A crescent moon rose in the sky, and only then did Qi Jiao and Pei Xia start to make their way back.
Mist had risen at night, and the meager silver glow was quickly absorbed by the heavy sky.
Pei Xia, acting out of character, didn't walk side by side with Qi Jiao but strode ahead alone.
The Pei and Ye families lived close to each other, and Pei Xia should have been very familiar with this short stretch of road.
But for some reason, he staggered along as if he were drunk, his steps uneven. Suddenly, he stumbled and fell headlong into the bushes by the roadside.
Qi Jiao rushed forward in a hurry, dropping the lantern to the side in her anxiety. "Pei Xia! Are you okay?"
Pei Xia slowly got up and said with a smile that he was fine.
Then he reached into his sleeve and took out a broken piece of bright red rouge.
He looked like a little boy who had done something wrong, looking annoyed and embarrassed. "Oh, how did it break?"
Qi Jiao, "... " You think I can't tell you did it on purpose?
Qi Jiao didn't show much of a reaction. Anyway, she didn't usually use rouge. She just thought Pei Xia's behavior was rather funny. Suppressing her laughter, she calmly picked up the lantern and walked on.
After this day, Qi Jiao had just returned from the duck farm when she suddenly saw Pei Jin running out excitedly. He grabbed her and dragged her into the east wing.
"Eldest brother has finally come to his senses. He bought a lot of rouge and face powder from the merchant on the cargo ship from Luzhou. Sister Jiao Niang, look. These are all for you."
Qi Jiao was initially confused, but when she saw the bottles and jars filling the whole table and piling up on a couch, she was stunned.
Pei Jin counted them off like reciting a menu. "There are thirteen kinds of rouge, including Pomegranate Charm, Little Red Spring, Tender Wu Fragrance, Half - Side Charm, Ten - Thousand - Gold Red, Sacred Sandalwood Heart, Dewdrop, Inner - Palace Round, Heavenly Palace Ingenuity, Luo'er Crimson, Light Red Heart, Orangutan Blush, and Flower - Enchanting Slave. There are also face creams and flower perfumes, no less than a dozen kinds... Sister Jiao Niang, you can use a different one every day. Eldest brother is really good to you!"
Pei Jin chattered on, his words full of banter.
Qi Jiao couldn't help but laugh. Just last night, Pei Xia had broken the rouge given by Ye Ba. And today, he had bought such a large amount.
Qi Jiao opened a small box and dipped her fingertip in the Light Red Heart rouge, then applied it under Pei Jin's eyes. The rouge was smooth, tender, and even in texture, of excellent quality.
Presumably, these things cost a fortune.
She let Pei Jin pick out some and also left a lot suitable for Tang Guiniang.
The two of them happily took the things into the room to try them out.
In winter, it was only right for girls to take good care of themselves.
Speaking of the day when they recognized each other as god - relatives, Ye Yun had passed a message to Qi Jiao, saying that the cook of the Shu family in the county town wanted her to make another thirty egg yolk pastries and send them over.
Aunt Mei had also paid a deposit, and Ye Yun had given it all to Qi Jiao.
Qi Jiao didn't waste any time. After organizing the rouge and face powder, she immediately started making them. A batch of egg yolk pastries came out of the oven before it got dark.
Pei Xia came back very late at night. Qi Jiao waited for a long time but couldn't hold back her drowsiness and fell asleep.
In the middle of the night, she suddenly felt very thirsty. She groggily got up to pour water and almost tripped over the person sleeping outside.
Only then did she realize that Pei Xia had come back, and she felt at ease.
Pei Xia was a light sleeper. As soon as she moved, he woke up.
He stroked Qi Jiao's face and said in a hoarse voice, "Do you want some water?"
Qi Jiao closed her eyes and nodded like a pecking chick.
Pei Xia lifted the quilt and got up. He picked up the teapot on the stove, poured a cup, drank some himself, and then passed it to her.
Qi Jiao calmed down and fell asleep with a smile on her lips.
Vaguely, she heard Pei Xia say in her ear, "Tomorrow I have to go on a long - distance sea trip. I'm not sure when I'll be back. I'll ask A Li to take you to the county town, okay?"
The next day, when it was bright, Pei Xia was indeed gone.
Qi Jiao felt both heartache and regret. Why had she slept so soundly? She didn't even get up early to see Pei Xia off.
After sighing for a while, Qi Jiao and Pei Li boarded the mule cart to the county town.
After doing more business, they got to know more people.
Aunt Mei paid the full amount without hesitation. "Tsk, Jiao Niang, the snacks you make are really good! The young masters and young ladies in our mansion all like them very much. If it weren't for the lady not allowing them to eat too much for fear of indigestion, they could even finish sixty."
Qi Jiao smiled slightly. "That's right. Snacks can't be used as a meal."
The two chatted for a few more words. Then a maid called Aunt Mei inside, so Qi Jiao turned around and left with Pei Li.
There were still thirty egg yolk pastries in the bamboo basket on Pei Li's back. Qi Jiao planned to sell them retail at the morning market while it was still early.
Soon they arrived at the morning market. She still remembered the spot where Pei Xia had set up his stall before, and Pei Li also had an impression. The two walked straight there and quickly set up their small stall.
For some reason, Qi Jiao had a bad premonition. All she wanted was to sell the things quickly and go home.
So she had an idea. She borrowed a knife from the aunt selling tofu next to her and cut the egg yolk pastries of three flavors into small pieces. She arranged them on the small celadon plates she had just bought.
The plates cost her a hundred wen, but it was a necessary expense.
Then she took out the bamboo toothpicks she had prepared in advance and placed them next to the small pieces of egg yolk pastries.
Qi Jiao carried the porcelain plate and invited passers - by to have a try with a charming smile.
Pei Li was in charge of shouting. One by one, they soon attracted a large crowd.
The two of them had posted the price list in front of the stall table in advance, which was clear at a glance, and they didn't bargain.
Qi Jiao said to two women who were tempted after tasting. "Sisters, you can rest assured. Our ingredients are all of good quality. If you want some, buy three and get one free. If you don't like them, just come to Baiyun Village in Yinwan to find me."
The plump woman was also a connoisseur. She saw that the egg yolk pastries on Qi Jiao's stall were bright in color, plump in size, and could be tasted! Immediately, she said, "I'll take four."
The other one said, "I have children at home. Pack eight for me."
Once the business started, it got much easier, especially since there weren't many pastries to begin with.
In less than an hour, all the egg yolk pastries were sold out.
Qi Jiao and Pei Li packed up their things and were about to go home.
Pei Li was in the stage of growing up, and Qi Jiao was afraid he would be hungry. So she took Pei Li to the Zhenxuan Restaurant to eat.
The two siblings sat in the first - floor hall to have a meal. Pei Li looked around at the grandeur and whispered to Qi Jiao, "Sister Jiao Niang, isn't this place too expensive? I can just go and eat a bowl of noodles on the street."
Qi Jiao said with a smile, "It's okay. The Zhenxuan Restaurant has both expensive and affordable dishes. What we ordered just now is not much and not expensive. You can just eat."
Pei Li was relieved. When two dishes and a soup were served, Pei Li immediately picked up his bowl and started to eat.
After they finished eating, they set off on their return journey.
It seemed that something was bound to happen.
The carriage had just left the county town and hadn't gone far. It should have been in the suburban area when a luxurious carriage came galloping at full speed. Without slowing down at all, it abruptly cut in front of the blue - cloth mule cart that Qi Jiao and the others were sitting in.
The sudden impact almost made the mule cart fall apart. The old coachman tightened the reins desperately with a red - faced fury and barely managed to stabilize the carriage.
If it had been just a bit closer, the cart would have overturned.
Qi Jiao and Pei Li rolled off their seats. Their things were scattered everywhere, and both of them bumped their heads.
The old coachman had a fiery temper. Immediately, his hair stood on end with anger, and he shouted at the luxurious carriage, "Blind! Running so fast like you're in a hurry to go to the next life!"