Chapter 32 Buying a Dog and Building a House

Chapter 32 Buying a Dog and Building a House

"Da Jieer, you’re here at the market too? Oh, this is Xiang Jieer, she’s grown taller and put on some weight," Master Shen said, fanning himself with a look of awkwardness on his face. "Uncle’s been swamped with household chores and hasn’t had the time to visit you. Where’s Ji Geer? How is his health?"

Shen Miao stood up and replied, "He’s been well for a while now. Thanks for your concern, Uncle."

Although she could remain calm in dealing with Master Shen’s family, it didn’t mean she wanted to get chummy with them. People are naturally selfish; Master Shen and Ding didn’t want to raise their brother’s kids and thus mistreated Ji Geer and Xiang Jieer. She couldn’t shake this off, and it still bugged her. Although the two families hadn’t completely broken ties, it was impossible to act as if nothing had happened.

Especially now that she was self-reliant and didn’t plan to depend on Master Shen’s family, naturally, she didn’t need to get too close.

With a turn of her eyes, she bowed to Ding, "Hi, Aunt." Without waiting for Ding to speak, she stood up by herself, then turned to look at Hai Geer, forcing a polite smile, "Hai Geer has also grown taller and put on some weight."

After these pleasantries, the two families just stared at each other, not knowing what to say.

When Master Shen appeared, Xiang Jieer had immediately hidden behind Shen Miao. Only when Shen Miao started talking to them did she peeked out cautiously, still clutching Shen Miao’s skirt tightly with one hand.

She didn’t like her uncle and aunt; Aunt was mean and would hit people when she got mad.

She was the youngest child of her parents. When her parents were alive, they, along with her elder sister and brother, doted on her and indulged her, letting her stay a kid at heart. She would cry when she wanted to cry and laugh when she wanted to laugh. Sometimes, when she was stubborn, no one’s words could sway her.

Especially when her parents passed away, she was still young and didn’t understand life and death, so she ended up living with Master Shen, clueless.

But in someone else’s home, not being their own child, there was no longer any lenience or indulgence, so things were different. Even with Ji Geer protecting her, Xiang Jieer still had it rough.

It was also at Master Shen’s house that she understood what "death" meant.

Death meant they were gone for good.

Her parents had gone to heaven to become celestial officials and would never return, no matter how much she cried or threw a fit, was sick or injured, they would never come back.

From then on, she only had her elder sister and brother.

Xiang Jieer sniffled and cautiously looked over from behind her sister. Seeing that her aunt and uncle didn’t pay her any more attention, she finally loosened her grip on the skirt, using both hands to hold the giant 12-inch roasted starch sausage that Shen Miao had filled for her. The sausage was skewered with two thick bamboo sticks, roasted until it bloomed, smelling delicious but extremely heavy.

Holding it with one hand was such a pain! It almost fell!

She took a bite, then looked up to find Hai Geer staring intently at her roasted sausage.

Xiang Jieer squinted her eyes, and she hid behind Shen Miao again.

Hai Geer was the worst! Aunt’s cooking was awful, so their family often had food brought in from outside. They often ate out five times a day for three meals, so they were as round as beach balls. But such good fortune never came to Xiang Jieer and Ji Geer. Every time Hai Geer had something delicious, he loved to flaunt it in front of the hungry pair.

But he never shared a bite with her.

Hmph, now she had her sister, she ate delicious food every day, and she wouldn’t share with him either! Let him drool! She wouldn’t even let him get a peek!

Xiang Jieer made a face at him, hugged her big starch sausage, and happily sat in her sister’s shadow to eat, bite after bite, even smacking her lips—usually she never smacked her lips while eating, but today she deliberately made some noise.

Sure enough, Hai Geer tilted his head to watch her eat, the aroma of the roasted sausage wafting into his nose. The slightly charred meaty scent tantalized his taste buds, especially as the fragrance became more enticing the further it was. He even caught the numbing aroma of the Sichuan pepper sprinkled on top, making him swallow his saliva and feel an urge to ask where it was bought. But suddenly, Ding slapped his shoulder, "Let’s go, we still need to buy brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones at the bookstore!"

Master Shen also puffed out his chest and said to Shen Miao, somewhat intentionally or not, "Yes, yes, Hai Geer will be taking the Child Exam for the Imperial Academy in a few days. You know Hai Geer has always been smart, always at the top of Master Liu’s private school. Uncle has to go now, you and Xiang Jieer take your time shopping, we won’t delay you."

Although Hai Geer was obese, gluttonous, and indulged in playful and sharp-tongued behavior, he miraculously had some talent in studying, which was why Master Shen was so boastful.

But what did that have to do with her? Shen Miao simply said indifferently, "Take care, Uncle."

After saying this, she prepared to turn back to continue picking a dog, but Xiang Jieer, hiding behind Shen Miao, suddenly poked her head out and retorted like an angry, hissing kitten, "My brother is also taking the Child Exam for the Imperial Academy, what’s so great about that!"

Unexpectedly, this made Master Shen burst into laughter, and Ding also sneered, "Oh? Ji Geer is also going to take the exam? Yes, anyone of age can take it, but taking the exam is one thing, without a master to guide him and lacking ambition, it’s not so easy to pass. Da Jieer, don’t take offense at my blunt words, but you’re wasting your efforts! The Imperial Academy is an official school! Although the emperor has graciously allowed commoners to take the exam, do you know how many thousands of children in Bianjing are vying for it, yet only a hundred are admitted each year? Even Hai Geer, with a master to guide him at school and his father to advise him at home, has been preparing for this for a long time, and we still dare not boast that he will definitely pass. Your Ji Geer..."

I'm afraid he doesn't even know what questions are on the Child Exam of the Piyong Academy!

Ding didn't continue, but instead elegantly dabbed her mouth with a handkerchief, her face a mask of disdain. Her family had spent a considerable amount of money to bribe their way into knowing the questions from previous years' exams at the Piyong Academy.

The questions that the Piyong Academy tests its child candidates on are vastly different from those of other private schools.

Shen Miao glanced at Hai Geer, who was stuffing his face, crumbs and grease all over his clothes, and instead of getting angry, she smiled and said, "Since even Hai Geer can take the exam, why can't Ji Geer? Ji Geer didn't have the conditions before, but Auntie shouldn't always judge a person with outdated views."

Ding frowned. What did she mean by "Hai Geer like this"?

She turned to look at her son, whose cheeks were bulging, and his eyes were fixed on the roasted sausage in Xiang Jieer's hand. Indeed, he looked chubby and somewhat silly, not much like a scholar.

Anger surged in her, and she was about to snap back, but Shen Miao didn't give her the chance, already leaving with Xiang Jieer.

"Take care, Uncle, Auntie," Shen Miao said, pulling Xiang Jieer around to another pet shop selling kittens and puppies, and casually waved her hand, "We're also quite busy, so we won't keep Uncle and Auntie any longer, goodbye."

Ding was left fuming, angrily turning to twist her son's shoulder: "All you do is eat, eat, eat!"

Hai Geer was so aggrieved that his cake almost fell: "Mom, why are you hitting me?"

"Let's go! Running into your niece is bad luck!" Ding shouted angrily.

Ding was furious, seething that Shen Da Jieer had outsmarted her again. When had she ever been unable to outtalk her?

Shen Da Bo and Hai Geer exchanged looks, shrugged, and trailed after their perpetually irate wife.

After walking a few steps, Ding still gritted her teeth and looked back. Shen Miao had already chosen a puppy with a slightly yellow coat and was intently bargaining with the person holding the puppy, not sparing them a single glance.

As if they were completely insignificant.

So, she felt even more annoyed, thinking bitterly: She's been divorced and sent back home, with no parents. Let's see what kind of life they can live in the future! Still hoping Ji Geer can pass the exam? Ridiculous! Someone who skips school even when money is spent on his education—what hope is there!

Ding was angry, but Shen Miao had already left Shen Da Bo's family behind the moment she turned around.

They say to stay unbothered by praise or blame. Shen Da Bo's family looks down on her, so let them. She'll walk her own path, let them talk!

So she happily picked out a dog.

The dogs at the earlier shops looked pretty lifeless. She walked forward a couple of steps. The second shop's owner was a kind-looking woman, known as Wan Wuniang.

This shop sold only puppies.

Shen Miao wanted a big dog, so she shouldn't have lingered, but she was holding her own chubby puppy, lovingly petting it. Unlike other sellers, only her wooden cages had sewn coarse cloth pads, and the dogs in the cages were clearly raised at home, fewer in number and variety than the first shop, but the dogs were all very healthy and strong, with shiny fur and wet noses.

Shen Miao was drawn to a long-haired puppy with a yellow back and white belly, pink paws, pink nose, and pink tongue, with a large frame, much fatter than the other puppies in the litter. When picked up by the scruff of its neck, its four legs naturally bent and hung down, not struggling or scared, with big black grape-like eyes, moistly looking at you.

So cute. Shen Miao was instantly smitten by the puppy's eyes—she had to have this one!

She had originally wanted to buy a big dog, but the dogs at the earlier shops were all tied to wooden posts with hemp ropes, five or six squeezed into one cage, with no room to stand up and turn around. Every dog looked listless, with messy fur.

Only Wan Wuniang's stall was different. She didn't sell adult big dogs, only had two or three cages in front of her, and didn't sell many puppies.

Shen Miao asked her. Wan Wuniang was feeding the puppies in her cage with dried field mouse meat and said, "Let this young lady know, I originally had a cat and dog shop on Horse Street. Today, I came to the market just for fun; it doesn't matter how much or how little I sell. The dogs in my house are all carefully raised by myself, not passed through several hands like those outside. You can tell by looking. So, I also want to meet families who will treat them well. I can earn money, you can buy a beloved dog, and the puppy can get a good home. People love money, but it must be earned honestly—that's how I do business."

Her words had a hidden meaning. Shen Miao's heart was slightly moved. No wonder the dogs at the previous shops looked so listless. It's very likely they were exhausted from travel, transported from other places, especially the adult dogs—their origins unknown.

If they were stolen and sold, she absolutely must not buy them.

"Big sister..." Xiang Jieer suddenly called her softly.

Shen Miao turned her head to see that Xiang Jieer had already finished the grilled sausage and was now holding the chubby puppy tightly in her arms, rubbing her cheek against its soft fur.

Wan Wuniang also stroked the puppy, her voice filled with affection and pride, "Miss, you’ve got a keen eye. This is the best of the litter. When it grows up, it’ll be a fine guard dog, no doubt about it. Even noble families would consider it for hunting."

"How much for this one?" Shen Miao asked, having made up her mind.

"Eighty coins, and I’ll toss in a dog bed and a leash. What do you say?"

Shen Miao narrowed her eyes and held up five fingers, "Fifty coins."

"No way!" Wan Wuniang waved her hands repeatedly.

But Shen Miao had done her research, checking out several pet shops before coming here. Back in the Song Dynasty, owning dogs was all the rage, and some fancy breeds down south could set you back a few strings of coins. However, the puppy Wan Wuniang was selling was neither a fierce mastiff nor a Persian dog, nor was it a famous hunting hound. It was just a regular guard dog, and a fair price would’ve been a few dozen coins. After some back-and-forth, Shen Miao got it down to sixty-two coins, with a bag of dog food thrown in.

Believe it or not, the Song Dynasty had full-service pet care. Pet shops would also prepare various supplies needed for cats and dogs. For example, dog shops would sell *tang kang* (a type of dog food made from grains); cat shops would sell fish or pig intestines; and fish shops would also provide shrimp. At this time, there were even services like pet grooming, known as "modifying cats and dogs."

While Shen Miao was buying the puppy, Wan Wuniang added, "My shop’s about twenty zhang south of Ma Hang Street, with a green sign and a yellow dog’s head on it. In the future, if you need a dog bed, grooming, or even a makeover for your dog, feel free to come to me. I’m pretty good at grooming dogs! And if the pup ever gets sick from bad care, bring it straight to me. Don’t try to treat it yourself or abandon it. I know a skilled veterinarian named Wen Shiniang, whose clinic is right next to my shop. She’s saved tons of dogs. Don’t forget that, miss!"

Shen Miao nodded, making a mental note. She thought to herself that Wan Wuniang was indeed a rare kind-hearted person.

After wandering around a bit more and not finding anything else worth buying, Shen Miao headed home with the puppy.

Unexpectedly, there were already two figures lingering at her doorstep. Shen Miao quickened her pace, and when Zheng Neizhi heard her footsteps, he turned around with a smile and cupped his hands in greeting, "Madam Shen, you’re back just in time. The lady..."

"Come on in for some tea, and we’ll talk," Shen Miao said, knowing that walls have ears. She had no intention of broadcasting the sale of her recipe so quickly and hurriedly invited Zheng Neizhi inside.

Ji Geer hadn’t returned home yet, and the house was cold with no tea prepared. Shen Miao could only hastily put down her basket and the miscellaneous items in her hands, awkwardly entering the house to pour a bowl of water. But Zheng Neizhi was here on business and waved off the offer, getting straight to the point, "The matter we previously discussed with Madam Shen has been approved by the lady. She loves the cookies and can’t stop raving about the egg yolk pastries with minced meat and chestnuts. So, the lady agreed to your price right away. However, she also requested that you not only write down the recipe but also ensure that you teach Chef Fang thoroughly, so he doesn’t have to spend time deciphering the recipe and delaying important matters."

"Sure, I’m free every afternoon after I wrap up at my stall," Shen Miao replied. Old Man Yang had just sent his apprentice yesterday to inform her that the stall cart would be ready tomorrow, and she didn’t want to delay her morning business. After all, she still needed to earn her steady income!

Zheng Neizhi thought for a moment. Since the family was currently preparing for a banquet and there weren’t many distinguished guests coming and going, it would be convenient for Shen Miao to come to the Xie family to teach the two pastries. He said, "Then I’ll ask Madam Shen to come to the Xie family to teach these two recipes. First off, since you’re a woman, it wouldn’t be proper for Chef Fang to come by your place every day—it could hurt your reputation. Secondly, learning to cook requires purchasing and preparing ingredients, and it would be inconvenient for Chef Fang to carry them around every day. So, I think it’d be easier if you came to the Xie family to teach. What do you think? Also, please take the time to list the ingredients needed for the cooking lessons, and I’ll send someone to prepare them in advance. Make sure you teach Chef Fang everything he needs to know."

"Alright, thanks for thinking it through, Zheng Neizhi," Shen Miao replied with a smile.

Zheng Neizhi, as the chief steward of the Xie family, was indeed thoughtful and efficient, always considering others. Having Chef Fang come to Shen Miao’s home daily with large packages would naturally attract too much attention, as Zheng Neizhi had pointed out.

With the agreement settled, Zheng Neizhi smiled and had the young servant who had accompanied him present a heavy wooden box, "Please count it, Madam Shen."

The servant hurriedly went outside to fetch a large wooden box, which he carried with both hands, walking heavily and sweating profusely. Only after entering Shen Miao’s house did he finally catch his breath and place it on the small square table in the courtyard.

Shen Miao’s heart skipped a beat. Could it be?

She instinctively reached out and opened the box, and sure enough, it was filled with copper coins! Bright yellow coins strung together with red threads. Zheng Neizhi thoughtfully helped her count them. There were eighty strings in total, neatly stacked inside.

After counting, Zheng Neizhi helped her pack them back into the box, even giving her the beautiful wooden box as well.

"Eighty strings in total, not a single coin missing."

"Oh my..." Shen Miao couldn’t take her eyes off it, quickly reaching out to take it, then suddenly remembering to be polite, she chuckled, "Zheng Neizhi, really, you could have paid after I taught Chef Fang. Your family isn’t new to my little shop, so there’s no reason to distrust me. Your lady is too kind. This... this... I’ll humbly accept it."

Before she finished speaking, she was already cradling it in her arms.

Zheng Neizhi suppressed a laugh, "This is only proper. Madam Shen has put in the effort, and the Xie family naturally won’t break the agreement."

The box was so heavy it made her heart leap with joy.

Shen Miao, grinning from ear to ear, piled on the compliments, lavishing praise on the Xie family’s lady, the Xie family’s matriarch, Xie Ninth Geer, Yan Shu, the coachman Zhou Da, the chef Chef Fang, the gatekeeper Yan Qi, and even Zheng Neizhi himself, who handled external errands.

Such a beautiful young lady speaking so sweetly and lavishly with compliments could easily make one feel like they were floating on air. Even though Zheng Neizhi was a grandfather, he couldn’t help but blush a bit. He quickly settled the written agreement with Shen Miao and prepared to take his leave to report back.

"Let me walk you out!" Shen Miao looked around and hurriedly tucked the money box into the chicken coop, paying no mind to the startled chicks fluttering about, and lifted her skirt to go out and see him off.

She herself practically flew as she walked the guest out!

Who knew the Xie family was still so generous and charming, paying all the remuneration in one go! The brand-new copper coins dazzled Shen Miao, and she couldn’t hide her delight. She had to hold herself back, covering her mouth with a handkerchief to avoid showing her teeth in front of Zheng Neizhi.

She walked him to the end of the alley, as usual, where Zheng Neizhi gave a polite bow and got into his carriage and left.

After seeing Zheng Neizhi off, Shen Miao went back and dragged the box out of the chicken coop. She looked at the newly weaned puppy and then at Xiang Jieer, who was sitting on the steps, idly playing with the puppy’s ears. She felt quite uneasy.

How could she keep so much money at home!

In the evening, Shen Ji walked home, clutching eighteen copper coins in his arms.

Today, at Lanxin Bookstore, he had encountered a student from the Biyong Academy. He and Proprietor Zhou were relaxing behind the counter, savoring the meat floss and chestnut yolk pastry, when a head with a tied-up bun popped up over the counter.

It nearly made Shen Ji drop the pastry in his hand.

To his surprise, the person begged to buy one to taste.

Proprietor Zhou recognized the person and burst out laughing, "Ning Yi, Ning Yi, why aren’t you studying at the academy? What are you sneaking out for?"

The student was tall and straight, but with a baby face, and he smiled as he replied, "I heard that a new lamb pancake shop has opened at Nanxun Gate, so I decided to try it. I was planning to pick up some Xue Tao paper..." He pointed at the pastry in Shen Ji’s hand, "What is this pastry? I’ve never seen it before. It looks good."

Shen Ji told him it was something they made at home and didn’t sell.

But Ning Yi insisted and ended up selling him one of his own pastries. Earlier, he had heard his sister mutter while wrapping the pastries that the cost of the meat floss and chestnut yolk pastry was almost ten coins, and if sold outside, it would have to be priced at eighteen coins each. So, he quoted that price.

The student didn’t haggle at all and immediately handed over the coins to take the pastry from Shen Ji’s hand.

With a gentle bite, he closed his eyes.

The layers of flaky pastry instantly crumbled into tiny fragments between his teeth, "rustling" as they fell, each piece brimming with the rich aroma of wheat. He eagerly took another bite, and then the salty, creamy yolk with its exceptionally fine sandy texture slowly spread across his palate. The unique savory flavor of the yolk and the sweetness of the pastry balanced each other, creating a rich and lingering taste.

"Good, good, excellent!" Ning Yi was utterly amazed after swallowing and not only asked Shen Ji where he lived but also said he would come to order the pastries soon. "Salty and sweet are opposing flavors, but who would have thought your sister’s skill could harmonize them so beautifully. And the red bean paste is also well done! I’m a food enthusiast and have eaten many red bean paste dishes, but this is the first time I’ve tasted such silky smooth red bean paste. It not only balances the saltiness of the yolk but also adds a layer of warm sweetness. Truly marvelous, absolutely marvelous!"

Shen Ji also widened his eyes. It was the first time he had seen someone almost spontaneously compose an essay after just one bite of a pastry.

After finishing the pastry, Ning Yi didn’t even go to buy his lamb pancake. Instead, he eagerly pestered Proprietor Zhou—Shen Ji had brought five pastries today, planning to eat two himself and give the remaining three to Proprietor Zhou.

Earlier, he had sold one to Ning Yi and eaten one himself, so he had none left, but Proprietor Zhou still had one uneaten.

The last one was something Proprietor Zhou had specifically saved to enjoy later, so he shook his head like a rattle drum and turned to tightly cover the pastry box, "No, no, I won’t give it!"

For this one pastry, Ning Yi chased Proprietor Zhou around, and finally, Proprietor Zhou, with no escape, was even chased into the back room.

Shen Ji watched in astonishment. He was so used to eating his sister’s food that he hadn’t expected Ning Yi to get so excited over a single pastry.

But then again, it wasn’t surprising—his sister’s cooking was indeed unmatched! Sometimes Shen Ji felt that his sister had an endless stream of great ideas, which allowed her to come up with such wonderful pastries.

But in any case, he had managed to bring in a customer for his sister!

He had wanted to share today’s amusing incident with his sister, but as soon as he returned, she said, "Ji Geer, you’re finally back! Dinner is in the pot, help yourself later. Watch over Xiang Jieer, the puppy, and the chicks. I need to go out for a bit, I’ll be back soon!"

"Huh?"

Shen Ji stood dumbfounded at the doorway, his back foot not even inside yet, as his sister ran past him like a blur, disappearing in the blink of an eye. He only vaguely saw that she seemed to be carrying a heavy wooden box in her arms.

Shen Miao ran all the way across Jinliang Bridge and then rushed into Old Man Yang’s house like a whirlwind.

"Old Man Yang, I've come to fulfill my promise and seek your help to build a house!"

The sudden shout startled Old Man Yang, who was squatting on the ground carving wood, nearly causing him to cut his fingers. His apprentices were also stunned.

Shen Miao pulled him along and then sought out Artisan He and his apprentices, gathering a group of people. With their recommendations, she went on to find some craftsmen who could drive piles, stonemasons, and laborers for miscellaneous tasks.

Once everyone was gathered, she looked at the somewhat dazed craftsmen with a fiery gaze, blustering confidently: "One month, fifty strings of cash, three large tiled houses!"

Old Man Yang and Artisan He were all dumbfounded. After a while, they turned and left: "We’re outta here."

"Hey hey hey, don’t go, the money can be negotiated! It can still be discussed!"