Chapter 31 - 1#

Setting Up the Stall; News of the Empress’s Appointment Arrives#

The New Year was approaching.

Although Shiyan Town was small, it was filled with a festive atmosphere.

This morning, before dawn, wisps of cooking smoke rose in Sweetwater Alley, wafting out bursts of sweet fragrance.

As usual, Yanzhi drove the donkey cart to the entrance of Chu Yu’s house, and then together with Chu Yu, loaded the freshly steamed brown sugar cakes onto the cart.

Chu Yu held the cart, escorting Yanzhi to the alley entrance, and cautioned him uneasily, “Be careful on your own. If those ruffians and loafers come again, find Uncle Liu nearby who sells pork to help you, understood?”

Just a few days ago, Yanzhi had gone out to set up the stall alone. Because he was a new face and looked soft and gentle, he was targeted by several idle ruffians in town.

The ruffians took the cakes and left without paying, wanting to eat for free.

Yanzhi went to reason with them but was surrounded and toyed with, nearly being pushed down.

Fortunately, Auntie Yang, the broker who had introduced him to the house, happened to pass by, and Chu Yu also arrived to save him.

“Mhm, mhm.” Yanzhi nodded vigorously. “Don’t worry.”

Chu Yu looked up at him, and seeing his naive appearance, couldn’t help but sigh, “Sigh—”

“If it really comes down to it, if they want to eat for free, just let them. Anyway, this stuff is filling; even if they eat their fill, they can’t eat much.”

“How can that be?” Yanzhi said seriously. “We worked so hard to buy the sugar and flour, getting up early every day to make these diligently. We can’t let them eat for free!”

Chu Yu pursed his lips and looked at him. “Then if you get pushed down and need medicine, wouldn’t you spend even more money?”

“Don’t worry, I won’t let them bully me again!” Yanzhi raised his head confidently. “Last night at home, I practiced scolding people against the wall!”

“You? Practiced scolding people?” Chu Yu didn’t hide his skeptical gaze. “I was wondering why, while I was sleeping soundly last night, I suddenly heard rustling sounds like a little mouse. I thought I’d run into a ghost; turns out it was you, you little brat.”

“I’m not a little brat! And, I have one last trump card—”

“What?”

Yanzhi shouted toward the alley: “Sugar Cake!”

In the next instant, a black shadow darted out with a “whoosh.”

Chu Yu was startled and hurriedly lifted his feet to avoid it.

Sugar Cake (the puppy) ran past him and went straight to Yanzhi’s feet, circling around him twice.

Sugar Cake had arrived!

Yanzhi was full of confidence: “Last time was because I was alone at the stall, so they dared to bully me. This time I’m bringing Sugar Cake; they definitely won’t even dare to come close.”

“Oh boy—” Chu Yu clutched his chest, seemingly quite spooked. “This dog is growing way too fast. I remember when I first saw it, it wasn’t this big, was it?”

“It has to grow big to scare off ruffians.” Yanzhi smiled. “And it eats quite a lot.”

Sugar Cake probably knew they were talking about him, but didn’t know what they were saying, only wagging his tail and continuing to circle around Yanzhi.

Since Yanzhi and Chu Yu had partnered up in business, Yanzhi was always leaving early and returning late, leaving Sugar Cake alone at home to guard the door.

It was rare for him to be able to go out with Yanzhi, so Sugar Cake was naturally happy.

“Fine then.” Chu Yu nodded. “You should still be careful. I’ll head over to find you at noon.”

“Okay!”

Chu Yu stopped, and Yanzhi pulled the reins of the little donkey, took two quick steps, and jumped onto the cart to sit firmly.

Yanzhi took out a whip made of willow branches, lightly tapped Peanut Cake’s (the donkey) rump, and turned back to wave vigorously at Chu Yu: “See you at noon!”

“Yeah, bye…” Chu Yu cleared his throat and corrected himself, “See you later.”

At this time, the sky was not yet fully bright.

The moon in the west was slowly setting, but the sun in the east had not yet risen.

Shiyan Town usually didn’t see snow, but it did see frost.

Upon waking up, the roof tiles above and the vegetation by the roadside were all covered with a layer of misty white frost.

Sugar Cake led the way in front, and Yanzhi drove the cart pulled by Peanut Cake, following behind.

A fine cold wind carrying damp moisture brushed over the frost and blew into his face.

Yanzhi couldn’t help but shiver, clasped his hands together, and blew a breath of air.

So cold!

Sugar Cake braved the wind, walking at the very front with his head held high, appearing not cold at all.

Yanzhi thought it must be because the dog had a lot of fur, while he had none on his body, which was why he was cold.

Once he earned money today, he definitely had to go to the tailor shop to make a hat, also a fluffy one.

Yanzhi thought about things as he drove the cart.

Before long, they arrived at the market entrance.

The market was managed by the government; there were storefronts inside, and there were also places for people to set up stalls outside.

As soon as Yanzhi drove Peanut Cake in, several stallholders who had arrived earlier greeted him with smiles.

“The Little Swallow (Yan-zi) has flown here? Didn’t stay in bed today?”

“I’m here! I never stay in bed!”

Yanzhi wasn’t angry either, talking to them with a beaming smile while unloading the steamers from the cart, then tying Peanut Cake and Sugar Cake under a nearby tree to prevent them from running around.

On his first day at the stall, Chu Yu had brought him over and introduced him to the people in the market.

Combined with Yanzhi’s own soft nature, he quickly became familiar with them.

Once Yanzhi had arranged everything, the old grandfather selling vegetables next door called out to him, “A-Yan, give me a piece of sugar cake.”

Having been in Shiyan for many days, Yanzhi finally had his own southern nickname.

“Coming.”

Yanzhi responded, and Sugar Cake under the tree also let out an “awoo” cry.

“He’s not calling you, he’s calling me!”

Hmm… he always felt that sounded a bit strange.

Yanzhi took out a bamboo tube filled with water, washed his hands meticulously, then picked up oil paper, wrapped a piece of sugar cake, and brought it to the old man: “Here, be careful, it’s hot.”

Sugar cakes weren’t expensive; Chu Yu had set the price at three copper coins for one, and five copper coins for two.

The stallholders selling things here, upon smelling the fragrance, couldn’t help but buy a piece to taste.

Yanzhi first delivered them to the surrounding circle, selling off one steamer, and then began his hawking.

“Brown sugar cakes! Delicious brown sugar cakes! Fragrant and sweet brown sugar cakes!”

Every time he shouted, Sugar Cake behind him followed with an “awoo,” which was quite a charming match.

Before long, the sun rose, melting the white frost on the tiles.

Just then, there were no customers, so Yanzhi sat on a small stool, chatting and laughing with the neighboring stallholder.

“Yes, my puppy is also called ‘Sugar Cake’. He is a black sugar cake, and I sell red sugar cakes.”

“I was wondering why, whenever you shout, your dog also shouts.”

“When someone comes to buy cake from you later, don’t sell the wrong one.”

“Of course not, I won’t sell him…”

As they were talking, the street suddenly fell silent for a moment.

Yanzhi looked up and saw a ruffian in his thirties, wearing slovenly clothes, walking over in a swaggering manner.

This person had no proper work; besides eating and sleeping every day, he just wandered around to take advantage of others.

As the saying goes, the barefooted don’t fear those with shoes; the people in the market had families to support and didn’t want to argue with him. They either deliberately avoided him or protected their goods.

Yanzhi also hurriedly put the steamer lid on.

But in the next instant, a hand blocked the lid.

“Little worker, why cover it up? I’m buying cake.”

Yanzhi plucked up his courage and reached out his hand: “Money.”

“No money.” The ruffian wiped his hands on his clothes. “I know Chu Yu; go back and tell him…”

“No!” Yanzhi looked serious. “Chu Yu and I are partners. This is also my cake. You can’t eat if you have no money.”

He pulled out his willow branch whip and held it high.

The ruffian instinctively withdrew his hand, and Yanzhi took the opportunity to cover the steamer and move the sugar cakes aside.

The ruffian realized he had been fooled and raised his fist: “You’re looking for death…”

Before he could finish, Yanzhi ran away quickly to the tree and untied the rope holding Sugar Cake.

“Sugar Cake! Go!”

“Woof!”

At Yanzhi’s command, Sugar Cake opened his mouth wide, leaped forward, and flew straight out.

Before the ruffian could even see clearly, Sugar Cake pounced on him.

“Ah! Ah—”

The ruffian stumbled and fell directly to the ground, instinctively reaching out to push.

A bottomless, bloody mouth, still dripping with saliva, was aimed at his head.

“Get away! Get away!”

What was this thing?!

The little worker selling sugar cakes was small himself, but he raised a dog with such a huge head?

Was this right?

The ruffian retreated repeatedly, scrambled up, and ran away.

Yanzhi pulled back Sugar Cake, who wanted to chase further, and said loudly, “If you dare come here again to eat and drink for free, I’ll let the dog bite you to death!”

The ruffian didn’t respond, just disappeared in a flash.

Yanzhi clapped his hands and turned back, meeting the grateful and admiring faces of the stallholders.

He raised his head as if he had won a battle and, under their gazes, swaggered back to his stall.

After he sat down, everyone snapped out of it and hurriedly spoke up.

“Little Yan, I’ll buy another piece of sugar cake; here’s the money.”

“Take these bok choy for yourself to eat at home.”

“Truly amazing; we hadn’t even reacted before you drove him away.”

Yanzhi held his head high, filled with pride: “No need to thank me too much, it was just a small effort.”

Fortunately, he had been practicing at home these few days, which was why he could react so quickly.

He felt himself to be incredibly formidable now!

Loafers and ruffians? Bullies and bad guys? Yanzhi wasn’t afraid of any of them!

If one came, he’d bite one; if two came, he’d bite a pair…

Of course, it was Sugar Cake who would do the biting.

The grandfather selling vegetables next door gave him a bundle of bok choy, the lady selling tofu opposite gave him two pieces of tofu, and the old woman selling fruit outside gave him two oranges picked from the mountain.

Even Sugar Cake received a large bone from the butcher’s stall.

They were almost submerged by the things people gave them.

Yanzhi sat on his small stool, peeled an orange, and stuffed a segment into his mouth.

Hmm…

A bit sour; Yanzhi couldn’t help but wrinkle his small face.

But since it was the old woman’s kind intention, he tilted his head back, closed his eyes, and struggled to swallow it.

—“Yanzhi! Watch out!”

The originally peaceful street suddenly became noisy, and someone shouted.

As soon as Yanzhi opened his eyes, he saw the steamers stacked high in front of him falling toward him.

He didn’t have time to lift his hand to block them; fortunately, the old man nearby rushed forward and caught the steamers, so they didn’t hit him.

“Little Yan, are you okay?”

“I’m fine… I’m fine!”

Yanzhi came to his senses, hurriedly stood up, helped the old man set the steamers back up, and then helped the old man to the side.

“Are you okay, old sir?”

“I’m fine.”

“Please sit down first.”

Yanzhi had a good guess about what was happening and plucked up his courage to look up.

In front of his stall stood three or four ruffians, including the one he had driven away earlier.

They were clearly a group; one went back to report, and the whole bunch came for revenge.

“This one?”

“This one!”

The ruffians were numerous and powerful, but the people setting up stalls with Yanzhi, old and young, men and women, all stood up as well.