that appeared larger. In truth, the broken pieces were roughly the same weight, but their shapes varied, making some seem bigger. She took six wen from her thin purse, which now held only a single copper coin, looking pitifully light in the night breeze as if it could spin away with a gust.
After paying, Yu Liuniang turned around with a cheerful smile, cradling the jiaoya candy in her palms and offering them a taste.
Lu Runrun didn't hesitate. Sometimes accepting someone's kindness could make them happier. Seeing Lu Runrun eat, Wei Yangyang also picked up a piece and placed it in her mouth.
Though the grandmother's words were exaggerated, the jiaoya candy tasted quite good.
It had a mild sweetness upon entering the mouth, and as it lingered, it created a bubbly texture. It wasn't cloying and carried a faint, toasty aroma. The flavor was simple, perfect for a sweet treat.
With all three eating jiaoya candy, they fell silent, too occupied to speak, wandering aimlessly.
It was Huan'er behind Lu Runrun who reminded her, "It's getting late, miss. It's time to go back."
"Oh." Lu Runrun snapped back to attention. Calculating the time, she realized they had been out for quite a while. If they didn't return soon, Nanny Chen might not be able to cover for them. She took the initiative to tell the other two that she should head back and asked if they had a convenient way home, offering to see each other off.
Wei Yangyang refused outright, "Wouldn't it be troublesome if you send me off and I send you off? Runrun, I'll take advantage of your family's carriage and horses when you have them someday, but for now, let's leave it at that."
Yu Liuniang also had her reasons—her masters were nearby, so she could follow them back.
Since that was the case, there was no need to delay further. Lu Runrun took Huan'er and headed home.
The Zhouqiao Night Market was still quite close to Lu Runrun's home, and it didn't take long before they arrived in front of the residence. She couldn't enter through the main gate because, in order to rent out the front-facing rooms and the rear annex, separate doors had been installed at the connecting points. To avoid any potential disputes, these two doors were usually kept locked.
Lu Runrun and her family lived in the middle courtyard, so an additional door had been opened in the wall for their own use.
The front-facing rooms were rented out separately, and after the connecting door to the rear annex was locked, it also formed its own courtyard, so the entire courtyard was rented out. Previously, the rear annex had been rented to an eighth-rank official for his family and servants to live in. However, this year, the official was assigned to a post outside the capital, and no suitable tenants had been found since, so it remained vacant.
The front-facing rooms were rented to three households, all from modest backgrounds without any servants, and several rooms were still empty. However, as no suitable tenants had been found, they remained vacant as well.
When Lu Runrun arrived home, she happened to run into Qian Guang, who was carrying a water bucket on his way back from fetching water. This Qian Guang was one of the tenants renting the front-facing rooms—a clerk at the prefectural office. He, his wife, and their daughter rented two rooms as a family of three.
They had rented the Lu family's rooms many years earlier, back when the family had little income. Renting them out was meant to provide a steady stream of income to cover basic needs.
Later, when Tan Xianniang gained fame in Bianjing, they no longer had to worry about putting food on the table. However, with only the four of them living in such a large residence, they felt uneasy, fearing that if idlers or thieves broke in, there would be no one to notice.
Thus, Tan Xianniang continued renting out the rooms. After all, once tenants settled in, they often stayed for years without much change. It was like having friendly neighbors, plus it provided a steady income—much more stable than running a shop, with no risk of losses.
Qian Guang, working as a clerk, was very smooth in his dealings—thin and short, but always wearing a smile on his face, making him appear particularly amiable.
As soon as he saw Lu Runrun, Qian Guang set the water bucket down and stopped to greet her, asking warmly, "Did you go to the Zhouqiao Night Market?"
Lu Runrun smiled and nodded yes.
Qian Guang left early and returned late every day, and out of propriety, he rarely had contact with her family, so there was no fear of her mother finding out.
Qian Guang didn't overstep by saying anything accusatory. Having worked as a clerk for so long, how could he not understand such social niceties? He chuckled and said, "If you go out for a drink sometime, you could take my Jin Niang along. She stays at home all day without any little friends to keep her company. Whatever you eat or drink, just put it on my tab."
Qian Family's little Jin Niang was the one Nanny Chen had previously warned Lu Runrun about, saying she seemed eerie.
Lu Runrun neither outright refused nor agreed immediately, only saying she would take her along if the timing worked out someday.
Whenever "someday" or "in a few days" was mentioned, it often led to nothing further.
Qian Guang was also very perceptive and didn't press the matter. He simply said his wife was waiting to boil water and might be getting impatient, then nodded and continued carrying his wooden bucket back.
Lu Runrun also led Huan'er to the small door of their home and began imitating bird calls.
She had only chirped twice when the door creaked open with a ya-like sound.
Looking up, it was Nanny Chen who opened the door, her face stern.
Without even needing to ask, Lu Runrun knew Nanny Chen was angry.
Sure enough, as Nanny Chen closed the door and Lu Runrun followed behind, she hadn't taken two steps before Nanny Chen gritted her teeth in frustration, looking utterly unappeasable. Her tone carried a hint of grievance, "So you still remember to come back? Do you know how exhausting it was for me to deal with your mother? Poor old me, with these brittle bones, having to spin lies to placate your mother.
"And that's not all. You came back so late, it nearly broke this grandmother's heart. I couldn't even sit still. You're your own grandmother's only descendant. Your grandmother only gave birth to your father, and your father left only you, a daughter. If anything were to happen to you, how could I face Madam! Weren't you supposed to come back right after buying the food? Taking so long had me scared half to death."
Nanny Chen's anger never lasted more than three breaths before she turned around and began fussing over Lu Runrun.
Lu Runrun was just about to open her mouth to placate Nanny Chen, but she didn't get the chance. Soon, it was Nanny Chen who took her hand, examining her up and down, left and right, afraid she might have suffered any bumps or bruises.
Fortunately, having transmigrated over a decade ago, Lu Runrun was already accustomed to Nanny Chen's overly anxious care.
Moreover, Nanny Chen would often bring up Lu Runrun's own grandmother, the Madam she had served since childhood. Lu Runrun could even predict what Nanny Chen would say next—it was always about recruiting a matrilocal son-in-law.
Sure enough.
"You, you should recruit a husband sooner. That way, no matter how late you eat your savory snacks, I won't bother you anymore. Marry early, and I'll have an answer for Madam. When the time comes for me to go underground, I'll have the face to see Madam. You're Madam's only descendant…"
The words that followed were all too familiar, and Lu Runrun's ears had grown accustomed to tuning them out.
While Lu Runrun was lost in thought, Nanny Chen had already led her to the kitchen. From a clay pot that had been simmering over a low flame, she poured out a large bowl of soup and brought it to Lu Runrun, even placing the spoon in her hand.
Not only that, Nanny Chen also fetched hot water and insisted on personally wiping Lu Runrun's hands. If Lu Runrun hadn't stubbornly refused, she would have even tried to feed her the soup herself.
Nanny Chen's care for Lu Runrun was truly meticulous. If Lu Runrun didn't have memories of her modern life, she felt she might have grown spoiled under Nanny Chen's doting.
The soup was a bit hot, so Lu Runrun held the spoon and stirred it casually.
Meanwhile, Nanny Chen instructed Huan'er to take advantage of the bright moonlight to pound clothes. After being washed multiple times, clothes tended to stiffen and needed to be beaten with a pestle. Not just the Lu household—if one listened carefully, many neighboring homes were also pounding clothes.
Just as Li Bai wrote, "Under the moonlight over Chang'an, ten thousand households pound clothes," the nights in Bianjing were also filled with the sound of clothes being pounded.
Perhaps because thousands of households needed to pound clothes, no neighbors complained about the noise or came out to curse. Or maybe everyone had grown accustomed to it. In Lu Runrun's previous life, the city airport was located downtown, and the roar of planes filled the day, yet everyone was so used to it that they hardly even looked up.
After giving her instructions, Nanny Chen still felt uneasy and went to check on Huan'er.
Sitting in the kitchen, Lu Runrun could hear Nanny Chen's voice suddenly grow louder.
"Oh dear, how did this beizi end up here? The pattern on the front is hand-painted and can't get wet at all. Once it smudges, it'll be unwearable…"
Nanny Chen gestured animatedly for quite a while before finally coming in from the courtyard. Seeing Lu Runrun starting to drink the soup, her face lit up with a satisfied, kindly smile. "Eat more, young miss. Tired today, aren't you? This abalone soup nourishes the liver, improves eyesight, moisturizes dryness, and strengthens the body."
"This isn't some common whelk—it's genuine abalone from Dengzhou, very expensive. Just one costs three or four guan. If it weren't for your mother hosting the banquet and receiving it as a gift from a noble guest, even waiting a whole day at the docks near Xuanze Gate might not get you such fine quality."
Hearing this made Lu Runrun's heart ache. With just one bite, she had consumed several hundred wen. Her mother only gave her eight hundred wen per month for expenses!
Clutching her chest, Lu Runrun stared at the abalone in her spoon, reluctant to take another bite. She looked at Nanny Chen and tried to negotiate, "How about not making my portion next time? I'm not that precious. It'd be better to sell it for money."
In modern times, an abalone only cost a few yuan, but here in the Song Dynasty, one cost three or four guan. Eating something so expensive made Lu Runrun fear her mortal body couldn't handle it, worrying her intestines would ache at night.
She spoke sincerely, but her words left Nanny Chen distressed.
Putting down the firewood she was about to add to the stove, Nanny Chen felt both indignant and heartbroken on Lu Runrun's behalf. She exclaimed, "How are you not that precious? When your grandmother was alive, your mother was pregnant with you and ate abalone soup daily, bought scallops from Mingzhou, and even managed to get rare shark meat to make shark broth for your mother."
"You are absolutely precious! Don't you dare say such things about yourself. If your grandmother and father in the afterlife heard, they'd be heartbroken…"
As she spoke, Nanny Chen's lips trembled, and tears welled up in her eyes, clearly on the verge of crying from distress.
Lu Runrun hadn't expected her offhand remark to bring Nanny Chen to tears. Her life now was already quite good—though set in ancient times, it was more comfortable than her modern life. She put down her spoon, flustered and unsure how to comfort Nanny Chen.
To her surprise, Nanny Chen wiped her tears, looked up as if nothing had happened, and urged Lu Runrun to drink the soup quickly before it got cold and lost its flavor.
Lu Runrun pretended to focus on drinking the soup but stole glances at Nanny Chen. Only when she saw Nanny Chen wasn't secretly crying did she relax. She drank the soup much faster, and by the time she finished, Nanny Chen had already heated water and was ladling it into a wooden basin. Something seemed to be floating on the water's surface.
Seeing Lu Runrun had finished, Nanny Chen reminded her that the water was ready and she should wash up here, then go inside to change clothes. She advised her not to fall asleep right away—hosting the banquet all day must have been exhausting, and soaking her feet would help her relax.
Lu Runrun agreed to everything and asked Nanny Chen where she was going.
Nanny Chen replied with mild exasperation, "I have to attend to your mother, of course. Hosting a banquet all day must have stiffened her joints. Today, I went to the pharmacy near Old Fengqiu Gate and bought some herbs to soothe muscles and joints. I've been boiling them for a while now, so the medicinal properties should be fully extracted. I'll take it to your mother while it's still hot so she can soak her feet and sleep well tonight."
Lu Runrun smiled. "Grandmother is so thoughtful."
Nanny Chen patted Lu Runrun's head and gave her a fond, chiding look. "You only praise me at times like this."
Nanny Chen never complained to Lu Runrun for more than two sentences before immediately switching to concern. "You must sleep early tonight. Aren't you making pastries tomorrow? With so many to prepare, if you don't rise early, I fear you won't finish. Grandmother's precious darling, be good and don't stay up reading those storybooks tonight, understand?"
Lu Runrun nodded vigorously, smiling as she said she understood.
Only then did Nanny Chen feel reassured and went to deliver the herbal foot soak for Tan Xianniang.
As soon as Nanny Chen left, Lu Runrun stretched lazily, then slumped over the table, utterly exhausted. She groaned—why must tomorrow be busy too? The day after, she had to rise early for the trip to the Great Xiangguo Temple, leaving her with no rest for several days in a row.
When she had made her vow at the temple, why had she asked for a whole year? If it had been just six months, her vow would already be fulfilled.
She buried her head in her arms, shaking it vigorously, too lazy to get up at all.
After a long while, she finally mustered enough energy to stand and go wash up. After finishing, she blew out the lamp in the kitchen, rubbed her back, yawned, and headed toward her own room.
But as she happened to pass by her mother's room, she was startled by a sudden loud thud of something heavy hitting the floor, jolting away all her drowsiness and fatigue.
What was going on?
Author's Note:
Jiaoya Tang: Malt sugar
Fuyu: Abalone
Woluo: Japanese abalone. "During the Song Dynasty, abalone was relatively inexpensive, largely due to the consistent import of 'Woluo' from Japan. In the capital city of Bianliang, people could purchase Woluo just as we can buy affordable, ready-to-eat premium abalone in large supermarkets today." — From Attending an Interesting Song Dynasty Banquet
Shayu: People in the Song Dynasty referred to sharks as "sha yu." They sliced shark meat thinly and ate it raw, calling it "sha yu kuai" (sliced raw shark). Shark skin was used to make soup, known as "sha yu chen tang."