Shen Qingyue went to the back street to find Shen Erya and glanced at her bamboo basket still full of pouches and handkerchiefs. She smiled and said, “Erya, let’s close up and go home.”
Shen Erya instinctively touched the flat pouch. In this famine year, the common people had no money. Except for food to satisfy hunger, nothing else sold well. Today they had only sold one pouch and two handkerchiefs, totaling fifteen wen (small coins).
At least there was money to buy meat buns for her brother.
Shen Erya nodded. “The market rush has passed, not many people left. It’s better to close early. Let’s go buy some meat buns.”
The two walked to the bun vendor’s stall.
Shen Erya pointed at the steaming basket and asked, “Boss, how much is one meat bun?”
“Six wen each, miss. Want some?”
The boss lifted the basket lid, and a delicious aroma wafted out.
Shen Erya swallowed nervously and hesitated, “Have buns really gone up to six wen now?”
The boss sighed helplessly. “Rice and flour prices have gone up tenfold, pork prices tripled. If I sold buns at the old price, I’d barely break even.”
Shen Erya glanced at Shen Qingyue and then at the meat buns, speaking firmly, “Buy one meat bun.”
Shen Qingyue was surprised. “Why only one? Aren’t you going to eat?”
Shen Erya said matter-of-factly, “It’s enough for brother to eat. The rest of the copper coins I need to take home to Mother to help with household expenses.”
Shen Qingyue rubbed her forehead, nearly forgetting that in these times, every copper coin had to be carefully divided. Buying meat buns was a luxury.
Now that she had money, she naturally wouldn’t be stingy with her family.
“Boss, give me four meat buns.” Shen Qingyue pulled out twenty-four copper coins from her pouch and handed them to the boss.
“Brother, where did you get the money?” Shen Erya was first delighted, then worried, afraid Shen Qingyue might have stolen or robbed just to get meat buns—which would only lead her down a dark path.
“The money came legitimately. I’ll explain when we get home,” Shen Qingyue reassured her, patting her shoulder.
Shen Erya relaxed, joyfully taking the meat buns.
A smile curved Shen Qingyue’s lips. She also stopped by the neighboring Xu’s pastry shop to buy a pound of sweet cake.
Then she took Shen Erya to eat wonton soup.
At present, ordinary people struggled just to have a full meal, with no extra money for treats. The once crowded wonton shop had only two tables occupied. The warm steam carried the fragrance of pork fat and scallions, drifting into passersby’s nostrils.
Unconsciously, they swallowed their saliva.
Shen Qingyue pulled Shen Erya to a table and waved at the boss, “Boss, two large bowls of wonton, please!”
“Right away!” The boss smiled and busied himself.
At the next table sat two scholars.
Shen Erya immediately recognized the scholar with his back to her—Wang Xiucai. Her voice brightened, “Brother, Wang Xiucai is here too. I’m going to greet him.”
Following her gaze, Shen Qingyue saw a plain-looking figure. In the original memories, Wang Xiucai’s family was poor, his appearance ordinary, and he was all talk and no skill, with no good qualities.
What was Shen Erya so obsessed with?
Matters of love really were hard to understand.
Shen Qingyue thought for a moment but didn’t stop the excited Shen Erya. “Go ahead.”
Shen Erya looked at Shen Qingyue eagerly, twisting her dress corner nervously, and quietly asked, “Wang’s auntie really likes sweets. Can I give the sweet cake to Wang Xiucai?”
Shen Qingyue raised an eyebrow. “I bought that sweet cake especially for you. You won’t eat it yourself, but you’ll just give it away to the Wang family?”
She knew Shen Erya was totally love-struck.
Never expected love-struck to this extent.
Even giving away her favorite sweet cake.
Shen Erya looked innocent, “I don’t mind not eating it. If Wang’s auntie sees my sincerity, maybe she’ll agree to our marriage.”
Shen Qingyue: “…”
Is there a medicine that cures love-struck brains?
She badly needed some right now.
Shen Qingyue said bluntly, “Do you really think the problem is Wang’s auntie not agreeing to the marriage, not Wang Xiucai himself?”
Shen Erya’s eyes were full of trust. “Wang Xiucai truly cares for me. I believe him.”
Shen Qingyue was speechless. Finally, she gave a helpless wave. “Do as you like, but I’m afraid giving the cake will be for nothing.”
Shen Erya tried to explain, “No, Wang Xiucai is a well-read man who understands things. He will definitely see my efforts.”
Shen Qingyue didn’t want to say any more.
Seeing her silence as agreement, Shen Erya took the sweet cake wrapped in oil paper from the basket. She smoothed her bangs to fully cover the red birthmark on her forehead, then confidently walked toward Wang Xiucai.
“Brother Chunsheng, this is Xu’s sweet cake. Please take it home for auntie to try.”
Shen Erya held it up shyly.
Wang Xiucai gave a faint “hmm” in response.
Not even a word of thanks.
Shen Erya didn’t feel annoyed at all. To her, a scholar like Wang Xiucai being a little aloof was normal.
Wang Xiucai glanced at Shen Erya’s silly expression with impatience. “Why are you still here? Trying to make me lose face in front of my classmates?”
The other scholar, surnamed Yang, fanned himself and teased, “Brother Wang is already twenty years old. People your age usually have two kids by now. This girl looks thin, but her features are decent and her temperament gentle—she seems like someone you could live with. Why not consider it?”
Shen Erya was about to leave, but hearing Yang’s words, she couldn’t help but look at Wang Xiucai with hope.
Her cheeks flushed, eyes bright.
Her bangs perfectly covered the birthmark, making her quite pretty for a village girl.
Wang Xiucai frowned, speaking with disdain, “Erya is just an ordinary farm girl. Brother Zhang, there’s no need to flatter her so much.”
How could a country girl be worthy of him?
The autumn exam was coming soon.
If he succeeded, what did age matter?
Countless wealthy families would compete to marry their daughters to him.
By then, Shen Erya wouldn’t even be worthy as his concubine.
Though Wang Xiucai didn’t like Shen Erya, he enjoyed being adored by a girl. Before passing the exam, he wouldn’t reject her.
Meeting Shen Erya’s burning gaze, he half-heartedly added, “With the autumn exam coming, I have no interest in marriage right now.”
Shen Erya was a little disappointed but quickly convinced herself, “Right, the imperial exam is important—must not be disturbed.”
Shen Qingyue couldn’t stand it anymore. She walked over in a few strides and bluntly said, “Wang Xiucai, you haven’t even passed the exam yet, but you’re already making excuses to reject marriage. If you pass, you definitely won’t marry Erya.”
“If you’re a real man, just be straightforward.”
“Marry her quickly or stop bothering her.”
Wang Xiucai, who had suffered because of the original girl before, was furious inside. He felt Shen Qingyue was deliberately provoking him and mocked her in front of Erya, “Everyone in Hedong and Qingshui villages knows it’s Shen Erya who won’t let me go, not me chasing after her!”
Hearing this, Shen Erya was angry.
“We grew up in neighboring villages, have known each other since childhood. Back when your family ran out of food and you fainted on the road, it was me who secretly gave you cornbread to help you survive!”
“Since then, you’ve clung to me day after day.”
“You were skinny and weak back then.”
“I cared for you. Whenever there was good food at home, I secretly sent it to you.”
“How can you say it’s me pestering you? Wasn’t it mutual affection?”