Chapter Thirty-Four: What Can Bring You Joy

Cheng Yuan was once again detained by Qi Yunyue, who insisted she stay for lunch. Seeing the young girl looking quite shaken by her earlier display, Cheng Yuan offered repeated assurances that their collaboration would be pleasant before she was finally allowed to leave the manor.

"Sign in."

"Sign-in successful! Obtained: 100 bolts of fine brocade silk!"

The moment she stepped over the threshold, Xie Changzhi hurried over to greet her.

"Sister Yuan, were you hurt?" He looked as if he were on the verge of inspecting her from head to toe in his anxiety.

Cheng Yuan chuckled. "It’s not nearly that frightening."

She dangled her bulging coin purse in front of him, teasing, "Come along, beauty. Your master is in a fine mood today; I shall take you out to enjoy yourself."

Only then did Xie Changzhi notice that her wicker basket contained nothing but a few bowls. He was struck with awe, though he couldn't help but feel a tinge of self-deprecation.

"Sister Yuan is truly impressive. Then, thank you, Sister Yuan."

He curved his lips into a smile and leaned against Cheng Yuan’s shoulder. Stealing a glance at her face, he saw her grinning from ear to ear, which brought a flutter of secret joy to his heart.

It seemed those books from Brother Wang had actually been of some use.

The market was bustling with noise. Cheng Yuan signed in once more and fell into deep thought upon seeing the ten piglets now resting in her inventory.

"Sister Yuan, are you looking to buy chicks?" Xie Changzhi’s voice sounded by her ear. She snapped out of her trance to find herself staring at a cage of yellow chicks.

They appeared to have just hatched, thin and fragile, stumbling as they tried to walk and tumbling over with a soft *thud*.

"Miss, if you like them, why not buy a few? This cage of chicks is only one hundred wen." The old vendor nearby darted his eyes shiftily.

Cheng Yuan looked at him, a faint smile playing on her lips, a gaze that made the man’s skin crawl.

"Ten chicks for one hundred wen, and they’re so scrawny—who knows if they’re even healthy? I don’t want to buy them only for one or two to survive. Old man, you shouldn't try to swindle people like this."

She raised her voice, causing nearby vendors to look over. Although they said nothing, the weight of their gazes made the old man flush deep red.

"Don’t you go slandering me! You’ve got a sharp tongue, girl. Aren't newborn chicks always like this? Fine, fine, seventy wen, you take the cage and all. Is that a deal?"

Cheng Yuan: "Fifty wen."

The old man’s eyes widened: "Sixty wen, that’s my lowest."

"Deal!" Cheng Yuan picked up the chicken cage. Xie Changzhi followed behind to pay, catching up to her with a look of quiet delight.

"Do you want to raise them?" Cheng Yuan raised an eyebrow.

She had only intended to tease him, but his eyes lit up: "May I?"

Cheng Yuan fell silent, looking from the chicks, which were smaller than her palm, to Xie Changzhi, who stood a head taller than her. She was genuinely worried he might accidentally step on a couple of them on the very first day.

However, seeing his eager interest, a flicker of curiosity stirred in her.

"You may. But can you manage building a coop, feeding them, and cleaning up their mess?"

Xie Changzhi nodded repeatedly, looking as if he were ready to swear an oath to the heavens. His eyes shone as he watched the chicks, his expression softening involuntarily.

This time, he would certainly be able to protect his little ones!

There wasn't much else to browse in the market. Cheng Yuan bought some grain as usual, but she stopped when she passed a stall selling candied hawthorns.

It wasn't that she wanted them; she had noticed out of the corner of her eye that Xie Changzhi had lingered on them for a moment. Throughout their journey, she had discovered that if he had no interest in something, he would simply keep his head down and walk; if he was curious, he would glance once; but if he looked twice, it meant he wanted it but was too shy to ask.

"Three wen a skewer, ten for thirty wen. Here you are, Miss!"

The old man selling the sweets wrapped them in paper. Xie Changzhi stared at her, stunned, and it took a long moment for him to find his voice.

"Doesn't our family only have nine people?"

"You eat two," Cheng Yuan said calmly. She took out two skewers, one for each of them, and told Xie Changzhi to put the rest in the basket.

"This... this isn't right." Xie Changzhi’s pupils constricted slightly as he looked at the vibrant, glistening hawthorns, momentarily dazed. "I’m not a child anymore; just tasting one is enough."

Cheng Yuan: "Don't you like them? I don't know about the others, but if *you* like them, then eat an extra one. Tomorrow when we come to town, we’ll eat two more, and the day after..."

Xie Changzhi opened his mouth, feeling a strange mix of laughter and tears.

"It’s not like we’re eating them as a meal; why would we have them every day?"

He took a bite of the sugar-coated hawthorn.

"If you like something, eat plenty of it until you’re tired of it. If you want to play, play until you don’t want to anymore. Changzhi, these are trivial things, but if they can make you happy, then they have fulfilled their purpose."

Xie Changzhi chewed the hawthorn. He wanted to tell Cheng Yuan that the old man wasn't honest—the hawthorn was far too sour and even tasted a bit bitter.

—

"Sold out? And for twenty-four taels of silver!"

Cheng Zhi was usually a gentle and delicate beauty, moving and speaking at a leisurely pace, but now she couldn't help but gasp. She had to suppress her joy because of the prying eyes outside.

No wonder her daughter had led her into the room and insisted on closing the door the moment she returned.

That was twenty-four taels! A typical family could work themselves to the bone for a year and still not earn that much!

Yet, her daughter had earned it just by making a few desserts!

Cheng Yuan watched with a smile as her mother paced the room in sheer delight. Then, her mother seemed to reach a decision.

"Yuan'er, let’s save this money. You like making desserts and selling things; later on, we’ll buy a shop."

Cheng Yuan was stunned. Although she had planned the same thing, hearing Cheng Zhi say it made her heart feel incredibly warm.

"Mother, this money is for you. Think about it—I can earn this much in a single day. After costs, I'm clearing twenty taels a day. Buying a shop is only a matter of a few days' work! As for you, sitting idle at home isn't good. Once I buy the shop, I’ll buy a house in town, and then I’ll bring you over. You can stroll through the streets and buy the clothes and jewelry you like."

Cheng Zhi listened in a daze to the beautiful vision Cheng Yuan painted, as if she were back in her maiden days, going out to the markets with her sisters and friends during the holidays.

She wiped a tear from the corner of her eye and smiled. "Mother is old and doesn't care to move much. You are still young, Yuan'er; you should take care of yourself. I am content just staying at home to look after Hu'er."

Cheng Yuan said nothing. She knew that helping her mother break free from this "virtuous wife and mother" mindset wouldn't happen overnight, so she simply changed the subject.

"Mother, could you do me a favor? My cakes require fruit, eggs, and flour. You’re familiar with the village; could you buy some at the local market price?"

Cheng Zhi was quite interested in this task and agreed immediately—though, in truth, she was simply happy to be of use to her daughter.

Cheng Yuan felt a lump in her throat. She suddenly remembered something she had bought and took it out of the basket.

"Is this the ingredient? Let Mother help you..."

Cheng Zhi’s voice faltered for a moment.

Because she had seen it.