“Setting up a stall?”
Liang Shi and Sun Shi exchanged surprised glances for a long while. Even Shen Shi stared dumbfounded at Wen Ranran, unable to speak, her heart filled with worry: Setting up a stall? How much hardship would that involve!
Sun Shi looked at Wen Ranran and chuckled lightly: “Why would our third young lady suddenly think of setting up a stall? Don’t tell me you went to the market and saw others setting up stalls, thought it looked novel, and decided to join the fun.”
Liang Shi also said: “A young lady from a respectable family appearing in public like that – how improper!”
Remembering the incident at noon, Sun Shi rolled her eyes: “Exactly, aren’t you afraid of bringing shame to the Wen family?”
Hearing this, Wen Ranran couldn’t help but smile: “And living in a place like this brings the family honor?”
They were no longer the master and mistress of the Bo Residence, yet they still put on airs as if they were. The eldest branch never took care of anything, the third branch gambled every day. Besides Wen Yiliang occasionally earning some money by copying books, everyone else in this family lazed around living off pawned possessions, yet still spending extravagantly as before. Now that there was nothing left to sell, they still didn’t think about how to escape their predicament.
Seeing the small details revealed the bigger picture. With the Wen family being such hopeless good-for-nothings, their decline was only a matter of time.
“Wen Ranran, I am your third aunt! How dare you speak to me like that!” Sun Shi pointed at Wen Ranran’s nose, raising her voice to scold, “With your temper, you want to learn how to do business? You’ll probably lose so much you’ll be crying for your parents!”
Though stung by the remark and feeling angry, Liang Shi had always looked down on Sun Shi’s tendency to throw tantrums at the slightest provocation, so she just shot her a couple of disdainful glances.
“Second sister-in-law, your daughter shows such disrespect to her elders. Are you going to discipline her or not?”
Before Shen Shi could speak, Wen Yiliang slammed the things he was carrying heavily on the ground, his face cold with anger: “What’s wrong with my daughter?”
Wen Yiliang was usually the most amiable person, gentle as clay with no temper to speak of. Now that he suddenly erupted in anger, his imposing aura startled Sun Shi into silence, her lips trembling twice without daring to make a sound.
“Our Ranran is only in her teens, yet she already knows to set up a stall to earn some household money. She’s so well-behaved and sensible – what is there for us to discipline?” As he spoke, he remembered how his pampered daughter had smiled apologetically and said every kind word to the vegetable farmer just to save one copper coin, and his heart ached. His voice rose several notes: “Even a child knows to earn money to help buy rice for the family. Now look at yourself! Lazing around at home all day, aren’t you ashamed?”
Hearing that Wen Ranran was so sensible yet had to endure such cold, harsh words, Shen Shi said sternly: “Of course she feels no shame, otherwise she wouldn’t be saying such things.”
Sun Shi’s face turned pale with rage, unable to speak for a long time.
Wen Ranran had no time to deal with her. She took the purchased items back to the room with Wen Yiliang, then went to the thatched shed to tidy up the wooden pushcart.
She looked around the thatched shed – small as a sparrow but complete with all vital organs. Not only were there pushcarts and farming tools, but also round bamboo winnowing baskets of various sizes, perfect for holding pancakes tomorrow. Wen Ranran happily brought out the items, and to her delight, discovered three or five jars piled in the corner.
With jars, she could make pickles! Pickling some cowpeas, chili peppers, radishes, bamboo shoots, and mustard roots – sour, spicy, and crisp. They would be delicious whether eaten as side dishes or used in jianbing!
Shen Shi and Wen Yiliang helped Wen Ranran sort everything out. The three of them worked busily for quite a while before everything was properly arranged.
Wen Ranran looked at the cleaned pickle jars and winnowing baskets drying in the courtyard, her eyes curved like crescent moons.
Shen Shi wiped her sweat with heartache: “Ranran, you’ve been busy for most of the day. Come inside and rest quickly!”
Wen Ranran, feeling happy, pulled Shen Shi toward the house and cheerfully explained what the winnowing basket and jars could be used for, and how the treasures in the shed had saved them a lot of silver.
In her joyful mood, she suddenly caught sight of the leftover food and BoBo in the slop bucket—several pieces of BoBo untouched, all thrown away.
Wen Ranran slowed her steps, her brow furrowing tightly.
Having grown up in an orphanage and later apprenticed under her master to learn cooking, she had been too young to handle a wok and spatula, so her master sent her to farm and grow vegetables to build her strength. Over the years, Wen Ranran had come to deeply understand that every meal was hard-earned. The Wen family could barely fill their stomachs, yet they wasted food like this!
Shen Shi noticed the change in Wen Ranran’s expression and followed her gaze, whispering, “Your third aunt cooked tonight. She tried to make Vegetable Corn Cakes like you but didn’t know how, so they turned out dry and hard. That’s why they were thrown away… What a waste of food.”
Wen Ranran snapped out of it and looked up at Shen Shi: “Mother, haven’t you eaten much either? I brought you some Hu Bing!”
She pulled Shen Shi quickly into the room and, like presenting a treasure, tucked the Hu Bing she had been carrying into Shen Shi’s hands.
Shen Shi looked down at the Hu Bing, caressing it carefully: “Why spend money on this? You should have bought more food for yourself.”
Wen Yiliang came over with a smile: “That cake didn’t cost anything. The vendor gave it to our Ranran for free because she’s so sweet-tongued. Our Ranran is quite impressive now—even the vegetable seller praises her!”
Shen Shi felt even more heartbroken and tried to hand the Hu Bing back to Wen Ranran: “I’m not hungry, Ranran. You have some more.”
“Father and I have already eaten. This is for you!”
Shen Shi held the cake, silent for a long while: A young lady from the esteemed Bo Residence, having to sweet-talk for a mere Hu Bing… Why must my Ranran suffer such a hard life…
Seeing Shen Shi reluctant to eat the Hu Bing, Wen Ranran gently held her hand and said word by word: “We will live a better life in the future.”
“Mother, I will redeem all the dowry you pawned!”
Shen Shi, moved to tears by Wen Ranran’s sparkling eyes, was being comforted by Wen Yiliang when a voice suddenly sounded from outside: “Second Brother, Second Sister-in-law?”
Wen Ranran looked outside, recognizing the voice as Wen Junliang’s.
Shen Shi quickly wiped her tears, put away the Hu Bing, and stood to open the door: “Third Brother, please come in and sit.”
Wen Junliang glanced around the room—broken windows, a leaky roof, cramped and narrow, with hardly any space to stand. He curled his lip in disdain. But then he remembered that it was his second brother who had given him the larger room to live in. Even if Second Brother hadn’t offered, the old lady would have insisted, but it was still his elder brother’s kindness.
With that thought, he gritted his teeth and stepped inside.
“Third Brother, is there something you need?” Wen Yiliang looked up and asked.
Wen Junliang glanced at Wen Ranran sitting by the bed and, without standing on ceremony, walked over with a playful grin: “Third Niece, your third aunt’s cooking is truly awful. Your third uncle is still starving! If you have time, could you make something for me?”
Afraid she might refuse, he quickly added: “I won’t make you do it for free—I’ll pay!”
With that, Wen Junliang immediately began digging for money.
Wen Ranran silently watched her ethereally handsome third uncle frantically patting himself down like a scratching monkey searching for money, finding it rather comical: Which comedian looks this good anyway!
After much effort, Wen Junliang managed to produce three copper coins from his person. He glanced down at the pitiful coins in his palm with embarrassment, forcing an awkward chuckle as he said, “This is all your third uncle has on him right now. Don’t worry, Third Niece, when I have money later, I’ll definitely make it up to you!”
Wen Ranran studied his expression and thought to herself: I’m not fond of empty promises!
But… since she’d need to set up a market stall and grow vegetables in the future, she might not be able to handle everything alone. Here was a ready source of labor – why not put him to use?
Thinking this, the corners of her lips curled upward: “Third Uncle, no need to make it up. Just help me with some tasks, and I’ll cook for you not just once, but every meal!”
This was definitely a good deal!
Overjoyed, Wen Junliang waved his hand grandly and promised: “Whatever you need help with, just say the word! Your third uncle guarantees he’ll handle it perfectly!”
Seeing how readily he agreed, Wen Ranran said clearly: “Third Uncle, help me grow vegetables, and I’ll prepare meals for you.”
“What?” Wen Junliang bristled at hearing he’d have to do such manual labor, his eyebrows shooting up as he stamped his foot. “You want me to do what?”
Wen Ranran remained unruffled, replying leisurely: “Grow vegetables!”
Wen Junliang glared at Wen Ranran, barely containing his anger as he turned and stormed off: “I won’t do it! I’d rather starve than grow vegetables!”
Wen Ranran calmly watched his retreating figure, calling out without urgency or annoyance: “Third Uncle, no rush! Go back and think it over carefully!”
Shen Shi looked at her smiling daughter with confusion: “Ranran, your third uncle already refused you. Why are you still so happy?”
Wen Ranran rested her chin in her hand, her smile widening: “Third Uncle will definitely come back to me.”
The next day.
When the sky was just lightening and the sun still half-asleep, Wen Ranran quietly got up.
After a quick wash, she rapidly cleaned and julienned potatoes, soaking them in water.
She brought water to a rolling boil, then deftly divided the large basin of flour in half with her hands – pouring boiling water into one half and cold water into the other. This half-scalded dough would be both soft and elastic, producing fragrant, soft yet chewy flatbreads that wouldn’t dry out.
While the dough rested, Wen Ranran started making the oil paste. She took some flour in a bowl, sprinkled in a bit of salt and mixed well. Then she heated some oil and poured it into the flour bowl, stirring continuously as she poured. The sizzling oil bubbled at the bowl’s edge, mixing with the snow-white flour to become a smooth, golden paste that released an aromatic oil fragrance.
When the time felt right, Wen Ranran turned to drain the potato strips, letting the water settle before pouring it off completely, revealing a thick layer of starch at the bottom.
She spread the starch evenly on a winnowing basket and placed it on the wooden rack in the yard to dry for future use – it could thicken sauces, make noodles, or prepare fried starch cakes.
Wiping her hands, Wen Ranran heated oil in the wok. When hot, she added ginger, garlic, and scallions, the slight moisture making the oil crackle. The aromatics fried until golden brown, their pungent fragrance spreading with the steam. After removing the fried aromatics, she added sweet bean paste, broad bean paste, and chili paste, the rich sauce aroma wafting forth and making one’s stomach growl with hunger.
As the sauce bubbled gently in the wok, Wen Ranran added some water and simmered it over low heat. She hurried to mix some starch with water, then added it to the wok to thicken the sauce.
She sniffed with satisfaction at the savory aroma tinged with sweet spiciness: with this sauce, even shoe soles would taste delicious!
Wen Ranran, filled with energy, kneaded the dough and found it had proofed perfectly. She began rolling and griddling the flatbreads.
The extremely soft dough was divided into evenly sized portions. After kneading each piece two or three times into round shapes, she rolled them into small rectangular sheets, brushed them with golden oil pastry, creating a beautiful contrast of snow-white dough against golden flakes.
Wen Ranran wrapped the oil pastry securely, reshaped them into round balls, flattened them, and wielded the rolling pin with exceptional dexterity. Her fair, delicate hands moved skillfully, transforming each portion into a perfectly round, paper-thin disc.
Methodically, she brushed a thin layer of oil in the pan. Once heated, she placed the dough rounds in. The sizzling oil soon released waves of floury fragrance. When the surface turned slightly golden with bubbles, she flipped them effortlessly.
The thin flatbreads cooked quickly. In the blink of an eye, they turned golden brown. As they shifted in the pan, the faint rustling sound against the metal revealed their crisp exterior and soft interior. The aromatic oil cakes were irresistibly enticing.
Shen Shi, hearing the commotion outside, rose and pushed the door open to find her recently recovered daughter busy in the kitchen. Her eyes stung with emotion: dawn had barely broken, and she wondered when Ranran had woken up.
Heart aching, she immediately dressed, intending to help.
As Shen Shi approached, she watched Wen Ranran effortlessly produce a glossy, golden-brown flatbread in mere moments, stunned into silence.
Wen Ranran glanced sideways at Shen Shi, her hands never ceasing movement, and smiled warmly. “Mother, why are you up so early?”
Shen Shi snapped out of her daze, affectionately stroking her daughter’s hair. “How could I keep sleeping while you work so hard? Is there anything left to do? Let me help.”
Wen Ranran didn’t stand on ceremony, pointing to the basin of bean sprouts. “Could you wash these for me, Mother?”
Shen Shi agreed at once, rolling up her sleeves to begin.
Wen Ranran stacked the finished flatbreads neatly, covering them with cloth and quilts to retain warmth, then turned to slice the meat into strips.
Shen Shi watched dumbfounded as the cleaver rose and fell, the large chunk of meat transforming into uniformly thin shreds in seconds.
White smoke rose from the oiled wok. Wen Ranran sautéed scallions until fragrant, then added shredded potatoes. The sizzling at the wok’s edge intertwined the aromas of vegetables and firewood. Shen Shi stared blankly at the glistening potato shreds.
Though she’d seen many fine dishes in her life, she’d never witnessed anyone make ordinary potatoes smell so divine!
The bean sprouts were prepared similarly, except Wen Ranran splashed aged vinegar after sautéing the scallions to release its tangy aroma before adding pork shreds and bean sprouts. The sharp acidity blended with meaty richness and the fresh scent of sprouts, making mouths water uncontrollably.
Wen Ranran loaded her stall supplies onto the pushcart, handing two freshly wrapped jianbing to Shen Shi. “Mother, I’ve left two for you and Father. Eat them while they’re hot—I’m off now!”
Shen Shi watched her retreating back, then looked down at the steaming jianbing in her hands, overwhelmed with emotion.
Morning sunlight spilled over the streets, layering everything in pale gold.
Under the bridge, workers who had hauled goods half the night slumped on the steps, massaging their sore shoulders. A hint of refreshing moisture carried by the breeze alleviated their exhaustion, making them feel truly alive again.
Bosses the world over are all the same breed of scoundrels—they work us day and night hauling and unloading cargo until we’re worn to the bone, yet they can’t even be bothered to provide a single meal. Serves them right if all their goods end up rotting in their hands!
A young man of about seventeen or eighteen wore a pained expression, his entire body stiff and aching as if his limbs no longer belonged to him. Rubbing his sore arms, he turned to the middle-aged man beside him and asked, “Dong Shu, are you heading back to eat?”
Dong Shu was equally exhausted, his body aching as if every bone had been dislocated. He frowned and shot the young man a sidelong glance. “Zhu Zi, us casual laborers have to rush from one job to the next the moment we finish one. We haven’t even secured our next job yet, and you’re already thinking about slacking off? Your whole family depends on you for food!”
Afraid that Dong Shu might get angry and refuse to bring him along for future work, Zhu Zi quickly waved his hands in denial. “No, Dong Shu, it’s not that. I’m just so hungry I can’t muster any strength. I thought I’d go back for a quick bite and return right after, so I can work better.”
At the mention of “hunger,” the stomachs of several men nearby growled loudly—Dong Shu’s included.
After working half the night, how wonderful it would be to have a warm meal!
The thought flashed through Dong Shu’s mind, but he shook his head, not daring to dwell on it for fear of losing his appetite for the dry Hu Bing. He tapped his tobacco pipe twice on the ground. “Weren’t there a few Hu Bing left from yesterday? Just make do with those!”
Reluctantly, Zhu Zi pulled out several pieces of Hu Bing. While distributing them, he accidentally dropped one. The hard, dry pancake hit the ground with a dull thud. The burly men exchanged glances, seeing faint tears in each other’s eyes: rock-hard!
Dong Shu watched, then picked up his tobacco pipe again. After taking a few puffs, he brooded for a long moment before saying, “Dong Zi, go buy some fresh Hu Bing for everyone. We can take these back home to heat up and eat later.”
“Alright!” Zhu Zi responded cheerfully, but as he stood up, it dawned on him that they’d be eating Hu Bing again. His raised eyebrows immediately drooped, and he trudged off with a dejected expression.
As he walked despondently down the street, he suddenly heard a clear, crisp female voice:
“Jianbing for sale! Fresh, steaming jianbing!”
“Big, affordable, and delicious jianbing! Five coppers gets you a pancake with vegetables—you won’t lose out, you won’t be tricked! Don’t miss out as you pass by, come take a look!”
What? Big jianbing? With pancake and vegetables?
How much? Five coppers??? Is she out of her mind???
Zhu Zi was so captivated he couldn’t move, drawn as if by a spell, he walked straight toward the voice.
He saw a fair-skinned young woman with almond eyes pushing a cart, smiling broadly as she hawked her wares along the street. In the middle of the cart lay glistening, oily pancakes; on the left was a large basin filled with vegetables, and on the right, an assortment of condiments.
Spotting him, the young woman immediately stopped. Her almond eyes curved into crescents, sweet as if honey were flowing straight into his heart. “Care to try some jianbing? Made fresh this morning, still warm!”
Zhu Zi stared at the glossy pancakes, then at the two basins of vegetables beside them. The shredded potatoes smelled richly fragrant, and the stir-fried bean sprouts with pork exuded a tantalizing sour aroma. The steam and savory scents wafted straight to his nose, making him feel as if he were welded to the spot, unable to take another step. He hardly dared imagine how happy he’d be to taste a bite!
Wait? Stir-fried bean sprouts with pork? A meat dish! How much did she say? Five coppers???
He took another look, pondered for a moment, and then understood. Having worked with Dong Shu for some time now, he’d seen his share of tricks—there was no way he’d fall for this little scheme!
This young lady must have been calling out the price for the shredded potatoes earlier—cheap to attract customers. Once people come over, she’ll surely charge more for the bean sprouts with meat. Tsk tsk, how cunning!
Wen Ranran noticed his skepticism and said with a cheerful smile, “Don’t worry, both dishes are five wen, mixed and rolled together.”
What? Both for five wen? Could he have misheard?
Zhu Zi stared wide-eyed, unable to believe it, hesitating whether to buy Hu Bing or try something new.
But… how could dry Hu Bing compare to this deliciousness!
Seeing his indecision, Wen Ranran beamed and said, “How about this? It’s my first day open, and you’re the first to stop by. I’ll roll one for you to try—free of charge! If you like it, you can come back and support my business later!”
She had sharp eyes and had already noticed this young man earlier with a group of laborers under the bridge. If he enjoyed it and spread the word, it would be like spending five wen on advertising—totally worth it!
Zhu Zi was stunned for a moment, then quickly waved his hands. “How could that be acceptable?”
Wen Ranran ignored him, brushing sauce onto the pancake while warmly asking, “Would you like scallions and cilantro?”
The rich aroma of the sauce wafted over, shattering Zhu Zi’s last shred of restraint. He nodded so vigorously it seemed his head might blur. “Yes, yes, yes!”
“Alright!”
Zhu Zi watched as she slathered on a generous amount of sauce, piled a heap of bean sprouts with meat and shredded potatoes onto the pancake—stacked up like a small mountain. The young lady seemed to think it wasn’t enough and added another handful before sprinkling on vibrant green scallions and cilantro, then drizzling on a bit more sauce.
The jade-like bean sprouts mixed with shredded meat, and the golden shredded potatoes made Zhu Zi swallow hard, unable to control his drooling.
Wen Ranran deftly rolled the pancake, wrapped half of it in oiled paper, and handed it to Zhu Zi.
Zhu Zi took the Jianbing, as thick as a man’s forearm, the warmth in his palm moving him to the brink of tears. Damn it! Finally, he could eat something warm!
Clutching the plump Jianbing, he eagerly took a big bite.
The pancake was chewy, with an oily, floury fragrance. As he savored it further, the sauce inside was savory, rich, and had a sweet, spicy, and tangy flavor that was utterly intoxicating. The shredded potatoes were crisp, the bean sprouts refreshingly tart and crunchy, complemented by the pungent scallions and the unique aroma of cilantro. The Jianbing was both fragrant and refreshing!
Good heavens! He had never tasted anything so delicious in his life! They were the same potatoes and bean sprouts, so why didn’t his mother’s cooking taste like this?!
Zhu Zi wolfed down several mouthfuls, lost in bliss, when suddenly he heard someone call his name:
“Didn’t I ask you to buy some Hu Bing? And here you are, already eating?”
Zhu Zi looked up and saw Dong Shu and the others approaching, stopping in their tracks. Only then did he remember he was originally supposed to buy Hu Bing…
Dong Shu came closer, craned his neck to peer into the Jianbing, and saw the golden shredded potatoes and jade-like bean sprouts coated in a reddish-brown, glossy sauce, the pancake glistening with oil under the sun. He immediately started salivating uncontrollably. He couldn’t help but take a closer look: There’s meat! There’s meat in it!
The group of them were so hungry their stomachs were sticking to their backs, eagerly waiting for Zhu Zi to bring back the pancakes, only to find this kid had already started eating!
Dong Shu slapped him on the back. “How dare you stuff something so expensive into your mouth?”
Zhu Zi felt a bit wronged and quickly explained, “Dong Shu, this pancake isn’t expensive. It has pancake, vegetables, and even meat in the filling—all for just five wen! Isn’t this way better than Hu Bing or steamed buns?”
Dong Shu and the others exchanged skeptical glances, looking at Wen Ranran with suspicion. “How much? Five wen? Really just five wen?”
Wen Ranran smiled cheerfully and nodded. “Really just five wen! Would you like to try one, uncles?”
After a moment’s hesitation, Dong Shu and the others scrambled to buy the jianbing: “We’ll take them! Only fools pass up a good deal!”
In the blink of an eye, a group of burly men stood by Wen Ranran’s cart, holding jianbing and eating with relish. Passersby found the sight so appealing that they couldn’t resist lining up to join the queue.
Before long, the jianbing had completely sold out.
Wen Ranran weighed the silver coins in her purse, grinning from ear to ear: a successful first battle!
Dong Shu reluctantly finished his last bite, smacking his lips with lingering satisfaction, the exhaustion from working through the night completely washed away.
For just five wen, he’d eaten something so fragrant and filling—was this young lady perhaps a bodhisattva sent from the heavens to save poor folks like them?
Well-fed and in good spirits, Dong Shu glanced at Zhu Zi. The boy was pitiable—his father had died young, leaving a household of elderly and weak. Toiling day in and day out just to earn seventy or eighty wen to feed the whole family was no easy task. Thinking this, he pulled Zhu Zi over and pressed five wen into his hand: “This meal’s on me!”
Zhu Zi repeatedly refused: “Uncle Dong, I didn’t pay for this pancake. The young lady said since it’s her first day open, and I was the first to come look, she made one for me to try—no charge.”
Dong Shu clicked his tongue at the simple-minded lad: What luck! But…
He looked up at the smiling young lady and placed his five wen on her cart: “Small businesses like yours depend on every penny—it’s hard earning meager profits day after day. You should take this money, miss.”
“A business must keep its word; it wouldn’t do to go back on promises,” Wen Ranran quickly returned the five wen, her smile as warm and comforting as the morning sun. “It’s just a pancake. If you uncles find my jianbing tasty, just help spread the word and bring me more customers.”
Dong Shu, a seasoned man of the world, pointed at Wen Ranran and joked to those beside him: “This girl’s sharp—she’ll go far someday!”
Wen Ranran tidied her cart as she replied: “Thank you for the kind words, uncle!”
After everyone had left, she quietly calculated in her heart.
She’d sold thirty-five portions today. Minus the free one, she’d earned one hundred seventy wen total! Subtracting the cost of ingredients, her net profit was about one hundred ten to twenty wen!
The days ahead would surely get better and better!
Filled with motivation, Wen Ranran found the vegetable seller’s stall from yesterday and bought tomorrow’s vegetables at a low price. After purchasing all other needed ingredients, she happily headed home, pondering what new foods she could make along the way.
Retaining regulars and attracting new customers—that was the sustainable way to run a business!
In the afternoon, the sun blazed fiercely. Flowers and leaves drooped listlessly, and even the birds perched on eaves and courtyard walls hung their heads in silence.
Inside the courtyard, Shen Shi bent over her work, fine beads of sweat dotting her forehead.
Sun Shi watched coldly as she washed dishes, not even considering lending a hand. Her eyes darting toward the courtyard gate, she feigned concern while filled with contempt: “Why hasn’t Third Girl returned yet? Could it be she didn’t sell anything and is hiding somewhere crying, too ashamed to come home?”
Shen Shi kept her head down washing dishes, offering no response.
Undaunted, Sun Shi turned to Wen Ruru in the yard: “Ruru, go to the street and look for your third sister.”
“I’m not going!” Wen Ruru pouted. “How embarrassing!”
Liang Shi glanced at Sun Shi before earnestly advising Shen Shi: “Second Sister-in-law, when Ranran returns, don’t scold her. Consider it a lesson bought with money—it doesn’t matter if she didn’t sell anything.”
Upon hearing these sarcastic remarks, even Shen Shi’s gentle temperament couldn’t stop her from retorting: “Sister-in-law, Third Sister-in-law, why are you so certain Ranran won’t be able to sell her goods? Besides, it’s only noon now – street vendors typically don’t pack up until evening.”
Liang Shi felt exposed and grew angry, though she maintained a smiling facade: “Second Sister-in-law, how can you say that? You’re confusing good intentions with bad – how can you claim we’ve made such assumptions?”
Sun Shi pursed her lips and spoke with feigned concern: “Third child is just a girl after all, even if she fails to sell anything, it’s not really…”
Mid-sentence, the courtyard gate suddenly creaked open, accompanied by a clear, joyful female voice brimming with excitement:
“Mother, I’ve sold everything I took with me!”