Just then, Zhou Cheng happened to be turning the corner onto the street where Su Ji Eatery was located. Carrying an empty bamboo basket, his steps were light, and his face still held the joy from selling bamboo tube rice successfully. He saw a young woman hurriedly running out of the eatery, nearly colliding with him.
“Miss, be careful!” Zhou Cheng quickly stepped aside to make way.
But the young woman seemed not to hear him. Without looking up, holding up her skirt, her eyes reddened, she stumbled forward, almost tripping over a stone on the ground. Zhou Cheng instinctively reached out to steady her, but she had already run far away, leaving behind only a faint fragrance mixed with powder and tears, and a small, fallen pearl earring on the ground.
Zhou Cheng picked up the earring. The pearl was not large, but it was round and lustrous, set in a delicate silver mount—clearly not something from an ordinary household. He looked up, watching the young woman’s figure disappear around the street corner, and for some reason, his heart stirred.
The young woman was exceptionally beautiful—with an oval face, fair and clear skin, and delicate features. Even with her eyes red from crying, she could not hide her delicate charm. Especially those tear-filled eyes, like water-soaked glass, moist and shimmering, filled with panic and sorrow, making one’s heart soften.
Whose daughter was she? Why would she run out of Su Ji in tears? Zhou Cheng wondered, holding the slightly cool pearl earring in his hand. He was pondering whether to chase after her to ask or hand it over to his cousin or aunt when he saw Lin Wenxuan also rushing out of Su Ji.
Lin Wenxuan’s face was pale, his expression flustered, and his steps were unsteady. He didn’t notice Zhou Cheng at the street corner at all, only staring in the direction where the young woman had disappeared. His lips moved slightly, as if he wanted to call out but couldn’t make a sound. In the end, he dejectedly lowered his hand and stood there like a soul-less stone statue.
Zhou Cheng frowned. Lin Wenxuan? Was this young woman… connected to him?
After a moment of hesitation, he walked over. “Brother Lin?”
Lin Wenxuan snapped back to reality. Seeing Zhou Cheng, a trace of embarrassment flashed across his face before he forced himself to calm down and nodded. “Brother Zhou.” His voice was dry.
“That young woman just now…” Zhou Cheng probed cautiously.
“It’s nothing,” Lin Wenxuan interrupted him, his tone somewhat stiff. “I have matters to attend to. I’ll take my leave.” Without waiting for Zhou Cheng’s response, he turned and walked away quickly, his retreating figure almost like a hasty escape.
Zhou Cheng watched him leave, his confusion growing. He clenched the earring in his hand and turned to enter Su Ji Eatery.
Seeing Zhou Yunniang busy attending to customers at the front and having no time to deal with him, he lifted the curtain and went straight into the kitchen. Su Mo was standing in front of the stove, her back to him, slowly stirring the soup in the pot with a long ladle. The soup was milky white, bubbling and boiling, with a rich aroma.
“Nian He,” Zhou Cheng called out.
Su Mo didn’t turn around, only responding with an “Mm,” her ladle never stopping.
Zhou Cheng walked to her side, placed the empty bamboo basket down, and looked at her calm profile. He asked carefully, “I just… saw a young woman running out in tears outside, and Lin Wenxuan chased after her. What happened? Whose daughter is she?”
Su Mo’s stirring hand paused briefly before continuing. Her voice remained even. “She’s the daughter of Registrar Zhang. It’s nothing, just a minor argument.”
“A minor argument?” Zhou Cheng didn’t believe it. The state Miss Zhang was in couldn’t have been caused by a minor argument. And Lin Wenxuan’s earlier appearance—lost and disheveled…
"Did Lin Wenxuan… bully you?" Zhou Cheng's tone grew heavier.
Only then did Su Mo turn her head to look at him. Her face showed no expression, but her eyes held a faint weariness. "No. It's just… he laid everything out, and I did the same. That's all."
She set the ladle aside and lifted the lid of another pot, revealing freshly steamed bamboo tube rice still steaming hot. "How's the bamboo tube rice selling?"
Seeing she didn't want to elaborate, Zhou Cheng didn't press further and followed her lead. "It's selling very well. Twenty tubes were snatched up in no time. Quite a few people asked if there would be more tomorrow. I think we could make thirty tubes daily and still sell out."
"Mhm, make ten more tubes tomorrow then." Su Mo picked up a bamboo tube, removed the bamboo leaves, and handed it to Zhou Cheng. "Try it. I added some diced mushrooms today—it's even more fragrant."
Zhou Cheng took it and scooped a mouthful with a spoon. The rice grains were soft and glutinous, the salted meat savory, the spring bamboo shoots crisp, the broad beans sweet, and now enhanced by the unique umami of mushrooms, mingled with the fresh aroma of bamboo—it truly was more fragrant. "Delicious."
Su Mo picked up one for herself and ate in small bites. Neither spoke, the back kitchen filled only with the bubbling sound of the soup pot and the subtle fragrance of bamboo tube rice.
After eating most of it, Zhou Cheng couldn't help himself. He set down the bamboo tube, took out the pearl earring from his sleeve pocket, and held it out to Su Mo. "This was dropped by that Miss Zhang. I found it. Do you think… we should return it to her?"
Su Mo looked at the small, delicate earring, remained silent for a moment, then shook her head. "No need. She'll come for it herself, or… maybe she won't come at all."
Her tone was so calm it made Zhou Cheng's heart tighten slightly. He put away the earring, hesitated, then asked, "Nian He, are you… alright?"
Su Mo looked up at him and suddenly smiled softly. "What could be wrong with me? Cousin, don't worry, I'm fine. Really."
Her smile was open, showing no trace of strain. Zhou Cheng studied her carefully, confirming she wasn't forcing a smile, and finally relaxed, smiling along. "Good, as long as you're alright. Our Nian He has weathered all kinds of storms—what's this little thing to you?"
"Exactly." Su Mo nodded, scooped another spoonful of rice into her mouth, and chewed slowly.
"Oh, right," Zhou Cheng quickly took out the money pouch from his robe, poured the copper coins onto the clean cutting board, and counted them one by one. "One hundred and sixty wen in total. I took twenty wen as delivery fee, so here's one hundred and forty wen. Keep it safe."
"Mhm." Su Mo took the heavy copper coins and placed them into the small clay jar by the stove, producing crisp clinking sounds. That sound, like these days, was solid and reassuring.
Zhou Cheng watched her seal the jar and return it to its place, feeling settled himself. He picked up the bamboo tube, shoveled the last few bites of rice into his mouth, then drank half a bowl of hot water from the stove and wiped his lips.
"I'll head back to the academy now. I have classes this afternoon."
"Mhm, take care on the way."
Zhou Cheng stepped out of Su Ji's door. He lowered his head to look at the pearl earring in his hand, feeling it slightly warm in his palm. Small, delicate, still carrying a faint, elusive fragrance. He admitted to himself he was being a bit selfish as he carefully wrapped it in a handkerchief and tucked it into the inner pocket close to his chest.