It was already more than a week since she had gotten a job. She had been going everyday to that rugged, dingy shop and working for more than 3 shichen.
When she went there on the first day, she had not expected Haoran to receive many customers. After all, who would decide to go to a small, alleyway shop to buy books, instead of going to the main market? But there were many who chose to do exactly that.
Wu shi was usually the time when they all poured in and Haoran would hide a smile that was full of pride for the shop that he founded, making Xiao Hui, in turn, smile.
The customers would come up to her and ask about which book was where, and she was happy to be able to show them and be of use. In the beginning she had fumbled because there were just so many books and it was difficult to keep track of which shelf they were. But the maid was proud to say she was gifted with a brilliant memory, thanks to her previous work in the palace.
The others found out about her job just after the second day.
Xiao Hui had asked for permission to leave on the third day and Feng Qin was, as usual, distracted enough to allow her to do so. However trouble had come in the form of yellow clothes, disapproving looks and pursed lips.
Shi Ming had been extremely suspicious of the maid's constant need for fresh air.
"Xiao Hui have been leaving a lot these days. Where do she always go?" She had asked with her arms crossed below her chest, making Xiao Hui almost panic at her stern tone.
She had prepared to lie but then thought better of it. What would it do to tell the truth? Besides, would they not be proud of her and think her useful if they knew that she was earning money now?
Explaining her situation with stumbling words, the maid had successfully erased almost all the suspicion. Almost all.
The courtesan still did not believe that Renren Book Shop was a safe place, despite going there twice and meeting Haoran and frankly, she was getting tired of it.
Han Bingwen was clearly noticing the tension between his baobei and the maid and so he gave a suggestion.
"Why don't we all follow Xiao Hui's example and go out today." Xiao Hui and Shi Ming abruptly turned towards him. The saying had come out of nowhere, just like the previous King who seemed to have materialized out of thin air.
His lover narrowed her eyes. "What is Bing ge suggesting?"
A sheepish grin. "The market?"
***
Despite the last minute decision and the horrible planning, all the Feng residents except Feng Qin found themselves in the crowded main markets during Lunar New Year.
Xiao Hui looked at the place with awe. For the first time since she was in this strange world, the people were acting like what they were; people.
Vendors were not as loud as in the original world, but they were advertising their goods. She heard some people haggling with them, trying to lower prices as much as possible. They failed rather miserably, and only managed to decrease the price by two coppers, making the vendor smile smugly.
Han Bingwen mistook her gaze at the vendor's stall for longing and asked, "Do you want anything?"
She shook her head. As if they had the means to buy unnecessary items. She was no spoilt mistress to wish for one.
Unfortunately, Shi Ming did not agree with her, as she gave a derisive snort and coughed out a disdainful, "Royals." The maid looked pointedly at the previous King but once again, he seemingly noticed nothing.
Yuan-er tugged at her cloth. His pleading eyes went from hers to a stall in the side. The vendor there was selling sweets of many kinds. Sweet orange peels, tanghulu and Nian Gao were the most stocked. They looked so savory, it was not a surprise that a child like him was tempted to eat them.
But it was not Xiao Hui who could decide if he can get the sweets or not. The duty went to Han Bingwen right now. On hindsight, that would have not been much of a problem; the previous King was rather fond of Yuan-er. However he loved Shi Ming even more and if she said no then her word was final.
She looked in front where the two were talking among themselves. "I do not think we can buy one. We are rather short on money."
Dejected, the boy let go of her cloth. His face was so down it tugged at the maid's heart.
Unconsciously, her body moved. Her legs started taking her in the direction of that sweets stall. She walked and walked and walked until she was merely two chi away from it.
The vendor looked up from where he was adjusting the shelves and smiled when he found a customer. Xiao Hui thrust a copper coin, earned from all her hard work, at him and pointed at one of the tanghulu. The vendor was more than happy to give it to her.
Yuan-er had been looking startled and rather scared when she went away, but his face cleared with joy when he saw what she brought back. Grubby hands akin to a man starving for weeks begged to receive the treat.
Lucky for them, Han Bingwen and Shi Ming were in their own world and were unable to catch the maid sneaking the boy away so that he could finish eating the fruit in peace.
Said boy clearly knew that what they were doing was against the promise that the previous King had forced them to make, as he gobbled down the sweet, only pausing a couple of times to savor it.
When they slipped back from their hiding spot, the previous King and his courtesan were nowhere to be seen.
Xiao Hui felt a bumbling sense of panic emerging from her body. The boy, clearly sensing something was wrong, tried to help by searching for them but it was as if they were never there.
Instead of finding tail of them, they spotted the tell tale signs of the Han palace uniform. Soldiers were doing their patrol.
Despite logically knowing that they probably would not recognize her, the maid pulled a startled Yuan-er behind a nearby stall. Thankfully, it seemed as if the stall's vendor was busy somewhere else, so no awkward questions were asked.
Xiao Hui backed away as the soldiers made a move, looking as if they had sighted them. One step, two step, three- Oomph.
She almost stepped on Yuan-er's foot as his back hit a body. They stilled and slowly turned, fearing for the worst.
"Where did you both vanish off to?"
It was Han Bingwen. Han Bingwen and Shi Ming. No Tyrant King and no soldiers searching for them. Just two people they knew.
Xiao Hui met Yuan-er's eye and a snicker escaped her mouth. Then another. And before they knew it, they were doubled over with laughter, silent ones but full of joy.
______________________________________
Question:
What was one tiny moment that sparked friendship for you?