"Big sister, don't be angry anymore."
Qi Bao'er walked beside Chu Jiaojiao, her little face full of guilt as she said, "My daddy really likes you, and I really like you too. I truly want you to be my mommy."
Chu Jiaojiao kept her face stern and ignored her.
Little brat.
Didn't she say they'd build a bond first?
This was clearly forcing the issue.
She really shouldn't have believed her!
"Candied hawthorns~ Delicious candied hawthorns~"
On the street, vendors' cries rang out incessantly.
"Big sister, don't be mad anymore. Let me buy you a candied hawthorn, okay?" Knowing that Chu Jiaojiao was angry at her, Qi Bao'er tugged at her sleeve to coax her.
"Not eating!"
First a slap, then offering candy.
She wasn't falling for that!
Chu Jiaojiao was quite the proud one.
"Big sister~" Qi Bao'er whined clingily, "Bao'er was wrong~ We finally got to come out to the market, let Bao'er buy you something tasty. Getting angry makes you ugly, you know."
Qi Tushen tossed Bao'er two coppers. "Bao'er~ Go buy two candied hawthorns, one for you and one for your mother."
"Thank you, Daddy!"
Qi Bao'er took the money, went over and bought two, then handed one to Chu Jiaojiao. "Big sister, here you go. It's really sweet."
"I don't want it."
Chu Jiaojiao said sullenly, but it was still shoved into her hand.
"Come with me to sell the game first, then I'll accompany you both for a stroll. Whatever you want to eat today, I'll buy it for you."
Afraid that Chu Jiaojiao might get ideas about running away again, Qi Tushen wished he could tie her to his belt, not letting her out of his sight for even a step.
"Great! Then Daddy, let's go sell it quickly!"
Qi Bao'er licked her candied hawthorn and said happily. She took Chu Jiaojiao's hand and followed behind Qi Tushen.
Looks like escaping would be tough!
Chu Jiaojiao finally understood, and feeling frustrated, she took a big bite of the candied hawthorn—so sour it nearly made her teeth fall out.
She hated this!
No matter what, she would escape.
Let's see how long you can keep watching me!
Qi Tushen suddenly stopped in his tracks and used the cloth that had been covering Chu Jiaojiao's eyes earlier to cover her face.
It turned out that she was so fair-skinned and beautiful that along the way, many men's gazes had been stuck on her—young and old alike.
There were even envious and jealous looks from some women.
His little wife was truly a femme fatale.
Qi Tushen cursed under his breath, feeling quite unsettled.
"What are you doing?" Chu Jiaojiao asked in confusion.
"The sun is too strong. I'm afraid you'll get tanned."
Qi Tushen kept his face stern and said in a serious, deep voice.
This man was quite thoughtful!
Looking at the scorching sun overhead, Chu Jiaojiao quickly raised her hand to shield her eyes, but she didn't see Qi Tushen glaring viciously at the men who had been staring at her, his fierce expression saying "Keep looking and I'll gouge your eyes out," scaring them into looking away.
Qi Bao'er saw everything and snickered to herself.
Daddy's jealousy was really cute.
After selling the game, Qi Tushen had a few taels of silver in hand. He gave Chu Jiaojiao one tael. "Little wife, what do you want to eat? Go buy it yourself!"
Chu Jiaojiao didn't know much about ancient prices, so she asked, "What can this money buy?"
"One tael of silver can buy a lot of good food. You can get whatever you want. If it's not enough, just ask me for more."
This man was pretty generous.
Although she didn't approve of Qi Tushen's bullying ways of keeping her locked up, Chu Jiaojiao discovered that this man wasn't entirely without merits.
At least he was willing to spend money on a woman.
With the mindset of "if it's free, why not," Chu Jiaojiao decided to toss all those unhappy thoughts to the back of her mind and properly enjoy strolling through the ancient market.
Since she was here, she might as well make the best of it!
Chu Jiaojiao then swaggered through the market, with Qi Bao'er trotting happily along beside her.
To prevent anyone else from peeking at his little wife, Qi Tushen put on a fierce, menacing look and even deliberately rolled up his sleeves, flexing his strong biceps as he sauntered around.
Like a bodyguard protecting a flower.
With that posture, people might have thought he came straight out of a bandit den, and the passersby all hurriedly moved out of his way.
The originally crowded street became considerably more spacious.
Chu Jiaojiao walked along unimpeded with Qi Bao'er.
"Baozi! Freshly steamed baozi~"
Catching the aroma, Qi Bao'er stopped in her tracks and refused to move, pointing at the vendor who was hawking his goods. "Big sister, I want some!"
"Buy, buy, buy."
Chu Jiaojiao was very liberal with other people's money. She waved her hand in a very wealthy manner, walked up to the baozi stall, and asked, "What fillings do you have?"
"Pork, tofu, chive…"
"Give me two of each. I want ten."
The vendor's face lit up with a smile. "Right away! Sir, I'll get those for you now."
"Big sister, that's too many. One is enough for me." Qi Bao'er felt sorry for the money her daddy worked so hard to earn, so she quickly spoke up.
Chu Jiaojiao glanced at her sideways. "Did I say they're all for you?"
She could wolf down five in one go!
She'd been eating bland, watery food these past few days—today she needed to make up for it.
"But ten of them—we can't finish them all. It'd be a waste."
"Bao'er's fine, let her buy them. If she can't finish them, Daddy will eat them." Qi Tushen said with a foolish grin, gazing at Chu Jiaojiao with doting affection.
Qi Bao'er: "…"
Look at how hopeless her daddy was.
The vendor deftly grabbed ten buns, wrapped them in oil paper, and handed them to Chu Jiaojiao. "Miss, vegetable buns are one wen each, meat buns are two wen each. That'll be twelve wen total." Chu Jiaojiao couldn't be bothered to do the math and simply handed him a tael of silver.
The shopkeeper gave her back a pile of copper coins.
So many she couldn't even hold them all.
Seeing this, Qi Tushen pulled a money pouch from his chest and gave it to her. "Wife, this money can last you a long time. Keep it all in here."
"Thanks."
Chu Jiaojiao glanced at the money pouch, thinking that when she eventually escaped, she'd still need to save up some money.
She took the pouch, stuffed all the coins inside, and tied the opening tight.
"Wife, once you're with me, I won't treat you badly. I guarantee you'll eat well and live well." Qi Tushen patted his chest in assurance.
But Chu Jiaojiao just rolled her eyes.
As a high-quality woman of the 21st century, she had no need to cling to a man.
Even if she couldn't return to the Minister's residence, she could find a way to support herself.
The world was vast, and there would always be a place for her, rather than staying here to marry and have children.
"Sister, give me a meat bun." Qi Bao'er reached out her hand.
Chu Jiaojiao handed her one, then gave one to Qi Tushen as well.
"Wife, you and Bao'er eat. I'm not hungry."
Qi Tushen waved his hand.
"Suit yourself."
Chu Jiaojiao pursed her lips and took a big bite of her bun.
She must have been truly hungry, because she wolfed down six in one go.
She was so full she let out a burp.
Qi Bao'er hadn't even finished her one bun. She stared in shock. "Sister… you… you're amazing."
How could Daddy ever afford to feed her?!
Chu Jiaojiao was actually quite proud of her appetite. "What's this? I could easily down ten buns in one go before."
Qi Bao'er: "…"
"It's fine, it's fine. Being able to eat is a blessing. It's all my fault for starving my little wife these past few days, only giving her thin, watery porridge." Qi Tushen chuckled softly.
"Daddy, how about we get a different wife?" Qi Bao'er whispered, her heart full of worry.
She got a "thump" on the head from Qi Tushen, who said firmly, "No swapping!"
Qi Bao'er: "…"
Ouch, that hurt!