Chapter 24: Warm Market Breeze, Old Acquaintances Meet Again
Even before the morning mist cleared, the sweet aroma of soy milk wafted through the alley. A vendor carrying a shoulder pole called out, "Hot soy milk!" The creaking of his bamboo carrying pole startled sparrows from the locust tree and fluttered past the walls of the Fang residence. A little swallow, clinging to the moon gate in the backyard, watched the steamer emitting white steam at the entrance to the alley. Its nose twitched, and it turned and ran toward the main house, its cloth shoes clacking on the stone slabs.
"Mom! I want to go out for a walk!" She rushed into the kitchen, where Mrs. Li was wearing an apron and baking pancakes. The iron pan was sizzling, and bubbles were forming on the golden crust. Xiaoyanzi came over and helped pass the jar of sesame seeds, her eyes sparkling. "I heard there's a place selling sugar-coated steamed buns at the entrance of the alley. I want to buy some for Dad and Big Brother as a snack."
Li flipped the pancakes with a spatula and patted the back of her hand with a smile. "You can't stay here after just two days?" She took off her apron and wiped her hands. She took out a small purse from the cabinet and stuffed it into her daughter's hand. "I've prepared some change for you. Don't run around. Have the servants follow you. Come back quickly when the sun gets too hot."
"I know!" Xiaoyanzi took the purse, her fingertips touching the cool silver inside, her heart leaping with joy. She turned and ran out, passing the middle courtyard when she ran into Xiao Jian. He had just finished sword practice, sweat still beading on his forehead, and his black shorts were soaked. Seeing his sister's impatience, he frowned and pulled her aside, "Where are you going?"
"Buy some sugar-coated steamed buns!" Xiaoyanzi shook her purse, her braids swirling with the movement. "Big brother, do you want to join us? I heard the braised pork elbows in the capital are delicious too. I'll buy you some to go with your wine."
Xiao Jian reluctantly helped her straighten her crooked hairband, his fingertips brushing the tip of her ear. "The servants and I will be waiting for you at the alley entrance. Don't go too far." He glanced at the two servants following behind his daughter and whispered, "Keep an eye on the young lady and don't let her get into an argument."
Little Swallow replied, "I know," and dashed out the door like a happy bird. The morning light at the alley entrance was just right, slanting across the bluestone slabs, stretching her shadow long. A stall selling sugar-coated steamed buns stood at the corner, bamboo steamers piled high, steaming hot. The shopkeeper's call was resounding: "Fresh-baked sugar-coated buns—sweet, sticky, and crispy!"
Xiaoyanzi stood at the stall, watching the shopkeeper pick up golden fire-baked buns with long chopsticks, sesame seeds rustling down. Suddenly, she remembered how Liu Qing, in her past life, always snatched her sugar-coated fire-baked buns, saying, "Girls, don't eat too much sweets. I'll help you share." Her lips curved up. She bought six fire-baked buns, wrapped them in paper, and tucked them into her arms. The heat from the paper scorched her palms, bringing warmth.
"Walk over there?" she asked the servant, her steps involuntarily swerving in the direction of her memory. Passing through two alleys, the atmosphere of the marketplace intensified: a barber's copper basin sat beneath a tree, an old man sharpening scissors called out, "Sharpening scissors, clang kitchen knives!" There was also a stall selling clay figurines, their Sun Wukong sculptures so lifelike they attracted several children to gather around.
Suddenly, the sound of an argument reached her ears. Little Swallow looked in the direction of the sound and saw two men in shorts shoving a young man in a coarse cotton jacket at a pancake stand on the corner. A girl with twin buns beside them flushed with anxiety, her hands on her hips, and she shouted, "We just paid for the stand yesterday! Why are you asking for more?"
The young man was tall and broad-shouldered. Although he was pushed, he did not fight back. He just frowned and said, "Brother Wang, the rules can't be calculated like this. We paid the money for this half month at the beginning of the month." He raised his hand to wipe the sweat from his forehead. There was a shallow scar on his wrist - Xiaoyanzi's heart skipped a beat. This scar, this voice, it was Liu Qing!
The girl next to her had her eyes wide open and her braids swung straight: "That's right! You are clearly blackmailing me! Is it easy for my brother to earn his hard-earned money?" She rolled up her sleeves and was about to step forward to argue, but was held back by Liu Qing, with fire still in her eyes - it was Liu Hong!
Xiaoyanzi subconsciously took a half step back, hiding behind an old elm tree, her heart pounding. She looked at Liu Qing's pancake stall: the batter on the griddle had burned to the edges, the pancakes in the bamboo basket had barely sold, and the sauce jar next to it was cracked, leaking black sauce. In their past lives, they'd been like this too, working from dawn to dusk yet always being bullied. Back then, she'd jumped in to fight for justice, but now... She was dressed in silk and satin, with servants following her. How could she possibly stand up?
"Stop talking nonsense!" The short man kicked the bamboo basket. "This area belongs to us. If you want to set up a stall here, you have to pay extra! Otherwise, we'll overturn your stall!"
Liu Hong was so angry that her face turned pale: "How dare you!"
"Just give it a try!" the man said as he was about to reach out to lift the griddle.
"Stop!" Xiaoyanzi couldn't help but yell, regretting the words the moment they left her mouth. She took a deep breath, adjusted the hem of her moon-white skirt, and slowly walked over, trying to appear calm on her face, but her eyes held a subtle sharpness.
The two men were stunned when they saw that it was a delicate young lady from a wealthy family. Then they said with a playful smile: "Young lady, are you meddling in other people's business? This is not the place for you."
Xiaoyanzi ignored them and walked straight to Liu Qing and Liu Hong. Her eyes fell on the cracked sauce jar and she said in a clear and crisp voice, "How much are these pancakes? I want ten."
Liu Qing and Liu Hong were both stunned. Liu Qing looked at the girl before him: thin eyebrows, almond-shaped eyes, wearing a dress made of fine material, and followed by a servant. She didn't look like someone who would buy street pancakes, but for some reason, he felt that her eyes were particularly friendly. He said hesitantly, "One... one penny each."
"Here." Xiaoyanzi handed over a piece of silver, which was far more than the price of ten pancakes. "No need to change. The rest... buy a new sauce jar." She deliberately emphasized the words "new sauce jar" and glanced at the two men. "These two brothers look unfamiliar. Are they the new managers? My father is Fang Zhihang. He lives in the alley in front. If any neighbors have any difficulties, you can go to his house to talk. It's better than arguing on the street and losing face."
Her voice was low, but every word was clear. As soon as the words "Fang Zhihang" uttered, the two men's expressions changed—Mr. Fang had become somewhat famous among the literary world recently, and they didn't dare offend him. The shorter man snorted and pulled his companion away, muttering "bad luck."
Liu Hong finally came to her senses and looked at the silver in Xiaoyanzi's hand. She waved her hands hastily, "Miss, this is too much! We can't take it!" She looked at Xiaoyanzi, her eyes filled with gratitude and vigilance. "You know my father? No, your father is Mr. Fang?"
Xiaoyanzi pressed the silver into Liu Qing's hand. Her fingertips touched his rough palm, like the warmth of countless times they'd worked together in a past life. She smiled, her eyebrows curved. "My father is Fang Zhihang, and my name is Fang Ci. I was passing by here and smelled the delicious pancakes, so I wanted to buy a few to try." She pointed to the bamboo basket. "They're best when they're fresh out of the oven, right?"
Liu Qing tightened his grip on the silver, his dark face flushed. "Miss, you are kind, but this money..."
"Consider this my reservation." Xiaoyanzi picked up a freshly made pancake. The heat made her fingertips shrink, but her smile grew even wider. "I'll come back tomorrow to buy more. We'll settle the price then." She took a bite of the pancake, and the aroma of sesame mixed with the aroma of flour spread in her mouth. The taste was exactly the same as she remembered. "It's delicious! Even better than the snacks in Jiangnan."
Seeing her enjoying the meal, Liu Hong's guard dropped considerably. She grinned, "Of course! My brother's pancake-making skills are the best on the whole street!" She deftly helped pack the pancakes. "If you like it, come often. I'll add more sesame seeds!"
Xiaoyanzi nodded and took the oil-paper package containing the pancake. The heat penetrated the paper and reached her hands, softening her heart. She glanced at the scar on Liu Qing's wrist, then at the red string at the end of Liu Hong's braid—it was still the same as in her previous life, and she suddenly felt at ease.
"Then I'll go first. My parents are waiting for breakfast." She waved her hand and turned around with lighter steps. When she reached the alley entrance and looked back, she saw Liu Qing carefully putting the silver into his arms, and Liu Hong was packing up the stall. The sunlight shone on them, like a warm painting.
Xiao Jian was waiting for her at the alley entrance. Seeing her holding an oil-paper bag and sesame seeds on the corners of her mouth, he raised an eyebrow and asked, "Why did it take you so long to buy a sugar-coated steamed bun?"
Xiaoyanzi raised the pancake in her hand and handed it over like a treasure. "Brother, try it! The pancakes in Beijing are even better than sugar-coated buns!" Her eyes sparkled, reflecting the morning light and the hustle and bustle of the city. "I found a delicious stall. Let's go there often!"
Xiao Jian took a bite of the pancake and looked at the unconcealed joy in his sister's eyes, feeling both helpless and amused. He knew that life in the capital wouldn't be as peaceful as he'd imagined. But as long as his sister was happy, as long as he could keep her safe, what was the harm in a little excitement?
The hawkers in the alleyway continued to shout, the sweet aroma of soy milk mixed with the steam of pancakes, tinging the morning sunlight with warmth. Little Swallow walked forward, pancake in hand, her steps brisk, whispering to herself: Liu Qing, Liu Hong, in this life, it's my turn to protect you.
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