"Let's take a stroll around and see if they sell it. If they don't, I'll learn how to make it for you when we get back. I promise you'll be able to eat it."

That's what she said, but Shen Xingmian was still worried that things might go wrong...

After all, almost every novice cook will mess up when it comes to making sugar, and even experienced cooks can make mistakes.

For example, a netizen once posted that they wanted to make candied hawthorns, but ended up with a pot of sugar frosting. They complained about it in frustration, which made other netizens very envious.

There are far more people who want to make icing but fail than this person.

So a large group of people came up to him asking for advice on the cooking time, and the scene looked very strange, hahaha.

After leaving the alley, the two looked around and then walked quickly toward the main street.

There wasn't a single person strolling around on the street. It was just too cold. Everyone wanted to stay in bed all day. Unless there was a compelling reason to go out, no one wanted to brave the cold.

Before even reaching the main street, business was rather slow. Many people had already stocked up on food and supplies for the winter in the fall and rarely ventured out to buy things in the freezing cold.

Many shops have closed, and there are a few small eateries that are still open, mostly selling warm foods like wontons and noodle soup.

The two had just finished eating and weren't hungry, so they didn't go inside.

After walking for a while, they finally reached the main street and saw a relatively large restaurant in the distance. Shen Xingmian pulled Xiao Yanyue along and ran towards it.

They weren't cold, but the exposed skin on their faces was very uncomfortable from the wind, making Shen Xingmian regret coming out to suffer.

It would have been fine if she had come alone, but she also brought Xiao Yanyue along, which made her feel really bad.

Pulling the person into the restaurant, Shen Xingmian said with some guilt, "If I had known it would be this deserted, I wouldn't have dragged you out to suffer. Is your face still sore from the cold?"

Upon entering, she first checked on Xiao Yanyue's condition, but still made way for the doorway, afraid of blocking others.

Although she didn't think business here would be very good.

Xiao Yanyue shook her head and pulled the hood of her cloak back.

"Where did this blind fool come from? Is this a place for poor bastards like you? Get out of here right now and don't dirty my eyes."

Xiao Yanyue looked at the person who spoke, her beautiful eyes filled with a chilling coldness, as if they were filled with ice.

Shen Xingmian never expected that the words were directed at the two of them, so she wasn't angry at all. It wasn't until she followed Xiao Yanyue's gaze that she belatedly realized she was getting furious.

Damn it, you dare call them paupers? Believe me, I'll throw a whole box of gold at you and flatten you!

Besides, they're not dressed like people on the street now. They may not look rich or powerful, but they're definitely not poor either.

Is this person blind?

Let alone Xiao Yanyue, who was personally entertained by shopkeepers wherever she went in the capital, bowing and scraping and saying "It is an honor to have your humble abode" several times, even when she herself, the young lady of the General's Mansion, was still a fool, no one would dare to mock her as a "poor wretch"!

The fist hardened.

However, she kept in mind the "pretending to be weak to catch the tiger" part, so she didn't retaliate with insults, but instead quietly moved aside.

This action surprised Xiao Yanyue. He didn't even look at the person who had spoken so arrogantly, but instead wanted to see what was wrong with Shen Xingmian.

This is so...strange.

As expected, tolerance will not bring remorse, but will only embolden those people to become even more rampant and arrogant.

The voice came again: "What, you think you can get away with blocking Grandpa's way? How are you going to vent this anger in Grandpa's heart?"

A fawning voice immediately suggested obsequiously, "Why don't we make these two blind fools kneel on the ground and bark like dogs for Master Liu?"

Receiving no response, the man quickly added, "After you've barked like a dog, how about you kowtow a few times?"

A burst of booing laughter erupted from the surroundings, and "Master Liu" seemed finally satisfied.

Ugh, that's so unoriginal.

Shen Xingmian never raised his head from beginning to end, looking like he was obediently taking the scolding, which only made the group of people more excited.

"Hey, Boss Liu is still waiting here, hurry up! If we're going to let the brothers do it, we can't just get away with barking like dogs."

Another burst of laughter came from the surrounding area.

Shen Xingmian finally looked up. She looked past the group of people and into the seats inside, and saw that apart from this group of people, all the other tables were empty.

That's true. Who would be so bored as to come to a restaurant to eat and drink in the middle of the cold? These people must have been upstairs sleeping last night and are now coming down to go home.

Oh dear, I've come at the wrong time.

However, it's quite a rare coincidence to run into a group of clueless people so early in the morning. She curled her lips into a malicious smile.

She thought the group would continue shouting, but to her surprise, they all fell silent. Puzzled, she looked over and saw that they were all staring at her face in disbelief.

"Master Liu, this... are we really going to make them kneel down and bark like dogs? Isn't that a bit too ungentlemanly?"

The one who said this was actually the lackey who suggested that they "bark like dogs".

Although Shen Xingmian had lived two lives, he was still occasionally shocked by the shamelessness of his fellow human beings.

While shocked, she didn't forget to grab Xiao Yanyue, who was about to rush up and beat someone up, and prepared to quietly see what other tricks these people would pull.

"Oh, Mr. Liu, even if the little beauty is a bit slow to react, it's not a serious offense. I think, let her have a couple of drinks with you to relieve your boredom, and that'll be the end of it, how about it, ahahaha—"

"This little girl is beautiful, but she doesn't seem very bright. She looks dull and her hearing doesn't seem very good either..."

"Oh, you don't understand. Even a wooden beauty has her own charm. It's alright, as long as Master Liu understands, hahaha."

Xiao Yanyue was about to lose control of his anger. He reached out and tugged at Shen Xingmian, trying to remind her that he was about to take action.

Shen Xingmian pulled him behind her and gave those people a smirk:

"You guys talk so smoothly, you must say it all the time. Since you want me to toast Master Liu, you should at least let this country bumpkin who just arrived in your esteemed land know which family's 'Master Liu' you are."

"I knew it! How could anyone in Yong'an Town not know Master Liu? You must be new here. Hmm—could it be that you're distant relatives of the exiled prisoners?"

This person's guess is quite reasonable. This place was originally a place of exile, and there were some people who came here specifically to take care of their distant relatives.

It's rare to see such a young and beautiful girl.

"If it's a distant relative of an exiled convict, then it's not something that can be resolved with just a couple of drinks, hehe..."