Chapter 392: Cabbage and Pigs
The enthusiasm of girls for shopping seemed boundless. Even without the intention to buy anything, they could wander from one street to the next with unflagging energy, completely oblivious to fatigue.
“Ice sugar hawthorns…”
On the edge of the street, a vendor carried a straw-and-wood frame strapped together with twine. Stuck into the frame with bamboo skewers were glistening strings of candied hawthorns, their crimson fruits coated in translucent, glossy syrup that caught the sunlight and gleamed invitingly.
Around the vendor, a group of children clustered, each taking a stick, licking the syrup, smearing it on their fingers without a care. Their chubby little faces were sticky with sweetness, yet they munched happily, utterly absorbed in the simple joy.
Gulp…
Seeing this, the mischievous little boy couldn’t help swallowing hard. His plump face leaned forward, eyes fixed so intently on the candy that they refused to dart away.
“Brother-in-law! Brother-in-law! Are the sugar hawthorns made from chicken legs?” The little girl’s tongue darted over her lips, and she lifted her adorable face to look at Zhu Ping’an, her eyes wide and innocent, her voice sweet and tentative.
“No.” Zhu Ping’an shook his head.
“Oh, then they must be made from pork, right?” She nodded confidently, then asked again in her irresistibly cute way.
“No.” Zhu Ping’an shook his head once more.
“It’s been so long since I’ve had sugar hawthorns. Niuniu has even forgotten what they’re made of…” The little girl patted her round belly, pouting slightly.
Hehe, this girl really reminded him of Li Shu when she was a child, Zhu Ping’an thought with a small smile. He scooped her up in one arm and, leaning down to the drooling little boy, said, “Come on, let’s see how these hawthorns taste.”
Taking a step forward, he glanced back at Li Shu and the little maid Baozi and asked, “Do you two want to try some too?”
Immediately, he regretted asking. With Li Shu’s spoiled young lady habits, she would likely wrinkle her nose at street food, deeming it unclean.
Baozi, however, nodded vigorously, clearly having been eyeing the hawthorns herself.
“No way, it looks dirty…” Sure enough, Li Shu cast a disdainful glance at the vendor’s wrinkled, oil-stained clothes, rolling her eyes in subtle disgust.
“But… seeing how sincere you are, I suppose I’ll give you a chance. Hmm… give me the one with the orange.”
Just as Zhu Ping’an was about to turn to buy it, he heard Li Shu’s voice again—proud, coquettish, and tinged with generosity.
What an infuriating little girl, he thought inwardly.
Each of them got a stick of sugar hawthorn and strolled down the street, nibbling as they walked. The little boy ate with such focus that syrup smeared across his cheeks.
Seeing everyone enjoying themselves, Li Shu hesitated, holding the hawthorn in her delicate hand. She glanced at the boy leading the little girl ahead, then, with a small sigh of resolve, lifted the candy to her lips and licked it gingerly. To her surprise, it wasn’t as bad as she had imagined.
A tiny bite—tart yet sweet, the flavor lingering pleasantly. It wasn’t half bad.
Cough cough…
Zhu Ping’an, turning around at that moment, caught sight of Li Shu puffing her rosy cheeks as she chewed. She looked like a little groundhog eating, utterly adorable. Their eyes met, and her face instantly flushed crimson. She hurriedly tried to swallow the candy, only to choke a little…
Zhu Ping’an’s lips curved into a smile; he couldn’t help it.
“What are you smiling at…”
Li Shu’s cheeks burned hotter as she glared at his retreating back. Darn sugar hawthorns… making me look ridiculous! She wanted to toss the candy, but thinking of the little rascal who had given it to her, she hesitated. Carefully, she wrapped it in a pink, clean handkerchief, handing it to Baozi to keep with the other candy.
In the Ming Dynasty, men and women didn’t mingle as freely as today. Even a married couple had to maintain a certain distance, lest people whisper about impropriety—though, of course, there were exceptions.
Zhu Ping’an saw a perfect example: a short, stout, rather unremarkable man dressed like a wealthy commoner, holding a tall, graceful, beautiful woman. They emerged from a jewelry shop and stepped into a sedan chair.
Beauty and the beast were always so striking…
“Good cabbage all gets eaten by pigs…”
For a moment, Zhu Ping’an felt transported back to the modern day, recalling wandering the streets with his single roommates, watching some scrappy man flaunting gold chains drag a beautiful woman into a tiny inn. Habitively, he muttered, shaking his head.
“Good cabbage all gets eaten by pigs?” Baozi tilted her head, puzzled. She didn’t understand his metaphorical musings about cabbages and pigs.
Zhu Ping’an explained lightly, choosing his words carefully.
Baozi’s eyes lit up with sudden comprehension. She looked at the sedan chair in the distance and covered her mouth, giggling quietly.
“Some pigs are so foolish, they won’t even eat cabbage when it’s offered…”
Just then, Li Shu, pouting, added meaningfully, “Yet there are some… who won’t even eat it when it’s right in front of them.”
Hearing this, Zhu Ping’an froze mid-step, turning to look at her as if he’d just seen a mouse acting as a bridesmaid for a cat.
“Ahem… why are you looking at me like that? Don’t read too much into it,” Li Shu hurriedly added, her cheeks flaming. “Don’t think you’re some toad trying to eat swan meat! I heard that in front of the He Nian Hall pharmacy, you threw twenty taels at a girl, and when she offered herself to you, you refused…”
Ah, so that was what she meant. For a moment, he’d thought she was scheming something more devious.
“I’m not a scoundrel taking advantage of someone…”
Hearing her explanation, Zhu Ping’an relaxed, shrugging lightly.
Li Shu’s racing heart finally slowed. She exhaled, but still rolled her eyes at his retreating back. What a big, clumsy blockhead! A dumb blockhead! Not even willing to eat the cabbage offered! Not even a crisp, fresh cabbage! Starve already!
“Miss, what’s wrong?” Baozi asked, watching her mistress roll her eyes at Zhu Ping’an’s back repeatedly.
“Oh, it’s nothing. A careless speck of sand got in my eye…” Li Shu replied awkwardly, rubbing her delicate fingers over her eyes before sneaking another glare at his back.
“Oh! Then I’ll blow it out for you, Miss,” Baozi said anxiously, as if it were her own eye.
“No need… it’s fine now, ahem, all gone,” Li Shu said, waving her hands impatiently, coughing lightly.
Baozi’s worried expression finally eased, though she cast a few more cautious glances at her mistress to make sure her eyes were truly unharmed before relaxing completely.