Fang Jinxiu turned around and walked away.
Seventh Chen coughed twice and hurried after her.
Fang Jinxiu didn't pay him any mind and walked quickly with her head down.
"It's not like that, it's not." Seventh Chen pursued relentlessly as he hastily explained, "I misspoke."
While speaking, he handed over the stick he was carrying.
"Let me treat you to candied figurines, don't be angry, okay?" he said.
Fang Jinxiu almost got poked in the face by the grass hoop on the bamboo pole and had to stop in her tracks.
"What are you doing?" she said angrily as she reached out and forcefully swiped it away.
The grass hoop flew off, and Seventh Chen failed to hold onto it steadily, causing the bamboo pole to drop to the ground and the remaining candied figurines to scatter.
Seventh Chen let out a couple of distressed cries.
"That's money," he yelled and squatted down to hurriedly pick them up, his face full of distress.
A single candied figurine only costs a few coins, and there were only seven or eight that fell to the ground. What was there to be so upset about.
Fang Jinxiu curled her lip.
It was only money after all.
She subconsciously reached for her waist, where her purse usually brimmed with money.
But upon touching it, she found nothing and realized.
She was no longer the Third Miss Fang of De Sheng Chang, who had money to burn.
Fang Jinxiu hung her head low and was about to run off when she saw Seventh Chen still squatting and picking up the candied figurines, his hissing voice unceasing.
"I only earn the equivalent of these seven or eight candied figurines at a time," he muttered regretfully, "Such a pity, such a pity, I worked on them for so long."
Fang Jinxiu stopped in her tracks.
"I'm not angry at you," she said, then paused for a moment, "Sorry about that."
Seventh Chen looked up and smiled.
"It's all right, it's all right. As long as you're not angry, that's what matters," he said, inserting the candied figurines one by one back onto the grass hoop and glancing around before winking at her, "I can still sell these."
Fang Jinxiu was slightly taken aback.
"How can you still sell these? They're dirty," she said.
Seventh Chen blew on the candied figurines.
"Where are they dirty? They're not dirty at all," he said.
How can this person be like this, Fang Jinxiu rolled her eyes, but after this incident, her earlier frustration had eased somewhat. She lowered her head and continued walking forward.
"So, what about you now? What's your situation?" Seventh Chen caught up and asked.
"It's nothing special," Fang Jinxiu responded dismissively.
Seventh Chen eyed the small bundle on her shoulder and smacked his lips.
"Actually, it's good that you were driven out. It's more liberating being out here," he said.
"I wasn't driven out," Fang Jinxiu glared at him, "I left on my own."
Seventh Chen looked at her and uttered noises of understanding.
"Believe it or not, that's up to you," Fang Jinxiu said, no longer looking at him as she continued to stride forward.
Seventh Chen hurried to catch up once more.
"I believe you," he said, "One who speaks like that is definitely not someone who could be driven out by the Fang family."
Fang Jinxiu's footsteps hesitated slightly before she moved on without a word.
Seventh Chen, carrying the candied figurines, followed her through the crowd that was still flowing in.
"What do you plan to do from now on? Where will you go?" he asked.
Fang Jinxiu stopped.
"What's it to you?" she said, her annoyance apparent.
Seventh Chen chuckled lightly.
"Well, it just so happens that we know each other, and we've come across each other now. You're on your own, so I ought to show a little concern," he said.
"I don't need it, I'm not that familiar with you," Fang Jinxiu replied, moving on.
Seventh Chen kept pace.
"You definitely won't be seeking help from relatives, will you? Are you planning to leave Yangcheng?" he kept asking.
How annoying can this person get.
Fang Jinxiu ignored him and continued walking.
Where to go indeed, she herself had not yet decided, but Seventh Chen was right. She would not turn to relatives, and she couldn't stay in Yangcheng either.
The business she knew most about from childhood was the money business. Perhaps she could find a job at a money business somewhere else, in a place where people didn't recognize her.
"Are you sure you'll be all right on your own? You're still a girl," Seventh Chen muttered to himself on the side.
"I often walked around by myself before, I'm not someone who's never been outside," Fang Jinxiu retorted, clearly annoyed.
Seventh Chen shook his head.
"That's different," he said. "When Third Miss Fang goes out, it's not the same as when other girls go out."
It was sure to be with strict guards, impressive carriages, and before the person moved, the name was already known, and idle folks stepped aside.
Fang Jinxiu's steps paused again.
"Formerly, Third Miss Fang, the first time she went out, wasn't used to it either. She would be afraid, uncomfortable," she said, looking at Seventh Chen, "When doing anything for the first time, in the beginning, it's natural to feel uncomfortable and scared, but after doing it more and getting used to it, it gets better."
Seventh Chen looked at her with a slightly surprised expression, then smiled and nodded at her.
"No matter if you're Third Miss Fang or not, you are still you," he said.
Fang Jinxiu snorted.
"Speaking as if you know me that well," she said.
Seventh Chen laughed heartily.
"Some people just hit it off right from the start," he said.
Fang Jinxiu rolled her eyes again, just about to step forward when her expression froze.
Seventh Chen followed her gaze and saw two women standing across the street. One of them, a maid, was holding a bunch of snacks, her cheeks bulging. She also looked over, her eyes suddenly growing round.
"Mmm mmm," she couldn't speak with her mouth full and started making "mmm mmm" sounds while pointing with her hand.
Miss Jun looked over, meeting Fang Jinxiu's eyes.
Fang Jinxiu had heard Liu'er tell her about the affairs, and Fang Chengyu had also told her this morning about Concubine Yuan taking charge and persuading Fang Jinxiu to leave the Fang Family.
She didn't know what to say to Fang Jinxiu.
This truly was fate's play.
Although she believed in the justice of the heavens, she couldn't help but sigh, Fang Jinxiu really was unlucky.
Liu'er was already running over, Miss Jun followed suit.
Miss Jun looked at Fang Jinxiu, and Fang Jinxiu glanced at her before averting her eyes.
Seventh Chen vaguely remembered seeing this girl at Jin Yun Hall; she must be one of the Fang's.
Sensing the awkward atmosphere, he hesitated over whether to say something to break the ice, while the maid struggled to swallow her food and finally managed to speak.
"What are you doing here?" Liu'er asked, looking at Fang Jinxiu.
Fang Jinxiu naturally wouldn't pay her any mind, so Liu'er's eyes fell on Seventh Chen.
Seventh Chen gave her a grin, and Liu'er, with a look of disdain, turned away and noticed the sugar figures that Seventh Chen was carrying, with a trace of realization.
"Oh," she said. "Are you trying to buy a sugar figure, but have no money?"
Liu'er was of course aware that Fang Jinxiu had left the Fang Family, but she didn't consider it leaving; rather, she thought of it as being kicked out.
The expelled Third Miss Fang would naturally be penniless.
Fang Jinxiu rolled her eyes and ignored her, while Liu'er also rolled her eyes not expecting to be heeded, and pulled out her purse to hand to Seventh Chen.
"I'll buy all these sugar figures for her," she said loudly.
Seventh Chen's eyes brightened at the sight of the purse being handed over, reaching out to take it.
"Sure, sure," he said, delighted.
Fang Jinxiu raised her hand and slapped his, sending the purse falling to the ground, causing Seventh Chen to pull back his hand.
"If you're not buying, you're not buying—why hit someone?" he said, embarrassed.
Fang Jinxiu didn't heed Liu'er or Miss Jun and walked past them into a narrow alleyway.
Seventh Chen, carrying the sugar figures, glanced at the purse on the ground and quickly followed after her.
"Really doesn't know what's good for her," Liu'er stamped her foot in anger, picking up the purse from the ground.
Meanwhile, Miss Jun looked at the alley where Fang Jinxiu disappeared, withdrawing her gaze.
"Why is that sugar figure seller following her? Does she have money?" Liu'er also looked in that direction, noticing Seventh Chen's disappearing tall sugar figure.
"He didn't want to sell her a sugar figure," Miss Jun said. "That seller knows her."
Liu'er uttered an "oh."
Miss Jun started walking forward, and Liu'er hurried to catch up, a contrast to her previous chatter, falling slightly silent.
"Miss," she quickened her steps, hesitantly beginning, "why not, you say something to let her come back, the Fang Family will surely listen to your words."
Miss Jun smiled, patting Liu'er's head gently.
"Liu'er is indeed a grateful and good person," she praised.
"Of course, I'm a grateful and good person," Liu'er asserted as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "Anyone who says I'm not is blind."
Miss Jun smiled again.
"However, I can't ask her to go back," she said, her demeanor becoming serious, "that would be putting her in a difficult position. She is a good child too. Let her be free and at ease, that way she could be a bit more comfortable, some consolation."
*****************************
Thank you, splendid, for rewarding two pieces of He's Bi.
Thank you Miss Jun, Ye Sanmo Ricardo, Tiantian Yu Tianyue for rewarding pieces of He's Bi.
Thank you, everyone, have a pleasant weekend continuing.
(づ￣3￣)づ