Chapter 005: The Peddler

Uncle Zhang," Jiang Li smiled and said, "Let’s exchange all these copper coins for fruit cakes, any kind will do.

Jiang Li couldn't help but smile, saying: "She is much younger than the old lady."

The mountains here are exceedingly high, and beside them, the Helin Temple is bustling with activity. Visitors are either wealthy or of high status, generally looking down upon the goods sold by the peddlers. As a result, most peddlers are reluctant to conduct business in these mountains. Zhang, the peddler, also lives at the foot of Qingcheng Mountain and does not usually come up. However, every year from May to June, the peach blossoms bloom abundantly on Qingcheng Mountain, attracting not only the affluent but also ordinary citizens who wish to enjoy the flowers. With so many people, the peddlers choose this time to come up the mountain to sell small trinkets such as rouge and powder. Zhang, the peddler, also lives at the foot of Qingcheng Mountain and does not usually come up. However, every year from May to June, the peach blossoms bloom abundantly on Qingcheng Mountain, attracting not only the affluent but also ordinary citizens who wish to enjoy the flowers. With so many people, the peddlers choose this time to come up the mountain to sell small trinkets such as rouge and powder.

Damn it! Tong'er exclaimed indignantly

Jiang Li looked somewhat dazed

She has always learned things very quickly. Xue Huaiyuan once said that if she were not a woman, she might have been able to compete with Xue Zhao and bring glory and fame to the Xue family.

Tong'er and the peddler became acquainted, and thus they agreed to come here every year on the tenth day of the fifth month to purchase goods. The nunnery is not as lively as Helin Temple, and for Jiang Li and Tong'er, this is the only time each year when they can buy some snacks from the peddler, which is their only indulgence

At the entrance of the temple, there was indeed a middle-aged man wearing a bamboo hat, dressed in a short brown linen robe and linen trousers, with a white silk belt around his waist and black cloth shoes, resembling a peddler.

At such a young age, Xue Zhao lived in an environment where her only source of joy was the monthly visits from the peddler. From the peddler, they could purchase novel clay figurines, beautiful silk ribbons, sweet malt candy, and rough brushes used for practicing calligraphy

Jiang Li pointed to her nose and said, "I can smell it."

The Master Jing'an came over to take a glance at Jiang Li, exchanged some polite words of concern, and then left, without bringing anything at all

Everyone?" Tong Er turned around in surprise

Tong Er opened her mouth, and after a long while, she said: "This is... too flashy, isn't it! No, " she quickly reacted again, her eyes sparkling as she stared at Jiang Li, "How did the young lady know this?"

Tong Er widened her eyes, immediately shook her head, and said firmly: "I don't want to! Tong Er only wants to follow the young lady, wherever the young lady goes, Tong Er will go!"

Perhaps it was because she had been too quiet and obedient during this period that Master Jing'an from the Nigu Temple unexpectedly came to see her once

Although life was difficult, it was still lived joyfully... Later, under the governance of Xue Huaiyuan, Tongxiang improved more and more. Eventually, Xue Zhao also began to prepare for the martial examination, and later she married in Yanjing, and then... There were no more "laters".

Jiang Li quickly adapted to the harsh life on the mountain. Although there were endless tasks to complete each day, food was insufficient, the sleeping conditions were damp, and she was often bullied, Jiang Li still managed to adjust swiftly.

The servant knows it was the young lady who detected it. The servant wishes to ask how the young lady knows it is the powder from Xingchun Fang, the scented balm from Hongxiu Tower, and the osmanthus hair oil from Xiangxiu Studio

All

Jiang Li looked out the window and smiled, saying, "Then let us gather all the coins, and we shall go buy some pastries"

Only after Tong Er had rummaged through the house to gather all the copper coins, wrapping them in a blue cloth and holding them close to her chest, did she walk out of the temple with Jiang Li.

Before Shen Yurong married and moved to Yanjing, when she was still a young girl, Xue Huaiyuan had just been transferred to the impoverished and remote Tongxiang. At that time, Tongxiang had nothing; the entire county had only a handful of shops that could be counted on two hands.

Zhang Huo Lang had also become acquainted with the two of them, and informed Tong Er that she had grown taller again. Upon hearing this, Tong Er was very pleased. She then turned to Jiang Li and asked, "Miss, do you wish for those pastries?"

Not only that, Jiang Li continued to explain to her, although she did not wear any jewelry, she used the cosmetics from Xingchunfang in Beijing, the silver box perfume from Hongxiulou, and the osmanthus hair oil from Xiangxiuzhai

Jiang Li lowered her gaze

Jing'an Shitai is a young woman in her twenties, said to have once been the wife of a wealthy family. After the death of her husband, she shaved her head and became a nun in the mountains

Tong'er still had something to say when suddenly a loud call came from outside, a man's cheerful voice, seemingly singing some kind of tune. Tong'er perked up her ears to listen, then suddenly jumped up, laughing and dancing, saying: "Miss, the peddler Zhang has arrived! The peddler Zhang has come to deliver goods this year!"

More than ten days have passed in succession

Tong Er could no longer say anything

A few days ago, Jiang Li was clamoring to return to Yanjing due to the marriage of the heir of the Ningyuan Marquis, and nearly came to blows with Master Jing'an.

"I don't know whether she eats meat or not, but she definitely eats better than both of us. As for clothing, her plain garments are certainly thicker than those of both you and me," Jiang Li said.

Jiang Li then turned to Zhang Huo Lang, and she smiled at him, which left Zhang Huo Lang momentarily stunned, feeling inexplicably uneasy.

I can naturally smell it

In fact, Jing'an Shitai is only in her twenties. Although she is dressed in a dull gray robe, it cannot conceal her graceful and well-proportioned figure. Her appearance is even more delicate, yet her attitude towards the two of them, the master and servant, is somewhat condescending and her demeanor is rather cold, making them seem more like servants instead.

Jiang Li smiled and said, "It is of no concern, we will be able to return soon."

Jiang Li took the cloth bag from Tong Er's hands, untied it, and inside was neatly arranged a series of copper coins. These coins were all collected by Jiang Li and Tong Er over the past six months from making shoe insoles, along with those saved over the previous few years while carrying them for Master Jing'an, totaling forty strings.

Tong Er stood with her hands on her hips, spitting at the departing figure of Master Jing'an, and said: "Bah, stingy old woman!"

These fragrant powders and osmanthus head oils, Miss Jiang, who has not come down from the mountain for seven years, would not know, yet she can distinguish them accurately

"Tong'er, do you want to return to Yanjing?" Jiang Li interrupted her words

Tong Er thought for a moment and naturally came up with a reason, saying: "Surely the young lady knows that these items were used daily when she was at the Jiang family, how could she be unfamiliar with them?" As she spoke, she became sorrowful, "Speaking of which, it has been such a long time since the young lady left the Jiang family..."

"What use is being young?" Tong Er pouted, "Having already become a nun, am I not destined to spend my life with only the green lamp and ancient Buddha? Can I eat meat or wear floral clothes?"

Although holding all their possessions, Tong'er would not truly believe that Jiang Li would spend all this copper money. The people at the nun's temple often withheld their firewood and rice, and sometimes they could only exchange the remaining money with the children in the mountains for some food and blankets. Buying snacks and pastries would not last long; they would spoil in no time. How could this be feasible?

Jiang Li naturally knew this. When she had just married Shen Yurong and arrived in Yanjing, the Shen family looked down on her for being a girl from a small county in Tongxiang. Several of her sisters-in-law and Shen Yurong's mother held her in contempt. Afraid of embarrassing Shen Yurong, she diligently studied the fashionable clothing and jewelry of the ladies in Yanjing, gradually correcting her rural accent.

Tong Er widened her eyes and exclaimed: "Miss!"

How is that possible? Jiang Li continued to smile and said, "The eldest daughter of the Prime Minister's family can't even spend a few copper coins to buy pastries? What kind of noble young lady is that?"