Lin Shanyue clearly hadn’t expected Huo Yi to directly give her gold. The piece of gold looked to be at least several taels in weight.
Immediately, Lin Shanyue felt a surge of confidence—having money really was good!
With money in hand, she didn’t hesitate at all. When the shop assistant returned, she readily bought both pairs of jade pendants Huo Yi had taken a liking to.
The shop assistant at the silver shop was overjoyed. He never expected that a seemingly unremarkable young woman would casually spend several taels of gold and take away two pairs of jade pendants at once!
Even the shop’s manager was alarmed and came upstairs in person, pushing the assistant aside.
“So you are an honored guest, young lady. It’s my fault for not recognizing your status. What would you like? Let me personally introduce them to you.”
“No need. Just these two pairs of jade pendants. We already agreed with the assistant earlier.”
“Oh, you have excellent taste. This pair is ‘Sheep-fat jade Auspicious Peony’—gentle and elegant. And this pair of Hetian jade is even more remarkable, intricately carved. The craftsman spent a whole month carving these patterns. Can you tell what they are?”
Lin Shanyue examined them carefully. “Joy upon the eyebrows?”
The manager’s smile widened even more.
“As expected of an expert! Your insight is truly exceptional.”
Lin Shanyue smiled awkwardly. The manager was clearly flattering her—she had never bought jade before in her life; this was her first time entering a silver shop.
Still, she smiled and accepted it, and promptly paid. The two pairs of jade pendants didn’t actually cost that much gold, so she had some change left over, which she carefully tucked into her sleeve.
After leaving the silver shop, Chunlan came up to her. Lin Shanyue picked up little Bao.
“Let’s go home.”
“Madam, did you finish your purchases?”
Lin Shanyue smiled. “Mm.”
Chunlan didn’t ask anything further, and the three of them soon returned home.
Back in the room, Lin Shanyue immediately took the jade pendants out of the mirror and handed them to Huo Yi.
“Sir, please accept them. Also, here is the remaining gold.”
Huo Yi was truly touching jade from ancient times for the first time in his life. He was so excited that he didn’t even look at the gold.
“Keep it.”
Lin Shanyue was startled. “That won’t do.”
Huo Yi raised an eyebrow. “Why not?”
Lin Shanyue said awkwardly, “Sir has already helped me so much. You’ve given me things and taught me so many things. If I even accept your money, I would be too shameless. I really cannot accept it.”
Huo Yi thought for a moment. “It’s not for you to use. Like today, it’s still for you to help me buy things. I didn’t see anything else I liked at the silver shop today, but I’ll buy more next time.”
Lin Shanyue thought about it again and said, “That still won’t do… We already agreed before. The things you need should be bought with money I earn as repayment for you. Otherwise, I really can’t keep accepting your gifts.”
Huo Yi: “…Do you have money right now?”
Lin Shanyue felt a bit embarrassed. “Not much…”
“Fine then. Just take it. Treat it as working capital. Use this gold first. When you have money later, I won’t give you more—you’ll follow your idea and buy things for me with what you earn.”
Lin Shanyue thought about it. That actually seemed workable…
“Then I’ll temporarily keep this for you, as a sort of loan.”
“Fine, fine. What’s for lunch? I’m hungry. Why are you thinking so seriously about everything? Aren’t you supposed to be cooking for me?”
Hearing this, Lin Shanyue almost forgot and hurried off to prepare food in the kitchen.
Chunlan was very diligent. After returning, she had already started cooking rice over the fire. She seemed a little curious about the many vegetables in the cellar.
“Madam actually has cucumbers.”
Lin Shanyue replied casually, “I saw them at the market before. I also found them quite rare.”
Chunlan smiled. “I heard there are vegetables called ‘dongzi goods’ now—fresh vegetables even in winter. But they’re very expensive!”
Lin Shanyue quickly followed the conversation. “Yes, that must be it. Very expensive. Let’s have them for lunch then.”
Chunlan smiled. “I’ll fry some eggs! Young Bao is growing, so we shouldn’t save on eggs. Madam, why don’t we raise some chicks in a few days? I used to be very good at raising chickens. I’m sure I can help you raise them well.”
Lin Shanyue was delighted. “Really? That’s great! I was thinking of raising chickens before but had no experience.”
“That’s easy. The land beside the vegetable garden is perfect. I’ll fence off an area for a chicken coop. We can scatter some millet and vegetable leaves, and I’ll catch worms and grasshoppers. The chicks will grow quickly—eggs leading to chickens, chickens leading to more eggs. Just thinking about it makes me happy!”
Chunlan even laughed at her own excitement.
Lin Shanyue couldn’t help laughing too. “Good, good. Then I’ll leave this important task to you.”
“Madam, rest assured! Leave it to me!”
Lin Shanyue went to cook. Lunch was rice as usual, stir-fried cucumbers with eggs, cabbage with mushrooms, and a meatball vermicelli soup.
She also prepared a portion for the mirror demon lord. Then she went out to the courtyard, and the three of them ate together slowly.
Little Bao’s appetite was getting better and better. Since he couldn’t eat hard food, every meal included soup. The meatballs were freshly minced pork, springy and tender, and he loved them very much.
Chunlan said, “I was careless. Little Bao can eat steamed eggs. I’ll make him two tomorrow.”
Lin Shanyue wiped her son’s mouth and smiled. “No need. Tomorrow I’ll make egg sponge cake; he likes that more.”
Chunlan swallowed. Egg sponge cake… it already sounded delicious.
“Madam really knows so many pastries.”
Lin Shanyue smiled. “I’ll teach you when there’s a chance.”
Chunlan’s eyes widened in shock. “R-really?”
“Of course. Why would I lie?”
Chunlan quickly waved her hands, so excited she stopped eating. “If you teach me your craft, you’re my master! I should support you into old age and see you off properly! I… I don’t even know how to repay you!”
Lin Shanyue laughed. “It’s not that serious. As long as you’re willing to learn, I’ll teach you.”
Chunlan nodded vigorously. “I will learn properly! I won’t let you down!”
In the afternoon and evening, the two continued preparing tomorrow’s pastries and Suhe incense. Although it had only been a few days, they already worked together very smoothly.
Around the hour of Hai (late night), Lin Shanyue’s sponge cake and several hundred egg tarts were finally finished.
The sponge cake followed a recipe. The batter had risen significantly after whipping, becoming soft and airy. When torn open, steam rose out, and the aroma of eggs and milk blended into a rich golden sweetness. It melted in the mouth, quite different from the smooth texture of egg tarts.
Little Bao loved them so much that he held one and gnawed happily—so much so that he fell asleep still clutching half of it.
Lin Shanyue shook her head helplessly, took it away, and cleaned his mouth and hands with a damp cloth. She glanced at the sky, yawned softly, and went to rest. Another busy day had passed.