The Universal Blessing Temple was no longer as bustling as it had been during the New Year. There were far fewer carriages and pedestrians in front of the gate, and many fewer stalls set up on the side street.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Jiang Ning spotted Lan Xu among the cluster of stalls at a nce.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Lan Xu looked the same as ever - her clothes were simple but neat, her hair impablybed. She always smiled warmly when someone came to buy osmanthus cakes, and sat quietly when there were no customers, a faint trace of mncholy in her eyes.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Watching Lan Xu from afar, Jiang Ning couldn''t help but think of Luo Siyi, far away in the Capital City.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Both were women, but Luo Siyi had a harmonious marriage, two children, and had been cherished for half her life. When troubles arose, she would only cry in Nangong Ya''s arms.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
And Lan Xu?<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
A scheming plot had ruined her life. An innocent girl had inexplicably lost her chastity, given birth to a daughter hoping they could rely on each other, only for heaven to y a cruel joke on her, forcing her to send Nangong Ling back and leave her hometown toe to Qushui City, making a living by selling osmanthus cakes.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The stark contrast made Jiang Ning''s heart sink inevitably.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Jiang Ning stood motionless for a long while, steeling herself before slowly approaching.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Lan Xu had just sent off a customer and was lowering her eyes to put the copper coins into the money pouch when she looked up to find a young woman standing before her.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Miss Jiang! It''s you!" Seeing a familiar face, Lan Xu was pleasantly surprised. She nced around and asked, "Where''s your Mr. Liu, the sessful candidate? Why isn''t he with you?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
To Lan Xu, the gentle and polite Liu Ming''an had left a deeper impression. Back then, Jiang Ning had set up her stall next to him, only showing warmth and a gentle smile when looking at Liu Ming''an, while remaining cold and distant to others, not easy to approach. Lan Xu hadn''t spoken much with her, mostly chatting with Liu Ming''an instead.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Jiang Ning smiled faintly and answered earnestly, "He''s in the Capital City preparing for the examination. I came alone."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Oh? You two are so close, I''m surprised you''d be willing to part. It must be for something very important," Lan Xu remarked with a sigh.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Jiang Ning nodded, "It''s a very important matter. I had no choice but toe."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Lan Xu smiled, about to say something when an elderly person carrying a child approached the stall. They nced down at the light yellow cakes in the steamer and said, "I''ll take one."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Jiang Ning stepped aside to avoid blocking her business.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Lan Xu deftly wrapped a cake in oiled paper and handed it to the child in the elder''s arms with a smile. "Here you go, little one. Hold it carefully."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The child started eating immediately. The elder smiled fondly at the child, took out ten copper coins from their pocket, ced them on the table, and walked away carrying the child.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Lan Xu said her usual "Take care," put the money in her pouch, and looked up to chat with Jiang Ning, only to find her staring absently at the steamer of osmanthus cakes on the table.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Miss Jiang? Are you hungry?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Lan Xu asked with a smile, picking up an osmanthus cake, wrapping it in paper, and cing it in Jiang Ning''s hand.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Jiang Ning looked at the cake in her hand and asked, "How many can you sell in a day?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Lan Xu, treating it as idle chat, casually answered, "Ah, it''s not like during the New Year anymore. I make about fifty cakes a day now. On a lucky day, I can sell them all. On a bad day, I might have ten or more left, which I give to people around here. Fortunately, after the Lantern Festival, the table fee at Universal Blessing Temple dropped to fifty wen."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Jiang Ning made a sound of acknowledgment and took a bite of the wrapped cake.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The osmanthus cake was soft and delicate, with the unique fragrance of osmanthus. It wasn''t very sweet, but just right for Jiang Ning''s taste.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Jiang Ning was calcting.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Selling fifty cakes a day at most, ten wen per cake, after deducting the stall fee and costs, and considering that the coastal area had frequent rain preventing business, earning five taels of silver a month would be the limit.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
However, Qushui City had high living costs. Even with frugal daily expenses, it was still a significant ouy. How could Lan Xu save any money this way?<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Moreover, she had dedicated a longevity tablet and lit a longevitymp for her, which cost one tael of silver every month.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Lan Xu waited for Jiang Ning to finish eating before asking, "Miss Jiang, are you here at Universal Blessing Temple on business? You should go attend to it, don''t let me dy you."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Jiang Ning nced at the osmanthus cakes in the steamer. It was still early, and Lan Xu had only sold a few cakes. It would probably take until the afternoon to sell out. Besides, this ce was crowded and not suitable for a reunion.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"I don''t have any business," Jiang Ning shook her head and continued, "I''ll just stand here for a while. I won''t affect your business, will I?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"No, you won''t," Lan Xu shook her head with a smile, but she found it a bit strange.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Jiang Ning had just told her she had very important business, but now she said she had nothing to do. Her words contradicted each other.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
And for some reason, she felt that Jiang Ning seemed much gentler than before, no longer giving off that aloof air that kept people at a distance.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
asionally, when Lan Xu nced at Jiang Ning, she even caught a hint of docility in her demeanor.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Jiang Ning stood beside the table, watching Lan Xu busy at work, rehearsing in her mind how to reveal the truth.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Ah...<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
No matter how Jiang Ning thought about it, imagining herself sighing andmenting, she still felt that no opening would be good enough.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
She truly had no experience in this. If only she had thought to ask Nangong Muyan beforeing.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Lan Xu had truly believed Jiang Ning would only stand there for a while, but as noon approached, Jiang Ning still hadn''t left.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Lan Xu felt increasingly perplexed.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
But business was exceptionally good today. Perhaps it was because Jiang Ning stood nearby. She was beautiful, and passersby couldn''t help but nce at her a few times, drawing attention to the small stall. Usually, at this time, half of the osmanthus cakes would still be left, but today they were almost sold out.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Another half hour passed, and Lan Xu sold thest osmanthus cake. She turned back to see Jiang Ning still standing motionless in the same spot, her eyes downcast, lost in thought.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Miss Jiang, it must be thanks to your blessing that the cakes sold so quickly today!"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
There was a hint of cheerfulness in Lan Xu''s voice. Without waiting for Jiang Ning''s response, she put the steamer and oiled paper on a small stool on the ground as usual, hung the money pouch on herself, and was about to pick up the Universal Blessing Temple''s table to return it.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Let me! Wait here for a moment, I have something to tell you."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Jiang Ning took over the task, effortlessly carrying the table to the side entrance of Universal Blessing Temple and returning it to the monk there.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
When she returned to the side street, Lan Xu was waiting, holding the steamer in her arms with the small stool hanging from her elbow.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Thank you, Miss Jiang," Lan Xu first thanked Jiang Ning for helping with the table, then asked, "What did you want to tell me?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Jiang Ning reached out again, taking the steamer from Lan Xu''s arms before saying, "It''s not convenient to talk here. Can we go to your home?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Lan Xu was taken aback. This was too unusual. They were almost strangers, having only exchanged greetings a few times. What could they possibly have to discuss?<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"I really have something very, very important to tell you. Can you take me to your home, please?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Jiang Ning saw the wariness in Lan Xu''s eyes clearly, and her own gaze unconsciously took on a pleading look.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Faced with such a gaze, Lan Xu''s heart suddenly softened, and she nodded.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0