13
He Tian had grabbed his wrist.
After all, he was her first customer, and unlike Mrs. Li and He Erlang, who outright tried to steal from her, He Tian hadn’t used much force.
Otherwise, the moment his hand reached out, it would have been broken instantly.
Even so, the man screamed in agony.
The ghost market was a melting pot of all kinds of people, and incidents like this were common. While not unusual, it didn’t stop passersby from stopping to watch the spectacle.
Seeing an adult man bullying a young girl—oh no, it was the man causing trouble and getting subdued by the girl who had grabbed his wrist with one hand—the crowd, initially just curious, found it quite interesting. Soon, quite a few people had gathered.
“Let go! Let go, quick!” The man was sweating from the pain, feeling like his hand was about to break.
He Tian didn’t let go. Instead, she said to him very seriously, “I told you many times just now, not for sale at any price.”
Oh, so he was bullying the young girl, trying to force a sale, but ended up getting taken down instead. How amusing.
Seeing how young she was and how plain her clothes were, she was clearly someone who hid her strength well. Such things happened often enough; it wasn’t particularly rare.
The man knew he had been unlucky enough to run into a tough opponent—the “melting pot” of the ghost market applied not only to goods but also to people. While it didn’t happen every day, every year there would be some hidden masters appearing in the market, either buying or selling. Though the probability was low, everyone knew that in the ghost market, you shouldn’t offend people lightly. If you ran into a reclusive master and got killed in the market, no one would intervene.
He had indeed underestimated He Tian because she looked young and frail, selling ordinary items.
He hadn’t expected to hit such a hard wall.
“I understand, I understand,” he cursed his bad luck inwardly while begging for mercy. “Miss, please let me off this once. I won’t dare act rashly again!”
He Tian then released him.
The man didn’t dare stay any longer. The moment he was free, he turned and ran.
“Wait!” He Tian called out to him.
Afraid she might still want to settle scores, the man didn’t even dare look back, just kept running.
He Tian was puzzled. “Don’t you want the tiger teeth anymore?” The price had already been agreed upon!
Because he wanted them, she had broken them off in front of him. If he said he didn’t want them now, what if she got angry and chased after him to beat him up?
The man hesitated for a moment, but finally, trembling with fear, he retreated and took out one tael of silver. Keeping his distance, he said, “You… you throw them over to me.”
He Tian took the silver, weighed it in her hand—exactly one tael, no more, no less—and, as he asked, tossed the tiger teeth to him.
The man caught the tiger teeth and fled as if a ghost were chasing him.
He Tian thought he was a bit odd, but people came in all kinds of strange varieties. On her way here, she had already seen many peculiar people. She glanced at his fleeing figure once and then paid no more attention. Putting away the silver, she took out the pre-cut pieces of meat from her backpack to feed Dahuang.
The onlookers who hadn’t yet left let out soft exclamations of surprise.
Tiger cubs weren’t common at all.
Immediately, someone approached to ask the price.
Without lifting her head, He Tian said, “Not for sale at any price.”
Hearing these familiar words and recalling the man who had just run off howling, the inquirer understood the situation.
With that precedent, and since no one had an indispensable need for a tiger cub, no one else tried to hit that hard wall and pester her about buying Dahuang.
However, this incident drew more attention to He Tian’s stall, and the remaining goods sold quickly.
One skeleton, two whole wolves, six wolf pelts, and the pair of tiger teeth sold separately—all together, she made nine taels of silver.
He Tian didn’t know if this was considered a lot or a little. Since it was essentially a business with no cost, she was quite satisfied with it herself. From the scattered memories of the original owner, for a family so poor they couldn’t even afford to eat their fill, this was already a considerable sum. It should be enough to hire a doctor and buy medicine for Liu Erniang.
If there was anything left over, she would buy some food to take back.
When she had come earlier, she saw many food stalls, and everything smelled very fragrant and delicious. She hadn’t tried any of them.
Although she really wanted to taste them, keeping in mind that Liu Erniang’s medical treatment was the priority, she forcefully restrained herself and only took out some jabuticaba from her backpack to satisfy her cravings.
It was still early; dawn hadn’t broken yet, and the shops in town weren’t open. He Tian wasn’t in a hurry to leave anyway, so she continued strolling slowly through the ghost market with Dahuang in her arms.
The more she strolled, the more she wanted to buy things. There were so many things she had never seen before. When she had money, she would buy everything she had never seen.
After wandering around for two or three laps, when it was about time to leave…
“Have you heard? There’s been a huge uproar in the capital lately; the entire court is in turmoil!”
“Any news? Tell me quickly…”
“The Astronomical Bureau observed the stars at night—a guest star has invaded the Purple Forbidden Enclosure. They say the entire imperial city is under martial law. Even merchant convoys coming and going are being strictly inspected. My brother-in-law is trapped outside the city, waiting in line for individual checks before being allowed in.”
“When did this happen?”
“…”
He Tian didn’t understand and wasn’t interested. Holding Dahuang, she walked forward, drawn by a very, very fragrant smell. She was irresistibly lured to a stall.
By the time He Tian walked away, the two were still muttering.
“I heard it’s rebels plotting a revolt. The imperial city is in chaos right now. Better not go to the capital before the new year, to avoid any trouble that might ruin the holidays.”
“Rebellion? Who?”
“I’ll tell you secretly, don’t spread it around. I heard it’s…”
Although He Tian had sharp hearing, because she wasn’t interested, she automatically tuned it out and didn’t catch the rest. She was now hesitating in front of a stall billowing with hot steam and fragrant aromas.
The aroma was emanating from this stall.
Even without looking at the banner, she recognized it—it was wonton. Yao Yao’s journal had mentioned it, and she had even made them herself many times with various fillings. But He Tian had never eaten them. Back when she read the journal, she was very curious and really wanted to try them.
After hesitating for a moment, she finally said to the stall owner, “Uncle, one large bowl of fresh meat wontons.”
Since she was here, she might as well give them a try.
A bowl of wontons cost seven wen, which wouldn’t make much difference.
“Coming right up!”
Soon, the stall owner cooked the wontons and brought them over.
A large, coarse ceramic bowl, filled to the brim with big fresh meat wontons—thin-skinned with generous fillings. The wrappers were cooked just right, translucent yet still chewy, looking very springy. The filling showed through the semi-transparent wrappers as a tender pink. The broth was simply seasoned with sesame oil and scallions, yet its aroma was mouthwatering without even trying.
Just by looking and smelling, it seemed incredibly delicious.
After the first bite, one thought popped into He Tian’s head: she wanted to eat fresh meat wontons every day from now on.
They were so delicious.
She ate with her face practically buried in the bowl. After finishing, she really wanted another bowl but restrained her desire.
There would be other opportunities later. No rush.
Just as she finished paying, she heard a rooster crow. Immediately after, all the stalls began to pack up.
Dawn was approaching, and the ghost market was closing. He Tian followed the crowd toward the exit. After leaving, she hadn’t walked far when she saw the city gates opening, with a steady stream of people entering the city.
At this hour, most of those entering the city were peddlers carrying shoulder poles, selling all sorts of things, mostly food.
The city in the early morning was completely different from how it was at night. It was as if it had suddenly come alive. Now coinciding with the morning market, there were all kinds of hawking sounds, bargaining, greetings and salutations… a lively hustle and bustle. Like a cat venturing out for the first time, she looked left and right, taking everything in.
There were even more delicious foods and unfamiliar things at the morning market, but she restrained herself and didn’t spend another penny.
When He Da was still alive, for any illnesses or pains, they would often go to Zhengji Hall. After Liu Erniang fell ill, they had also gone to Zhengji Hall to see a doctor and get medicine. Not familiar with the county town at all, He Tian went to Zhengji Hall again.
She had originally thought she would have to spend a lot to invite a doctor for a house call. Unexpectedly, Doctor Qi of Zhengji Hall still remembered her and Liu Erniang. After listening to her describe Liu Erniang’s condition, he prescribed a dose of medicine for her to take home and start with.
He Tian didn’t understand medicine, but because she often got injured while doing tasks, she had some knowledge of medicinal herbs. The herbs Doctor Qi prescribed were mostly mild and nourishing. Relieved, He Tian went to get the medicine, planning to bring Liu Erniang into town for Doctor Qi to examine once her condition improved a bit.
Because several of the herbs were quite expensive, one dose cost five taels of silver.
She still had four taels left, and He Tian was quite happy—first, because she had enough for the medicine, and second, because she had some money left over to buy things.
So, after leaving the pharmacy, she no longer just looked without buying.
First, she bought a freshly fried, fragrant meat pie, eating it as she walked. Then she went to a grain shop to buy staples like rice, flour, and cooking oil. Passing by a clothing store, she went in and bought a set of thick, durable cotton clothes for herself and one for Liu Erniang. That cost two taels in total, leaving her with two taels left.
If not for the high cost of medical treatment and medicine, daily living expenses weren’t actually that expensive. She had filled her backpack with so many purchases for only two taels. She had only been to the big mountain twice, and it still held countless undiscovered treasures. If she went a few more times, she would soon have quite a bit of money. He Tian, already full of hope for the future, felt even more convinced that life was indeed good.
She also bought herself three types of snacks she had never tried before and brought a few fragrant meat buns and a bowl of tender tofu pudding for Liu Erniang. Seeing that it was getting late, she lingered no longer and headed straight out of the city.
As she was walking toward the city gate, a flash of vibrant red caught her eye from the side.
It looked familiar. She looked up and saw a peddler carrying a stick wrapped in straw, on which were inserted the skewers of red fruits she had glimpsed.
Recognizing what it was, He Tian quickly walked over. “How much for the candied hawthorns?”
This was Yao Yao’s favorite snack. She often made them and frequently recorded them in her journal. Having never tasted them, He Tian had always been curious about what candied hawthorns tasted like, enough to make Yao Yao, who lived in a world full of delicious food, love them so much.
“Two wen each.” The peddler lowered the hawthorn stick. “How many skewers would you like?”
He Tian took out her money. “One skewer.”
After taking the candied hawthorn from the peddler, He Tian stared at it curiously for a long while.
The transparent, ice-like coating on the outside of the hawthorns must be the sugar coating, it was quite pretty. She tentatively took a bite.
The sugar coating was sweet, crisp, and melted in her mouth. The hawthorn was tangy and sweet. The flavor was indeed excellent. Like a cat that had gotten its paws on catnip, she squinted her eyes with pleasure as she ate.
So delicious. From now on, she wanted to eat candied hawthorns every day.
Just as she was happily munching on her candied hawthorn, she suddenly sensed someone staring at her.
The moment she noticed, she immediately turned her head to follow the gaze.
A man hiding behind a steamed bun stall hastily fled in panic.
He Tian: “?”
Although she hadn’t seen his face clearly and he had changed his clothes, He Tian recognized him at a glance.
It was the masked man from the ghost market who had bought her tiger teeth and tried to forcibly buy Dahuang.
Was he unwilling to give up, disguised himself, prepared thoroughly, and come back to try and steal Dahuang?
She looked away and ignored him, but she still kept a sliver of her attention alert—it never hurt to be cautious.
Before leaving, she bought two more candied hawthorn skewers—one for Liu Erniang and one for herself.
The masked man indeed followed her all the way to the city gate. She casually walked out of the city, and just when she thought he would make a move after she left, the masked man stopped following.
How odd.
Eating her candied hawthorn, He Tian pushed this little incident to the back of her mind and cheerfully admired the scenery along the way, so different from what she’d seen at night.
After walking for a while, when there were few people on the road, He Tian took the restless Dahuang out of her backpack and let him run free.
The fields during the day were much livelier than at night.
Birds, beasts, and insects were all more abundant.
Dahuang was overjoyed, pouncing on things the whole way.
As they were walking along, Dahuang, who had pounced into the roadside grass to play, suddenly let out an “ow.”
He Tian, who had just reluctantly finished her last candied hawthorn and was licking the stick: “?”
Looking up, she saw Dahuang holding something in his mouth, making low growling sounds as he cheerfully crawled out of the grass.
It was the cub of some animal with yellow-brown striped fur.
Since Dahuang had its mouth clamped over most of the cub’s head, He Tian couldn’t immediately tell what it was.
Dahuang trotted up to He Tian and, with a thump, dropped whatever was in his mouth in front of her like an offering, then looked up and gave an “ow.”
After recognizing what it was, He Tian’s eyes widened slightly.
The little wild boar cub was clearly terrified by Dahuang. As soon as it hit the ground, its four hooves scrambled wildly, and it tumbled and rolled its way to He Tian’s feet, as if seeking refuge.
He Tian looked at the little wild boar cub at her feet, her eyes bright, with only one thought in her mind: domestic pigs were domesticated from wild boars. If she raised this cub, couldn’t she eventually butcher it for meat?
The little wild boar cub, having just escaped the tiger’s mouth, shivered.
**