Hong Xiaoduo and her group no longer shop like they used to, going into every shop and buying everything together.
She was afraid that her child would be out of her sight, abducted by human traffickers, or harmed in danger.
The seven children followed her closely, initially fearing she would abandon them and steal them away, but later fearing they would get lost.
If someone goes into a slightly smaller shop, they immediately stuff it to the brim.
Of course, some shopkeepers, not to be outdone, would show their displeasure if the children walked around the shop without buying anything. At first, the children seemed a little hesitant, as if they had done something wrong.
Hong Xiaoduo told them that there was no need to think that way. How could a business expect everyone who enters the shop to buy something? Even if they didn't like the products they were selling, were they supposed to buy them against their will just to please the merchants?
Hong Xiaoduo also told them that such businesses have too small a vision and will not make big money.
The children understood what she meant. After that, when they went shopping, even if they didn't buy anything, they no longer cared if the shopkeeper or clerk had a bad attitude. Well, they couldn't make big money like that!
Now it's much better. When the group goes shopping, Hong Xiaoduo can lead someone into a shop, and the others don't need to follow. They can just wait outside, provided that their master is also outside.
Inside the shop, Tianxuan bought several ingredients for making Laba porridge. The shopkeeper weighed and wrapped them and handed them over. Tianxuan had already paid the bill and was about to leave with Hong Xiaoduo when she suddenly saw a man in his forties getting off the carriage.
Upon seeing his face, Hong Xiaoduo immediately guessed that this man was likely Tianxuan's biological father, Ye Ren'an.
So, he was in the carriage too! He even skipped work to go to the government office to confirm if it was his lost son! Excellent, excellent!
With this "better safe than sorry" attitude, Hong Xiaoduo gave them a perfect score in the impression.
"Oh, right, I suddenly want to eat the glutinous rice cakes you made last time. Should I buy some glutinous rice flour?" Hong Xiaoduo asked Tianxuan on a whim.
"Ciba?" "We still have glutinous rice flour, enough to make one more." Tianxuan blurted out without thinking much.
He was in charge of the food, and he remembered very clearly what ingredients were available and how much was left.
"Then let's buy some more to keep on hand, just in case we forget to buy some when we leave and want to eat them on the way," Hong Xiaoduo continued.
The other party is being so proactive, that's perfect, how could we miss it!
As they were talking, Ye Ren'an had already stepped across the threshold and entered, and Hong Xiaoduo and the other two also moved to the shelf.
"Master Ye..." The shopkeeper behind the counter recognized the person who entered the shop and quickly stepped forward to bow, but was stopped by Ye Ren'an with a look.
The shopkeeper reacted quickly, immediately understanding: "What does the customer want to buy? Our shop has the most complete selection of grains and cereals."
"Well, the shopkeeper is busy with his own things, I'll take a look first." Ye Ren'an said, glancing at Tianxuan out of the corner of his eye.
Upon hearing this, the shopkeeper immediately retreated behind the counter, calmly observing the customers in the shop with a smile.
The shop sells grains and cereals, and sometimes government officials stop by to buy some on their way home. This is the first time an official has ever visited the shop, and he's even a fourth-rank prefect!
Lord Ye came in plain clothes, not wanting to reveal his identity, so what is he here for?
If it's a case to investigate, there's no need for adults to come in person, right?
The innkeeper quickly noticed that Lord Ye's attention was on the guests, one adult and two children. However, the young lady with a young master and a young girl didn't seem like a bad person.
"Hey buddy, weigh out another five jin of glutinous rice flour." Tianxuan stood in front of the cloth bag containing the glutinous rice flour, picked up a pinch, and rubbed it between her fingertips before speaking.
Upon hearing this, the shop assistant stepped forward to weigh the grain. Hong Xiaoduo, while observing Lord Ye's reaction, quickly looked at the grain in the other cloth bags, noticing the tags stuck on them, thinking about how to linger here longer so that Lord Ye could observe Tianxuan more and give him a chance to approach her.
"What do you want to buy? Their grain is of very good quality." Hong Xiaoduo asked Ye, who was standing next to Tianxuan and pretending to look at the grain, with great familiarity.
Hearing her speak, Ye Ren'an was taken aback, and Tianxuan also turned to look at her kind-hearted mother.
"Mother, look, Second Brother and this uncle look so alike! It's so strange, why are there so many people here who look like Second Brother? I met a little brother yesterday evening, and I met another one today." Ye Ren'an was thinking about how to respond when he heard the little girl beside him looking at him and saying to the young woman.
Upon hearing this, Hong Xiaoduo's lips twitched, thinking to herself that she was just a child after all, saying whatever she saw.
Upon hearing this, Tianxuan looked at the other person. Last night, his younger sister had told him that she had seen a young man on the street who looked very similar to him, but he hadn't paid much attention to it at the time.
But looking at this uncle now, his face shape, eyes, nose and mouth do indeed feel somewhat familiar.
"Little sister, please don't speak nonsense." After saying that, she clasped her hands in a fist and bowed to Ye Ren'an: "My little sister is young and may speak carelessly. Please don't be angry."
Ye Ren'an looked at the young boy speaking to him. At this distance, he could not only see the boy's face and features more clearly, but he could even see every single eyelash on his eyelids. Ye Ren'an, who had solved countless cases and was as steady as a mountain, felt as nervous as if he were taking the imperial examination for the first time, and his heart was almost jumping out of his throat.
The child was well raised and well-educated, and was polite and refined, yet without the weakness often associated with scholars.
"Young master, you're overthinking it. Children speak without thinking. Besides, she's telling the truth; you and I do indeed look very similar. It's not something rude or unpleasant to say, so why be angry?" Ye Ren'an tried to calm himself down and suppress his inner excitement.
The uncle in front of him gave Tianxuan a feeling of closeness, but reason reminded him not to be impolite, so he quickly smiled and turned to wait for the glutinous rice flour that the shopkeeper had wrapped.
As the child turned away, Ye Ren'an suddenly felt annoyed with himself. He just wanted to find some topic to talk to the child more, but why was he so slow to react?
Hong Xiaoduo noticed Ye Ren'an's expression and knew that he was agitated and flustered; otherwise, a fourth-rank prefect would not be like this.
"Tianxuan, I see they also sell seasonings. Aren't we going to slaughter a sheep for barbecue? Let's quickly see if they have any dipping sauces or anything we want to buy."
"Your master seems to have almost finished the salt and pepper peanuts he used to have with his drinks, right? There are peanuts here." Hong Xiaoduo continued.
Upon hearing her words, Tianxuan subconsciously glanced at her, vaguely sensing that she was acting a bit strangely today. For the first few months when she was with the seven of them, she would remind them what to buy, but later she simply stopped caring.
What's wrong with me today? Why am I suddenly so interested again...?
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