Ah Mian watched it with great interest for a while.
She believes that Wangwang did not appear particularly weak this time. Although she had suffered a serious illness, she was still a woman who would kill fish without batting an eye.
"I think they'll definitely get together."
Before going to sleep, A-Mian whispered something to someone, thinking that she would be able to drink Want Want's wedding wine next year.
The next day, Wangwang came to the tofu stall after class at the academy, beaming: "Officer Chen offended too many people in Zhoucheng. It seems he investigated a case and ended up investigating someone he shouldn't have, so he's been ostracized. Last month, he was transferred to a remote post here. Don't let our remote location fool you; the people here are much more hospitable than those in Zhoucheng!"
"Yes, yes." A-Mian nodded. The people of Zhoucheng are so shrewd.
Like most people around the world, they believe that their birthplace is the best.
Although Zhoucheng is very prosperous, it looks down on them, who are country bumpkins from small places. Anyway, they don't feel very comfortable staying here for long.
“He helped stabilize the situation last night, and afterwards many food stalls thanked him and gave him some eggs and vegetables.”
According to Wangwang, Constable Chen lived in the county government office and led a very frugal life.
"Things here aren't as expensive as in Zhoucheng. We can make a living by growing some vegetables."
"Yes, that's what he said too. He said the food here is actually better than in Zhoucheng..."
After chatting for a while, customers arrived at the stall, and Ah Mian got busy again.
Winter is gradually approaching.
The first person to notice Ah Mian's unusual behavior was her husband.
The business at the tofu stall is getting better and better. Now, contrary to her usual self, Aunt Liu is working on time every day, but A-Mian's appetite is getting worse day by day.
The winter solstice was two days ago, a big day, and my family specially made dumplings with sauerkraut and pork filling.
Ah Mian ate three, then held the bowl and said she was full and didn't want to eat anymore.
Meng Chijian sensed something was wrong; something serious must have happened. But when he touched her forehead, she didn't have a fever or cough. He put two pieces in her bowl, urging her to eat even if she had no appetite, but A-Mian was very stubborn and refused to open her mouth no matter what he said.
Even when it's offered to their mouths, they won't eat it.
At night, she slept in a corner at the back, using pillows and blankets to make a makeshift doghouse, where she would hide and sleep.
In the past, Meng Chijian would definitely have dug the person out and smoothed things over; how could he not eat and sleep properly?
But he suspected that Ah Mian was genuinely unwell.
Like wild beasts in the mountains, they will retreat to their caves to heal when injured, but will bare their fangs if any dangerous aura approaches.
Soon, Xiao Jing also noticed that something was wrong with A Mian.
That day in the village, Meng Jing and Da Tou Ya Ya's group were playing shuttlecock. As soon as A Mian returned to the village, all the children ran around her, wanting to hear her tell a story.
Ah Mian perked up and took the storytelling she had overheard in the teahouse and embellished it into a fabricated tale of martial arts heroes robbing a treasure. Each hero possessed a unique martial art, the most formidable being a pair of brothers who wielded "Iron Head Kung Fu" and "Iron Sand Palm."
The children were thrilled; every single one of them wanted to learn this amazing skill.
Big Head ran home, grabbed a bamboo pole, and tapped his head with it. Amidst the envious glances of the crowd, he touched his nose and shouted, "It doesn't hurt at all! I've mastered it!"
Ya Ya was a child who refused to admit defeat. She found a piece of dried mud and threw it on her forehead, looking very proud: "See, I'm fine too!"
Meng Jing could only play with these little kids, and said sarcastically out of boredom, "I can do it too. My family has no shortage of tofu. If it hits my head, it won't hurt."
That's not all; the important thing is that when Ah Mian saw their actions, she actually said:
"You guys are so naive, a bunch of silly kids."
In the silence, Ah Mian slowly revealed the terrifying truth: "I made up all these stories. No one's head is harder than iron. And none of the previous stories were true either."
Is this something Ah Mian would say?!
Big Head burst into tears.
Ya Ya's eyes were red: "Then, then what about what you said before about defeating more than a hundred scholars at the academy..."
Amian said, "It's fake too."
The children burst into tears and huddled together.
Ah Mian, who revealed the truth, clapped her hands and went home to sleep.
A few days later, A-Mian became less concerned about earning money and would go to the blacksmith's shop to sleep in the afternoon, where it was very warm.
When she arrived, Meng Chijian stopped hammering. After she had slept enough, he gave her a roasted sweet potato. A-Mian ate a few bites and then stopped. It wasn't until they had walked quite a distance that the sound of hammers clanging and banging resumed in the blacksmith's shop.
"Why have I become so lazy?" Ah Mian returned to her stall, frowning and deep in thought.
Have we really had too many good days?
If a person cannot work, isn't he a useless person?
Ah Mian decided she couldn't let things continue like this, so she got motivated and remembered that she had said she would work hard to earn money to buy a shop within a year.
She was busy all afternoon, but suddenly got very hungry. She asked Aunt Liu at the stall to cook her a bowl of winter melon and meatball soup, and then went to another stall to buy scallion pancakes. After eating and drinking her fill, she finally calmed her racing heart.
Before closing time, she took a trip to the fish soup shop. Ah Mian knew that Song Dongjia would go to Zhoucheng every month, firstly to purchase rare ingredients and seasonings, and secondly to see if there was any fresh food.
"Oh? You also want to go shopping, and maybe check out the money exchange while you're at it?" Master Song looked her up and down, then smiled and said, "Go home and discuss it first."
Amian said, "I'll ride my donkey with you, it won't take long. I went around a couple of days ago and found that there's a tofu rice stall on the other side of the street, it's similar to mine."
That tofu pudding stall took away some customers; its layout, dishes, and pricing were exactly the same as Ah Mian's.
The downside of not having a unique skill is that if your business is doing well, someone will be tempted and can easily imitate it.
Mr. Song still smiled, "Go home and ask first."
Amian was completely confused. Meng Chijian had always been very supportive of her ideas, and this time was no exception.
Back home, A-Mian fed A-Dou and gave him water, then announced her ambitious goal: "I want to come up with more new and unique dishes, so that others can't learn them so easily anymore!"
"So I plan to go to Zhoucheng to make purchases with Song Dongjia. She has her own bodyguards, so there's no need to worry about the journey. I'll ride a donkey this time, and I'll be back in three days if things go smoothly. The tofu stall is still open these days. I've already arranged with Wangwang; her year at the academy is almost over, so she'll come help me out for a few days..."
"No, you're not allowed to go."
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