Chapter 24

Chapter 24

"Pei Mu!"

Zhong Yizhu was a bit overwhelmed and wanted to call Pei Mu over to help him collect money. He turned around and saw that Pei Mu seemed to be zoning out, so he raised his voice and called out.

Pei Mu came back to himself, walked over, and asked quietly, "What's up?"

Zhong Yizhu handed him the money box and said with a smile, "Can you collect the money for me here?"

Pei Mu responded and took the money box, but suddenly noticed that the bustling little stall had become somewhat quiet.

He was tall and had a fierce look, and most of the customers at the stall were young women and young guys, married couples. Seeing him standing there, they all became a bit nervous.

Zhong Yizhu tugged at Pei Mu's sleeve and generously introduced him to everyone with a smile: "This is my husband. He accompanied me to set up the stall. Don't worry, everyone, he's not fierce."

Pei Mu pressed his lips together and said nothing, playing dumb, but upon closer inspection, the tips of his ears were a bit red.

A sharp-eyed woman noticed the sachet at Pei Mu's waist and asked curiously, "Young man, do you also have incense pills suitable for men?"

Zhong Yizhu smiled and said, "Not this time, but next time there will be."

The spices he usually kept could only produce the scents he preferred. Nowadays, most men prefer cool fragrances for wearing incense. He usually made them too, but before, he always gave them to his father. The leftover materials were only enough to make the one pill he gave to Pei Mu.

The others were also distracted by what he said and asked when he would come next time.

Zhong Yizhu was good-looking, making him naturally charming. He was always smiling, spoke nicely, and most importantly, the incense pills he sold were very popular among young women and young guys. Therefore, the stream of customers never stopped, and even the sachets he sold on the side sold well.

Zhong Yizhu had chosen a spot next to a jewelry stall, originally hoping to borrow its customer flow. Unexpectedly, he ended up bringing customers to the jewelry stall.

The jewelry stall owner was all smiles. Not only did he voluntarily provide a low stool for Pei Mu to sit on so as not to intimidate customers, but he also proactively asked when they would come to set up next time and offered to help reserve a spot for them when the two were about to pack up after selling out the incense pills.

After today, Zhong Yizhu gained a lot more confidence. This business was something he could indeed do.

He thought about it. Making incense, drying it in the shade, and storing it in a cellar all took time—at least seven days. He discussed it with Pei Mu and then replied, "We will come on the day of the Qiqiao Festival nine days from now. The spots that day will be extremely sought after. If Boss Gong can save us a spot, we would be very grateful."

After setting up stalls together for half a day, they had exchanged names. The jewelry stall owner's surname was Gong, the fourth in his family, and he lived in the city. He looked about thirty years old and was probably married with a family. Since Zhong Yizhu was a young man, it was inconvenient to reveal his full name, so he simply said to call him Zhu Ge'er.

They had arrived quite early today, so they were able to choose a decent spot. But it was different on festival days. Many stalls could earn as much in one day as they would on many ordinary days. They lived far away, and unless they traveled overnight to secure a spot, they knew that by the time they arrived, only the corner spots would be left for them.

Gong Laosi was hearty. He waved his hand and laughed, "Don't worry, I know this area well. Just come, I'll definitely save a spot for you."

"It's a deal."

Zhong Yizhu packed everything into the basket. He still had a few embroidered sachets left, but next time he didn't plan to make more. His embroidery skills were not outstanding, and if not for the incense pills, he probably wouldn't have sold any. It would be better to ask his mother if she wanted to embroider some to sell, as it would likely earn more than her taking in embroidery work.

Meanwhile, Pei Mu also returned the borrowed table. The two didn't rush to leave but took a walk to a street farther into the West Market.

The stalls here were much more casual than those outside. Many items were piled on the ground or packed in large wooden boxes. This was where itinerant merchants unloaded goods, and they didn't usually serve retail customers. Most buyers were shop owners or foremen from the city.

Zhong Yizhu walked from one end of the street to the other. Because he was a young man, the stall owners were reluctant to engage with him. It was only when they saw Pei Mu following behind him with a menacing look that they grudgingly gave a short answer.

After learning about the types and prices of spices at various stalls, Zhong Yizhu quickly developed a plan. On his way back, he headed straight to a few stalls and bought all the spices he needed.

When the two had arrived, it was still morning, but by the time they left the West Market, the sun was already in the west. Fortunately, they had eaten meat buns that Pei Mu bought for lunch, which kept them full.

Pei Mu was figuring out if there'd be oxcarts from Chuiliu Town back to the village, and that he would need to ask at the wagon yard. Then he heard Zhong Yizhu, who was walking beside him, ask, "Pei Mu, did you used to walk all the way here before?"

Pei Mu turned his head to look at him and hummed in reply.

Given how surprised Old Zhang was to see Pei Mu this morning, it wasn't hard to guess that Pei Mu had probably never taken the village oxcart before. This morning, he probably only did it for Zhong Yizhu.

Zhong Yizhu said, "Then let's walk back."

Pei Mu paused. "You know how long the walk is?"

"How long?"

"Four hours."

Zhong Yizhu thought for a moment and asked, "Is that four hours at my pace or yours?"

"...Yours."

"Then let's go," said Zhong Yizhu. "I think I can make it."

Pei Mu was silent for a moment, then didn't object. Instead, he took the already light empty basket from Zhong Yizhu's hand.

"Let's go."

The two quickly passed through the city gate. After they walked a bit farther, there were hardly any other travelers on the road.

Zhong Yizhu walked lightly beside Pei Mu, couldn't stop smiling as he thought about how smooth everything had gone today.

With no passersby stealing glances at him, he seemed way livelier.

He talked to Pei Mu about his plans for the next stall, about what incense pills to make. When he got excited, he'd even tug Pei Mu's sleeve and ask him what he thought.

Pei Mu had walked this road a lot, in every season, during the day or at night.

In spring, blossoms bloomed; in summer, cicadas chirped noisily; in autumn, wind swept fallen leaves; in winter, bare and bleak... He had always passed through silently alone. The changing seasons just marked time for him.

But now he suddenly thought that if he always had someone like this by his side, everything seemed to come alive.

"Huh? Why aren't you talking? Don't you like it?" Zhong Yizhu didn't get a response, so he leaned forward to look at Pei Mu's expression.

Pei Mu slightly lowered his head and met his gaze.

"I think it's great. Go for it."

Zhong Yizhu gradually stopped smiling, tilted his head and looked at him, and was silent for a long while.

"Pei Mu, you're nothing like any guy I've ever met."

"Ever since I was a child, I've heard people say, how could a guy distinguish spices? How could a guy make incense? How could a guy do business? ... It's as if I shouldn't be capable of anything, and if I am, it's wrong."

So from beginning to end, he had only treated incense-making as a hobby. He never thought he was good at it, let alone considered making a living from it—until his father suddenly passed away, and everything changed drastically.

He hesitated and worried, wanting to use his skills to make a living but unable to move forward. It was Pei Mu who told him he could do it; it was Pei Mu who supported him from behind to take this step.

Pei Mu frowned as he listened to Zhong Yizhu's words and couldn't help cursing: "That's bullshit."

"Let them go to the north and see. In Kushui City, which woman or young man can't pick up a weapon against enemies? Anything men can do, women and young guys can do too."

Pei Mu looked at Zhong Yizhu. "You can too."

Zhong Yizhu didn't know how to describe the shock he felt. Everything he'd grown up hearing made it hard to believe this was true, but he trusted that Pei Mu wouldn't lie to him.

When he was young, he told his father that he wanted to become an incense shop owner as good as his father. But his father smiled and told him that making money and taking care of the family was men's work, and Little Bamboo just needed to be happy.

At that time, the still innocent Zhong Yizhu obediently responded—

"I understand."

Zhong Yizhu smiled as he met Pei Mu's gaze, his eyes shining like the Milky Way over Kushui City on a summer night.