Qiao Shitou was just four years old this year, at that playful and mischievous age. But children are strange creatures—the more distant and unapproachable someone seems, the more they tend to like them.
Take Xie Linlang, for example. She had only been married into the Xiao family for a few days, carrying the aura of a high-ranking official’s daughter. Many of the sisters-in-law and aunties were still reluctant to get close to her, yet the children in the alley all adored this beautiful, sweet-smelling auntie.
Even a troublemaker like Shitou would become shy and bashful in front of Xie Linlang.
He obediently took the candy from Xie Linlang’s hand, politely said thank you, and then ran off to find his sister.
Sister-in-law Qiao had just taken out some silver when she saw her son acting as coy as a young maiden. For a moment, she found it quite amusing, but she also felt a little embarrassed that Xie Linlang had given her child candy. She smiled and said to Xie Linlang:
“You should keep the candy for yourself. Giving it to a little rascal like Shitou is a waste.”
Xie Linlang found this amusing. Why did Sister-in-law Qiao make it sound like she was a greedy little child?
“These are just leftovers from the banquet, for the children to enjoy.”
No mother truly believes that giving her child a few pieces of candy is a waste. Sister-in-law Qiao’s words were merely polite, but the act of giving candy to the child brought the two of them a little closer.
On the way to the market, Sister-in-law Qiao clearly became more talkative, taking the initiative to tell Xie Linlang about the market:
“We folks living in West City usually buy our groceries at the West Market. The market’s opening hours are regulated—the morning market generally runs from Mao hour to the end of Si hour, signaled by the market drum.”
Xie Linlang knew many things, but she was quite unfamiliar with these everyday matters of common life. Now that someone was explaining them to her in detail, she listened attentively.
Sister-in-law Qiao thought Xiao Ji had married a good wife—unlike the wealthy young ladies her mother-in-law encountered while doing business, who acted as if they were above everyone else. Seeing how young Xie Linlang was, she couldn’t help but want to say a bit more.
But as she spoke enthusiastically, she worried that the other might find her too talkative. Glancing sideways, however, she saw the young woman’s bright, attentive eyes and felt reassured enough to continue.
“The vegetables are freshest right when the morning market opens, but that’s when there are the most buyers, and the prices are higher. I usually go around this time—the vegetables are still fresh, but I can save a few coins.”
Xie Linlang listened carefully and asked appropriately:
“Sister-in-law Qiao, aren’t vegetable prices set uniformly?”
Xie Linlang wasn’t pretending to be ignorant. She had seen the Xie family’s purchasing matrons tallying accounts in the main kitchen, and the vegetable prices there hadn’t changed for half a year or even a year.
Sister-in-law Qiao was surprised that someone wouldn’t know this, but considering Xie Linlang’s background, it wasn’t strange. These young masters and ladies had servants to attend to them, so naturally, they wouldn’t need to worry about trivial matters like vegetable prices.
“The government does set vegetable prices, but the vendors haul their produce from far away to sell, so they have to make a profit. It’s allowed for prices to be a little higher or lower than the official rate.”
Xie Linlang seemed to understand but also had more questions. For instance, where did all the vegetables in the market come from? How were they transported? Didn’t the people of the capital grow their own vegetables?
As they chatted, they arrived at the West Market. Xie Linlang was quickly captivated by the bustling crowds and various vendors’ calls, temporarily setting aside the questions in her mind.
If one were to list the scenes that had shocked Xie Linlang in her fifteen years of life, the Thousand Li of Misty Waves behind the Royal Temple outside the capital was one. Accidentally learning that her Legal Mother had raised her with the intention of taking her to her husband’s family as a companion for her legitimate sister was another. Now, she could finally add one more.
The vast West Market stretched so far that even on tiptoe, Xie Linlang couldn’t see its boundaries. The vegetable stalls piled high with greens towered over her.
Sister-in-law Qiao, accustomed to the scene, led Xie Linlang to the vegetable stalls she frequented. She first inquired carefully about the day’s prices, then frowned as she haggled and selected vegetables—a demeanor completely unlike her usual shyness at home.
In no time, she had bought several types of greens. With Sister-in-law Qiao’s help, Xie Linlang even picked out garlic and scallions to carry in her hands.
Before leaving, Sister-in-law Qiao managed to get the vendor to throw in a few sprigs of fresh cilantro as an extra. Xie Linlang observed closely and noticed that although the vendor complained verbally, his expression showed no impatience. Clearly, even with Sister-in-law Qiao’s haggling, he still made a profit.
Since it was Xie Linlang’s first visit, Sister-in-law Qiao took her on a full tour of the West Market, pointing out where to buy rice, flour, grains, and oil, as well as where to find seasonings.
Finally, the two went to a grain shop to buy a bag of rice. Sister-in-law Qiao, worried that Xie Linlang might not be able to carry it, offered to help. To her surprise, the delicate-looking girl deftly hoisted the rice bag onto her back, her movements no different from the women around her carrying similar loads.
For a moment, Sister-in-law Qiao was at a loss for words. Finally, she said stiffly, “In the future, let’s wait for Brother Xiao’s day off to buy such heavy items.”
Xie Linlang nodded in agreement but didn’t take it to heart. She didn’t want to rely too heavily on Xiao Ji.
After parting ways with Sister-in-law Qiao and returning home, Xie Linlang sorted the rice and vegetables she had bought that day. As she wandered around the kitchen, she decided to discuss with Xiao Ji later about building a smaller stove for her to use for simmering soups and such. The large pot was not only wasteful with firewood but also inconvenient to use.
For lunch, Xie Linlang cooked herself a bowl of noodles. Though not as elaborate as those made in Xie Manor’s kitchen, the noodles with eggs were chewy and smooth, paired with fresh green vegetables—delicious in its own right.
After finishing these tasks, Xie Linlang stood in her courtyard, feeling somewhat idle. Strangely, she felt even more at leisure than she had in the Xie family.
Having slept in that morning, she wasn’t tired at this hour. In the end, she could only take out her embroidery hoop and continue with her needlework.
Aside from her culinary skills, Xie Linlang was also proficient in needlework. Even someone as fastidious as Madam Xie could find no fault with her embroidery.
Life in grand households wasn’t as entirely comfortable and carefree as outsiders imagined. On the contrary, apart from the legal wife, concubines who had fallen out of favor with the master had to either sell their belongings or rely on embroidery work, discreetly entrusted to others for sale, to earn a little extra silver for a better life.
In Xie Manor, it wasn’t just Xie Linlang’s birth mother who had done this; she wasn’t the only pitiable woman in the rear courtyard.
Although her circumstances were different now, Xie Linlang had no shops or farmland to rely on, meaning she had no income of her own. Relying entirely on Xiao Ji for support made her feel deeply insecure.
After all, sincerity could change in an instant. Who could guarantee that Xiao Ji would always be reliable?
But after going out today, Xie Linlang had to admit she knew far too little about life outside, and for the moment, she couldn’t think of anything she could do.
She didn’t want to touch the silver she had on her, so after much thought, she decided to start by making Xie embroidery to sell.