Jiang Nannan's Careful Calculations

Chapter 27

Outside Heaven Dou City, a caravan had stopped by the roadside. It was not a large caravan, with only four carriages in total.

"Mom, don't overthink it. Once we enter Heaven Dou City, we'll focus on getting you treated."

After gently soothing her mother's emotions, the orange-haired girl wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes. Clutching several Silver Soul Coins, she slowly walked to the carriage Huo Yuhao was riding in and found the Old Man in charge.

"Old Man, this is the fare from the previous city to Heaven Dou City. Please accept it."

"Nannan, what are you doing? When we traveled through the mountains, you even helped us drive off several Hundred-Year Soul Beasts. If anything, we should be paying you for escorting us."

A simple, honest smile spread across the Old Man's face as he pulled a Gold Soul Coin from his money pouch.

"I never expected Nannan to have the cultivation of a Soul Elder at such a young age. As expected of a student from Shrek Academy. Being able to give you and your mother a ride is a blessing for this old man."

The Old Man seemed to want Jiang Nannan to accept the payment without hesitation, and he added cheerfully, "These days, hiring even an ordinary Soul Grandmaster costs seven or eight Silver Soul Coins."

"Take this Gold Soul Coin. Your mother is seriously ill, and this is exactly when you need money."

Jiang Nannan looked at the Gold Soul Coin the Old Man offered her. Her lips moved slightly, and after hesitating for a moment, she accepted it.

"Thank you, Old Man."

As Jiang Nannan took the Gold Soul Coin, she seemed to sense a fairly strong aura of Soul Power. Her orange eyes, as clear as a pool of water, glanced at Huo Yuhao.

Huo Yuhao smiled in greeting.

Jiang Nannan gave a slight nod, calmly withdrew her gaze, and walked back to the rear carriage to stay by her mother's side.

Huo Yuhao was somewhat surprised as well. He had not expected his first encounter with Jiang Nannan, known in the Original Work as the number one beauty of the Outer Court, to happen like this—on the front and rear carriages of the same caravan.

The entire caravan then rested in place.

The Old Man chuckled and patted Huo Yuhao on the shoulder. "Kid, do you know her?"

After thinking for a moment, Huo Yuhao smiled. "When I was selling Grilled Fish in Shrek City, I heard several Shrek Academy students mention her."

Several drivers in the caravan began preparing a communal meal in a large pot.

The Old Man's gaze lingered on Jiang Nannan and her mother for a moment, and he sighed softly.

"This isn't the first time I've carried them. The mother and daughter's situation is very difficult. Her mother has been seriously ill for years, yet they've never found a way to treat her. Nannan also has to study at Shrek Academy."

"Whenever there's a holiday, Nannan takes her mother to clinics in various towns and cities to seek treatment. But after all these years, they still haven't managed to cure her mother's illness."

"Ah, life on the road isn't easy for anyone. This is all I can do to help them."

Some merchants aspired to be refined egoists, but after witnessing the many miserable fates of those whose lives had gone badly, they ultimately could not maintain hearts of stone.

As Huo Yuhao listened, he lit a campfire and took out a small grill.

As an Ice Attribute Soul Master, keeping the remaining Green Fish fresh through freezing was a trivial matter.

He took a large cube of ice from his Ring of Holding. More than a dozen cleaned Green Fish were frozen inside.

The Old Man, the drivers preparing the communal meal, and Jiang Nannan and her mother all could not help but stare curiously at the sight.

With a thought from Huo Yuhao, the entire block of ice instantly melted away. Guided by Soul Power, over a dozen fish were laid across the grill.

When the Old Man saw the ice melt in an instant, he knew that this was clearly not something an ordinary person could do. "Kid, are you a Soul Master too?"

Huo Yuhao did not deliberately hide it and nodded. "I've only just begun cultivating. I'm a little Soul Master with one Soul Ring."

"That's still much better than my useless grandson."

The Old Man sighed. "My grandson awakened the Brick Martial Soul. Perhaps our ancestral graves were smoking, because he somehow managed to get two levels of Innate Soul Power. But now he's already over ten years old and still struggling at the Soul Scholar stage."

While listening to the Old Man speak, Huo Yuhao turned the Green Fish over on the grill.

He did not use Heavenly Flames or Beast Fire. The burning campfire crackled softly, and the tempting aroma of grilled fish quickly drifted through the air.

Jiang Nannan's delicate nose twitched slightly. She glanced several times toward the grilled fish, her lips moving, but she said nothing.

A gentle smile appeared on Jiang Mu's sickly pale face. "Nannan, go buy two. Mom happens to want some too."

Jiang Nannan knew her mother had noticed how tempted she had been just now, and her cheeks flushed slightly. "Alright, Mom."

She stood up, straightened her dress a little, then brushed her hair back, tucking the somewhat messy orange strands hanging over her forehead behind her ear.

Huo Yuhao skillfully turned the Green Fish over the grill. After brushing on a layer of prepared sauce and spices, pale oil glistened across the golden-brown fish, while a rich fragrance continuously burst from their bellies.

The scent of fish filled everyone's noses. The drivers making the communal meal even stopped stirring their pot, their throats bobbing as saliva flooded their mouths. Suddenly, their own meal seemed utterly tasteless.

Just then, a clear and gentle voice sounded before Huo Yuhao.

"Little brother, may I ask if your grilled fish is for sale?"

Huo Yuhao looked up. After asking her question, Jiang Nannan stood quietly before him, waiting for his response.

Jiang Nannan wore a plain dress with a few wrinkles. Her long, wavy orange hair was somewhat messy from sitting in the carriage for so long.

Yet her features were quite exquisite, her skin white as porcelain, and her figure slender and tall. Her eyes resembled a clear pool of water. Even without dressing up, her natural appearance alone was enough to make her seem fresh and refined.

Huo Yuhao named the price. "Yes. Five Copper Soul Coins per fish."

Jiang Nannan pursed her lips. "Little brother, yours are a little expensive."

As Huo Yuhao turned the fish, he revealed a smile like that of a boy next door. "But they smell good. Besides, we're outside the city. I had to freeze these fish the whole way here to keep them fresh."

Jiang Nannan thought about it and felt that he was right. Considering everything involved, it was indeed worth the price.

Her eyes shifted toward a Green Fish on the grill that was noticeably several sizes smaller. Her lips parted slightly.

"Little brother, if I buy two grilled fish for ten Copper Soul Coins, can you give me that smaller one for free?"

Huo Yuhao blinked. He had not expected Jiang Nannan to be so careful with her money.

"Alright, then." Huo Yuhao picked up two grilled fish along with the smaller one, three in total, and handed them to Jiang Nannan.

"Thank you, little brother."

Jiang Nannan thanked him softly. As she accepted the grilled fish, she handed over ten Copper Soul Coins, then headed back toward the rear carriage.

By then, the Old Man's communal meal was ready as well. He spread a large specially made carpet across the ground.

The Old Man called out, "Nannan, help your mother over here. It'll be livelier if everyone eats together."