As they walked outside chatting and laughing, Madam Yang suddenly stumbled and nearly fell with an “Oh my,” but fortunately Madam Ning was quick to catch her.
“What was that?” Madam Yang called out, looking down.
She saw a red rope quickly pulled behind a large potted plant, and from behind the plant, a person ran away quickly.
Running so fast, turning a corner and disappearing in just a few steps. Madam Yang only had time to see the back of a seven or eight-year-old girl.
“Qiao-jie!” Madam Ning frowned and called out. “Where are the people watching Qiao-jie?”
Her maid hurried off to look.
“I’m so sorry,” Madam Ning quickly apologized to Madam Yang. “This child… this child is truly unruly…”
Qiao-jie was Wang Qian’s daughter. Since her mother died, she had been raised by Madam Ning. Despite Madam Ning’s gentle nature, this granddaughter she raised was completely opposite to her.
“It’s fine, it’s fine. Children being mischievous is good…” Madam Yang quickly laughed.
“It’s not so good for girls to be mischievous,” Madam Ning sighed. “I don’t know whose temperament she takes after.”
“Certainly not yours, Madam,” Madam Yang said, pulling her hand and smiling.
Madam Ning smiled, personally escorted her to the carriage while holding her hand, and ordered servants to prepare generous gifts.
Regarding what Madam Yang had discussed, Qi Yue felt it was Wang Tongye wanting to help her. For an old man like Wang Tongye, helping a woman naturally meant giving her a home. What deep affection indeed came from their fight!
Qi Yue smiled, not sure what to feel, so she dismissed the thought and after seeing off Madam Yang, went about her business.
This day, because there was a patient with a broken leg from yesterday, Qi Yue hurried to relieve Liu Pucheng before dawn.
There were few pedestrians on the street, with only occasional people pushing carts across the empty street, leaving a trail of creaking sounds.
Qi Yue walked at a leisurely pace with A’Ru.
“There’s a feeling of walking in an ancient Jiangnan town,” she said to A’Ru, then laughed at herself.
Of course—she was in an ancient town, a genuine ancient town!
“Eh?” Qi Yue stopped and looked toward a small tea stall by the river.
A small, simple tea stall where a thin old woman was busily working. Steam from the stove mixed with the undispersed morning mist.
There was only one customer in the tea stall, sitting with his back to the road facing the river, eating something.
Granny Wang noticed someone approaching and looked up to see a pretty young woman, feeling somewhat nervous. After all, sitting in her tea stall was someone everyone avoided. Of course, she wasn’t concerned about losing the young woman’s business, but rather that the poor child would feel more guilty and stop coming to eat at her stall.
Before she could finish speaking, she saw the young woman make a shushing gesture and smile slightly.
This smile made Granny Wang feel as if everything brightened before her, as if the morning mist instantly cleared.
Before she could react, she saw the young woman walk past her toward the tea stall and call out “Hey” to Coffin Boy, who was eating.
Both Granny Wang and Coffin Boy were startled.
“Little Coffin, long time no see,” Qi Yue smiled as she sat down beside him.
Coffin Boy was startled and stood up.
“You… how are you here?” he asked.
“Morning exercise, and catching an early shift,” Qi Yue smiled while looking at Coffin Boy’s plate and bowl. “What are you eating? What breakfast is available here? A’Ru and I haven’t eaten yet.”
Coffin Boy’s expression was complex.
A’Ru had already gone to ask Granny Wang and ordered two bowls of tea soup and two vegetable pancakes.
“You… don’t eat here,” Coffin Boy said quietly.
“Why not?” Qi Yue looked at him in confusion.
Because I’m unlucky, you should stay away from me…
Coffin Boy said nothing.
“By the way, did Hu San give you the money for assisting with surgery last time?” Qi Yue asked, watching Granny Wang carefully bring over the tea soup. She happily took chopsticks from the table holder. “It smells so good.”
Granny Wang looked at her.
“As long as the young lady doesn’t mind,” she said, unable to help glancing at Coffin Boy. “This is the first time I’ve seen Little Coffin meet an acquaintance…”
Acquaintance—everyone in Yongqing Prefecture is my acquaintance, but no one meets with him…
Except this woman…
Coffin Boy couldn’t describe what he felt.
“Little Coffin, you should treat us,” Granny Wang added, then hurried away.
Qi Yue smiled.
“Right, you should treat us,” she smiled as she picked up a vegetable pancake and began eating.
A’Ru also sat down and began eating.
Coffin Boy stood there. Qi Yue didn’t speak, acting as if she didn’t notice he was standing. After a moment, he sat down too.
“Hu San gave me the money,” he said.
Qi Yue made an “mm” sound.