Lan Yan looked at Old Hu again and patted her chest, assuring him, "Don't worry, Old Hu. I'll deliver it first thing tomorrow. Today's portion is no longer enough."
Her business was too good.
Old Hu nodded. "Girl, this old man misses your cooking. When you come tomorrow, could you cook a meal for me? Of course, I'll pay extra."
He was simply craving her food.
With such a large order, Lan Yan naturally wouldn't refuse. "Alright, Old Hu."
Old Hu's face broke into a childlike smile, and he left contentedly. "Then this old man will await your arrival tomorrow."
As he turned, he glanced at Jun Yelán, thinking what a fortunate person he was.
Lan Yan smiled. "I need to hurry and prepare the ingredients. I can sell so much in one go." The smile on her lips couldn't be contained; she was one step closer to her goal.
Seeing this, Jun Yelán's eyes also lifted, and he felt an unconscious sense of joy. He looked at Lan Yan's dazzling eyes, recalling the glance she had given him earlier.
She was sharing her happiness with him.
Lan Yan didn't notice Jun Yelán's change. After selling the remaining portions, she said with a smile, "Let's go to the market."
Jun Yelán came back to his senses and helped pack things up.
The two drove the donkey cart to the market. They first bought flour and rice, then some meat and bones, finally stocking up enough ingredients.
The market also sold ceramics, fabrics, and jewelry.
Lan Yan stopped at a jewelry stall, looking at the various hair ties and hairpins on display.
The shopkeeper called out, "What does this young lady want? My shop has everything." Seeing Jun Yelán behind Lan Yan, she assumed they were a loving couple due to their closeness.
"This young gentleman, would you like to help this lady choose? I see you are so close, it would be good to help her pick something."
Lan Yan hadn't realized their closeness herself. She turned to look at Jun Yelán, wondering if he would be unhappy hearing this, given how much he disliked her before.
She said, "Shopkeeper, I can do it myself."
However, Jun Yelán casually picked up a red hair tie from the table and held it against her head, saying, "This suits you very well." His eyes were deep; having heard Lan Yan's answer, he felt compelled to do so.
Lan Yan was slightly stunned. Jun Yelán's sleeve brushed past her cheek, and his hand lingered on her hair. She glanced in the mirror; they truly looked like a couple now, and a smile curved her lips.
"Alright, since my husband chose it, I like it," she said, leaning forward slightly, her bright eyes reflecting in Jun Yelán's.
Jun Yelán felt his heart pounding violently, more than double its usual pace. He took out copper coins and handed them to the shopkeeper, then tied the red string onto Lan Yan's hair.
The red string circled Lan Yan's maiden bun on top of her head, hanging down to the back of her neck. He then noticed how much fairer Lan Yan had become recently, and how much prettier she looked, his gaze flitting away shyly.
Seeing Jun Yelán fall silent again and avoid her gaze, Lan Yan found it strange. Was it because she looked ugly with it on? She looked in the mirror and thought it looked quite good.
"Thank you, shopkeeper." She walked towards the donkey cart.
Jun Yelán walked beside her, driving the donkey cart, trying to focus his attention.
Lan Yan sat in the cart, counting the items she had bought. Feeling a little tired, she leaned against the basket and dozed off.
A breeze blew the curtain aside, and Jun Yelán, catching sight of Lan Yan's sleeping face from the corner of his eye, slowed his movements. He had previously thought that since Lan Yan had changed, his own life was not so unbearable, and he had planned to leave after repaying his debt of gratitude.
But now he found himself constantly drawn to Lan Yan. It must be that he wasn't used to Lan Yan's changes, nothing more.
He convinced himself of this, and when he looked at Lan Yan again, that faint smile would reappear on his lips. He quickly turned his head, looking at the road ahead, telling himself to stop thinking about it.
The donkey cart moved slowly. Lan Yan slept soundly, not waking even when they reached the courtyard of their home.
Jun Yelán lifted the curtain. As he drew closer, seeing the dark circles under Lan Yan's eyes, he felt a pang in his heart. He scooped Lan Yan up in his arms, quietly alighted from the cart, and laid her on the bed in the room.
Then, he unloaded all the goods. Afterwards, he went to the kitchen and prepared a meal of three dishes and one soup.
Lan Chuo had just returned from the mountain. He placed the prey he was carrying in a corner and, not seeing Lan Yan, asked, "Has my sister not returned yet?"
"She's sleeping," Jun Yelán replied in a low voice. He picked up some dishes and placed them in a bowl for Lan Yan.
Lan Chuo sighed. "My sister has been working too hard lately. We must help her even more." As he ate, he decided to hunt more prey tomorrow to nourish Lan Yan.
"Mhm," Jun Yelán nodded. He thought of Lan Yan having to wake up before dawn, knowing her body couldn't withstand it. He clenched his fist and looked at the flour in the kitchen.
Lan Yan woke up when it was already dark. Her stomach rumbled. Looking at the ground, she didn't see Jun Yelán but heard sounds from the kitchen.
She put on her shoes and walked to the kitchen door, seeing Jun Yelán kneading dough alone. "Jun Yelán."
Jun Yelán turned around, his arms and face covered in flour, like a little calico cat.
Lan Yan couldn't help but laugh and walked over, saying, "This dough is kneaded well." She patted Jun Yelán's shoulder as if in encouragement, but a smile was held back on her lips.
"I'll warm your food for you." Jun Yelán, not knowing why Lan Yan was laughing, washed his hands and served the food onto the table.
Lan Yan sat at the table, smelling the aroma. It was indeed Jun Yelán's style. She looked at the dish that was half-burnt and felt awkward under Jun Yelán's gaze, smiling and saying, "I'll eat it. You continue kneading."
She lowered her head and ate it with tears almost welling up. Jun Yelán was good in every way, except his cooking skills were truly not to be praised.
Seeing Lan Yan's head almost buried in the bowl, Jun Yelán thought that normally Lan Yan would talk intermittently while eating. Why was he thinking of Lan Yan again? He lowered his head and looked at the dough in his hands; it was not taking shape.
His eyes darkened, and he continued to knead.
After Lan Yan finished eating, she returned to her room and ate some pastries, which made her feel much better. She sat on the edge of the bed and realized that Jun Yelán had also changed recently. He did many things for her, and he probably didn't dislike her anymore.
She decided to continue working hard to find the cause of Jun Yelán's inner turmoil. Thinking of this, she lay down and fell asleep again.
Jun Yelán came in, tucked the blanket that had fallen to the foot of the bed around Lan Yan, and then lay down on the floor, closing his eyes.
The next morning, Lan Yan made a hundred portions. She delivered fifty to Old Hu and sold the other half. She went to the spot where she had set up her stall yesterday. The quantity was smaller today, and it sold out instantly.
Some customers who couldn't buy any asked her to keep more for tomorrow.
She smiled, took the prepared pastry gift boxes, and headed to the address Old Hu had given her. Old Hu's house was a courtyard with four entrances. Someone was already waiting at the door to receive her. After handing the items to the servant there, she asked, "May I know where the kitchen is in your residence?"
The servant led the way, having already been informed of Old Hu's instructions.
Lan Yan then looked around, taking in the courtyard properly. She turned her head and saw Jun Yelán looking towards the outside of the courtyard wall, where it seemed to be a school.