Chapter 35

Chapter 35

Changning stood on tiptoe to get a better look at the figures in the painting. Her grape-shaped eyes sparkled with delight as her chubby little finger pointed at the figure of herself. “There’s Ningniang! Ningniang likes this!”

Before Fan Changyu could speak, Xie Zheng asked the scholar, “How much do you charge for your paintings?”

The scholar was momentarily stunned but quickly realized that this handsome man, who looked rather unapproachable, was asking the price of his painting. He hurriedly said, “No charge, no charge. Consider it a gift from this humble artist to the young master and madam.”

Fan Changyu still felt a bit awkward from the scholar’s earlier words, but she did think the painting was quite beautiful. Seeing that the scholar stubbornly refused to name a price, she thought for a moment, then chose one of the smaller slabs of cured meat she had originally planned to give to Constable Wang and said, “Take this cured meat as a gift, and consider it a New Year’s present.”

She then pointed seriously at Changning and said, “This is my sister.”

The scholar was pleasantly surprised to receive a slab of cured meat and, eager to please, said, “It must be my poor eyesight that I didn’t recognize her. I wish madam and young master a happy new year, with a pair of dragon and phoenix twins, a perfect family, and children who bring endless joy.”

Fan Changyu was speechless.

She wanted to say more to the scholar, but since her marriage to Yan Zheng was just a sham, there seemed little need to share that with a stranger.

Even after taking the painting and leaving the scholar’s stall, Fan Changyu still felt a bit awkward. She kept stealing glances at Xie Zheng, who was walking beside her holding the rolled-up painting.

Seeing that his expression remained calm, her discomfort eased just a little.

They returned to the spot where they had set up their stall earlier, packed up their things, and planned to go buy paper and ink at the bookstore. Nearby, the owner of a New Year goods shop, having seen Fan Changyu sell over twenty slabs of cured meat in less than an hour, grew envious of her business. He waddled out, his plump body trailing behind, and called out, “Miss, wait a moment.”

Fan Changyu turned at the voice and saw the chubby shopkeeper smiling as he approached. He asked, “Will you be selling cured meat here again tomorrow, miss?”

Tomorrow was the second day of the New Year. Fan Changyu not only had to open her family’s pork shop but also supply the marinated meat for Yixiang Restaurant. She doubted she’d have time to come back and sell cured meat here, so she shook her head. “I probably won’t be able to come for the next few days.”

The plump shopkeeper smiled and said, “Then this old man wants to do a little business with you. Bring whatever cured meat you have at home and leave it in my shop to sell. We’ll split the profits 40-60, with you getting 40 and me 60. How does that sound?”

Fan Changyu considered that this was exactly what Shopkeeper Yu had called a “getting something for nothing” scheme: the plump shopkeeper wouldn’t spend a single cent, yet he’d have her bring the cured meat over, sell it, and still get half the profits.

Cured meat isn’t like fresh meat; hung in a cool, ventilated place at home, it can keep for a year or more without spoiling. Naturally, its price is quite a bit higher than fresh meat.

During the New Year period, Fan Changyu’s asking price was sixty-five wen per jin. If someone really bargained, it could be brought down to around sixty wen, but not much lower.

According to the plump shopkeeper’s proposal to split profits 40-60, even if all the cured meat sold at sixty-five wen per jin, she’d only make thirty-nine wen per jin—less than what she’d earn selling it herself at her own shop.

Fan Changyu said, “I don’t want a cut. If you really want to buy it, let’s just settle accounts directly and sell by the jin.”

The plump shopkeeper smiled and said, “Young lady, you clearly don’t know much about business.”

Fan Changyu was about to reply when Xie Zheng suddenly spoke up, “Splitting the profits works for me.”

Fan Changyu and the plump shopkeeper both turned to look at him. Fan Changyu was momentarily stunned, while the shopkeeper’s eyes narrowed into a slit with a smile: “This young brother looks like he knows business, has a long-term vision…”

Before he could finish, Xie Zheng gave him a cold glance and said, “Eighty-twenty.”

The shopkeeper’s smile froze: “Young brother, that’s a bit too much to ask.”

Fan Changyu quickly did the math in her head for an eighty-twenty split, figuring out how much she’d make selling the cured meat.

At sixty-five wen per jin, she’d get fifty-two wen; at sixty wen per jin, she’d still get forty-eight wen.

But Fan Changyu really had no intention of doing this deal. She said, “Why split profits? Just sell it by the jin and make it a one-time transaction. The wholesale price for cured meat on the market is around fifty wen per jin anyway. I’m bringing the meat here without getting a single cent upfront—I’m not even comfortable with that. Let’s go buy paper and ink at the bookstore first; later, we still have to visit Constable Wang to pay our New Year respects.”

She grabbed Changning’s hand and was about to leave when the plump shopkeeper hurriedly said, “Eighty-twenty it is then.”

He smiled with a hint of helplessness: “Young lady and young brother, you two are quite the pair. I only wanted to do business with you because the cured meat you sold today looked top quality, with a fine smoky color.”

He then beckoned the three of them into his New Year goods shop. “Let’s draw up a contract. Later, young lady, you can just bring the meat to me.”

When Fan Changyu and Xie Zheng exchanged glances, there was still a hint of bewilderment on their faces, as if they hadn’t expected the deal to come together so easily.

Xie Zheng’s expression remained calm as he said to her, “Go sign the contract.”

The plump shopkeeper was clearly no stranger to this kind of “getting something for nothing” business. He quickly picked up a pen and drafted the contract. When he handed it over for Fan Changyu to review, she still didn’t dare take it lightly. She read it word by word, then passed it to Xie Zheng for him to check: “Does this look alright to you?”

Xie Zheng nodded, and she confidently signed her name.

The plump shopkeeper gave them a deposit in silver, then smiled warmly as he saw them out the door.

As Fan Changyu walked along the road, she muttered to Xie Zheng, “I’ll have to open the meat shop early tomorrow morning, and I still need to deliver the braised meat to Yixiang Restaurant. As for the cured meat, I think I’ll have to bring it over in the afternoon.”

Xie Zheng said, “If you’re too busy, I can hire a cart to help deliver it.”

Fan Changyu felt a bit embarrassed and said, “Should I pay you for the work?”

Xie Zheng glanced at her, and Fan Changyu felt she wasn’t mistaken—he seemed displeased again.

Changning, carefree as ever, bounced along at the front. She eyed some small trinkets but didn’t dare ask Fan Changyu to buy them, so she looked longingly at Xie Zheng instead.

Xie Zheng bought her a few bits and pieces here and there. Changning held the pile in her arms, her chubby little hands barely able to close around it all.

Fan Changyu teased her, “Ningniang, if you keep wanting to buy everything you see, next time I won’t bring you to the county market.”

Changning looked down at her toes, feeling scolded.

From beside them came a man’s cold, quiet voice: “I’m the one buying these for her.”

Fan Changyu felt like this man was picking a fight with her. She pursed her lips and said, “Kids don’t understand things. You can’t just spoil her all the time. She likes everything she sees on the street—there’s no way we can buy it all. She needs to learn some sense.”

Xie Zheng said nothing more. As the three continued walking, even Changning sensed the strange atmosphere between Fan Changyu and Xie Zheng.

She looked between the two of them, then at the pile of trinkets in her arms. Suddenly, she stopped, turned around, and shoved all the little things into Xie Zheng’s hands. Her chubby little hand clutched her own sleeve as she said, “Ningniang doesn’t want these anymore. Brother-in-law, you take them back.”

Fan Changyu saw tears welling up in her big dark eyes and sighed. She crouched down, touched the top of Changning’s head, and said, “Since you bought them this time, that’s enough. You can’t do this again, understand?”

Changning nodded through her tears and reached out her chubby little hand, wanting Fan Changyu to pick her up.

Fan Changyu pulled the child into her arms and gently patted her back, her tone half indulgent, half resigned. “Why are you crying? I didn’t even scold you.”

With a sniffle, Changning said, “Sister, don’t be mad at brother-in-law. Ningniang knows she was wrong.”

Fan Changyu glanced at Xie Zheng, who was standing off to the side holding a pile of trinkets, and her tone grew even more resigned. “I’m not mad at him.”

Changning said, “But you’re ignoring brother-in-law.”

Fan Changyu laughed and asked, “When have I ever ignored him?”

Tears swirled in Changning’s eyes. “You’re not talking to brother-in-law anymore.”

Fan Changyu thought to herself that she didn’t usually talk much to Xie Zheng either, but seeing her little sister on the verge of tears, she coaxed, “Weren’t we just talking a moment ago? We’re just not talking right now.”

A big teardrop finally slipped from Changning’s big dark eyes and splashed onto the ground. “Sister, you really are mad.”

Fan Changyu surrendered, asking, “What do I have to do for you to believe I’m not mad?”

Changning thought for a moment and said, “Hold hands. Holding hands means we’re not mad anymore!”

Fan Changyu paused briefly and said, “How about I keep talking to him all the way from now on? Would that work?”

Changning insisted on the kid’s way: “Holding hands is what really means we’re not mad anymore.”

Fan Changyu exchanged a glance with Xie Zheng. He showed no expression, but she felt a bit uncomfortable inside.

She coaxed the child, “Look, brother-in-law is holding so many things, and I’m carrying stuff too, both with one hand. That must be heavy, right?”

Only then did Changning relent, though she kept glancing back at them as she walked ahead.

Worried Changning might come up with more strange demands, Fan Changyu spoke to Xie Zheng, “Kids just make a fuss sometimes. Don’t take it to heart.”

Xie Zheng said, “I don’t think she’s fussing. I’m probably leaving after the New Year, so I wanted to buy her a few more little things.”

Fan Changyu hadn’t expected that he had such a reason for buying so many things for Changning.

Hearing that he was leaving, a strange feeling rose in her chest. She said, “Sorry, I misunderstood you and spoke harshly to you earlier. I should apologize.”

Xie Zheng tilted his head to look at her. “Why apologize?”

Fan Changyu said, “I misunderstood you and spoke harshly, so I should apologize.”

She pressed her lips together, then asked, “You’re leaving so soon? Aren’t you going to wait until your injury has healed more completely before you leave?”

Xie Zheng was about to reply when a squad of mounted soldiers came charging wildly from ahead, knocking over many pedestrians and street vendors’ stalls along the way.

As the warhorses approached, Fan Changyu instinctively crouched down to shield Changning, while Xie Zheng raised his hand and used the cloak he was wearing to block the splashing mud from the horses’ hooves.

After the soldiers thundered past, many of the pedestrians who had been knocked over or splattered with mud were angrily cursing.

Fan Changyu looked up and saw that half of Xie Zheng’s cloak was covered in mud. Frowning, she asked, “Are you hurt?”

Xie Zheng shook his head but his gaze still followed the departing soldiers, a dark coldness hidden in his eyes.

A street vendor whose stall had been overturned spat fiercely in their direction and cursed, “These damn officials—can’t even keep quiet during the New Year!”

Fan Changyu asked, “Why are soldiers from Qingping County here again? Are they here to suppress bandits?”

The vendor said, “Suppress bandits? They’re a bunch of debt collectors, come to seize grain! Haven’t you heard about what happened in Taizhou? The front lines are running low on supplies. The army can’t get enough grain, so they’re forcibly taking it from the people. If you don’t give it, they kill you.”

Another man nearby added, “Judging by how things are, it won’t be long before they start conscripting soldiers again.”