The next day at noon.
Xiao Mo was in the kitchen, teaching Jiang Xin how to make fish porridge.
Catfish had relatively few bones, especially the belly, which was just right for making fish porridge.
Once he sprinkled on some chopped scallions, the aroma wafted straight toward them.
He used the rest of the catfish for stir-frying, adding a few wild chilies and some shredded ginger. It tasted delicious.
When Jiang Xin put a mouthful of fish into her mouth, her eyes immediately lit up, and she ate a little faster than usual.
"I'm going into the city to have a look. You can wait here in the courtyard."
After lunch, Xiao Mo spoke to Jiang Xin. He planned to ask around the city for news of A Zi and, while he was at it, exchange some gold for silver.
But just as Xiao Mo turned to leave, Jiang Xin reached out and gently tugged at his sleeve. "C-can I go with you?"
Looking at Jiang Xin's delicate, doll-like face, Xiao Mo furrowed his brow. "It might not be a good idea for you to come with me. You'll attract too much attention."
Jiang Xin's skin was fair and smooth, her features delicate. She was clearly a beauty in the making. In this cutthroat Western Regions, she could easily draw the wrong kind of attention.
"It's all right. I have a way." Jiang Xin hurried into the kitchen.
When she came back out, she had smeared her little face black, just as she had the first time they met.
"That should do it," Jiang Xin said confidently. "Mother and Sister Zi used to tell me that I was too pretty, so whenever I went out, I had to blacken my face and pretend to be a boy. Otherwise, I could