"Business still isn't good..."
At the snowy street corner, Ning Yi spoke with a smile while munching on a pancake. Beside him, Nie Yunzhu glanced at the unsold pancakes on the cart and sighed, clapping her hands in slight frustration. "On a snowy day like this, hardly anyone comes to buy."
"I told you before, didn't I? You should've waited until spring to consider this. Now, see? You're at a loss."
"When you finally make up your mind about something, you have to get it going quickly. If you wait months, who knows if you'll lose motivation by then or what you might be thinking."
"Oh, I see. You just wanted to experience what it feels like to run a small stall, didn't you?"
Although Ning Yi hadn't visited her stall since she started, he made a point to exercise daily, even in the snow. Each morning, the two would chat on the steps of that small building, and by now they had grown quite familiar with one another. Naturally, Ning Yi knew about her poor business, and though he had offered comforting words earlier, he couldn't resist teasing her after some time had passed.
As he pointed out, Nie Yunzhu didn't start this stall out of necessity—well, maybe partly—but more so, it was her effort to adjust to a simpler, more ordinary lifestyle. Her family's financial situation wasn't dire enough to make this truly necessary, and for now, she was still enjoying the experience.
"Yesterday, I saw a few people slip on the street across from us. They almost got into a fight, claiming they were from a security agency... And a few days ago, a signboard from that store over there almost fell and hit someone... Hu Tao was originally with me, but then Er Niu showed up, so I sent them off to buy some rice and flour. I gave them some errands, hoping they'll spend more time alone together..."
Ning Yi continued eating his pancake while Nie Yunzhu rambled about her recent observations. He chatted casually with her for a while, but still, no one came by to buy anything. Laughing, Ning Yi brushed the snow off his clothes and said, "You should just pack up. After all, your busiest time was in the morning. What's the point of staying out here now?"
He picked up a small stool from the ground and tossed it into the cart. Nie Yunzhu waved her hand. "No, not yet. We might still sell a few more. And besides, I can't push the cart by myself in this snow. Er Niu has been helping me push it every morning and evening."
"I can push it for you."
"Master Ning... you really don't care about appearances, do you? What kind of scholar would do such a thing?"
"What's the big deal about appearances?" Ning Yi chuckled. "Besides, the thing I asked for your help with should be ready today, right? We still have time. Let's go check how it turned out. If it goes well, it might just save your pancake stall."
"They're just some salted duck eggs, and you didn't even put in enough salt..." Nie Yunzhu pouted playfully. But hearing Ning Yi bring it up, she stopped protesting. She went over to ask a nearby old woman selling pastries to watch her stall for a bit, then joined Ning Yi in packing up. After a moment, she proudly shared her own reasoning with a mix of deep thought and self-satisfaction.
"Actually, I'm not that familiar with these things, nor is Hu Tao. To make good sales and start earning money, it will take a long time of trial and adaptation. So, I figured, if we start during the winter and make only a small amount each day, we'll waste less rice and flour. By the time spring arrives, maybe we'll be able to turn a profit. If we waited until spring to start, we'd waste even more and probably wouldn't get the hang of it until summer. So, it's better to start early."
"You sure know a lot," Ning Yi chuckled. "But I think you're just eager to marry Hu Tao off, aren't you?"
"That's part of it," she laughed as they pushed the cart along the snow-covered street toward home. "In the early years, I thought the two of us would rely on each other forever, but it's not possible to stay that way. Now that she's found her own path, I'm happy for her. Haha, back when she first got together with Er Niu, she tried so hard to keep it a secret from me. I only found out when Er Niu finally mustered the courage to propose. She was worried that I wouldn't be able to take care of myself on my own, so she refused to get married. But since I think of her as my sister, I can't keep holding her back forever."
"Haha, I'm afraid you might end up marrying Er Niu together with her someday..."
Nie Yunzhu didn't mind the joke. She pressed her lips together in a smile, appearing to seriously consider it for a moment before shaking her head. "I don't think so. Er Niu is honest and kind, a good man, but we don't really connect on a deeper level. If I married him, we might get along respectfully for a few years, but after that, I fear there would be arguments or worse. By then, it would be Hu Tao who suffers the most."
"That's the gap." Ning Yi nodded.
They continued forward, passing through bustling marketplaces with steaming stalls, past courtyards and gates covered in snow, along the Qinhuai River where silver trees and ice blossoms lined the banks. Pleasure boats were docked, and icicles hung from them like strings of pearls, creating a scene reminiscent of a palace beneath the waves. As the crowds thinned, the two of them chatted idly, like a young couple running a pancake stall, packing up and heading home. The husband should be a helpless scholar, unfit for manual labor, but here he was, dressed in fine robes and helping out in the cold. The wife was diligent and virtuous, running the stall every day, hoping for the day her husband would pass the exams and bring honor to their family.
At one point, a carriage raced up from behind, with the driver cracking his whip. "Hyah! Hyah! Move aside! Get out of the way!" Ning Yi quickly pushed the cart to the side with Nie Yunzhu, and as the carriage passed, the driver gave them a harsh glare. Ning Yi sighed and called out after him, "Well, excuseme!" Nie Yunzhu ducked her head, chuckling softly.
Ning Yi hummed a few random tunes as he pushed the cart, and Nie Yunzhu watched him from behind for a moment before catching up to help push.
"I always hear Master Ning humming these little tunes. I wonder where they come from."
"Just nonsense, like the little ditties folks in the mountains make up... uh, folk songs."
Ning Yi tried to explain, and Nie Yunzhu laughed. "Folk songs, huh? I've learned some of those before... Heh, 'Why hasn't my dear brother come back yet...' Pfft... but they don't sound quite like the ones you sing, Master Ning."
She sang a line softly, her voice as clear as water and surprisingly pleasant to the ear. But the street wasn't the best place for such songs, so she only sang the one line quietly before blushing and covering her mouth with a giggle.
Ning Yi nodded, then glanced at her. "Oh, that reminds me, you're really good at singing and playing the zither, aren't you?"
Although Nie Yunzhu often joked about making a living with her beauty, Ning Yi could tell she didn't enjoy entertaining others. That's why he never brought up such matters. Since arriving in this world, he had never visited any brothels or pleasure houses, and while he had suspected Nie Yunzhu was a famous courtesan, he didn't know exactly how renowned she was. Now, it didn't seem to matter much, so he finally asked.
Nie Yunzhu nodded, "Yes, I've actually put quite a bit of effort into it."
"So... you're really good at it? An expert?"
"Pfft... I suppose so," Nie Yunzhu found the question amusing, as most people wouldn't ask her something like this. She tried to hold back her laughter and, with a serious expression, nodded, "Yes, I'm an expert!"
"Oh? Just how skilled?"
Her serious face quickly cracked, and she laughed, "I'm as high as several stories, at least..." She recalled a joke Ning Yi had made a few days ago and replied with a playful smile, "What's with you?"
As they laughed, their cart approached Master Qin's house. To their surprise, Master Kang had also come by, and his sedan chair was just parked by the roadside. Master Qin had already stepped out, and both men looked over curiously before smiling and exchanging a few words. Ning Yi waved in greeting.
Master Kang called out, "What's this, Li Heng? Need any help?" His attendants stood by, ready to assist if needed.
Ning Yi stopped the cart a few meters away and shook his head, "No need." Then he nodded toward Nie Yunzhu beside him. "This is Nie Yunzhu... Master Qin, Master Kang... We sometimes play chess together." He introduced her. Nie Yunzhu gave a respectful bow, and after some brief pleasantries, Ning Yi asked, "Will Master Kang be staying for a while?"
Master Kang nodded, "I brought some fine items with me, so I'll be here this afternoon. If you're free, Li Heng, you and Miss Nie can join us to enjoy some calligraphy and paintings."
Ning Yi smiled, "Ah, perfect. I've got some interesting things to bring as well. We can study them together."
"That would be excellent."
After finishing the conversation, Ning Yi bid farewell and resumed pushing the cart. Once they turned the corner, Nie Yunzhu's smile had faded. "Master Ning, earlier you asked about my music skills..."
"Oh, I was just wondering if you could help me compose some zither music if I come up with some lyrics."
Nie Yunzhu nodded confidently, "That shouldn't be a problem. Whether it's poetry, songs, or folk tunes, if I can't do it, I doubt there are many in the whole of Jiangning who could."
"Wow, that's really several stories high..." Ning Yi looked at her with newfound admiration.
"Yes, at least four or five stories high—so high you'd fall to your death," she joked.
"Well, that's a relief," Ning Yi smiled. Then he added, "But the lyrics might be a bit strange. It's just something for a small group to sing and enjoy, not something for the refined halls. You should be prepared for that."
Nie Yunzhu nodded, "Understood."
Soon, they approached the small building by the river.