Leng Ruo Li and Jun Mo Han strolled casually through the bustling crowds, the calls of vendors echoing all around.
As they passed a stone arch bridge, at its entrance, a young girl, about seven or eight years old, had set up a simple stall with two small baskets and a winnowing basket, ceaselessly hawking her wares to passersby.
"Steamed cakes for sale! Steamed cakes for sale!"
She shouted a few times before a stingy-looking, stout old woman with a fleshy build approached to inquire about the price.
"Little girl, how much are your steamed cakes?" the old woman asked, her face contorted with meanness.
"Grandma, my steamed cakes are very tasty and cheap, three *wen* per cake," the little girl replied with a smile.
"Hmph! Three *wen* per cake isn't cheap," the old woman sneered.
"Grandma, they really aren't expensive. Mine are three *wen* cheaper than the steamed cake shop over there," the little girl said, unperturbed, her smile still bright.
"I want to try before I buy."
The old woman looked at the soft, fluffy steamed cakes before her and her mouth watered. Before the little girl could consent, she grabbed two palm-sized cakes and popped them into her mouth. Seeing the old woman's actions, the little girl hesitated for a moment before nodding, reluctantly agreeing.
"Alright!"
But after eating two, the old woman was still not satisfied and grabbed another two cakes, eating until she was full and could eat no more. She then patted her round, full belly and said, "Your steamed cakes aren't sweet enough, and they've made me feel quite greasy. I'm not buying."
Upon hearing this, the little girl became anxious.
"No! Grandma, you've eaten six of my steamed cakes. Please give me the money for them," the little girl pleaded softly, her face etched with worry as she tugged at the corner of the old woman's clothing.
The old woman roughly slapped the little girl's hands away and snarled, "Let go! You little wretch! Your steamed cakes are so awful, yet you dare to sell them. How shameless!"
However, the little girl refused to let go, even as the old woman's smacks turned her small hands red. She continued to cling to the corner of the woman's garment.
"Grandma, please, give me the money for these six steamed cakes. My mother is waiting at home, and she needs money to survive," the little girl sobbed, immediately kneeling before the old woman. Soon, a crowd had gathered.
The onlookers pointed and murmured disapprovingly at the old woman.
"Madam, you ate the little girl's food. What reason do you have not to pay?" a young man, unable to bear it any longer, stepped forward to intervene.
"What's it to you? Who told her to make such terrible steamed cakes and then trick me into trying them? I'm not giving her money, what can you do to me?" the old woman retorted, hands on her hips, speaking assertively to the young man. In moments, she had spat all over his face, making him so angry he wanted to throw a punch.
"Oh, look at you, raising your fist. Are you trying to hit me? If you have the guts, hit me! Come on, come on, if you dare, hit me in the face of Granny Miao!" the old woman taunted the young man in front of everyone.
However, the young man restrained his anger and flicked his sleeve as he walked away.
"Oh my, turns out to be a spineless man! ...Hmph! And he wanted to play the hero."
After the young man left, the old woman chattered on, spewing a string of mocking remarks about him, a victorious smile spreading across her face. She then glanced at the little girl kneeling at her feet, still clutching her clothing.
"Get lost! You little wretch!"
After cursing the girl, the old woman kicked her aside in front of the crowd. The little girl fell face down onto the ground. The old woman, without even a glance, brushed off her slightly wrinkled clothes and walked onto the stone arch bridge.
The onlookers glanced at the little girl, sighed with sympathy, shook their heads, and dispersed. The little girl watched the old woman's retreating back, wiped away her tears with her hand, stood up, and returned to her small stall to resume selling.
Leng Ruo Li and the six people standing by the stone arch bridge had witnessed the entire incident between the old woman and the steamed cake vendor clearly.
"Your Highness Consort, that fat hag is truly going too far," Chu Ming Xuan exclaimed indignantly.
"Don't be impatient! Her moment of misfortune is about to arrive."
With that, Leng Ruo Li waited until the old woman reached the top of the bridge arch. She then flicked two silver needles from her sleeve pocket, sending them towards the old woman who had bullied the little girl. The needles struck the old woman's calves. She yelped in pain and squatted by the side of the bridge. Unluckily, in their haste, passing pedestrians accidentally knocked her into the river. Immediately, a scream echoed from mid-air, followed by several meters of water splashing from the river.
"Hahaha, Your Highness Consort, that fat hag fell into the river!" Chu Ming Xuan chuckled gleefully.
Hearing this, Leng Ruo Li also let out a mischievous chuckle and turned to face the little steamed cake vendor.
"Little sister, can you sell me these steamed cakes for one *wen* less?" Leng Ruo Li asked with a smile.
"Sister, I'm sorry, but I can't sell these steamed cakes to you for any less," the little girl replied, her eyes red.
"Alright, little sister, don't cry. Sister was just joking. I'll buy all your steamed cakes. How much do I owe you?" Leng Ruo Li chuckled.
At her words, the little girl blinked, thinking she had misheard.
"Sister, you said you'll buy all my steamed cakes?" the little girl confirmed.
"Yes, little sister. Calculate the total, and I'll pay you right away."
After receiving Leng Ruo Li's affirmative answer, the little girl immediately counted her steamed cakes.
"Sister, there are thirty-seven in total. At three *wen* each, you'll need to give me one hundred and ten *wen*," the little girl said thoughtfully after calculating.
Then, Leng Ruo Li immediately took out a piece of silver from her sleeve pocket and handed it to the girl. It was the first time the little girl had seen silver. Her large eyes stared intently at the silver in Leng Ruo Li's hand, but she still shook her head and said, "Sister, you've given me too much money. I don't have any change."
"Little sister, you don't need to give me change. This piece of silver, besides the one hundred and ten *wen* for your steamed cakes, the rest is for you."
"Sister, no, you've given me too much. I can't accept it." The little girl refused. Her attitude immediately won the favor of Leng Ruo Li and the six people with Jun Mo Han. This little girl was honest and worthy of their help.
"Then, please keep it for me for now. The next time you sell steamed cakes, I won't need to give you money. What do you think?"
The little girl furrowed her brow and pondered for a moment before finally nodding.
"Then, Sister, you must remember to come to this bridgehead to find me for steamed cakes in the future," the little girl instructed. Then, she tucked the piece of silver Leng Ruo Li had given her into her sash and busied herself packing the steamed cakes for them.