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Shen Lantang strolled along the street, searching for pleasing trinkets on either side. She wondered whether they had any mung bean cakes she liked. The ones from that shop in Zhaojing were crisp without falling apart and sweet without being cloying, and had always been her favorite.

She did not find a pastry shop, but she did spot a small bookshop. Shen Lantang went in and savored the familiar fragrance of ink and paper for a while. She did not buy anything and left again—books were so expensive! She was not rich enough to afford them right now!!

Outside the bookshop, a hawker selling candied fruit was calling out along the street. It was currently the season when wild fruits ripened, and Shen Lantang was greedy for a taste, so she bought a skewer.

She had paid and was about to leave when she noticed a small stall selling hair ornaments beside her. The stall owner glanced at her several times before suddenly calling out:

"Madam, madam."

Shen Lantang looked around a few times and pointed at herself. "Are you calling me?"

"Yes, this madam. Is that Buyao Hairpin of yours something you just received a few days ago?"

"How did you know?"

The hawker laughed. "Because you bought it from me. Your husband bought it as a gift for you, didn't he? I remember your husband very clearly. It's rare to see such a handsome young man in this county. You and your husband must come from a pretty well-off family, right?"

Shen Lantang said, "Yes. We only ended up here because we ran into trouble on the road."

"You can tell at a glance. Neither you nor your husband looks like someone from an ordinary family. This Buyao Hairpin of mine cost thirty-five copper coins, but your husband