Shopkeeper Chen's face lit up with delight. It seemed he had made the right choice this time; Young Master Man had clearly accepted his sincerity. Looking at the chests his men had brought over, he stepped forward and opened them one by one.
"Forty-six animals in total, Young Master Man. Here are twelve thousand two hundred taels in silver. Would you like to count it?"
Yun Manman was wild with joy inside. This feels amazing! I've finally made a small fortune!
"No need. I trust your character, Shopkeeper Chen. Since the goods are loaded, forgive me for not seeing you farther. Shopkeeper Chen, please..."
Shopkeeper Chen froze briefly, looking at the silver chests covering the ground, then at Yun Manman's face, which showed no desire for pleasantries. Was she driving him away?
This was the first time anyone had found him unwelcome when he came to collect goods.
Shopkeeper Chen knew he probably did not want to exchange pleasantries, but how could this young master move so many chests of silver alone?
After some thought, Shopkeeper Chen still asked, "Young Master Man, would you like me to send men to escort the silver back to your residence?"
The corners of Yun Manman's mouth lifted slightly. She extended her hand again, gesturing for him to leave.
Shopkeeper Chen pressed his lips together, feeling a little wronged. Was he really so unlikable?
But he also knew there was no need to linger and displease her. "It has been a great honor to make your acquaintance today, Young Master Man. Until next time!"
Shopkeeper Chen turned and left with his men. This young master certainly had an odd way of doing things, but talented, capable people always had their own little habits.
Yun Manman watched the convoy disappear at the mouth of the alley.
Sensing no other presences nearby, Yun Manman put all the silver chests into her space.
Rather than walking out of the alley, she leaped over its wall and headed off in the other direction.
Back in the general store's rear courtyard, Shopkeeper Chen looked at the cartloads of game and told his men, "Put the animals here. You may leave for now."
Looking at the courtyard full of wild beasts, Shopkeeper Chen first gave them a cursory inspection before his gaze settled on their strange wounds.
These did not look like blade wounds. Were they more like punctures from a sharp weapon?
"Wrong!"
Shopkeeper Chen's pupils contracted, disbelief filling his eyes.
"Could Young Master Man know how to control beasts?"
These were clearly wounds from the bites of wild beasts. With so many animals bitten at once, someone must have been directing them.
He then turned his attention to several blade wounds, his expression gradually growing grave.
Every wound had been fatal in a single strike. Whoever had wielded the blade was ruthless and possessed extraordinary martial arts skills. Judging by the wounds, they had all been inflicted by the same person.
"Could those wounds have all been inflicted by that Young Master Man, whose martial arts prowess I couldn't gauge?"
His gaze shifted to the two skinned tigers.
"Hm? Why are the tiger pelts missing? This..."
Just as he was about to call Niu Er over to ask, he noticed these two skinless tigers.
The manner of their deaths was even stranger. There were no signs of poison or blade wounds, only bluish-purple marks over their hearts.
"Their hearts were struck dead directly? How was that done?"
Shopkeeper Chen felt full of questions, yet no one could give him answers. Before he could work it out, a subordinate came in from the entrance to report.
"Shopkeeper, that Young Master Man has disappeared. I checked the alley, and both he and the silver were gone. An expert probably came to meet him, and they leaped out the other side of the alley."
Shopkeeper Chen stood and sighed softly. "For someone like this to appear in the northwest now... I wonder which family raised him. So young, yet so seasoned and practiced in his conduct, with a first-rate mind and grasp of strategy. If someone like this were to serve our young master..."
"Shopkeeper, shall I investigate this Young Master Man?"
Shopkeeper Chen's brow stirred, but those violet eyes surfaced unbidden in his mind, and he waved a hand.
"No need. Even if we found out, what would it change? We don't want him as an enemy, after all. Besides, I don't think you could track him down."
On that point, Shopkeeper Chen was right.
Yun Manman had already transformed into a young woman. Her plain white dress set off skin like congealed cream, and a face mask concealed her breathtaking beauty.
Who would believe she was the young gentleman who had just sold those wild beasts?
Yun Manman first went to the county office to complete her household registration, then wandered about, going from East Street to West Street and then to South Street.
Yun Manman emerged from a pastry shop in excellent spirits. Looking at the three large bags of pastries in her hands, she imagined those two boys would be delighted when she brought them home.
She looked up at the sun, which was already about to set. It was time for her to dine out. She had already asked around: the best restaurant in the county town was the Fragrant Guest Pavilion on West Street.
Yun Manman strolled all the way to West Street.
The restaurant was lavish and grand in both its decor and size, and the three large characters above it were neatly written, with ample inner strength in the strokes.
But weren't the pictures of dishes on that signboard far too carelessly drawn?
Yun Manman averted her eyes, unable to bear looking. As soon as she entered the dining hall, a waiter approached with a warm smile.
"How many will be dining, miss? Would you like a seat in the hall or a private room?"
"A private room, sorry for the trouble."
The waiter paused briefly.
The young woman's voice was lively and lovely, yet her bearing seemed aloof. Despite her strange veil, he could still sense that she must be an exceptional beauty.
He hurriedly welcomed her enthusiastically. "You're in luck, miss. We still have one private room available upstairs today. This way, please."
Without looking around the dining hall, Yun Manman followed the waiter upstairs to the private room.
Looking at the dishes listed on the menu, she was rather bewildered.
What was chicken with dough rolls?
And what was noodle sheets with braised meat?
And what was three-piece tea with braised meat?
Yun Manman looked through the menu and understood almost none of it. She put it down and said directly,
"Just bring your signature dishes. Remember to add chili peppers. I like strong flavors."
"Certainly! Have some tea and wait a moment, miss. Your dishes will be here shortly."
The waiter went downstairs to place the order.
(The noodle sheets are above, the three-piece tea below, and the chicken with dough rolls on the right.)
Guests in private rooms generally ordered a whole table of dishes, so he did not ask exactly how many people would be eating and simply ordered all the signature dishes.
He was still thinking to himself that today's guests actually had a woman ordering the food.
The strains of a zither slowly rose from next door.
Yun Manman raised her eyebrows, appreciation flashing in her eyes. She had also loved the guqin in the past, but people who could appreciate it were few and far between.
Still, this player was quite skilled. Yun Manman slowly closed her eyes and relaxed as she listened.
The Fragrant Guest Pavilion really did serve its dishes quickly. Yun Manman stared at the table full of meat, a little stunned.
It seemed the waiter had misunderstood her. Weren't there usually only two or three signature dishes?
Did restaurants in ancient times all have so many signature dishes? There were a full thirty dishes here!
"Please calculate how much this table costs. I want all these plates too. I'll settle the bill now."
The waiter was first stunned by Yun Manman's beauty. No wonder she wore a veil. With skin as clear and lustrous as ice and such cool, peerless beauty, she would indeed attract attention and invite trouble in the county town.
Hearing that she wanted to pay now, and even wanted the bowls and plates as well, he quoted the price despite not understanding.
Yun Manman handed over the silver and immediately instructed him, "There's no need to attend to this room. Just come clear up after I've finished eating."
Once she was alone in the private room, Yun Manman put the steaming dishes into her space, leaving only two dishes and a bowl of noodles.
Her family probably had never eaten dishes like these. Since she could not cook, buying food to bring back for them would do just as well.