Zhao'an County
The county town was not as large as Xie Zhinuan had imagined, yet it was still lively. There were inns, restaurants, various kinds of shops, and the streets were quite wide. People coming and going, merchant caravans, young wives, and older sisters carrying baskets, shouting vendors, and the cries of children made the place bustling.
It was also full of human warmth and the atmosphere of everyday life.
Xie Zhinuan feared she was dreaming, and could not help but rub her eyes, then pinch herself.
The sensations were very clear, and the pain was real.
The donkey cart stopped in front of Yuanji Restaurant, and the attendants had already come out to welcome them warmly. Seeing that it was old Master Yuan, their delight was evident, "This morning the shopkeeper said the magpies were chirping nonstop, it turns out the old master has come!"
Old Master Yuan smiled.
After Mrs. Ni and Xie Zhinuan both got off the coach.
The attendant's smile broadened upon seeing the beautiful Xie Zhinuan, pausing for a moment.
But being able to greet guests at the door, he naturally had the ability to quickly regain composure, "Old master, old madam, please come inside!"
He then summoned someone to take care of the donkey cart driver and ushered the three into the hall.
It wasn't quite mealtime yet, so the restaurant was empty, the shopkeeper was not in, and the attendants were idly scattered about, but they were still very happy to see old Master Yuan and Mrs. Ni, especially upon seeing Xie Zhinuan, their eyes lit up, fixating on her.
Xie Zhinuan wasn't annoyed but allowed them to look generously.
Her beautiful eyes swept lightly across the room, clear and pure, but there was also an indescribable distance and nobility about her, making the attendants feel ashamed and not daring to stare any longer.
Soon Yuan Cheng's wife came out to greet them, calling out warmly to the two elders, "Father, mother!"
"Hmm!" old Master Yuan hummed softly in response.
After all, he was a father-in-law, and although he was affectionate, it was not appropriate to show too much enthusiasm when seeing his daughter-in-law.
Mrs. Ni laughed heartily and called out, "Eldest daughter-in-law!"
Yuan Cheng's wife, happy, replied, "Mother..." and looked at Xie Zhinuan. Seeing such a beautiful young girl, she was surprised and a bit uneasy.
She feared that the old lady had brought a young concubine for her husband, or perhaps she was someone to be considered for her two sons.
"This is Zhinuan. She's here to sell a recipe and some pouches she made herself, to sell as well. We'll head back to Xiaohe Village tomorrow!"
Upon hearing this, Yuan Cheng's wife breathed a sigh of relief.
She became much more courteous towards Xie Zhinuan.
"Auntie!" Xie Zhinuan called out gently, very sweetly.
In this second life, she had no intention of struggling to make money. The things in her space were of little concern to her, let alone the thought of toiling to earn more. She wanted to live a simple and peaceful life and simply sat quietly to the side.
Before long, Yuan Cheng returned. After greeting his parents, he looked at Xie Zhinuan. Struck by her beauty, he was momentarily stunned.
Xie Zhinuan called out, "Uncle Yuan!"
"Ah, right, right!"
After a round of pleasantries, old Master Yuan finally stated his purpose.
"Sell a recipe?" Yuan Cheng, surprised and delighted, couldn't help but be pleased.
His establishment hadn't had a new dish for a long time. Another restaurant had opened not far away, and business had declined a lot. If there were no new dishes soon, he feared the restaurant couldn't continue operating.
Xie Zhinuan nodded slightly.
"What kind of recipe are you selling?"
"Stewed rabbit meat. With some minor modifications, this recipe can also be used for pork and pig trotters!" said Xie Zhinuan.
"Well then, write down the recipe, or go to the kitchen and make it once. Also, how much silver are you thinking of selling it for?"
"..." Xie Zhinuan fell silent.
Write? Can she even write?
"Grandma and grandpa saved my life, and I plan to build a house in Xiaohe Village, but I don't know how much silver I'll need. Uncle, please give whatever you think is fair. As long as there's enough silver to build a house and buy some grain, that will be enough!" Xie Zhinuan said softly.
Upon hearing this, Yuan Cheng grew even more respectful towards his parents.
He couldn't help but feel touched.
"Building a house wouldn't need too much silver if the villagers help!"
After thinking it over for a bit, Xie Zhinuan said, "I'll go to the kitchen and prepare the stewed meat first; uncle, you can decide how much to give!"
The amount didn't matter much to her.
If given too much, she wouldn't accept it.