However, where could one find perfection in this world? For the sake of freedom and to repay the elderly couple for saving her life, she had her own home where all expenses were covered with her Silver. She was free to do as she pleased; she just had to cook and bring it over to eat. The most important thing was to tightly guard the secret of her space and not let a second person become aware of it.
"Grandma, rest assured, I will not be easily defeated!" Xie Zhinuan said with a smile.
"In fact, if you were to marry..."
"Grandma, I am not considering marriage for the time being!" Xie Zhinuan gently interrupted Madame Ni's words.
She had not wanted to marry in her previous life and felt no different after being reborn.
She did, however, fancy the idea of having a child. In this ancient era, it was simple to obtain a child—just use Silver to buy one, as there were many people willing to sell their children.
But for the time being, she didn't want to raise a child; instead, she could raise two fierce dogs for safety when she went out.
"Silly child, as a woman, if you do not marry, you will face so much gossip, especially since you're so beautiful!"
"..."
Xie Zhinuan remained silent.
Beauty was already a sin, and she understood that.
So, it was not enough to just raise two dogs—she needed to find a maid or an old matron skilled in Martial Arts and quick-witted.
Therefore, she had to add two more rooms to the house, lest there be no place for them to stay later on.
As soon as Old Man Yuan returned, Madame Ni told him about Xie Zhinuan's plans.
Old Man Yuan was stunned for a moment, then promptly said, "I'll arrange for a donkey cart. We'll go to the county town tomorrow. Wife, go to our neighbors and let them know, ask the sister-in-law to help us feed the chickens tomorrow, just like usual, and she can keep any eggs!"
"Got it!"
Old Man Yuan understood the value of the braised rabbit recipe better than Madame Ni. He promptly went to arrange for a donkey cart to take them to the county town. It would charge five hundred wen to carry only three passengers, which didn't dent his spirits at all—the very look of a man of considerable wealth.
When it got dark and he returned with a torch, he informed Xie Zhinuan and Madame Ni, "The donkey cart is ready. We'll set off early tomorrow morning."
He was also worried that Xie Zhinuan might have second thoughts and decide not to sell the recipe.
Xie Zhinuan slept quite well that night.
The donkey cart arrived before dawn.
Madame Ni got up early to boil some pouch eggs for Xie Zhinuan to eat, somewhat pampering her like a child. Xie Zhinuan just smiled and pretended not to notice.
Unlike the cart from Doctor Wang's house yesterday, this donkey cart had a carriage and was pulled by two donkeys, so it could accommodate more passengers.
Once inside the carriage, Xie Zhinuan sat next to Madame Ni.
"We'll arrive at the county town by the afternoon; you can lean on me and sleep for a while, grandma," she said.
"Alright!"
Xie Zhinuan obediently leaned on Madame Ni and fell asleep, while Old Man Yuan chatted with the donkey cart owner without mentioning they were heading to the county town for business—he merely said he longed to see his grandson and wanted to pay him a visit.
Xie Zhinuan smiled.
Old Man Yuan and Madame Ni were kind people, but also clever.
At noon, they stopped at a teahouse by the road. Old Man Yuan ordered four bowls of shredded pork noodles and some steamed buns.
Xie Zhinuan ate her noodles in small bites. The taste was mediocre, only serving to fill the stomach, and the steamed buns were too coarse and hard.
A carriage pulled by two horses sped by, flanked by a dozen or so men in black riding tall, imposing horses.
From the golden-threaded phoebe wood on the carriage, one could tell that the person inside was either rich or noble.
Xie Zhinuan immediately lowered her head significantly to avoid attracting unnecessary trouble with her appearance.
Old Man Yuan also shifted towards her, partially shielding her.
Xie Zhinuan felt a warmth in her heart.
The carriage stopped outside the teahouse, and a young man dressed in black briskly entered, standing in the center and loudly said, "My master wishes to rest here; all of you, leave at once!"
The imposing presence of such a noble figure, clearly not someone to be trifled with, silenced any murmurs of discontent—no one dared to question or protest.
Quickly, Old Man Yuan placed some copper coins on the table, grabbed a few steamed buns and handed them to Madame Ni and Xie Zhinuan, giving the remaining ones to the donkey cart driver, "Let's go!"
Xie Zhinuan hurriedly helped Madame Ni up.
Without a moment's hesitation, they quickly left the teahouse, boarded the donkey cart, and departed.
The breeze was gentle...