Although she had narrowly avoided making a fool of herself just now, since the matter had finally been resolved smoothly, Ye Wanmian didn't dwell on it too much.
"Alright, Dahuang, let's go home quickly." She called to the yellow dog and walked out of the market with the bamboo basket on her back.
True to her call, the yellow dog followed, trotting alongside her.
Ye Wanmian thought to herself that it had finally got the silver bowl it liked, so it should be satisfied now.
However, she was still too naive.
Before they had walked even a hundred meters, the yellow dog, which had been walking nicely beside Ye Wanmian, suddenly took a flying leap and dashed straight towards a shop on the side.
Ye Wanmian knew something was amiss. Frustrated, she stamped her foot and quickly chased after it.
"Dahuang, come back here!"
...
By the time Ye Wanmian finally left the market, her bamboo basket and both hands were full of things.
There were two bolts of cloth with relatively bright colors and medium - grade quality, a large piece of raw meat, some seasonal fruits, and a dozen meat buns. She was truly returning with a full load.
Behind her, the shopkeepers they had visited waved at her warmly. "Miss, you're so generous and straightforward. Do come again when you're free!"
The yellow dog walked gracefully beside her, its pointed ears standing upright like a victorious general.
Ye Wanmian recalled what had just happened. She gritted her back teeth hard and stomped her feet loudly.
What a spendthrift dog! Truly a spendthrift!
The silver bowl didn't cost a single cent, but the raw meat, fruits, and those two bolts of cloth had cost quite a bit. Ye Wanmian couldn't figure out why Dahuang had insisted she buy them.
The string of cash she had taken out today and the copper coins she had earned from selling the medicinal herbs were all spent. Not a single coin was left.
How did it calculate so accurately?
Ye Wanmian couldn't help but suspect that it had overheard her when she was counting the money.
But could a dog do arithmetic?
Ye Wanmian guessed right. Xiao Jingcheng had indeed calculated exactly how much silver Ye Wanmian had brought out today. He had picked some things in the market that he could just barely tolerate.
Even in his current state, he would never let himself suffer. He had to use a good bowl and eat good food.
Of course, he wasn't a gigolo who relied on a woman to support him. How much she had spent on him today, he would surely repay her doubly when he returned to his own body. He would never owe her.
Suddenly, Xiao Jingcheng tensed his body slightly. The ears on his head twitched gently. His lithe figure took on a ready - to - pounce stance, and his eyes narrowed slightly.
There were people hiding in the shadows, staring at them.
Judging from the footsteps, one, two, three...
Oh, there were quite a few of them.
Were they after him or this village woman?
Ye Wanmian was completely unaware of the undercurrents in the shadows. After leaving the market with the yellow dog, she went straight home.
She had left home at a quarter past the third hour of the day. When she returned to the alley with the yellow dog, it was already a quarter past the eighth hour, the hottest time of the day. Most people were either at home resting or working outside. The alley was almost empty, so it was very quiet all around.
Unknowingly, the yellow dog lagged a few steps behind Ye Wanmian.
Xiao Jingcheng controlled the body to slow down. In fact, he was extremely vigilant. As long as there was any movement, he could pounce on them immediately.
However, before those shadowy figures behind them showed up, Ye Wanmian was stopped by another figure waiting at her doorstep.
"Oh, Miss Jiang, you're finally back. I've been waiting for you for ages!"
Ye Wanmian was grabbed by a fat woman. The woman was wearing a coarse - cloth dress, but the color and style were quite gaudy. She had a big smile on her face, and her shrewd little eyes stared at Ye Wanmian intently.
Ye Wanmian didn't expect this person to be waiting outside her door. She was startled at first, and then a calm smile appeared on her face. "Matchmaker Zhang, why are you here?"
She tried to struggle and pull her hand back, but Matchmaker Zhang was determined to hold her. Her grip was surprisingly strong.
"I just couldn't wait for your answer, Miss Jiang, so I had to come here myself." Matchmaker Zhang said with a smile and glanced at the bamboo basket behind Ye Wanmian.
"Did you go out to sell medicinal herbs with Dahuang again today? You even bought meat and buns. Miss Jiang is really hard - working. You can live a prosperous life all by yourself."
Matchmaker Zhang kept talking and urged, "Open the door quickly. It's so hot today. I've been waiting here for so long. I'm so thirsty. I have to come in and ask for a glass of water."
Ye Wanmian was tightly held by her. She had no choice but to unlock and push open the courtyard door, then invite Matchmaker Zhang into the house.
"Dahuang, come home quickly." She didn't forget to call the yellow dog that was lagging behind.
Xiao Jingcheng looked back at the winding alley. With the appearance of this Matchmaker Zhang, the shadowy figures that had been following them disappeared.
He waited outside for a while. After making sure no one was following, he controlled his body and went inside.
In the courtyard, Ye Wanmian was busy taking off the bamboo basket on her back. She unwrapped the bowls and dishes that were tightly wrapped and took them to be washed with clean water.
The Matchmaker Zhang was sitting at the table in the room, fanning herself with her sleeve. She was sizing up Ye Wanmian's house, and there was an obvious look of disdain on her face.
Xiao Jingcheng narrowed his eyes slightly, took a step forward, and then deftly leaped onto the table. He looked down at Matchmaker Zhang with a menacing growl from his throat, which really scared Matchmaker Zhang.
"Oh my goodness!"
Pressing her chest with the hand wearing a jade ring, Matchmaker Zhang looked terrified. She shouted in a hurry, "Miss Jiang, Miss Jiang, come quickly!"
Ye Wanmian heard the call and came into the room. She immediately saw the majestic yellow dog sitting on the table and Matchmaker Zhang, who was scared and huddled in the corner, not daring to move.
Trying not to laugh, Ye Wanmian stepped forward. "What's going on?"
Matchmaker Zhang waved her hand, looking pale. "Quick, get this dog off the table! Why don't you tie it up with a rope?"
As soon as she finished speaking, the growl of the yellow dog became even louder, and its gaze became sharper. It looked like it was about to pounce on someone at any moment.
Ye Wanmian snorted softly in her heart and said with a look of embarrassment, "I'm sorry, Matchmaker Zhang. My Dahuang is not used to strangers. It has never seen you before, so it's very vigilant towards you. You know, I live alone. With it around, I can feel at ease. If I tie it up all the time, who will protect me?"
Matchmaker Zhang said again, "But it can't be allowed on the table. The dinner table is for people to eat. How can it just jump up? Miss Jiang, you have to... Ah!"
The yellow dog suddenly bared its teeth and barked loudly at Matchmaker Zhang. Scared, Matchmaker Zhang jumped up from the chair and rushed out in a panic. "Forget it, forget it. I won't drink the water. Miss Jiang, let's talk in the courtyard!"