The Universal Blessing Temple was no longer as bustling as it had been during the New Year. There were far fewer carriages and pedestrians in front of the gate, and many fewer stalls set up on the side street.
Jiang Ning spotted Lan Xu among the cluster of stalls at a glance.
Lan Xu looked the same as ever - her clothes were simple but neat, her hair impeccably combed. She always smiled warmly when someone came to buy osmanthus cakes, and sat quietly when there were no customers, a faint trace of melancholy in her eyes.
Watching Lan Xu from afar, Jiang Ning couldn't help but think of Luo Siyi, far away in the Capital City.
Both were women, but Luo Siyi had a harmonious marriage, two children, and had been cherished for half her life. When troubles arose, she would only cry in Nangong Ya's arms.
And Lan Xu?
A scheming plot had ruined her life. An innocent girl had inexplicably lost her chastity, given birth to a daughter hoping they could rely on each other, only for heaven to play a cruel joke on her, forcing her to send Nangong Ling back and leave her hometown to come to Qushui City, making a living by selling osmanthus cakes.
The stark contrast made Jiang Ning's heart sink inevitably.
Jiang Ning stood motionless for a long while, steeling herself before slowly approaching.
Lan Xu had just sent off a customer and was lowering her eyes to put the copper coins into the money pouch when she looked up to find a young woman standing before her.
"Miss Jiang! It's you!" Seeing a familiar face, Lan Xu was pleasantly surprised. She glanced around and asked, "Where's your Mr. Liu, the successful candidate? Why isn't he with you?"
To Lan Xu, the gentle and polite Liu Ming'an had left a deeper impression. Back then, Jiang Ning had set up her stall next to him, only showing warmth and a gentle smile when looking at Liu Ming'an, while remaining cold and distant to others, not easy to approach. Lan Xu hadn't spoken much with her, mostly chatting with Liu Ming'an instead.
Jiang Ning smiled faintly and answered earnestly, "He's in the Capital City preparing for the examination. I came alone."
"Oh? You two are so close, I'm surprised you'd be willing to part. It must be for something very important," Lan Xu remarked with a sigh.
Jiang Ning nodded, "It's a very important matter. I had no choice but to come."
Lan Xu smiled, about to say something when an elderly person carrying a child approached the stall. They glanced down at the light yellow cakes in the steamer and said, "I'll take one."
Jiang Ning stepped aside to avoid blocking her business.
Lan Xu deftly wrapped a cake in oiled paper and handed it to the child in the elder's arms with a smile. "Here you go, little one. Hold it carefully."
The child started eating immediately. The elder smiled fondly at the child, took out ten copper coins from their pocket, placed them on the table, and walked away carrying the child.
Lan Xu said her usual "Take care," put the money in her pouch, and looked up to chat with Jiang Ning, only to find her staring absently at the steamer of osmanthus cakes on the table.
"Miss Jiang? Are you hungry?"
Lan Xu asked with a smile, picking up an osmanthus cake, wrapping it in paper, and placing it in Jiang Ning's hand.
Jiang Ning looked at the cake in her hand and asked, "How many can you sell in a day?"
Lan Xu, treating it as idle chat, casually answered, "Ah, it's not like during the New Year anymore. I make about fifty cakes a day now. On a lucky day, I can sell them all. On a bad day, I might have ten or more left, which I give to people around here. Fortunately, after the Lantern Festival, the table fee at Universal Blessing Temple dropped to fifty wen."
Jiang Ning made a sound of acknowledgment and took a bite of the wrapped cake.
The osmanthus cake was soft and delicate, with the unique fragrance of osmanthus. It wasn't very sweet, but just right for Jiang Ning's taste.
Jiang Ning was calculating.
Selling fifty cakes a day at most, ten wen per cake, after deducting the stall fee and costs, and considering that the coastal area had frequent rain preventing business, earning five taels of silver a month would be the limit.
However, Qushui City had high living costs. Even with frugal daily expenses, it was still a significant outlay. How could Lan Xu save any money this way?
Moreover, she had dedicated a longevity tablet and lit a longevity lamp for her, which cost one tael of silver every month.
Lan Xu waited for Jiang Ning to finish eating before asking, "Miss Jiang, are you here at Universal Blessing Temple on business? You should go attend to it, don't let me delay you."
Jiang Ning glanced at the osmanthus cakes in the steamer. It was still early, and Lan Xu had only sold a few cakes. It would probably take until the afternoon to sell out. Besides, this place was crowded and not suitable for a reunion.
"I don't have any business," Jiang Ning shook her head and continued, "I'll just stand here for a while. I won't affect your business, will I?"
"No, you won't," Lan Xu shook her head with a smile, but she found it a bit strange.
Jiang Ning had just told her she had very important business, but now she said she had nothing to do. Her words contradicted each other.
And for some reason, she felt that Jiang Ning seemed much gentler than before, no longer giving off that aloof air that kept people at a distance.
Occasionally, when Lan Xu glanced at Jiang Ning, she even caught a hint of docility in her demeanor.
Jiang Ning stood beside the table, watching Lan Xu busy at work, rehearsing in her mind how to reveal the truth.
Ah...
No matter how Jiang Ning thought about it, imagining herself sighing and lamenting, she still felt that no opening would be good enough.
She truly had no experience in this. If only she had thought to ask Nangong Muyan before coming.
Lan Xu had truly believed Jiang Ning would only stand there for a while, but as noon approached, Jiang Ning still hadn't left.
Lan Xu felt increasingly perplexed.
But business was exceptionally good today. Perhaps it was because Jiang Ning stood nearby. She was beautiful, and passersby couldn't help but glance at her a few times, drawing attention to the small stall. Usually, at this time, half of the osmanthus cakes would still be left, but today they were almost sold out.
Another half hour passed, and Lan Xu sold the last osmanthus cake. She turned back to see Jiang Ning still standing motionless in the same spot, her eyes downcast, lost in thought.
"Miss Jiang, it must be thanks to your blessing that the cakes sold so quickly today!"
There was a hint of cheerfulness in Lan Xu's voice. Without waiting for Jiang Ning's response, she put the steamer and oiled paper on a small stool on the ground as usual, hung the money pouch on herself, and was about to pick up the Universal Blessing Temple's table to return it.
"Let me! Wait here for a moment, I have something to tell you."
Jiang Ning took over the task, effortlessly carrying the table to the side entrance of Universal Blessing Temple and returning it to the monk there.
When she returned to the side street, Lan Xu was waiting, holding the steamer in her arms with the small stool hanging from her elbow.
"Thank you, Miss Jiang," Lan Xu first thanked Jiang Ning for helping with the table, then asked, "What did you want to tell me?"
Jiang Ning reached out again, taking the steamer from Lan Xu's arms before saying, "It's not convenient to talk here. Can we go to your home?"
Lan Xu was taken aback. This was too unusual. They were almost strangers, having only exchanged greetings a few times. What could they possibly have to discuss?
"I really have something very, very important to tell you. Can you take me to your home, please?"
Jiang Ning saw the wariness in Lan Xu's eyes clearly, and her own gaze unconsciously took on a pleading look.
Faced with such a gaze, Lan Xu's heart suddenly softened, and she nodded.
