Chen Shouguo reached out, intending to pull the hairpin out of Yan Xia's hair.
Yan Xia slapped him away.
"Try touching me again? You want to divorce me? If you're mentally ill, go to a clinic. You think you're worthy of being my husband? You're uglier than the pigs I raise. I'd rather marry a pig than marry you. You're crazy."
Yan Xia rolled her eyes and strode away.
"Husband, where are you—"
Just then, Xu Wenshan's shouts came over.
Chen Shouguo did not pursue the matter further.
He stared at Yan Xia's retreating figure, feeling an increasing sense of familiarity. "Wait a minute, she's clearly from the Yan family..."
"Husband, what are you doing standing here? Did you buy me the thousand-thread cake? Jiaojiao wants some too. Husband? What are you looking at inside?" Xu Wenshan walked over and found Chen Shouguo standing motionless at the alley entrance. She curiously peered inside.
But there was no one in the alley.
"Oh, nothing. I saw a stray cat, it was quite pretty, and I was thinking of catching it for Jiaojiao to keep as a pet, but unfortunately it ran away too fast," Chen Shouguo said casually, making it up.
“No matter how pretty a stray cat is, it’s still a lowly stray cat. How pretty can it be? Our Jiaojiao doesn’t care about any stray cats. What if she scratches you? Wouldn’t you feel bad? Alright, let’s go buy some thousand-layer cakes. It’s getting late. Let’s go back after we buy them. We’re not going to shop anymore.”
"Okay, whatever you say." Chen Shouguo glanced at the alley one last time, then took Xu Wenshan's hand and left.
At this moment, Yan Xia had already reached her front door. Because she was afraid that Chen Shouguo would follow her, she deliberately went through the back door.
"Knock knock knock—" She knocked on the door.
Soon, Baodong opened the door.
"Master, you're back. Would you like to take a bath?" Bao Dong asked as Yan Xia walked in and closed the door.
"I'm not going to wash anymore, and I didn't sweat. It's quite cool tonight. Here, I brought you some sour rice cakes. I remember you like sour food. Take them back to your room and have them with Baoqiu as a midnight snack. I'm going back first thing tomorrow morning. I don't know when I'll be able to come back again. Take good care of the house. If there's any danger, go to Brother Deng's shop to find him, or go directly to the county government office to find Officer Shi, understand?"
"Thank you, Master. Baodong understands."
Bao Dong took the sour rice cake, his eyes crinkling with joy, like a crescent moon in the sky.
If it weren't for this birthmark, Bao Dong would definitely be a pretty girl next door if she dressed up a little, Yan Xia thought.
"Sweetie, I'm going to sleep now. Prepare some dry food for me tomorrow, and you can catch up on your sleep after I leave." Yan Xia couldn't help but pat her head.
Bao Dong was stunned.
She nodded blankly, only realizing what was happening after Yan Xia had already gone up the stairs.
"My master's hands are so warm..." she said softly.
"Sister Baodong, what are you laughing at? Did you find some silver?" Back in the house, Baoqiu was still awake. She saw Baodong laughing like a fool and teased her curiously.
"No, what's there to be happy about finding money? My master bought me sour rice cakes. Look, there are so many. Come on, let's eat together."
Bao Dong opened the bag and handed one piece to Bao Qiu first.
"Ugh, so sour! I don't really like it. Bao Dong, you can have it yourself. I prefer sweet things." Bao Qiu grimaced at the sourness after her first bite.
She returned the remaining rice cakes to Bao Dong.
Bao Dong didn't mind at all, and ate the rice cake that she had bitten off, bite by bite.
"If you're not going to eat it, I'll stay and eat it myself."
"No, no, I'm going to sleep now, Sister Baodong. Our mistress has to get up early tomorrow morning, and we still have to make her breakfast. Don't sleep too late either."
“Okay,” Bao Dong replied.
The rice cakes wouldn't last long and would spoil, but even with Bao Dong's big stomach, she couldn't finish a whole bag. She couldn't bear to throw them away; her master had bought them for her.
So, under the moonlight, Bao Dong ate the rice cakes one after another until they were all gone. She ate so much that she felt choked up and couldn't sleep all night.
When Baoqiu woke up, she only saw that Baodong had dark circles under his eyes.
"Baodong, didn't you sleep well? Why don't you go back to sleep, I'll go and get busy."
Baoqiu looked at her listless appearance and felt somewhat worried.
"It's nothing. I ate too many rice cakes last night, and my stomach was a little upset, but I feel much better now. Come on, get up quickly and make breakfast. Don't delay Master from going back."
Bao Dong forced herself to get out of bed. After getting dressed, she went to the kitchen with Bao Qiu to make breakfast. Qian Shan and Qian Lin also got up. One fed the horses hay, and the other hung lanterns on the carriage. After making breakfast, Bao Dong went upstairs to wake Yan Xia, helped her wash up, and then brought the breakfast over.
After finishing their meal, Qian Shan moved Yan Xia's belongings into the carriage. She went out through the front door, lit the candle in the lantern, and began her journey home.
It was pitch black.
It was only the hour of Yin (3-5 AM).
The deliveryman was still asleep.
Yan Xia drove to the city gate, but the gate was closed.
She greeted them, and the guards let her through.
In ancient times, there were no streetlights, and the moon was hidden behind the clouds. Even with the light from the lanterns, it was still difficult to see clearly, so Yan Xia did not dare to let the horse run too fast.
We walked for about half the distance before the sky began to brighten.
Yan Xia whipped the horse, making it more than twice as fast.
When we arrived at Shuangqiao Town, it was just past 1 PM.
"Mother! You're back! Changyu and Changyi, come out quickly and help me with my things. Xiaoji, all of you come to the front yard. Mother is back!" As soon as the carriage stopped in front of the shop, Changfu excitedly lifted the curtain of the back yard and shouted inside, still holding a pack of flower cakes in his right hand.
If it weren't for the customers queuing up and him not being able to leave, he would have liked to go up and help his mother himself.
"Auntie—"
"Mother, you're finally back—"
"Mom, what delicious food did you bring me?"
"master--"
"......."
Seven or eight girls swarmed out of the room, chirping and chattering around Yan Xia like a flock of sparrows.
"Alright, alright, we're out on the street. We can talk about it when we get home tonight. Come on, Changyu, take all the food your mother bought and distribute it. Your mother is going home first."
“Yes, Mother,” Chang Yu replied.
"Hey, Manager Yan is back! I heard you went to Jiangnan County? Are you opening another branch? At this rate of making money, you'll be the richest merchant in Jiashu County sooner or later! Haha, congratulations on your fortune, Manager Yan! Don't forget your regular customers when you're rich!"
Yan Xia boarded the carriage and was about to return when she encountered a regular customer, Master Peng. He had nothing to do after waking up from his afternoon nap, so he came to Yan Xia's pastry shop to eat ice jelly.
Seeing Yan Xia return looking travel-worn, he couldn't help but tease her.
"You flatter me too much. I appreciate your kind words, but may everyone prosper. Let's not aim for first place; let's be third, keep it low-key, haha. Changfu, leave a good spot for Master Peng—"
Yan Xia called out to her eldest son, who was busy in the shop.
"Yes, Mother, you can go back now. Don't worry, I'll take care of things at the shop." Chang Fu didn't even look up. He had just finished collecting money and was packing peach shortbread. He just loudly responded to Yan Xia.
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