Without a second thought, Qiao Wan bypassed Huo Yan and headed straight for the bag containing the rabbits.
Seeing that the rabbits inside were still lively and hopping around, she picked up the cage, slung the bag over her shoulder, and started to leave.
“What are you doing?”
Huo Yan didn’t move, his eyes filled with unconcealed surprise.
“Taking them home!”
Earlier, when she saw the servant carrying the rabbits away, she had felt a pang of regret, wondering how she could coax Huo Yan into catching a couple more for her later.
But she never expected these people to be so clueless—they didn’t even recognize a good thing when they saw it. Naturally, she had to take them home.
Huo Yan remained still, his probing gaze fixed on Qiao Wan.
“These are treasures. If they don’t want them, I’ll take them.”
Qiao Wan loved rabbits—they ate little, bred quickly, grew fast, and could be prepared in countless ways. Every part of them was valuable. Who wouldn’t love such treasures?
Not to mention, since she had arrived here days ago, she had been surviving on wild vegetable buns and watery porridge. The thought of having rabbit meat was enough to make her grin in her dreams.
Unaware of the complex emotions flickering in Huo Yan’s eyes, she shoved the bag into his hands:
“Hold this. Let’s go to the market.”
Qiao Wan had no time to waste standing around with Huo Yan. Feelings like sadness and disappointment were luxuries reserved for those with full stomachs.
Right now, she was so hungry she could chew on the walls. All she wanted was to finish her shopping quickly and go home to eat.
Huo Yan remained silent, taking the bag from Qiao Wan and picking up the cage as well.
This time, Qiao Wan walked ahead. Exiting the alley, she followed the direction Huo Yan had pointed out earlier.
After Bei Yue’s victory over Nan Yue and Dong Yue, trade had opened up among the three nations. Mingyang Town was a crucial stop on the route to both Nan Yue and Dong Yue.
Along the way, Qiao Wan saw numerous merchant caravans and a variety of shops.
When they reached the market, it felt more like a modern farmers’ market, with everything one could need available.
Qiao Wan took the lead, weaving through the stalls and comparing prices. After making a full round of the market, she had a rough idea of what she wanted.
Huo Yan followed behind her, carrying their purchases. Seeing that she hadn’t bought anything, he assumed she had no money. Reaching into his waistband, he pulled out a small piece of silver and handed it to her.
“Buy whatever you want.”
Qiao Wan didn’t hesitate, accepting it readily. After all, a woman married a man for food and clothing—she had no qualms about spending Huo Yan’s money.
She bought bowls, chopsticks, plates, and a clay pot. Remembering how the mat on the bed had snagged her new quilt that morning, she also bought a new mat from an elderly woman.
At a general store, she purchased five catties of coarse flour and two catties of vinegar. Noticing that the salt jar at home was nearly empty, she bought a packet of coarse salt as well.
Finally, her gaze landed on the oil press shop nearby. She looked up at Huo Yan:
“Can you hunt a wild boar tomorrow when you go up the mountain?”
Seeing her pitiful expression, the heavy stone in Huo Yan’s heart loosened slightly, letting in a breath of relief.
He softened his voice and replied, “Sows are giving birth lately, so we can’t hunt them. Boars are hard to catch, but I can try.”
“Forget it, then!”
Pouting, Qiao Wan tugged Huo Yan into the oil press shop. With some reluctance, she bought a small jar of murky rapeseed oil and a slab of pork fat, planning to render her own lard later.
By the time she finished shopping, the silver Huo Yan had given her was almost gone. Staring at the few copper coins left in her hand, Qiao Wan sighed.
“Money really doesn’t go far these days.”
With her shopping mostly done, Qiao Wan was so hungry she felt like her stomach was touching her backbone. She didn’t even have the energy to speak.
At the market entrance, there was a vendor selling baked pancakes, their oily fragrance wafting through the air. Qiao Wan couldn’t help but glance over a few times.
Huo Yan noticed her gaze but said nothing. He walked straight over, bought two steaming hot pancakes, and shoved them into Qiao Wan’s hands.
Qiao Wan was taken aback. She looked up at him, but Huo Yan averted his eyes as if it were nothing more than a casual gesture.
She took a bite. The pancake was fragrant but had little filling. Still, the warmth in her belly quickly soothed her grumbling stomach.
“Delicious!”
Qiao Wan held the other pancake up to Huo Yan’s mouth. “You have some too.”
Huo Yan shook his head. “You eat it. I’m going to the medicine shop.”
Qiao Wan didn’t press him. Taking out the rice bowl from earlier, she used rinsing it as an excuse to fetch two bowls of spring water from her Dimension and handed them to Huo Yan.
“Have a bowl of water. After eating, I’ll go with you.”
Qiao Wan was already thinking of buying some seasonings at the medicine shop and inquiring about the era’s methods of healing. She wondered if her acupuncture skills could be put to practical use.
As the cool, sweet spring water touched his lips, Huo Yan’s brow furrowed slightly.
“Where did you buy this water?”
“Why do you ask?”
Qiao Wan noticed Huo Yan had used the word “buy.”
Huo Yan drained the bowl in one gulp and spoke slowly, “There’s only one old man selling water at the entrance here, but his water tastes a bit rough—not as clear and sweet as this bowl of yours.”
Qiao Wan took a sip herself, her eyes fixed intently on the old man’s water stall at the market entrance.
Mentally, she kept count for the old man: in the time it took to eat two pancakes, he had sold five portions of water.
Each portion looked to be about a bowl’s worth, sold for one copper coin. In just that short while, he had easily earned five coins.
Qiao Wan’s eyes instantly lit up!
The market was bustling with people, especially merchants and porters on the road. Spending one copper coin to quench their thirst with a bowl of water was utterly commonplace. And in her Dimension, she had an endless supply of clear, sweet springwater—inexhaustible and free!
This was practically a business with no cost and boundless profit!
Suppressing her inner excitement, she kept a calm face while her mind raced with calculations.
Qiao Wan couldn’t resist stealing a glance at Huo Yan beside her. Seeing that he seemed unaware of her inner turmoil and remained composed, she quickly averted her gaze, lowered her head, and couldn’t help but let a slight smile curl her lips.
“Let’s go, to the medicine shop.”
Qiao Wan clapped her hands, pulling her gaze away from the water stall.
Huo Yan shouldered their belongings, and Qiao Wan followed behind as they headed straight for the medicine shop.
Huo Yan, who often trekked through the mountains, always carried powder to ward off snakes, insects, rats, and pests. He also needed to buy some poison to help him escape if he encountered Large Beasts or other fierce creatures.
While Huo Yan was getting medicine from the Servant at Rong Kang Tang, Qiao Wan took a seat opposite the resident physician.
She wore an expression of just the right amount of curiosity mixed with a trace of rustic innocence: “There’s an old hunter in our village who hurt his leg while hunting recently.” He’s in a lot of pain and has been bedridden for days. I heard there’s a method using long needles inserted into the flesh to relieve pain—what’s it called again?” She feigned frustration, patting her head.
The physician on duty was an Old Doctor with graying hair and beard. He lifted his eyelids to look at her, stroking his beard as he replied,
“Young lady, are you perhaps referring to the ‘acupuncture’ technique?”
“Yes, yes, that’s it!” Qiao Wan quickly nodded, her eyes wide and round, wearing an expression of admiration that said, “You know so much!” “I heard that just a few pricks can cure it—it’s amazing! Doctor, is there anyone in our county who knows this skill? That old hunter is howling in pain, it’s really pitiful.”
However, the Old Doctor shook his head upon hearing this, a trace of disdain appearing on his face. “Needle Therapy? That’s just some trick used by Itinerant Healers or Rural Witch Doctors to mystify people—how could it be taken seriously?”
His tone was firm, carrying the natural contempt of orthodox medicine for “folk remedies.” “To treat illnesses and save lives, one must prescribe the right medicine for the ailment. Decoctions and medicated plasters are the proper methods. Young lady, don’t believe those rural rumors. If that hunter’s injury is serious, he should be carried to the clinic and let me examine him properly—that’s the right way.”
Qiao Wan’s heart sank, but she maintained her simple, “I’ve learned my lesson” expression on her face, nodding repeatedly:
“Oh, oh, so that’s how it is! I thought so—how could just pricking with needles cure anything? It sounds scary. Thank you for the advice, Doctor. I’ll go back and tell them they still need to come see you!”
While she agreed verbally, her mind was in turmoil.
The Old Doctor’s reaction… it seemed that in this era, acupuncture was either lost or regarded as an unorthodox witch doctor’s method.
This meant that the acupuncture knowledge she possessed might be extremely rare or even unknown “secret arts” here.
It seemed that, for now, she couldn’t easily reveal her acupuncture skills. She would have to wait for the right opportunity or… find an excuse that would give her a “legitimate reason” to use it.
Qiao Wan quickly calculated in her mind, then stood up to thank the Old Doctor. Just then, Huo Yan had finished getting the medicine, and the two left the pharmacy. They found the ox cart back to the village, and along the way, Qiao Wan was lost in thought, completely unaware of Huo Yan’s occasional glances in her direction.
When they arrived home, Qiao Wan was about to change her clothes and start cooking when she heard Huo Yan standing behind her ask:
“How come I didn’t know there was an old hunter in our village who retired due to a fall injury?”