Chapter 82

Chapter 82

The remaining duck bones were boiled into a soup, with some cabbage and tofu added. After it was done, chopped green onions were sprinkled on top.

The fragrant soup was ready. The last time she made it for Zhao Huaizi, she added noodles. This time, they drank the soup directly, which had its own unique flavor.

As Lin Chunyan sipped the soup, she thought about eating vermicelli. The fine and soft texture felt smooth in her mouth.

Once the mung beans sprouted, she would have to make them.

Qin Laozheng and Mr. Zhao both enjoyed the spring pancakes. They weren’t in a hurry to go to the county, so they came early to enjoy the pancakes.

The ritual of whipping the Spring Ox happens every year, but this was the first time they had tasted the spring pancakes made by Lin Chunyan.

Since the New Year, they had teased each other about the food, and now they couldn’t stand each other, yet they chose to sit at the same table.

"How do you make these pancakes so thin?"

Mr. Zhao couldn’t help but marvel, as he rolled in a lot of vegetables, dipped them in a bit of sugar and sauce, and took a bite, feeling the fresh flavors burst in his mouth.

He had sneaked out, originally planning to eat and then return home, but after tasting such delicious spring pancakes, he decided to bring some back for his two young sons and wife.

Even if he got beaten, he wanted them to taste the spring pancakes.

Lin Taohong really wanted to watch the Spring Ox being whipped. The Spring Ox was made of clay by craftsmen five days before the beginning of spring. It included farmers, the ox, and various farming tools.

After the county magistrate came out of the yamen, he would first bow and pray at the Dragon Pond, asking the Dragon God to bless the fourth season with peace. Then, he would walk around the ox with a wooden stake and strike its buttocks three times.

Lin Taohong had never seen it before, so Qin Laozheng told them, "After the clay ox is worshipped, it is knocked down, and everyone takes pieces of the clay home. It has many uses."

Mrs. Zhang knew about this, "When you were young, I took you there. Once, when Yan Niang had an upset stomach, we boiled water with the clay, and she felt better after drinking it."

How strange, Lin Chunyan was curious, "Can anyone take the clay?"

"Of course, but usually, it’s the strong men who go to get it, and it’s not easy to grab."

Lin Taohong tugged at Lin Chunyan’s sleeve, "Let’s go see the commotion. We won’t set up our stall today."

Lin Chunyan pointed at the spring pancakes, "If we don’t set up the stall, these pancakes will be wasted."

"Then let’s eat slowly."

"Good heavens, how long will it take to eat slowly? Besides, we promised to set up the stall today. If you want to play, go by yourself," Mrs. Zhang scolded Lin Taohong.

Lin Taohong was unhappy, and Lin Chunyan comforted her, "If you want to go out, we can go to the city during the Lantern Festival and buy you a lantern to play with."

Qin Laozheng quickly chimed in, "The ox-whipping is just a small spectacle; the lanterns are much more fun, and there will be fireworks!"

Lin Taohong still felt upset. Mrs. Zhang had embarrassed her in front of everyone, so she pouted and went to fry tofu.

Mrs. Zhang huffed, "You’re throwing a tantrum. You’re one year older after the New Year, yet you still act like a child. No wonder no one has come to propose marriage for you."

Lin Chunyan pulled on Mrs. Zhang’s sleeve, urging her to say less, "Miss is growing up, and her face is naturally thin. Mother, please don’t do that again."

Mrs. Zhang looked embarrassed, but fortunately, there was no one else at the stall. She was about to say something to ease the tension when she saw Lin Taohong throw down the spatula and run off, covering her eyes.

Mrs. Zhang grumbled, pointing at Lin Taohong’s back, "She’s gone wild, actually learning to run away."

Lin Chunyan also put down her things and was about to chase after her, but Mrs. Zhang held her back, "What are you going to do? She won’t run far. She’ll come back on her own. I can’t manage the pancakes alone."

Lin Chunyan was worried about Lin Taohong, "If you can’t manage, wait for me to come back. I need to check on her."

These two were like enemies, but when they got along, neither could do without the other. When they argued, they didn’t care about the setting.

Meizi came over with something, which Song Niang had asked her to bring, "I said I’d invite you to my house for tea, but you’re so busy. So, I brought some over. I just saw Lin Taohong run past, what happened?"

"It’s nothing, just a little argument. I’ll go find her."

Meizi had been nearby and heard everything, so Lin Chunyan didn’t hide it from her.

Meizi’s eyes darted, seeing Mrs. Zhang’s sullen face, and guessed what had happened.

She put down the items, "I’ll go look for her. Sister Yan Niang, you take care of the stall."

"That’s good, thank you."

Lin Chunyan figured Lin Taohong wouldn’t want to see her, so it was better for Meizi to go.

Meizi followed the direction Lin Taohong ran and soon found her.

She was arguing with Zhang Tianhe, who kept bowing and apologizing.

"My Spring Victory is brand new, and you broke it. You have to replace it."

Lin Taohong knew it wasn’t entirely Zhang Tianhe’s fault; she had run too fast and collided with him head-on.

But why did Zhang Tianhe have to be so unlucky and bump into her? It was his bad luck.

Zhang Tianhe had left his house, never expecting the Village Headman to arrange a marriage for him without telling him.

It was the daughter of Wang Yewai, known for her domineering personality, which was why no one had proposed to her.

Zhang Tianhe was unhappy and only said a few words before the Village Headman’s wife started crying.

With no choice, Zhang Tianhe left his house, lost in thought, and ran into Lin Taohong, who was also running out.

They both fell to the ground, and Lin Taohong’s Spring Victory fell off and broke.

Lin Taohong was already in a bad mood, and seeing her Spring Victory broken, her eyes welled up with tears.

This frightened Zhang Tianhe to no end. Lin Taohong had always been so domineering; in the past, one could often see her quarreling with other young ladies in the village, even daring to provoke Dog Egg, but he had never seen her like this.

Zhang Tianhe felt as if he had caused trouble. After apologizing and offering compensation, he promised to buy her a new spring ornament.

"Are you really going to do that?" Lin Taohong wiped away her tears and smiled, "Really buy me one?"

Zhang Tianhe nodded, "Of course I will."

Lin Taohong then pulled Meizi along, wanting her to go with them. Meizi first tried to persuade Lin Taohong to return to the stall, "Your elder sister is worried sick. If I hadn't stopped her, she would have come out to look for you."

Lin Taohong didn't want to go back, "I'll return after we buy the spring ornament."

Meizi had no choice; fearing that people might gossip about the two of them together, she followed them.

There were many stalls in town, and today there were especially many selling spring ornaments. Lin Taohong insisted on picking one she liked, and they had to visit two or three stalls before buying one.

"There aren't usually this many people around. Indeed, the beginning of spring is lively," Lin Taohong deliberately avoided Erlang's stall, not wanting anyone to see her.

After the purchase, Lin Taohong finally let Zhang Tianhe leave and returned to the stall with Meizi.

She still reminded Meizi, "Don't mention this to my elder sister. If she finds out, she'll surely scold me again."

Meizi hesitated but said nothing in the end, "My foster mother has a box of sweet candy. She said she would send it to you. I just put it on the stall."

Hearing about the sweet candy, Lin Taohong almost drooled, "What's inside?"

The box contained various sweets. Meizi explained, "There's honey cake, candied fruit... My foster mother doesn't like sweet things, so I kept a box for myself and brought the rest for you." ①

Lin Taohong quickened her pace, feeling a bit awkward when she returned to the stall, avoiding eye contact with Mrs. Zhang.

Lin Chunyan thanked Meizi and gave her some sunflower seeds, "Will that family come during the New Year?"

Meizi pouted, understanding what Lin Chunyan meant, "They naturally want to come, but they were scared by what happened before. They're afraid of being reported to the authorities, so they sent someone to plead on their behalf."

Song Niangzi hasn't shown up either. She decided to cut ties, and this year, she didn't even visit her former in-laws during the New Year.

She hadn't married into that family, but she had considered the emotional bond. In the end, she was blackmailed, so she severed all ties.

"They regretted it and cried bitterly at our doorstep for a long time."

But who cared?

Lin Taohong listened intently, and Lin Chunyan packed some spring pancakes for Meizi, "Take these back and eat them with your foster mother."

"Earlier, Red Lady mentioned that you're planning to attend the Lantern Festival in the city?"

Lin Chunyan nodded and glanced at Lin Taohong, "I need to take my little lady out for a stroll."

Lin Taohong stomped her foot, "Elder Sister, what are you talking about?"

Lin Chunyan pinched her cheek, "Alright, I won't tease you anymore. We agreed to go out that day, and it has nothing to do with Red Lady."

Meizi looked at them enviously, "I've never been to the city for the lantern festival. It must be fun."

Lin Taohong immediately said, "When I come back, I'll bring you a lantern."

Meizi seized the opportunity, "Then I want a rabbit one."

After Lin Chunyan and the others left, she noticed that the spring ornament on Lin Taohong's head seemed different, but she thought it might be her imagination and didn't ask.

After the beginning of spring, every household took their hoes to till the land. In Mrs. Zhang's backyard, they planned to plant many vegetables.

She now tended to be lazy and wanted Sun Niangzi to help with the planting.

Lin Chunyan disagreed, "They already have a lot of work to do. We can manage it ourselves."

Mrs. Zhang didn't believe her, "Zhao Linglan and her sister don't need to make canned goods anymore. They are quite idle. Why not let them help?"

"Even the spring pancakes were made with their help. How can they have less work?"

Lin Chunyan actually wanted Ding Hui Niang to help, so she asked a few times, "She can also help feed the pigs and chickens."

Mrs. Zhang didn't like Ding Hui Niang. She was someone who couldn't tolerate any imperfections. Even though Ding Hui Niang had her own hardships, her actions were still considered improper.

"Why involve her? Be careful that your reputation doesn't suffer."

Lin Taohong got angry at this, "So what if our reputation suffers?"

She remembered Mrs. Zhang mentioning that no one had come to propose marriage for her, which made her feel uncomfortable.

However, Lin Chunyan still went to find Ding Hui Niang, but Ding Hui Niang refused upon hearing the request.

"I know you mean well, but I can manage now. Spring is coming soon, and there will be more things to dig from the mountains. When I bring them here to trade, it will already be a great favor."

As she spoke, a hopeful smile appeared on her face, which was different from her usual downcast expression.

Seeing her sincerity, Lin Chunyan didn't insist further. She only invited Geda to play at her house, letting him eat whatever he wanted.

Geda, though small, was very obedient. When Lin Chunyan offered him food, he ate a lot.

After eating, he told Lin Chunyan, "The villagers are so nice, giving me so much to eat. I will grow up to farm and give you what I grow."

Lin Chunyan patted his head, "That's because everyone thinks Geda is smart and likes you."

Geda grinned widely.

Before Lin Ercun built this house, she consulted Dong Niangni for a divination.

She set a date and invited her to help check the feng shui.

Only then did Lin Chunyan realize that this Old Lady Dong held multiple roles; she could not only read fortunes, match birth dates, and arrange marriages, but also inspect yin and yang dwellings and examine feng shui.

Lin Chunyan watched from the side as the old woman had one blind eye, while the other was sharp as a hawk, quite different from what she had imagined—a mere charlatan.

It seemed she truly had some skills, no wonder Mrs. Zhang and the others believed in her.

Old Lady Dong took a look around, pointing out where certain rooms should be placed, what items needed to be buried in advance, and demanded a hefty sum of money for her services.

Lin Chunyan looked at Old Lady Dong, who, after examining the feng shui, was now looking back at her. Mrs. Zhang, fearing that her words might have been overheard, immediately stepped in front of Lin Chunyan, like a hen protecting her chick.

But Old Lady Dong spoke up, "Your fate clashes with your father’s. Only after he is gone will you shine, but this is not necessarily a bad thing."

Lin Chunyan peeked out from behind Mrs. Zhang and gave her a small smile.

When she arrived in this world, Old Man Lin had already left with his concubine, without even a glimpse of her.

Mrs. Zhang, however, was delighted, "Indeed, it's his bad luck. I've always said that life would improve without him."

Without hesitation, she slipped Old Lady Dong several coins.

Lin Taohong watched in amazement; Mrs. Zhang, usually so frugal, found it harder than climbing to heaven to get money from her.

Yet, with just a few words from Old Lady Dong, Mrs. Zhang readily handed over the money.

She tugged on Lin Chunyan’s sleeve, "Sister, I want to learn this."

Lin Chunyan nodded in agreement, "I think it's a good idea. I'll find out more about it later."

They say interest is the best teacher; why stop a child from learning what they want?

Lin Chunyan’s easy-going attitude made Lin Taohong suspicious, and she continued to pester Lin Chunyan, "Why don't you try to dissuade me?"

"I think it’s a good skill to have, useful for making a living in the future."

Wang Yingniang chimed in coldly, "Then you’ll end up half-blind like Old Lady Dong."

Lin Taohong was suddenly frightened and dared not mention it again, still eyeing Lin Chunyan suspiciously, knowing that such a quick agreement must mean something was amiss.

Uncle Lin Er invited many villagers to help build the house before the spring plowing. Aunt Lin Er, unwilling to part with the twenty coins she earned daily, invited her sister-in-law to cook for the workers.

Lin Chunyan also met Shuangjie, whom she had previously refused Erlang.

She was very beautiful, but not in the flirtatious way of apricot blossoms; her beauty was dignified and grand, making one hesitate to offend her easily.

"Why doesn’t Brother Erlang speak to Shuangjie?" Everyone gathered on stools, watching the scene unfold.

"It’s not that I won’t speak for Brother Erlang, but given his past, it’s normal that Shuangjie wouldn’t fancy him."

"But why does she fancy him now?"

Lin Taohong didn’t understand, "Brother Erlang has just earned more money, but they’ve bought pigs and built a house; their family isn’t much better off."

No one had thought of this until Lin Taohong mentioned it, then they realized something was amiss.

It was indeed strange.

Shuangjie rarely went out, staying home to do needlework. Aunt Lin Er liked her more and more, eager to bring her into the family.

After watching for a while, Lin Chunyan returned home. There were still many lotus roots from the pond before the New Year, and Lin Chunyan took advantage of the free time to take them out of the cellar.

The Zhao sisters came to help, peeling the skin off the lotus roots while chatting.

Before the New Year, these two sisters hadn’t come to collect their year-end bonuses but stayed at their grandmother’s house for a month.

Lin Chunyan took out the New Year gifts she had prepared for them. Although late, since they worked together, it wasn’t right to exclude them.

The two sisters accepted the gifts gladly and started talking about Ding Hui Niang.

"My mother beat my father when she got back, asking if he had gone to see her."

As they spoke, their faces showed a mix of shame, but this was no longer a secret in the village. Some married women often spoke freely about such matters outside.

Understanding the implications, they felt embarrassed to talk about it.

Lin Chunyan blinked, and Zhao Linglan nudged Zhao Zilan, "Don’t say everything, or Mother will scold you."

Despite saying this, she laughed and shook her head, "My father ran around the house, claiming he spent all his time visiting my grandmother’s house and had no time for anything else."

Not everyone sought out Ding Hui Niang, but it made some men anxious for a while, and gradually the rumors died down.

The peeled lotus roots were placed in water, and they used a grater to turn them into a paste.

The large round sieve used for drying fermented beans hadn’t been put away, and Lin Chunyan laid a layer of fine white cotton cloth on it, spreading the grated lotus root paste on the cloth.

She was always patient with such tasks, listening intently if someone spoke nearby, and if no one did, she would finish slowly.

Lin Fengdie noticed that the embroidery work done in Lin Chunyan’s courtyard progressed faster than when she worked alone at home, so she often came over.

This way, she didn’t have to constantly bite her lip, wanting to speak but not daring to.

"Willow trees are budding; I saw someone picking the tender shoots to eat."

After the start of spring, the wind seemed less cold. The group rubbed the lotus root paste on the fine cotton cloth several times, discussing plans to dig for shepherd’s purse on the mountain in a few days.

"Also, we can dig up dandelions; spring dandelions are the best."

"Speaking of which, when will the elm seeds be ready? They’re sweet, and I love eating them."

After filtering, the lotus root residue was not discarded but mixed with water and kneaded repeatedly until all the starch was washed out. The starchy water was poured into a large vat, covered, and left to settle overnight.

The next day, the water on top of the jar was poured out, leaving the solid layer at the bottom, which was the lotus root powder.

Seeing that so many pounds of lotus roots had produced only this small amount of powder, Mrs. Zhang couldn't help but draw in a breath.

"How does it feel more troublesome than making crab roe paste?"

Nature has already bestowed so much; what does it matter if it's a bit more troublesome?

Lin Chunyan poured the lotus root powder from the large jar onto a piece of cotton cloth, hanging it in the courtyard to thoroughly dry out the remaining moisture.

This wasn't the end; after a few days, the lotus root powder still needed to be spread on a round sieve and dried for several more days before it could be stored in jars.

By the time the Lantern Festival approached, the lotus root powder would be ready to eat. Lin Chunyan added some sesame and peanuts to the powder, slowly mixing it with water.

Previously, Lin Chunyan had made acorn flour, but without adding any other seasonings, it didn't taste very rich.

However, when the lotus root powder was mixed with water, it became quite thick and chewy, filling the mouth with the fragrance of lotus roots.

At first, Mrs. Zhang thought it was a waste to produce such a small amount of powder from so many lotus roots, but after tasting the powder, she couldn't say anything else.

"There's not much, I'm afraid we'll finish it in no time," Mrs. Zhang began to worry again.

Lin Chunyan couldn't help but laugh, "There are still some lotus roots in the cellar; we can make more when the time comes."

"Let's skip it. Didn't you say we could also make pastries? That way, we can change the flavor."

Lin Chunyan nodded, "Next time, let's try a different way to enjoy it."

This lotus root powder was different from the kind bought later; it wasn't as white, but it had a pure lotus root flavor. To enhance the taste, some sugar was added.

After eating, everyone started discussing the preparation of glutinous rice balls.

Lin Taohong, fearing they might forget about the trip to the county town, asked, "Why don't we skip the glutinous rice balls and just have them ourselves?"

Lin Chunyan thought for a moment, "Then let's set off at noon that day."

The county town wasn't far away, just over an hour's walk. Lin Chunyan planned to walk there and stay overnight.

Lin Cuixiang wasn't going; she and Sanlang exchanged glances and said in unison, "We should still make them and sell them."

Even without setting up a stall, they knew how bustling the Lantern Festival would be.

Sanlang even cited Aunt Liu from Gourd Town as an example, "Last Winter Solstice, they came over. I bet many people will come during the Lantern Festival too."

"You might be too busy with just the two of you."

The two quickly added more reasons, and Lin Chunyan finally agreed, "Then I'll go with you to the dock and head straight to the county town at noon."

Lin Taohong pouted but didn't say anything.

Besides the usual peanut and sesame fillings, Lin Chunyan also made glutinous rice balls with yellow millet skin and colorful small balls.

These were made by kneading colored juices from vegetables like spinach into the dough, filled with sweet fruit jam. The balls were only as big as pearls, yet they contained plenty of filling.

Not only did they look like pearls, but each bite was delicious.

Before the Lantern Festival, the family had eaten these several times. Breaking through the slightly sticky outer layer, the filling flowed out, whether it was the rich and fragrant sesame and peanut filling or the sweet fruit jam, making it hard to stop.

Before the Lantern Festival, Mr. Huang of Clear Breeze Building was to have a tea competition with Wangxi Building. The tea-making ladies, who had become familiar with Lin Chunyan, often ordered snacks from her stall.

Seeing her arrive, Lady Zhu greeted her first, "You promised to make me some saqiama, but I haven't seen it yet."

Lady Jiang on the other side snorted, "When did you promise her? I mentioned it first."

Seeing a quarrel about to break out, Mr. Huang quickly intervened, "Don't think you can bully Lin Xiaoniang just because she's young. She hasn't promised anything to either of you, so back off."

Lin Chunyan smiled, "I don't have extra saqiama, but I've made some glutinous rice balls. I'll share them with the ladies later."

Hearing this, everyone cheered up and went to prepare the items needed for the tea competition.

Mr. Huang's smile widened when he saw Lin Chunyan, "The snowflake crisp in the New Year's gift you sent was really delicious."

He wasn't exaggerating; he had only eaten a small piece, planning to savor it slowly. However, his little daughter found it and ate it all, leaving only crumbs.

Mr. Huang was so angry he almost hit his daughter, who argued, "I left a lot. If Father doesn't want the crumbs, I'll take them, and I won't share."

Mr. Huang was even angrier, seeing his daughter about to eat the crumbs, he quickly put them in his own mouth, "I accept your filial piety. Go find your mother and don't rummage through my room anymore."

Thinking about this, Mr. Huang still found it amusing and shared it with Lin Chunyan.

"Make more next time. Even if we don't sell it, we can satisfy our cravings."

Lady Zhu, who had been listening, quickly interjected, "Master, don't be selfish. Share some with us too."

Mr. Huang gave Lady Zhu a stern look but couldn't help laughing. He led Lin Chunyan to a front-row seat reserved for her, surrounded by acquaintances: Mr. Zhao, Mr. Qin, Li Niangzi, Chef Song, Lord Wang, and Lord Li...

Lin Taohong found sitting there too restrictive and sat at a small table at the back with Mrs. Zhang. Mr. Huang still had many snacks brought to them.

Today, there was a tea competition, and many people came to watch, making the hall lively. Even speaking to someone required raising one's voice.

Mr. Zhao and Mr. Qin asked simultaneously, "Has the young lady made any glutinous rice balls? We're waiting to eat them."

Constable Sun, maintaining order nearby, chimed in, "If you have, bring them out sooner. We can enjoy them for a few more days."

Gathered together, these food enthusiasts talked about eating until Mr. Huang cleared his throat several times, drawing their attention back to the competition.

Lin Chunyan didn't understand much about tea-making, but she watched as the ladies ground the tea into a fine powder, sifted it, and mixed it into a paste before beating it.

She stretched her neck to see the ladies from Clear Breeze Building create various patterns in the tea, such as plum blossoms, orchids, bamboo, chrysanthemums, and scenes of mountains and seas.

The young ladies of the Wangxi Tower were no less impressive, leaving Lin Chunyan momentarily speechless.

Many people, like her, were entranced, occasionally shouting their approval from below. Some could even tell whose skills were superior just by the scent alone.

Lin Taohong and Mrs. Zhang only glanced a few times before starting to eat the pastries on their seats. Those who came to the Clear Breeze Building for fruit inevitably ordered the saqima (a type of sweet pastry).

Lin Taohong and Mrs. Zhang were already accustomed to it at home, so they didn't find it particularly special. A merchant-dressed man, thinking these two didn’t know what it was, began explaining it to them.

"This is very delicious; you can’t find it anywhere else except here in the Clear Breeze Building." He cut the saqima into small pieces, used a napkin to pick it up, and pointed to the two families competing in tea tasting, "These two families are evenly matched, and their teas are indistinguishable. But this Clear Breeze Building has more delicious pastries, which brings back many repeat customers."

Lin Taohong and Mrs. Zhang covered their mouths and laughed, looking quite pleased.

They ate the saqima without such caution, often taking large bites and sometimes eating several pieces in a row.

Wang Yingniang, sitting nearby, seemed distracted and hadn’t spoken a word. Lin Taohong quietly tugged at her sleeve, "What’s wrong with you? Are you feeling unwell?"

Wang Yingniang had been forcibly brought out by Lin Chunyan. She wanted to stay home and make tangyuan (sweet glutinous rice balls), saying she couldn’t understand the tea ceremony and wouldn’t come.

Lin Chunyan always thought she was too cooped up at home and encouraged her to go out more often. That's why Wang Yingniang finally left the house.

Seeing no response, Lin Taohong pushed Wang Yingniang impatiently, "I’m asking you, where does it hurt, or are you unhappy? Just say it; bottling it up isn’t good for you."

She then threatened her with Lin Chunyan, "If you don’t speak up, I’ll tell the elder sister."

Wang Yingniang pursed her lips and, without hesitation, guided Lin Taohong’s gaze with her finger, "Do you recognize him?"

Lin Taohong squinted her eyes and nearly jumped off her seat.

This person was none other than Wang Dalang, who once wanted to marry Lin Chunyan and brought some wilted leaves as a gift.

She wished she could rush over and slap Wang Dalang a few times, staring at him intently.

Mrs. Zhang also saw him and first made Lin Taohong sit down, asking Wang Yingniang, "I wonder if your brother has seen you. Let’s wait and see how he reacts."

"Ugh, ugh, ugh, Mother, what are you saying? Wang Dalang is not Yingniang’s brother anymore; they have no relation."

Mrs. Zhang realized she had misspoken and quickly laughed it off.

Once it was out, Wang Yingniang wasn’t as afraid. She avoided looking at Wang Dalang, but he kept glancing at her from time to time.

When Wang Yingniang entered, Wang Dalang had seen her but initially didn’t dare to recognize her. Although she looked the same, something felt different.

Upon closer inspection, he noticed that Wang Yingniang had grown taller and her hair was now jet black and shiny, indicating that she was well-fed and well-clothed.

Wang Dalang started to feel unbalanced, thinking why a woman like Wang Yingniang should be bought by Lin Chunyan and treated so well.

If things hadn’t gone awry, Lin Chunyan would have married him, and he would be enjoying a life of luxury instead of having to scheme everywhere.

Lin Chunyan was amazed by the tea-making skills and, still captivated, approached Mrs. Zhang and the others, noticing the tense atmosphere.

"What’s going on? Did you argue with someone again?"

When Lin Chunyan said this, she looked at Mrs. Zhang and Lin Taohong.

These two were known for their love of bickering, often arguing over trivial matters.

Both Mrs. Zhang and Lin Taohong jumped up, "No such thing!"

They exchanged glances, seeing mutual disdain in each other’s eyes.

Wang Yingniang quickly pulled Lin Chunyan aside and told her about Wang Dalang’s presence.

Lin Chunyan was puzzled, "The fruits and tea at the Clear Breeze Building aren’t cheap. Why would he spend money here?"

It was a competition day, and just entering required spending eighty coins on fruit. Wang Dalang’s table had ordered two plates, totaling nearly two hundred coins.

Wang Yingniang whispered, "Could it be using the money from my sale?"

Lin Taohong, indignant, said, "Their conscience must have been eaten by dogs. Using the money from selling you to drink tea and listen to music, they deserve to be struck by lightning at night."

Lin Chunyan told Lin Taohong to keep quiet and went to ask Mr. Huang.

Mr. Huang found Wang Dalang somewhat familiar and called a waiter to inquire further. It turned out that Wang Dalang wasn’t a first-time visitor.

The waiter was an old acquaintance, the former apprentice of Chef Wang, who later ran away to learn skills from Lin Chunyan.

Wang San naturally recognized Wang Dalang and recalled, "He has a crush on the lute player, Lady Wan. Every time he comes, he listens to her sing and orders two plates of fruit. He’s not short of money."

Lin Chunyan found this suspicious and kept it in mind.

Wang San was delighted to see Lin Chunyan. Although he was now a waiter, far from his original goal of becoming a chef, he believed he would eventually learn.

On the 14th of the first month, Lin Chunyan displayed all the tangyuan, selling them at one coin for three, regardless of the filling.

The dock workers, finding it a good deal, bought many since most of them couldn’t make tangyuan themselves. The number of buyers increased significantly.

Many brought their wives and children, and the tent soon became crowded.

Mrs. Zhang set up another stall outside and borrowed some tables and chairs from Jin Niangzi.

The tent wouldn’t be needed for long, but Lin Chunyan didn’t plan to dismantle it. When the weather warmed, she would remove the surrounding straw curtains to let the spring breeze in.

Hearing they were going to the county town, Jin Niangzi’s voice was full of envy, "I haven’t been there since giving birth to my son, which was almost ten years ago."

Lin Chunyan was surprised, "We’re not far from the town; it’s only a half-hour walk. If you want to go, why can’t you?"

Jin Niangzi moved a stool over and explained, "I have to run my stall during the day and serve my whole family when I get home. My children often need me, keeping me busy all the time. Where do I find the time to go?"

But that was in the past; now she has let it go and plans to be a hands-off manager at home. Why should she work hard outside and still have to serve the whole family when she returns?

She’s not stupid. In the past, she hadn’t thought about it this way. Later, she realized that although she had children and a decent husband, her life wasn’t as enjoyable as Mrs. Zhang’s, which made her realize what she had been missing.

Lin Taohong was already excited, thinking about which set of clothes to wear and what snacks to prepare, even filling a bamboo tube with water.

Mr. Huang also mentioned that if they were going to the county town, they should only stay at the Yingxin Inn, where he usually stayed.

They walked and chatted all the way, not feeling tired at all, and soon arrived at the county town.

This was Lin Chunyan’s first time visiting. Just seeing the city walls gave her a sense of awe. They didn’t rush to find an inn but took a leisurely walk around the town first.

The county town was larger than their town, divided into several marketplaces, with vendors selling various goods along the streets, though most were lanterns.

Lin Taohong found one she liked and asked the price, only to be surprised that a simple lantern cost three coins.

The old man smiled kindly, “Young lady, since it’s still daytime, the price is a bit cheaper. By nightfall, when people come out to admire the lanterns, it will cost five coins.”

Scared, Lin Taohong quickly took out the money to buy it, and didn’t forget to get a few more for Lin Cuixiang and Meizi.

Lin Chunyan and Wang Yingniang also chose ones they liked. Mrs. Zhang wasn’t interested in the lanterns, but Lin Chunyan still encouraged her to pick one.

“Tonight, we can go out together with these lanterns; it’s a good omen.”

Though Mrs. Zhang looked unhappy on the surface, she couldn’t hide her smile when choosing a lantern.

At the Yingxin Inn Mr. Huang recommended, the innkeeper was indeed as honest as described. They booked two rooms, which were clean and tidy.

Lin Chunyan ate a few bites of the snacks they brought to tide over her hunger, planning to get some food from a stall later.

Seeing that they were only a group of women, the innkeeper gave them extra cautionary advice when they were about to leave.

“When you go to see the lanterns, be careful of kidnappers. There was once a young girl in our village, very pretty, who went to see the lanterns with others from the village and never came back.”

This alarmed everyone, “Was she kidnapped?”

“It’s possible. Who knows where she is now? Her family reported it to the authorities, but they couldn’t find her, so the matter was dropped.”

Many of those in the entertainment quarters and performers need to look beautiful and charming, and they start learning how to serve people from a young age. Where do all these people come from?

Many are kidnapped by these traffickers. Once they spot someone, they act when there are many people around. Even if others see it, they might be intimidated by the knives or don’t want to get involved, so they can only watch helplessly as the person is taken away.

Lin Taohong became frightened. She was enjoying her life and didn’t want to be kidnapped.

Lin Chunyan comforted them, “We need to be cautious, but we’ll go when there are fewer people and return after a quick tour.”

Lin Chunyan also got a rope from the innkeeper and tied a knot on each of their wrists. “This way, if something happens, no one can be taken away easily.”

Lin Taohong was reluctant; she had never been to a lantern festival or seen fireworks.

Lin Taohong sighed in relief, deciding to tie herself to Lin Chunyan and have Mrs. Zhang and Wang Yingniang together.

“Even if we get separated, we shouldn’t panic; just return to the inn.”

Indeed, many people came to the town to see the lanterns, and the magistrate planned to set off fireworks. While eating at a stall, Lin Chunyan heard people say that more people came compared to the Spring Festival.

Lin Chunyan was eating a crispy yellow taro cake. The vendor was an elderly woman with gray hair but very agile hands. She cooked the taro, sliced it, and mixed ground almonds, peanuts, and ginkgo nuts into a sauce.

Lin Chunyan had never tried this before. She watched as the taro slices, dipped in the sauce, were fried in oil, quickly releasing a fragrant aroma.

The old woman noticed Lin Chunyan staring and asked if she wanted to try.

Lin Chunyan nodded, and the old woman quickly served her a bowl. The taro, already steamed, was soft and smooth, and the outer layer became crispy after frying, creating a rich texture.

What Lin Chunyan liked most was the ground almonds and ginkgo nuts.

Lin Chunyan had never tasted ginkgo nuts before and found them similar to almonds, with a unique pine nut flavor and a fresh, natural scent.

On her way back, she decided to buy some ginkno nuts and pine nuts in the county town to take home.

When crushed and added to tofu pudding, the taste would surely be better.

Mrs. Zhang ordered a bowl of plum blossom soup cake. The broth was made from white plum blossoms steeped in sandalwood, formed into dough sheets, and pressed into flower shapes using a mold.

Before tasting it, the fresh scent of the broth and the egg flowers and green scallions floating in it made it visually appealing and aromatic.

Lin Chunyan took a bite, and her mouth was filled with the fragrance of plum blossoms.