The dock was bustling with people, much livelier than yesterday.
Meeting the gazes along the way, Zhu Changle found Granny Liang in the same spot as before, with that man from yesterday also present.
"Granny, is it crab again today? Do you have any special fish?"
Granny Liang and the man both shrank back, trembling hands raising yesterday's silver fragment above their heads. "Young miss, please spare us!"
Zhu Changle's face immediately fell. She crouched beside the old woman and said in a friendly manner, "Granny, look at me. I'm not a bad person. Paying for things you buy is a universal principle. If I dared to be a robber, my father would punish me."
Granny Liang didn't dare believe her, bowing even lower with her head drooping further.
When Zhu Changle swaggered about outside, she always used her master's name. This was her first time walking around as an official's daughter. She knew commoners feared officials, but not to this extent. Just being a county magistrate's daughter made people so afraid they wanted to return money for goods already purchased.
Her master's name was more useful, Zhu Changle thought. She could still fight as usual, and though others might hesitate to hit her, she could fight to her heart's content.
Unlike now, where she hadn't done anything yet people were treating her like an ancestor to be worshipped. Yet this wasn't something she could just brush off with a few words.
Zhu Changle stood up and looked at the crabs in the basket. They were bigger and more numerous than yesterday, filling the entire basket.
"I'll take the crabs, and deduct the cost from that silver."
Qiuli instinctively stepped forward, using a handkerchief to grip the rope on the basket and lift it. Zhu Changle thought for a moment but refrained from reminding him that the handkerchief was worth far more than the basket of crabs.
What began as an exciting outing ended in disappointment. On the way back, Zhu Changle sighed the whole time. She had planned to act like an overbearing official's daughter, but before she could even figure out how to be overbearing, people were already this scared. It left her feeling unfulfilled and frustrated. Couldn't she at least get a taste of what it's like to be an overbearing official's daughter?
Qiuli walked leisurely beside her, watching her varied expressions the whole way. Though he didn't say a word, he found it quite lively.
"I'm going out for a while," Qiuli said, putting down the basket and tossing the handkerchief with it.
Zhu Changle's eyes lit up. "Can I come?"
"No."
"Oh." Zhu Changle pouted.
Qiuli considered for a moment but didn't change his mind. He only said, "Save me a few crabs."
"No way, I'm eating them all. Hmph!" Zhu Changle tossed her long hair and ran off. He wouldn't take her along to play; Qiuli was such a bad friend.
She ran all the way to her mother's room, burrowing into her embrace and rolling around affectionately. Lady Zhang gestured for Lady Li to go about her business, patting Zhu Changle's back while laughing, "Do you think you're still three years old? You're over thirteen now!"
"Even at thirty, I'll still be your daughter," Zhu Changle said matter-of-factly, looking up at her mother. Flattery came easily to her lips, "How is my mother so beautiful?"
"Well, I am Changle's mother after all. If I weren't beautiful, wouldn't you dislike me?"
"That's true. Only beautiful people can be my mother."
Lady Zhang laughed heartily, helping her sit up and straightening her clothes before leaning in to sniff. "You went to the dock again?"
"Yes, and we'll have crab for lunch. We'll probably be eating this for a while."
"One wouldn't tire of eating this even after several meals." Lady Zhang looked her daughter over. "Something on your mind?"
Zhu Changle leaned in closer, and Lady Zhang, thinking she was about to say something, also leaned in.
"What does it feel like to have something on your mind?"
Lady Zhang promptly gave her a light smack. "Like this."
"Mother, that's not very ladylike of you." Zhu Changle shamelessly hugged her mother, arms and all, in a way that prevented further smacks. Hehe.
Lady Zhang saw through her little trick and moved to smack her bottom, but Zhu Changle stuck out her rear to dodge.
Try again! I'll dodge! Again! I'll dodge again!
Lady Zhang glanced at her, no longer aiming downward. She raised her hand swiftly, as if well-practiced, and pinched a bit of flesh on her arm, twisting it. Zhu Changle yelped in pain, letting go to rub her arm and pretending to cry pitifully, "Mother, how cruel of you."
"Your skin is thick and your flesh is tough. If I don't use some force, you won't feel it."
"Mother knows me best, hehe." Zhu Changle immediately stopped her thunderous but rainless crying, spotting some salted beans on the table and eating a few.
Salted beans were made differently in various places. Yunbei's weren't particularly special; they were simply boiled, sprinkled with salt, and dried. Those who liked a chewy texture could keep them longer before eating, while those with weaker teeth could eat them when half-dried. She had eaten this kind elsewhere, but Yunbei's truly tasted better.
"Mother, where did you buy these salted beans?"
"We didn't buy them. Lady Luo visited us shortly after we arrived and brought us some food and daily necessities. These were among the items she brought."
Zhu Changle sat up straight. "Lady Luo? The County Deputy Magistrate's wife?"
"Yes, that's her." Lady Zhang noticed her odd expression and glanced at the beans anxiously. "Is there something wrong with these beans?"
"The beans are fine," Zhu Changle reassured her mother, half-truthfully explaining, "Before Father arrived, the County Deputy Magistrate was acting as the interim leader. I was just thinking about it a bit more."
Lady Zhang was not an ignorant woman confined to the inner chambers. After marrying into the Zhu family and weathering so many years of ups and downs, she had learned to read between the lines. She understood her daughter's meaning and nodded, "It's good to think more about it. For now, I don't plan to associate too closely with Lady Luo."
"Mother, you're so wise."
Lady Zhang tapped her forehead. "What else do you want to ask?"
"Salt. Where does the salt we use at home come from?"
"We're still using what we brought from home. Changwang specifically reminded me to bring extra, just in case."
Zhu Changle pondered for a moment. "Mother, please have Lady Li buy some salt. Buy all kinds available, regardless of quality."
Lady Zhang agreed without question.
"Are household items being delivered or do we buy them ourselves?"
"For now, we're buying them ourselves. Being unfamiliar with this place, it's hard to find reliable people for deliveries at the moment."
"Then please have our shoppers pay attention to local conditions. If they notice any special people or events, have them make note of it and tell me. Also, ask them to set aside the things they buy without touching them. I want to take a look."
Lady Zhang agreed to everything, feeling immensely proud as she watched her daughter strategize. She even had fleeting thoughts of raising any future granddaughters like Changle, even if Master Zhong no longer took disciples. By then, Changle should be able to take disciples herself.
"Oh, right! Grain! Mother, where does our grain come from?"
"Lady Luo sent that along as well."
Zhu Changle smacked her forehead and ran to the door, calling out, "Lady Li! Lady Li!"
Lady Li hurried over, smiling from afar. "What can I do for you, Fourth Young Miss?"
Zhu Changle beckoned her over, and when she was close, pulled her into the room and instructed in a low voice, "Take a few people to go shopping. Buy everything we need for the household, but pay special attention to salt and grain. Buy some of every grade and variety available, no matter what."
"Understood."
