"Hey there Emily, whatcha got there?"
So here I am, walking into my favorite local discount grocery store when a friendly cashier spots me. Dressed in an awkward amount of black, dark sleepless eyes, and a rural excuse of a backpack. Essentially I have a basket from the brothel's kitchens strapped onto my back. It's deep, rough, dirty, and looks ridiculous.
Maybe I should have left it outside the store?
"Is that the new trend these days?" asks the cashier.
"Haha, you know it! it's definitely inconvenient to lug around though." I laugh, trying to brush aside any nerves.
"Looks like it. What's wrong with your good old tote bag?" she goes.
"You know trends, actually I promised a friend I would try this out. It's for her online store, concept stuff." I try waving off. Maybe, just maybe, if I smile wide enough and bullshit hard enough, this won't even matter.
"Oh well then, good luck with that thing. What do I know about rends kids like these days?" clearly, the cashier was either that easy-going or they're not paid enough to care.
"Haha no, I'll be taking a cart. This thing won't be used till later." I place the basket down, clunking it into a good modern metal shopping cart.
So much more efficient. I can only hope I didn't do so too awkwardly. Just playing it cool. Just grocery shopping normally. Nothing suspicious here.
I'm doing so well so far...
"Now that makes more sense, here's this week's specials. " the cashier laughs, thankfully not minding a thing.
The regular night shift cashier points me out to this season's flyer and I eye the ads. The familiarity of routine settling in calms me down. I often came here for the low prices and nice rotation of items. It's also not too busy, being further from the main freeways, even during the peak hours of right after work.
So it takes me no longer than 20 minutes to fill my cart and check out. Timewise, that could make it somewhere between 3-4 hours? I can save time and sort everything back on the other side.
My grocery habits aren't particularly interesting. Just a much wider range of things than what I would usually get on a trip. More essentials, more snacks, more random knick-knacks. I didn't want to get too many things, given I have to carry them back over, but there's just so much lacking. I am however well versed in sales and shopping. A talent for anyone! Which explains how I'm so fast given this amount of stuff. That and I'm familiar with this store's particular layout.
"See you later Emily, Have a good night."
The cashier hands me the extra-long receipt. This much not causing even an extra blink. Ah, retail. Yeah, I don't miss that.
"Thanks! You too!" I make my speedy exit.
The mirror is pretty convenient. I have found that when I look straight in and will it to happen, I arrive in a convenient enough location near to where I want. Somewhere away from prying eyes. At least that's the case so far. So I don't time or even gas driving. Instead, I hurry to a dark corner, out in the parking lot. It was silent when I cam and it will continue to be silent when I blink away.
When I come to, looking up from the mirror, it has already taken me back to the privacy of my little side room. Shopping cart in hand and all.
I sigh in relief. Here I can tetris the items properly into the basket I was loaned.
Let's see if I remember my bagging days right.
Flour and olive oil on the bottom. Some iodized salt. A bulk pack of oatmeal. Ground meat layered in between. And on top goes the eggs. For cushion and to hide the evidence I ripped up the egg tray and stacked them up carefully. Then I tucked it all in the said basket with a plain cloth, nice and safe. The rice I got....can be carried elsewhere.
The snacks I got Lu Shan are all stored away until I can find a presentable enough container for them. It's mostly just nuts and dried fruits. Those are easy to store and contain a lot of essential vitamins.
Roasted almonds are also one of my favorites...they were on sale alright!
I also got her some herbal and floral teas, all caffeine-free. They keep the teas in the main room so I don't have to bother handing these over to the kitchens. Still, I do need some suitable containers for all these things.
Cardboard boxes with multicolor labels might raise questions? How to get this repacked?
Well, I'll just ask the Hui girls to help me out.
Before heading down to the kitchens I need to check on Lu Shan and her baby anyways. There's also the little gifts I picked up and unwrapped from their packaging.
"Oh aunt, I didn't notice you had come in." says the frail woman on bed rest.
"Doctor Lu EnLie, when did you get back?"
Lu Shan sat in her bed per usual, nursing the child. Hui Qing is on duty watching over her. There doesn't seem to be a need to monitor their health too carefully with modern medical devices so I leave that be.
"I see all is well so far, I hope I didn't disturb you." I put on a calming professional face for her.
"Oh not at all Aunt. Where did you go to earlier?" my patient, and most likely my ancestor, asks gently.
"Hmm since I finally settled down with my journey upon meeting you, I had to send a letter to my contacts." comes my excuses.
"Your contacts? Did you have companions?"
"No one traveling with me no, it's just business concerns. People making sure I'm still alive and such."
"Oh Yes. I understand, did you find yourself around the town alright?"
"Not yet but I will figure it out soon. More importantly, I have a little gift for you and the baby." I make to pull out att the mess of ...stuff.
"How exciting sister Lu Shan, a gift. What could it be?" clamors the little maid.
"Oh honored aunt, you should not have." Lu Shan shyly hides a bit beneath her blankets.
So cute. How can someone who's related to me be so cute?
I have no qualms then presenting her with an ultra-soft throw blanket for the baby. Here here my little....whatever relative you are, let's get you into some better clothes and blankets!
The baby supplies I managed to pick up are lacking.
It would be strange if I brought diapers here, not when it doesn't exist and they use nothing but cloth. So I left that alone. I did however pick up cotton balls, digital thermometer, baby wipes, baby formula, and a pack of bottles. Just in case. I know they're doing the whole breastfeeding thing but really, I can't trust myself to be too prepared.
For Lu Shan, I picked her up a thick bathrobe of a similar super soft fabric. They may not be silk or whatever the most expensive things here are, but its fluffiness is incomparable to ancient cloth materials.
They're also good at retaining heat and keeping warm.
I couldn't help but notice the cold this morning, and the windows here are poorly insulated paper and wood. Maybe I should pick up some curtains later?
Everywhere I look, my modern eye can't help but feel the lack. It's one thing to observe and aww like a drama viewer, a tourist, but actually staying here is quite brutal.
"Feel them?" I present it to Lu Shan.
"Such softness! They must be rare things, Aunt I couldn't possibly take them." she shakes her head, yet cannot help but to pet the robes and blanket in fascination.
What woman can resist such soft and fluffy? This level of comfort? Of course, she wants them, and I happily push back.
"Hui Qing, hurry and put them over our Lu Shan so she can stop talking," I order.
"Yes, Ms. Lu EnLie! Waaah these things really feel amazing, as if I'm touching a warm cloud." the young maid marvels at first contact. Rubbing the material.
"Mmm, I can get more later. I won't lie and say it's not at a cost... but if you like them aunt can easily get you more." I twist my words, just a bit, to comfort the concerned woman in bed.
"Aunt, Lu Shan would feel too guilty taking so much from you." she shyly bows her head, easing the resistance upon feeling the robe.
"Do you not like the material?" I tease, but ask honestly. She's not allergic or anything right?
"It's as soft as a dream, how could I not like them?" she exclaims, cheeks blushing pink.
"Then wear them, you deserve at least this much. Oh I forgot about something for YanYan, she may get jealous. " I laugh off, tucking her in.
"If you just feed her more of that delicious choco thing I think she won't mind Ms. Doctor." laughs Hui Qing in good spirits.
Yeah, that may be true. I did grab more chocolate but I need to hide them away. I have a feeling that kid is a glutton. I'm not just talking about personal experience from myself.
"Hue Qing could you do me a favor? I will need more later but for now, could you get me a plain cloth sack? Something to store grains or such thing. And earthen or porcelain containers, suitable to hold things in." I instruct in a quiet but serious tone.
"Yes! Since you're here with sister Lu Shan, this servent will be going right away." she jumps a bit in excitement, only to quickly bow and walk away.
"Thank you, I'll stay here and make tea." I say after you.
Ah, Hu Qing is a good kid, she didn't get jealous at all. I wasn't testing her but I was watching her reaction. What a nice kid, she looks safe enough then? Overly energetic but isn't that normal for kids at that age.
There's a charcoal burner they use to warm the room and make tea. The smoke concerns me but the charcoal doesn't produce much if any at all. Still, I wonder if there's a way to reduce the need to burn charcoal and keep everyone warm.
I contemplate a list of possible things to do and before I know it the water's already boiling.
With my own stash of herbal tea, I pour it into a pot and serve it normally.
"Is this a medicine aunt? It smells rather nice." Lu Shan picks up quickly, enjoying the aroma.
"You can think of it as a medicine but it's just an herbal tea that is good for you. Drink of it as much as you like." I hand her a small cup, warning her to be careful.
"Yes, thank you aunt." she accepts elegantly, even weak in her bed.
In the following time, we chit chat a bit about my not exactly made up travels and her own life.
I try then. to center topics around her and her tastes to find out more about her. This Lu Shan seems like a rather normal rich lady of the time despite not being so rich for a long time now. Her hobbies are reading poetry, embroidery, playing and qin and all that jazz.
Please give me more to go off than that….
Well as long as she's happy I guess.
When Hui Ming comes back I excuse myself back to the little room. The maid also clamoring up to smell and refill the tea.
It's nice how I don't have to worry about anyone sneaking in and seeing all my stuff. It seems Lu Shan warned them not to bother me, curious or not. So I have my own privacy to really get to work.
With a box cutter, the 5lb bag of rice is quickly cut and emptied into the plain sack. The rest of the packaging tours or redid as quickly as I can make them. And so the kitchen bribes are ready.
Since I don't think Lu Shan's been fed since this morning's breakfast, I prepare some snacks. A bowl of peanuts and some yogurt covered berries. Hopefully, she eats them before YanYan barges in for snacks.
Just in case though I pour it past the brim for everyone to share and bring it out for tea.
"Wow Ms. En Lie you're just full of goodies." the maid stares at me with a reverent look, one that grows by day.
"Hui Qing!" Lu Shan admonishes.
"Ah my apologies. I didn't mean to be rude." Hui Qing, draws back. Much like a too energetic puppy told to sit and stay.
"It's alright, she must be so excited since she's feeling hungry." I can't help but to coo, just a bit.
The mood here is pretty nice. They seem to be so pleased with the simplest things.
"Hmmhmm that's it! Also we didn't get to eat anything since morning." she agrees, stars will in her eyes.
"Well please enjoy with the tea then, where's Hui Liang and YanYan?" I set down the snacks as I ask.
"Oh they're off doing chores, it's okay to save them some snacks since there's so much!" the maid makes to help me, before serving Lu Shan directly. Scooping a cit into a tiny plate.
"Thank you aunt, I think the girls will like these white coated berries. They're tart yet sweet." Lu Shan takes a bite, covering her mouth with her hand as she nibbles.
Please eat a lot and get stronger. Say strong enough to survive anything.
Of course I don't say that out loud. As nice as the mood here is in this little tea party, now it's time to move on to the main phase today's plan. I make to excuse myself and bring down the hidden contents of the basket to the kitchen.
With my strength, it's no issue carrying it and the sack of rice. I've handled far worse with patient's files and supplies. Let alone the weights at the gym. Just think of it as makeshift weightlifting working.
I admit I looked a little out of place, okay a lot out of place.
At this time most of the courtesans were resting in their rooms or courtyard. The ones who were on duty working were a mix of lower ranked courtesans, new girls, trainees, and the actual official staff. There were even a few men around outside and out back working on repairing something.
The way this place feels in the day is completely different. It looks like a lively communal sort of place and not, well not a brothel.
But everyone and everything has its sides.
When I arrived to the side of the kitchen I could hear the old hag berating a kitchen maid over something. Well who cares., might as well let her air out a bit first When the tirade seemed mostly over I came skipping along, very much out of place.
"Oh Aunt Heng~" I sing song, unable to wave with all the weights I'm balancing.
" Oi it's you again. What do ya want now!" the grumpy old woman yells, waving a cleaver at me.
What a warm welcome.
"You know what I want~ But I've brought you a little something!" I take no heed to it.
"Don't know how dumb are fer a doctor but coins and nuggets be easier to carry."
She muttered at me, a little more careful with the curious eyes on us. Well on me, I am carrying a full basket and getting right up in the face of their own personal Gordon Ramsey.
"Oh you know I don't know what you mean! But I got you something anyways!"
You old hag, I curse out in my head.
"Hmmpf, nothing good by the looks of it. Your family is all the same, I expect no less." she snorts.
Oi are we talking about Lu Shan here?
I should defend her honor or something but she's not wrong. Isn't that some unspoken rule around here, if you don't even send favors to the head of the kitchens that supply your food your personal ranking would go down.
I sure hope this works. I rather not touch that bag of coins until something unavoidable happens.
"I hope you can still accept these humble things then. I don't know how it works around here or my family's status, but my goodwill is sincere"
Clear as day, please forgive Lu Shan and feed her better already.
"Ha! Pure my ass, well let's have a look see. Mosquito legs are still meat. It's not every day we get something from the Lu girl.."
Despite her harsh words, she is pleased though, it shows in her body language. It really is better to have something rather than nothing.
I don't get the hierarchy and subtlety of things so there are a few awkward pauses between us.
Was I supposed to let a maid or someone come unwrap the things? It's just faster if I do it myself.
First the sack of rice, it's not that heavy but boy does it wear on your arms after a while. That's why you take reps and breaks when lifting weights.
Hag Heng shows a mild look of interest peeking in at the rice. More rice more life right? In the meantime, I put down and unload the basket to the chit chattering of the cooks and helpers.
"So many eggs!" one exclaims.
"Is the whole thing full of eggs? Surely not!" they continue to gossip to themselves.
"Uh…no it's not. Is there somewhere I can put them so they don't roll away?" I awkwardly ask.
A freckled girl younger than the Huis steps up with a woven basket and I thank her as she helps me place the eggs.
I feel like a presenter at an auction with everyone examining each grocery items. Bulk oatmeal gets curious whispers but the ground mixed meat gets me even louder gasps than the eggs. It overshadows everything else but Aunt Heng's sharp eyes look more interested in the salt, oil and flour.
I'm sure the kitchen will appreciate them soon enough.
"Please accept these little things from me on behalf of Lu Shan!" I bow, definetely not elegantly. IT gets me a few odd looks if not a shock of people jumping a step back.
"Hmmm" the old woman glares at me, inspecting the goods.
"Please give her a generous portion of leafy greens and fresh vegetable dishes for her recovery. Preferably without oil. Too much meat isn't good for her anyways but if you have tofu, fish eggs and other proteins please feed her that in combination. These grains here expand well in water and are good for breakfast or mixed into things."
"Hmm," she still judges.
Ah she keeps so silent.
If I wasn't confident in my body language reading, especially from all the elderly patients I deal with at work, I would be at a loss. This must just be her good mood face. It sounds a little stupid rambling to her like this, but everyone around can hear my instructions so it's fine.
"Of course I leave it to you. There must be many recipes good for a new nursing mother. I'm just a simple physician. I only know the ingredients she would benefit from, not how to prepare them." I let myself ramble, with just a bit of kiss ass.
"Hmmm well I'll see what I can do then." aunt Heng continues to act uninterested, waving me off as she glares a little too intensely at the ingredients.
It's the look of someone who wants to play. A fanciful old woman with a new toy. A chef with new ingredients.
Oh that's definitely a score for me.
-----