The owner of the soup noodle stall operated a mobile setup, with only two tables and a total of eight small stools.
When Lady Wu, Li Xi, and their party arrived, just the maids, female servants, and guards alone numbered over twenty people, instantly crowding the small stall to the point of being packed tight.
There had originally been some other customers at the stall, but they were intimidated by these noble guests and quickly picked up their bowls, opting to squat by the roadside to eat.
Lady Wu had often ventured out to play during her maiden years at her family home, so she was no stranger to such scenes. She confidently found a stool to sit on and had several maids squeeze together to sit as well. “Boss, are your soup noodles good here?” she asked.
Lady Wu loved soup noodles the most.
The owner was highly skilled at hand-pulling noodles, and in that short time, he had already, as if performing magic, fished out two bowls of noodles.
Assisting him were his wife and a young man who was likely his son.
The wife was responsible for serving the dishes, while the young man handled washing and cleaning, casually collecting a few bowls as he went. Playfully, he added, “Madam, young master, rest assured, everyone on this street knows our reputation. My father’s noodle-pulling skill is a family heirloom, and the broth is simmered with beef bones. If you’re not satisfied, we won’t charge you.”
Seeing that many people came here to eat, Lady Wu felt reassured and settled into her seat.
Li Xi asked, “You sell beef here too?”
In the Central Plains, cattle were valuable labor resources, and slaughtering them was prohibited. Commoners mostly ate mutton, pork, and fish.
Lady Wu also noticed, “There does seem to be a lot of beef sold around here.”
The owner smiled and said, “We’re close to the grasslands here, so eating meat is a bit more convenient than in other places, but life is still hard for the common folk.”
In fact, as soon as Li Xi and the others entered the city, they noticed that Shazhou was different from any place they had stayed before. The local customs were more rugged than anywhere else, with women selling goods on the streets everywhere, and the commoners on the road appeared sturdier than those in other parts of the Central Plains.
Seeing their disbelief, the owner shook his head and said, “Do you think that because we’re near the grasslands, we can just let cattle and sheep graze on the pastures and live better than people in the Central Plains?”
Li Xi and Lady Wu both nodded.
In the eyes of most people, those who eat meat must live better than those who eat vegetables.
As he tossed noodles into the pot, the owner explained, “Heading south from Shazhou leads to the desert, where nothing grows. To the north, there are vast grasslands and pastures, but the climate is colder. In a year, the livestock are lucky to have grass to eat for about four months.”
Even Lady Wu understood now and chimed in with interest, “What do the cattle and sheep eat when there’s no pasture?”
The local customs here were simple yet rugged, with far less emphasis on gender segregation than in the Central Plains. The owner had no psychological barrier speaking to a woman and answered naturally, “When the grass starts turning yellow, we begin cutting grass and stacking it into haystacks. At that time, the grass hasn’t completely withered, so the fresh grass can last until before the snow falls.
Once it starts snowing, the cattle and sheep still have some time before they fatten up for autumn, so they eat hay. When winter sets in, it’s naturally time to slaughter the cattle and sheep. The remaining ones still eat hay, but to prevent them from losing weight, we also feed them beans and salt. Besides, herders aren’t good at farming, so everything they eat and use has to be bought from others.”
Everyone rushes to sell their cattle and sheep in winter, so naturally, some that can’t be sold by then are kept until the following year. By that time, the prices are a bit higher than in autumn and winter, and the meat isn’t as fresh, yet it’s still more expensive. But living here, as long as you have money, eating beef and mutton is much more convenient than in your Central Plains.”
Just then, Lady Wu and Li Xi’s Soup Noodles were ready, each served a large bowl.
The noodle base was made from beef bone broth, the soup rich and flavorful, topped with a handful of coriander, its aroma delighting the senses.
This Soup Noodles was also different from those in the Central Plains. After taking a bite, Lady Wu praised, “The taste is truly excellent.”
The vendor, pleased by the compliment, grew even more proud and suggested they try a bite of noodles followed by a bite of garlic.
At that moment, a simple and honest-looking woman brought over several plates of sliced braised beef. The beef was also exceptionally well-braised, with ample spices and just the right amount of salt. Lady Wu enjoyed it and, finding the noodle vendor quite lively, generously rewarded him with a small ingot of silver.
Ordinary folks rarely saw gold or silver, let alone nobles who casually bestowed such rewards. The vendor stared at the silver, estimating it weighed at least two qian, his eyes wide with disbelief. He became even more forthcoming, sharing everything he knew about the local customs, traditions, and popular rumors.
Having heard some gossip, Lady Wu felt quite pleased. The meal also brought comfort to her stomach, which had suffered for over ten or twenty days, leaving her in high spirits.
Unbeknownst to them, their lavish behavior caught the attention of someone nearby. As soon as the two stood up, a person holding something in their arms rushed toward them. The hidden guards stationed nearby reacted immediately. The closest guard casually blocked and intercepted the assailant, who stumbled forward, crying out “Aiyo, aiyo” repeatedly. Something darted out from their arms, skimming the ground as it fled.
Lady Wu, frightened and pale, pulled Li Xi backward to retreat.
Several maidservants quickly surrounded the two, while the hidden guards even drew their blades.
The person lying on the ground was hauled up, their hand bones nearly broken in the chaos, now pitifully begging for mercy.
The thing scurrying swiftly on the ground was snatched up by Qiuju, who exclaimed angrily, “It’s a cat! Why would you rush at our Niangniang holding a cat? Do you harbor ill intentions?”
As the person’s face lifted, the noodle vendor recognized them. “Isn’t this Ma’s wife?”
The woman, known as Ma’s wife, burst into tears. She had merely heard that a wealthy and generous noble had arrived on Anfujie Street and wanted to bring her cat to seek a reward. Little did she expect that instead of gaining any benefit, she ended up beaten for no reason, nearly mistaken for an assassin and killed.
Ma’s wife sobbed as she explained her intentions: “Originally, my husband’s family were merchants, and our household was quite well-off. When my husband returned from a business trip, he brought me a pair of cats from outside. At first, we could afford to keep them, but now our family has fallen on hard times. These cats demand fish and meat every day, and we can no longer afford to care for them. It truly pains me to see them suffer. I heard there was a noble here and wanted to ask if you might be willing to take them in. If you could Reward me with a little silver, I could find a better home for this pair of cats.”
But who would try to sell cats in a manner that resembled an assassination attempt? Lady Wu wavered between belief and skepticism.
At that moment, the kitten in Qiuju’s arms poked out its little head, looking innocent as it meowed at Lady Wu. Its cries were sweet and soft, unlike the cats of the Central Plains, which were loud and shrill.
This cat’s appearance was also different from those of the Central Plains. It had long fur and a flat face, with large, round eyes. Its temperament wasn’t very lively either. An ordinary cat would struggle when held, but this one didn’t like to move much, seeming rather foolish.
Lady Wu fell in love with it at first sight and asked the noodle stall owner with wide eyes, “Is what this woman said true?”
The noodle stall owner respectfully replied, “Our Shazhou City isn’t very large, so I know all the well-known wealthy families. This woman’s husband’s family name is Ma. They were originally from the Central Plains but moved here because they often traveled to the Dashi Kingdom for trade. They were once quite wealthy, but her husband went to the Dashi Kingdom a few years ago and never returned. The relatives from her husband’s family then… If she wants to sell the kitten, she must truly have no other choice. She used to treasure it dearly and refused to sell it to anyone who asked.”
Lady Wu’s expression softened, and she asked Ma, “How much do you want for this kitten?”
Ma lowered her head and answered, “For this cat and another one at home, I originally exchanged two bolts of silk for them.”
Lady Wu: “Where is the other one?”
Ma: “It’s still at my home. The price isn’t an issue—you can give whatever you like, or nothing at all. I beg you to take in both cats.”
Lady Wu: “Since you can’t afford to keep them, send the other one over as well. We’re staying at the courier station here. Come find the courier station official later, and he’ll bring you to see my maid.”
Seeing the woman, Ma, kowtow and happily retreat.
After returning to the courier station, several maids gathered around the cat and examined it carefully.
They found the cat was indeed well-groomed, with glossy fur, trimmed claws, and pink paws. It didn’t look like it had been deprived of meat or care.
Moreover, the cat’s temperament was truly endearing. It must have been trained from a young age, as it only touched people with the soft pads of its paws when reaching out. It was not only gentle but also rarely meowed, and even when it did, its voice was very soft.
Qiuju held the cat and refused to let go.
Lady Wu scolded with a smile, “You silly girl, let me take a look.”
Qiuju handed the cat over for Lady Wu to inspect.
Lady Wu had kept cats as a child, but they were rather wild and would disappear at night.
This cat was different from those. It looked quite large but wasn’t very heavy when held. Its size was mostly due to its fluffy fur.
“It does shed a bit,” Lady Wu remarked.
Li Xi also liked this little kitten.
There were people in the palace who kept such animals, but they were used for catching mice, not for enjoyment, and they weren’t as beautiful as this one.
Seeing her expression, Lady Wu smiled and said, “Didn’t she say there’s another one? When she sends it over, you can have it.”
Not long after, the woman indeed brought the other cat. It was also a fluffy cat, even more foolishly adorable than the first, with a dazed expression. Wherever it was placed, it moved slowly or simply stayed put without moving at all.
Li Xi couldn’t take her eyes off it and refused to let go once she held it.
Lady Wu ordered someone to escort the woman back, rewarding her only with a pair of ordinary-looking bracelets.
The woman showed no disdain at all; she accepted it with great delight and immediately put it on her arm, kneeling down to express her gratitude.
Li Xi, however, saw through the underlying motive—this woman clearly intended to forge a connection with Lady Wu.
Although she might not be able to establish a close relationship, merely having the reputation of having dealt with Lady Wu would allow her to intimidate the relatives who coveted her family’s wealth when she returned to her husband’s household.
However, this would likely lead to an increase in people trying to curry favor with Lady Wu in the future.
Author’s Note:
This chapter offers 10 small red envelopes. Feel free to leave a comment!