When they got the green silk cake, Fang Yu wanted to split it in half for Qiao Hezhi, but it was scalding hot fresh from the pan, and splitting it would easily spill the filling. So he blew on it, let Qiao Hezhi take the first bite, then ate some himself.
"The chives at this stall are indeed tender; they must be made from newly sprouted chives. Quite thoughtful. They're also generous with the oil, the skin is fragrant and crispy."
Arm in arm with Fang Yu, Qiao Hezhi discussed as they walked: "There are several stalls in the city that make green silk cake, but this one's taste is the best, and the price is reasonable too. Only ten coppers per cake, two coppers cheaper than other stalls."
"An ordinary man would be full after eating one; it's really good." Qiao Hezhi handed the green silk cake back to Fang Yu, then took out a notebook from his sleeve, enthusiastically recording this stall called Ahu's Green Silk Cakes.
"I've calculated, we have nearly ten entries of food stalls and eateries for the food guide. It's enough to publish at the teahouse."
Qiao Hezhi said: "Isn't it too few?"
"It's not. Updating every ten days or so, what we've recorded so far is enough for two issues. When we have time, we'll have the printing house print the booklet."
Qiao Hezhi didn't fully understand Fang Yu's plan but was quite looking forward to it. He tilted his head and saw Fang Yu's recommended audience for Ahu's Green Silk Cakes stall was "men," with a final note: It warms the stomach, guides the qi to move downward, supplements deficiency, regulates menses; delicious and filling. Truly the preferred food for men...
[Guide the qi to move downward: correct upward-flaming symptoms like headaches or hypertension by settling the body's vital energy].
"Why recommend it for men? Because it's affordable and substantial?"
Fang Yu chuckled. In later times, chives earned the nickname "wife's pleasure." He made a playful remark: "Children shouldn't ask too many questions."
"Who's a child? I'm already married."
Qiao Hezhi frowned, wanting to press further, but was interrupted by a voice first.
"Cousin!"
Both turned their heads at the sound. Fang Yu thought that the only person who would still address him this way was that one girl. He was surprised; after he had spoken so plainly and clearly last time, she still had the audacity to bother him again.
"Is something the matter?"
Yin Rao'er had just come out of a dried fruit shop when she bumped into the intimate, harmonious pair. Laughing, joking, even sharing a single green silk cake—not only her, but passersby on the street couldn't help but glance their way.
She originally didn't want to greet them. Since they had already fallen out, and she was about to marry into a wealthy family in a neighboring village as the principal wife, she could very well have no contact with Fang Yu for the rest of her life. But she simply couldn't swallow the resentment in her heart.
Although in the past she inwardly looked down on Fang Yu for his weak, submissive nature, always obeying Madam Chen, even though he fawned over her in every way, she hadn't paid him much mind. She had merely regarded him as a scholar—if she failed to secure a better marital match, he would be a decent fallback. Who would have thought he would change his mind halfway?
And then, for the sake of his new fulang, he dared to defy Madam Chen. Their family's land was to be taken back. Seeing all these things he never did for her in the past, now done for another person, she truly could not accept it.
"I have a few words I'd like to say to cousin alone."
Yin Rao'er opened her big eyes wide, looking innocently at Fang Yu.
Fang Yu was annoyed: "Say whatever you have to say right here."
"Cousin, do you really want me to say it here?" Yin Rao'er gave a troubled glance at Qiao Hezhi: "I'm afraid Cousin's wife might misunderstand."
Qiao Hezhi felt somewhat uncomfortable all over: "Perhaps I should step aside for a moment."
Fang Yu grabbed Qiao Hezhi's hand: "No need."
Yin Rao'er inwardly drew a sharp breath, yet her face maintained a pitiful expression. Steeling her resolve, she drew a handkerchief from her sleeve, unfolded it gently, and presented it to Fang Yu: "Cousin, this is the hairpin you gave me before. I know cousin was deeply devoted to me, but a father's command is truly hard to defy. I... I am to be betrothed. This should be returned to you. In this life, let's just say our fate was not meant to be..."
After speaking, Yin Rao'er stuffed the hairpin into Fang Yu's hand, covered her face as if crying, and ran off.
"Hey, you!"
Fang Yu's pupils shook with shock. By the time he regained his senses, she was already far away. This was the first time he had suffered such a silent loss. In the past, it was always him leaving others speechless. Who knew this little girl had such a move? He pinched the hairpin, finding it scalding to the touch. Just as he was thinking how to explain to Qiao Hezhi, Qiao Hezhi picked up the hairpin first.
"This jade hairpin..." Qiao Hezhi looked at Fang Yu, his heart twisting into a knot: "I thought it was lost by a newly bought servant with sticky fingers at home. It's been missing for quite some time. I never imagined Master had given it to your cousin..."
Qiao Hezhi's mood soared and then plummeted. He was shocked that Yin Rao'er was betrothed to someone else, and also hadn't expected Fang Yu to... His mind was a tangled mess.
Fang Yu was even more astonished!
He wanted to explain but had no way to explain. The original owner actually stole Qiao Hezhi's things to give to Yin Rao'er? He truly knew how to leave trouble behind, not leaving any room for him to defend himself openly and honestly. He looked guiltily at Qiao Hezhi. Saying it wasn't him felt rather feeble, since the evidence was literally in hand.
"I..."
Qiao Hezhi gazed at Fang Yu, waiting for him to offer a word of reassurance, even if it was just a meaningless line like: I saw the hairpin was pretty and casually took it to give to her.
But seeing Fang Yu's complex expression, unable to speak, his own heart also sank heavily. Perhaps Fang Yu was deeply saddened. How could he not be upset when the person he was devoted to was marrying someone else? It would be like if Fang Yu said he didn't want him anymore, wanted to divorce him—he would surely find it hard to bear, even not want to live on. Thinking this, his own emotions seemed insignificant before such a change.
Suppressing the sorrow in his own heart, he squeezed Fang Yu's palm and asked carefully: "Is it that Cousin's family didn't want her to come to the Fang family as a concubine, or... or because we dragged on too long and they couldn't wait anymore?"
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