Chapter 35 Covert Prostitute

Chapter 35: Covert Prostitute

That night, Meng Wan slept soundly. When he woke up, Chang Jinhua was making tofu pudding (tofu nao). He reached under his pillow, pulled out the hairpin, casually pinned up the top half of his hair, and asked with a yawn, "Did Cousin head to the private school?"

Chang Jinhua ladled the soybean milk from the pot into a basin. "He just left. He got up early to grind the tofu again, even though I said I'd do it."

"You told him, but he won't listen. We haven't had meat in a while. How about I stew half a pot of ribs tonight to build him up?" Meng Wan washed up and went to check on the dough kneaded yesterday.

That reminded Chang Jinhua. "That's true. We've been busy nonstop these days. Not to mention Da Lang, you've lost weight too. I should nourish you both. If you wear yourselves down to the bone, no amount of silver can fix that. We still got half the New Year's ribs left. Let's stew them all tonight. Now that we're in town, it's convenient to buy more whenever we want."

Lyu Shi's daughter-in-law, drawing water in the yard that morning, overheard this and couldn't help feeling a bit envious.

Aunt Song was really the best kind of elder. Imagine how lucky you'd be as her daughter-in-law. Her own mother-in-law... ugh.

"Hui Niang, why haven't you drawn the water yet? Everyone's waiting to wash up."

Hui Niang snapped out of it and called out from the room, "Coming!"

With yesterday under their belt, and today not being a big market day, customers trickled in—mostly yesterday's regulars. Chang Jinhua handled the front by herself.

After Meng Wan finished kneading a basin of dough out back, he took it easy, helping Chang Jinhua take money or dish out tofu pudding up front.

Folks who got free servings yesterday came back today with their own bowls to buy. Meng Wan didn't hold back, giving each a big, hearty scoop.

A bowl like that filled up most women and xiaoge, while men needed an extra fried dough stick (you tiao). Guys doing heavy labor needed more—two or three sticks still weren't enough. But since fried dough sticks were more filling than buns and had that oil, they sold even better than yesterday.

Shopkeeper Huang strolled over, carrying his granddaughter. The window was already crowded, but luckily there were still seats inside.

"Meng xiaoge, business is booming!" Shopkeeper Huang put down his granddaughter and clasped his hands in greeting to Meng Wan and Chang Jinhua.

Even when her husband was an accountant, no shopkeeper had ever been so polite to her. Chang Jinhua got a little flustered.

Meng Wan told her to relax and keep handing out the fried dough sticks, while he attended to Shopkeeper Huang. "Shopkeeper Huang, please sit inside."

Shopkeeper Huang set the kid down inside, then sat next to her on the outside, worried someone might bump into her. You could tell he doted on this granddaughter.

"The fried dough sticks you gave us yesterday had my Yue Niang eating like crazy. She woke up today wanting more, so I brought her. Give us four to start. If we can't finish, we'll take 'em home." Shopkeeper Huang joked.

Meng Wan bent down and smiled at Yue Niang. "Little Yue Niang, big brother's got something yummy. I'll bring it to you soon, okay?"

The little girl, well-mannered, replied in a soft, milky voice, "Okay, Big Brother."

Meng Wan first grabbed four fried dough sticks on a plate, then brought two bowls of tofu pudding—one full, one half-full, perfect for a kid.

"Shopkeeper Huang, you and Yue Niang give the tofu pudding a try. She's still young, so lighter breakfasts are better for her."

He took the coins Shopkeeper Huang set on the table and stopped him from adding more. "Today's on me. Next time, I'll charge. If Yue Niang comes, she eats for free every day."

Shopkeeper Huang didn't push it. After a few interactions, he could tell Meng xiaoge was a straight shooter who hated fuss.

"Great. From now on, I'll bring Yue Niang every day."

By around ten, the two basins of dough were almost gone. Meng Wan purposely set aside about a dozen sticks, and sure enough, the woman from yesterday showed up again.

She wore a rose-red aoqun (a traditional jacket and skirt) and pointed her handkerchief at the empty basket on the window table. "Xiaoge, sold out again?"

Meng Wan picked up an empty basket. "I promised to save some for you, sis. How could I break my word? These fried dough sticks are only crispy and tasty when fresh out of the oil. I saved the dough to fry 'em fresh for you when you showed up."

The woman laughed. "You're a funny one, xiaoge. Fine, I'll wait here. Go do your thing."

Meng Wan asked her in. "Sis, come inside and sit a bit. It'll be ready soon."

The woman didn't budge. "No, I'll wait here."

Meng Wan didn't press her. Chang Jinhua was cleaning up in the shop, so he went to the back to reheat the oil and fry the dough sticks.

Lyu Shi returned from buying salt and passed by the shop, sneering at the woman waiting outside. Chang Jinhua's heart skipped a beat. Lyu Shi's expression wasn't good, which likely meant there was something off about that woman.

By then, Meng Wan had quickly fried the dough sticks and brought them out, so Chang Jinhua couldn't say anything.

"Oh, these freshly fried ones really are fragrant." The woman was surprised.

Yesterday, she had just joined the crowd out of curiosity. Not getting any wouldn't have mattered, but Meng Wan's words had made her keep her promise today. Now, it seemed she hadn't come in vain.

Meng Wan asked her, "How many sticks would you like, sis?"

The woman, with her fair and delicate hand, pushed the basket forward. "Since they're specially saved for me, I'll take them all."

Meng Wan took her basket, which had a large bowl neatly placed inside—though only one. After packing the dough sticks, he handed the basket back and added, "Sis, if you don't mind, I have some leftover tofu pudding—a bit broken. Let me give you a bowl to try? No charge."

Seeing that Meng Wan intended to use her bowl to serve the tofu pudding, the woman stopped him. "No need. The fried dough sticks you make are so fragrant, the tofu pudding must be good too. Save me two scoops tomorrow, and I'll bring my own bowl."

With that, she left the copper coins on the table, slung the basket over her arm, and turned to leave.

Meng Wan assumed she might have a cleanliness issue and didn't like using outside utensils. He didn't dwell on it and closed the shop to head to the back.

Song Tingzhou would be back at noon to rest and eat, so it was time to hurry and cook. Chang Jinhua shooed Meng Wan out of the kitchen, telling him to rest nearby. She steamed some rice, stir-fried some cabbage, and reheated the leftover broken tofu pudding for their own meal.

The meal was simple, but it filled their stomachs—already a good life.

Meng Wan, sent outside, found a small wooden stool and sat by the well. He picked up a stick and doodled in the leftover snow. Soon, a small head appeared beside him.

"Are you watching me draw?" Meng Wan's voice was light and gentle with a hint of laughter, but the little girl with twin buns darted away from him in a flash.

Meng Wan was momentarily speechless. Was he really that scary?

"Yan'er is a bit timid, but she likes you. She's always peeking at you through the window while you work." Hui Niang came to draw water from the well and struck up a conversation with Meng Wan.

Meng Wan had mixed feelings about children. He only liked obedient ones, and those not his own were just polite formalities.

Not responding to Hui Niang, he casually asked, "Sister-in-law, didn't you draw water this morning? Why again at noon?"

Hui Niang struggled to pull the bucket up from the well. "My mother-in-law loves cleanliness. She has the rooms scrubbed daily and washes her hands and face three times a day. It uses a lot of water."

The two men of the Lyu family worked odd jobs in town, leaving early and returning late. Meng Wan hadn't met them yet, but Lyu Shi's daughter-in-law was always busy in the yard, never getting a moment's rest.

Meng Wan didn't pry into their affairs, just made a casual remark. Seeing Song Tingzhou come through the door with his book bag, he went inside with him.

Hui Niang carried the bucket toward her family's main room. Her mother-in-law stood at the threshold, glaring coldly. "Don't chat with that xiaoge next door. Just because he can earn a few coins, he bullied his future mother-in-law like that. Not even married yet, and he's waiting for handouts every day. If they do marry, it'll be a disaster."

Hui Niang agreed verbally but thought to herself: Meng xiaoge is truly capable. He opened a food stall in just a few days, and business is good. Since the family relies on him to earn money, shouldn't they show him some respect?

Besides, Meng xiaoge wasn't lazy. Aunt Song just felt sorry for him and let him rest a bit.

Hui Niang appeared soft, letting Lyu Shi push her around, but she saw everything clearly in her mind. She just didn't argue with her mother-in-law.

The people of Quanshui Town had a simple structure: landlords, scholars, and the salt trade were the three major powers, with ordinary folks making up the rest.

Unlike the county seat with its government oversight, the poor here were truly poor, but the people were genuinely free. Whether setting up a stall or opening a shop, no one interfered. There was no need to go to the county to get a business license like formal shops. If profits were under a thousand taels, the authorities wouldn't even bother with you.

Meng Wan's small shop gradually gained a reputation, and as income stabilized, both he and Chang Jinhua grew more adept at their work.

Word came before New Year's that the County Magistrate was planning to build a dam, and now the news of conscripted labor finally arrived. Song Tingzhou took leave from the private school and returned to the village to get things sorted.

The breakfast shop couldn't be left alone, so Chang Jinhua and Meng Wan stayed behind. That day, around noon, the woman in her early thirties showed up late again, and Meng Wan now knew her name.

"Miss Cui, still five fried dough sticks and five scoops of tofu pudding?"

Cui was wearing a water-green aoqun today, her face lightly powdered, but no lipstick. She brushed a stray strand of hair off her forehead. "Same as usual."

In her basket, she carried a cloth bag for the fried dough and a small, fancy food container. Meng Wan filled them and handed them back.

"You come out to buy in this cold every day—how about I deliver it to you tomorrow?"

Cui smiled. "Thanks, little brother, but no need. I enjoy getting out for a walk."

Meng Wan didn't push it. After finishing her order, he closed up, cleaned up, and headed to the backyard.

Chang Jinhua was sitting in the yard sewing clothes from the dark purple fabric Meng Wan had bought her before New Year's.

When she saw him coming, she hesitated. "That Cui woman again? Why does she always come so late?"

Meng Wan drew water from the well, mixed it with hot water from the kitchen stove, and started washing the pots and bowls. Without thinking, he said casually, "Who knows?"

Lyu's granddaughter, Yan'er, crept over to watch Meng Wan again. He was used to the quiet girl hovering around him now and then. Seeing no one else around, he asked, "Little Yan'er, why don't you ever talk to me?"

Yan'er stood up and ran off again.

Meng Wan chuckled and shook the water off his hands—

Interesting.

With Song Tingzhou gone, Meng Wan and Chang Jinhua stewed a pot of pickled cabbage and ate it with coarse rice. After eating, Chang Jinhua brought up the earlier topic again. "That Cui woman..."

Meng Wan sensed something was off. "Auntie, are you trying to tell me something? Or did someone tell you something?"

Chang Jinhua seemed embarrassed to say it. "Someone did tell me—that she's... that type of person."

"That type of person?" Meng Wan repeated, then it clicked. "You mean she's a covert prostitute?"

In a small, rundown town like Springwater, there were no brothels, but in ancient times, too many people couldn't afford to live. Selling their bodies—or even their children—just to survive was all too common. Open or hidden prostitution was pretty common.

Meng Wan hadn't thought of Cui as a covert prostitute before, but now that Chang Jinhua mentioned it, he reconsidered and found it plausible.

Cui dressed in bright colors, but the fabric was coarse cloth. She bought food outside every day, suggesting she didn't cook at home. She always ordered five portions, and given her age, she might not just be a prostitute herself but also a madam, overseeing at least four or five others.

Meng Wan pressed his lips together. "Auntie Lyu next door told you, didn't she?"

Since arriving in town, Chang Jinhua had mostly stayed around the shop. Meng Wan had delivered fried dough to the Fang family a few times, but she rarely went out. The only source could be Lyu from the same courtyard.

Chang Jinhua felt awkward discussing such matters with a younger person. Flustered, she said, "Just keep your distance from her. She's not a proper person."

Meng Wan snorted with a laugh. "Don't worry. I only deal with her in words. I'm not foolish enough to open my heart to just anyone."

If Chang Jinhua was cold on the outside but warm inside, Meng Wan was the opposite. He had high emotional intelligence on the surface, was gentle in his dealings, but truly cared only about those he valued. Getting into his heart wasn't easy. If not for Chang Jinhua, Song Tingzhou might have been treated as just a stepping stone, never earning his gradual affection.

Chang Jinhua knew Meng Wan was sensible and felt reassured.

After that, Meng Wan continued to treat Cui as usual but stopped offering to deliver the fried dough. An alley full of covert prostitutes was hardly safe. That was likely why she had refused his offer that day.

No one is born with a black heart. It's only the injustices and ill-intentioned people that stain a pure soul beyond recognition.

The next day, the breakfast crowd suddenly swelled, and Meng Wan knew Song Tingzhou must be back. Sure enough, at noon, Song Tingzhou entered the courtyard, travel-worn.

"How did it go?" Meng Wan set down his tools by the well and asked eagerly.

"It's not forced conscription. Each village only needs to provide fifteen able-bodied men. I first went to the village head and explained that I'll be taking the prefectural exam this year. He agreed not to list my name. To be safe, I stayed in the village a few more days until everything was settled before returning."

Song Tingzhou had spent those days alone in the village, surviving on porridge. Before he left, Meng Wan had baked him a few flatbreads, which he ate with the porridge. After days of such meager fare, he looked thinner.