9
Buying Pastries
“Hey, let me see the game in your hands. If it’s good, I’ll take it all.” This was Gao Wenjie, the acting manager of Yue Lai Inn.
The foot traffic had been heavy these past few days, with many customers craving wild game. But game wasn’t easy to hunt. Watching customers go to other inns was truly worrying.
His establishment had built its reputation precisely on expertly prepared wild game with a unique flavor that was famous far and wide.
Just after stepping out of the inn, he spotted a young gentleman.
His eyes held a touch of aloofness that made him hard to read, yet with another glance, only gentleness remained—refined and cultivated.
Dressed in dark green robes, the teardrop mole at the corner of his eye seemed profoundly sentimental. With his eyelids slightly lowered, it accentuated his gentle demeanor. When he lifted his gaze, his handsome face broke into a smile—clear and pure.
Young women and Ge’er on the street shyly stole glances, seemingly wondering who this distinguished gentleman might be.
He held two pheasants and two rabbits in his hands, yet he didn’t resemble a hunter at all, but rather a young master from a wealthy family.
“Let’s talk over there.” He Xunzhou moved toward the roadside first, not wanting to stand in the middle of the street being discussed like some spectacle.
The gazes from those women and Ge’er were far too intense.
“Alright, alright.” Whatever you say. Gao Wenjie hurried to follow He Xunzhou’s steps.
He Xunzhou placed the pheasants and rabbits on the ground, each animal’s legs bound with straw ropes.
Gao Wenjie inspected them with satisfaction. Though one was dead, it appeared freshly killed.
“I’ll take all four. I’ll give you thirty-five coppers for the rabbits—normally it’d be thirty. Consider it building good relations.” Social connections were all about give and take.
“Acceptable.” Meaning he could bring his future catches here each time.
“Haha, straightforward! Forty coppers for the pheasants. If you sell elsewhere, no one will offer prices as high as mine.”
“Then I’ll rely on your generosity.” He Xunzhou clasped his fists and gave a slight bow—when in Rome, do as the Romans do.
“I’m Gao Wenjie. You can call me Brother Gao.” He returned the courtesy.
Gao Wenjie appeared to be in his forties.
“Brother Gao.”
“Listen, whenever you catch game, bring it to the Yue Lai Inn up ahead and give it to the staff inside. I’ll inform them beforehand. Don’t worry, this big brother won’t shortchange you.”
“This younger brother naturally trusts you.”
Before coming to sell the game, He Xunzhou had already researched market prices. What Gao Wenjie offered was quite generous for the trade.
But this was merely playing along—anyone could do that.
It was a mutually beneficial arrangement. Next time he’d hunt a pheasant specifically for Gao Wenjie without charge, as a gesture of sincerity.
After paying He Xunzhou 140 coppers, Gao Wenjie took the game and bid farewell.
Last time he’d come and gone in a rush. Checking his watch, he still had an hour left. He observed the ancient marketplace:
Bustling crowds moved through the market, a cacophony of voices filling the air with endless hawking cries.
The streets were extraordinarily lively, filled with cheerful laughter as people wove through the crowds.
Stalls lined the streets displaying all kinds of fresh delicacies and exquisite accessories, everyone selecting items they fancied.
Carriages and horses flowed through the marketplace, vehicles shuttling back and forth.
Was this the prosperous age of ancient times?
He Xunzhou recalled how Liu Shuhuai constantly craved sugar-coated haws on a stick and pastries—he should bring some back for him.
And clothes too.
He Xunzhou went to buy clothes first. Looking up at the shop sign where “Shi Mian Boutique” was written in flamboyant calligraphy, he entered.
Ordinary clothing set: 300-500 coppers.
Hemp cloth (per bolt): 100-300 wen.
(For example, one bolt of hemp cloth costs between 100-300 wen and can make two garments. Processing fees generally depend on the fabric quality – the more expensive the fabric, the higher the processing fee. For hemp cloth, the processing fee for two garments is 50 wen.)
Cotton: 500 wen.
Silk fabric: 1-1.5 taels.
Silk satin: 2-5 taels.
Gauze: 2 taels.
Raw silk: 1 tael.
Clothing in ancient times was truly expensive. Fortunately, he had clothes to wear as soon as he took human form.
His money wasn’t enough. What he wanted were finished garments, which would definitely include processing fees.
Coarse fabric wasn’t good. If his financial situation allowed, he wanted to buy silk satin to make clothes for Liu Shuhuai.
Unfortunately, his money wasn’t even enough for a fraction of the cost.
Should he go hunt wild boars? As a tiger, why would he fear wild boars?
He Xunzhou didn’t stay long, leaving after looking around for a while.
After he left, the customers at Shi Mian Boutique began whispering among themselves.
“Who was that man? I haven’t heard about any wealthy young master coming here for sightseeing.”
“Don’t even think about it – someone like that wouldn’t be interested in you,” her companion said bluntly.
“Can’t I just look? Hmph.” The girl in pink clothes was somewhat indignant. She wasn’t bad-looking either. Well, it was just a chance encounter anyway.
They returned to discussing which clothes looked better.
“I think this purple outfit is beautiful.”
“The blue one is nicer. Didn’t you buy a blue hairpin the other day? It would match perfectly.”
“That’s true.”
The girl in pink examined the blue clothes more carefully – they were indeed attractive.
“Shopkeeper, bill please.”
He Xunzhou bought two sugar-coated haws on a stick, one wen each.
Then he went to the pastry shop to buy cakes.
Osmanthus Cake, Mung Bean Cake, Ruyi Cake, Water Chestnut Cake, Date Paste Cake, Dragon Beard Candy…
The variety was dazzling.
“Which of these pastries do children like the most?” This question couldn’t go wrong.
“Customer, look – this is Osmanthus Cake. It has a soft, chewy texture, sweet but not cloying. Children love this one the most. Date Paste Cake, a pastry made with date paste as the main ingredient. It has a reddish hue and rich flavor. This pastry uses high-quality red dates as raw material, carefully processed into filling. The outer layer is crispy, the filling is rich and thick, the color is reddish and appealing, stimulating one’s appetite…”
“Give me one of each, and two of the ones that sell the most every day.” Never mind, he’d take them all.
“Certainly, customer! Please wait a moment.” How generous.
Each pastry cost 2-3 wen.
Anyway, he had the Dimension to keep things fresh.
He also bought three meat buns, spending 6 wen.
He only had 20 wen left on him – money was hard to earn but easy to spend.
But buying things for Liu Shuhuai was worth it.
After walking a long distance and confirming no one was around, he stored everything in his Dimension, transformed into a tiger, and went to find Liu Shuhuai, who was usually at their usual spot.
The days after New Year were quite busy with visiting relatives, so Liu Shuhuai found himself with free time.
Though he didn’t need to work in the fields, he had to gather firewood in the mountains every day. He heard people say that excess firewood could be sold at the market, which would provide some income.
Today, his entire family had gone out for New Year visits.
Liu Shuhuai carefully tucked his money pouch inside his clothes, touching it from time to time, then took small paths to the market.
Looking at the changes in the market, Liu Shuhuai sighed about how things changed while people remained the same. The old lady who used to sell noodles here was gone, replaced by a pork vendor.
He didn’t want to linger, hurriedly buying four meat buns and two vegetable buns. Seeing the sugar-coated haws on a stick ahead, he licked his chapped lips and walked away.
So red and plump – they must be very sweet.
He bought a pack of Osmanthus Cake. He remembered that on the eve of Liu Yao Zong’s birthday, he had seen his aunt secretly buy three pieces of Osmanthus Cake for Liu Yao Zong. He saw it while washing his hands—it looked so fragrant.
He wanted to taste it too.
After a few glances, he returned to his room. None of them noticed.
After buying the Osmanthus Cake, he headed back. He was somewhat afraid of crowded places.
It cost him thirty-two copper coins in total.
Though it pained him to spend the money, the thought of sharing it with Da Hei lifted his spirits.
Liu Shuhuai joyfully took the cakes and meat buns to find Da Hei.
Whenever Da Hei found something delicious, he would always roll around playfully. Da Hei was never picky about food.
As long as it was daytime, Da Hei would be waiting for him at their usual spot on Green Bamboo Mountain.
Sometimes Da Hei wasn’t there.