Chapter 10

Chapter 10

"Six taels," Lord Yuan said.

"Uncle," Minghe called softly.

Xiao Yu noticed that Minghe had something to say, so he bent down and brought his ear close to Minghe's mouth.

Minghe covered his small mouth with his hand and whispered softly, "Uncle Xiao, six taels of silver is a lot." He spent his days with Xiao Yu learning poetry, arithmetic, selling steamed buns, buying vegetables, fabrics, and more, and had come to understand the purchasing power of six taels of silver.

"Yes, it's a lot," Xiao Yu nodded.

"So—"

Xiao Yu continued, "Then Uncle Xiao will go and help."

Minghe immediately said, "I'll go too."

"Agreed."

Master Yuan genuinely wanted to invite Xiao Yu to his grandson's birthday feast to do the calligraphy. He thought his grandson might like Xiao Yu's talent as much as Minghe did. With this in mind, he became even more eager to have Xiao Yu enter his mansion and said, "Young Master Xiao, is it a matter of insufficient funds?"

Xiao Yu and Minghe fell silent and turned to look at Master Yuan.

"How about eight taels of silver?" Master Yuan asked cautiously, looking ready to offer more.

"That's enough, that's enough," Xiao Yu straightened up and said immediately.

Minghe followed with his childish voice, "Enough, enough."

"You agree?" Master Yuan asked.

As long as the money is right, any posture will do!

Xiao Yu said, "Agreed." Eight taels of silver! With that, he and Minghe could afford thick cotton quilts, cotton clothes, cotton shoes, and an umbrella. He could even make a square little quilt to cover the steamed buns for insulation.

Master Yuan asked, "When will you come to my daughter's house tomorrow?"

Not wanting to delay his small business, Xiao Yu said, "After selling the steamed buns tomorrow morning."

Master Yuan approved, "Tomorrow is perfect. I will also come to buy steamed buns, and I'll take you both with me."

"Okay."

"Grandpa, I'm going too," Minghe said eagerly before Xiao Yu could even make the request. "I want to be with my Uncle Xiao for my whole life."

Xiao Yu added, "Master Yuan, may I bring Minghe with me? He's very well-behaved and won't interfere with my work, is that alright?" Nowadays, he wanted to take Minghe with him everywhere, otherwise, he wouldn't feel at ease.

Master Yuan, well aware of Minghe's good nature, replied, "Of course, little Fang can keep an eye on him when you're busy."

A smile appeared on Xiao Yu's face: "Thank you, Master Yuan."

Master Yuan said, "Then please give it some thought and prepare some dishes that my grandson and other children will enjoy." The focus was on pleasing his grandson.

"I'll visit your mansion tomorrow to check the ingredients and ask the young master directly." Children's real preferences can sometimes differ from adults', and since Master Yuan had just arrived in Qingshi Town, he might not know his grandson's tastes well, so Xiao Yu decided not to ask him.

"Alright," Master Yuan suddenly remembered something and took out some silver coins from his sleeve, saying, "Here are three taels as a deposit."

"Then I'll write you a note," Xiao Yu offered.

"No need, don't I trust you?" Master Yuan, who had traveled far and wide in his youth and met all kinds of people, could tell that Xiao Yu was a smart, honest, and kind young man. "Take it, think well about the menu, and we'll meet tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow," Xiao Yu accepted the silver.

Humming a tune, Master Yuan walked away leisurely.

Minghe, tugging at Xiao Yu's belt and standing on tiptoes, lifted his chin curiously towards the silver in Xiao Yu's hand, "Uncle Xiao, let me see, let me see."

Xiao Yu brought the silver closer for Minghe to inspect.

Minghe was satisfied.

"Let's go, we need to do some shopping."

"Okay."

Xiao Yu instinctively glanced at the Yang couple nearby. As he expected, they were no longer hostile towards him and were completely focused on selling their steamed buns.

He was pleased with their change in attitude and then, with Minghe by his side, entered Qingshi Town to buy a variety of items including fabric, cotton padding, shoe soles, and vegetables.

The small bamboo basket was already overflowing.

Minghe said, "Uncle Xiao, let me hold it, I can carry it too."

Xiao Yu hung two pairs of cloth shoes on Minghe and handed him two large white radishes. "Is it heavy?"

"Not heavy at all," Minghe replied energetically.

Xiao Yu carried the bamboo basket on one arm and the fabric in the other.

Minghe asked, "Uncle Xiao, have we got everything?"

"Yes, we've got it all. Let's head home."

"Heading home."

The uncle and nephew returned home, both drenched in sweat.

Xiao Yu's craftsmanship was quite poor, so instead of making clothes himself, he took some silver and asked Grandma Hao to make autumn clothes and cotton coats for him and Minghe.

Grandma Hao was famously skilled in needlework in Jinxui Village, even surpassing those in the town. She was also kind-hearted, knowing that Xiao Yu and Minghe, uncle and nephew, had to rise before dawn every day to sell steamed buns for a living, earning hard-earned money. Therefore, she only charged them a symbolic fee of twenty wen, and then took their measurements.

"Grandma Hao, you are so kind," Minghe said.

Grandma Hao smiled, "It's just your sweet talk."

Minghe said, "When I grow up, I will treat you well too."

Grandma Hao smiled more kindly, "Alright, I'll wait for that."

After leaving Grandma Hao's house, the uncle and nephew returned to their small courtyard. Xiao Yu didn't work but spent his time thinking about a menu that would appeal to both adults and children. After a long contemplation, he met Master Yuan as planned the next morning.

Master Yuan, after eating two radish steamed buns, chatted idly with Minghe while waiting for Xiao Yu to finish selling his buns.

The three of them then went to the Jin residence together.

Xiao Yu had initially thought Master Yuan's daughter's family would be well-off but was surprised to find they were actually a wealthy household. The wide and high red-lacquered gate was flanked by majestic stone lions, exuding grandeur.

"Wow," Minghe gaped.

Seeing this, Master Yuan explained, "My son-in-law isn't particularly talented. He just made some contributions in his early years and was awarded this house."

Modesty!

This was true modesty!

Xiao Yu sensed the air of humility and suddenly realized that the elderly man before him might be a retired official, having relinquished his heavy responsibilities. Hence, he now spent his days leisurely indulging in food and drink, and his son-in-law must also be an official.

Xiao Yu, in his previous life, never had the chance to interact with officials and was also unfamiliar with the government system in this life, so he didn't know what rank these officials held.

Since Master Yuan chose not to elaborate, Xiao Yu didn't feel it was appropriate to ask further. His focus was on preparing good food, so he continued walking, holding Minghe's little hand.

The residence wasn't luxurious but was simple, clean, elegant, and quite spacious.

Xiao Yu had seen such architecture in books and scenic areas, but Minghe hadn't. His usual sights were the thatched cottages in the village, and the most beautiful building he knew was the Wangyue Tavern. Seeing this residence for the first time, with its carved beams, painted rafters, pavilions, towers, rockeries, flowing water, and the plants and trees, left him in awe.

He was completely mesmerized.

After a while, he finally spoke, "Uncle Xiao, is this the Heavenly Palace?"

He had recently heard a story from Uncle Xiao about the Monkey King causing havoc in the Heavenly Palace. In his imagination, the Heavenly Palace was a place with beautiful houses, grounds, and flowers, just like what he was seeing now.

Hearing this, Master Yuan burst into hearty laughter.

Xiao Yu and Minghe quietly explained that this was not the Heavenly Palace, but someone's home.

Minghe exclaimed, "Someone's home is so beautiful."

"Do you like it?" Xiao Yu asked.

Minghe nodded vigorously, "I like it."

"Then would you like to live here?" Xiao Yu asked again.

Everyone is drawn to beautiful things, and Minghe was no exception. He looked up with a bright face and asked, "Uncle Xiao, will you live here?"

Xiao Yu shook his head, "I can't live here; I can only live in a thatched cottage."

Minghe immediately said, "Then I'll live in the thatched cottage with Uncle Xiao."

Xiao Yu was surprised, "Don't you like it here?"

"I like Uncle Xiao more, I like Uncle Xiao the most."

Uncle Xiao Yu felt especially warmed by this.

Master Yuan, having overheard, grew even more fond of the uncle-nephew duo. His smile became warmer as he led them through the winding paths of the residence, occasionally offering explanations, before entering a small courtyard.

Inside, many hemp ropes were neatly tied, hanging with cured meats, salted ducks, air-dried chickens, smoked fish, dried green beans, dried celery, and more. On a table nearby, various sized winnowing baskets displayed dried dates, goji berries, chilies, bay leaves, etc., with two women busy processing them.

"Wow, so wealthy!" Minghe exclaimed.

Xiao Yu didn't say it aloud, but thought to himself: "This is what a wealthy household looks like!"

"Master Yuan," the two women greeted respectfully upon seeing Master Yuan.

"Carry on with your work, I've brought a great chef here," Master Yuan said, leading Xiao Yu and Minghe into the kitchen.

Even with all the pots, pans, ladles, jars, bottles, and plates, the kitchen was still larger than Xiao Yu and Minghe's thatched cottage. Six uniformly dressed and clean chefs were busy at a large central cutting board.

Master Yuan introduced Xiao Yu to them.

The six chefs sized up Xiao Yu, noting his ragged clothes, young age, and good looks, which didn’t fit the typical chef's profile. Out of respect for Master Yuan's introduction, they all smiled politely, without saying much.

Master Yuan cheerfully said to Xiao Yu, "You can use anything here. Don't worry about what they are doing; just focus on making something my grandson will enjoy."

Xiao Yu nodded, "Alright."

"Today, prepare some dishes for us to taste. For the formal dinner tomorrow evening, you can manage that, right?"

"Yes, I can."

"Great, in a while, I'll have Xiaofang come over to look after Minghe, so you can concentrate on the cooking."

"Thank you, Master Yuan."

"No need for thanks, now, do you have any questions? Feel free to ask," Master Yuan said.

Xiao Yu asked, "May I meet young Master Jin?" Young Master Jin was Master Yuan's three-year-old grandson.

"Of course—" Master Yuan hadn't finished speaking when suddenly something darted out from under the cutting board and ran out of the kitchen. He exclaimed in surprise, "What was that?"

"A little kid!" Minghe clarified.

"Go check it out," Master Yuan instructed.

Everyone, unaware that a child had been hiding under the cutting board, hurried out and saw a two or three-year-old child clutching something in his arms, running straight towards the entrance of the courtyard.

The child, not paying attention, stepped on some vegetable leaves on the ground, slipped, and sat down hard, letting out a cry. The vegetables and radishes he was holding fell around him. He opened his mouth as if to cry but realized no one had seen him fall.

Maybe he won't cry now.

He held back his tears, about to get up, when he heard footsteps approaching and turned to see a group of people watching.

They all saw him fall, how embarrassing.

Hmph!

He wanted to cry and throw a tantrum. He squeezed his eyes tightly, causing them to hurt, and finally managed to squeeze out a tear, then opened his mouth wide.

Master Yuan and the others from the residence came out and immediately felt a headache coming on.

Minghe suddenly ran forward a few steps and said loudly, "Little one, it's okay, very natural. It doesn't look like you fell!"

The child immediately turned his head, closed his mouth, and then opened it again, asking, "Really natural?"