Madam Zhou watched as Wufu accepted the bracelet and other items gifted by Shopkeeper Lin with such ease, and she couldn’t help but feel anxious, yet seeing her daughter’s nonchalant demeanor, she also felt perplexed.
After leaving, Madam Zhou couldn’t restrain herself and asked, "Wufu, how can you just accept other people’s things ?"
"Mom, please be at ease with accepting them. I just did Shopkeeper Lin a big favor, and this is his way of saying thank you," Wufu said.
A thank you for a favor?
"That customer, Merchant Liu, also gave something," Wufu said, lifting up a small purse in her hand.
Madam Zhou felt even more curious. He gave Silver too?
"There was a little matter," Wufu didn’t explain in detail and said, "So don’t worry about the Silver. If you want to buy something, just buy it."
Madam Zhou chided, "Who spends money so carelessly? Silver isn’t easy to come by, we have to save it for your dowry."
Wufu paused for a moment, could she say she hadn’t thought about that issue yet?
Now wasn’t the time to think about that. She was still young, so she changed the subject, "Mom, because I took on a commission at the Hundred Treasures Silver Building to design and carve a Chicken Blood Stone, I have to come here every day until the work is complete."
Madam Zhou was still wearing the Plum Girl Hairpin she had given her, naturally knowing her daughter’s skill, yet she hadn’t expected her to help others and that her daily travels to town would be necessary...
"Coming here every day, won’t you get too tired? Can’t you bring the work home? You could carve at home before too!" Madam Zhou said with concern, "And it’s not safe for a young girl to be out like that."
"It’s okay, I won’t get tired. Walking every day can also strengthen my body. Mom, don’t you think I’m healthier than before?"
Madam Zhou gave her a look, not sure if it was because of the heat or something else, but the young girl’s face was rosy and moist, healthily radiant, with her former paleness having inconspicuously vanished.
In this month, she had also been eating more. Sometimes when she went up the mountain, she would secretly eat there, seemingly having extra meals, which likely contributed to her healthier appearance.
Madam Zhou felt both relieved and a pang of sorrow, saying, "That’s because it’s too hot. Walking back and forth is very tiring, and it’s already as hot as a steamer in June, let alone in July when it’ll be even hotter."
Wufu smiled, indicating it didn’t bother her.
"How about we buy a donkey? If we ask the Dache Shop to fit it with a cart, you wouldn’t have to tire yourself so much?" Madam Zhou, inspired by a mule passing on the street, suddenly suggested.
Wufu also saw it and said, "There’s no need for now, it doesn’t take much Shichen Chinese Time to walk here."
The purpose of her walking and running was also to strengthen her physique, so it really didn’t matter whether she used a cart or not.
Seeing her insistence, Madam Zhou relented.
As the mother and daughter talked, they went to the grocery store to buy some necessary items, and then they went to Wenshan Bookstore.
Wufu knew her mother habitually inquired about letters; pretending to be oblivious, she entered the shelves to look for books, as she wanted to find a few books to read as well.
Madam Zhou, after seeing her go in, breathed a sigh of relief and then asked the shop assistant if there was any mail for her.
Wenshan Bookstore was split into two levels. Wufu ascended to the second floor, where the large room and tall shelves were located. She casually browsed, but suddenly felt a burning gaze on her back as though someone was watching her. She whirled around swiftly.
Not far behind her stood a man in plain clothes, wearing a jade crown. Seeing her turn around, he slightly curved his lips and respectfully bowed, "I apologize for startling you, miss."