Chapter 138: Chapter 138 Market
That day was yet another market day, and with the New Year fast approaching, it was a rare occasion to see a bit of sun. Madam Xie stayed home with Chuner to wash clothes and quilts, so they could welcome the New Year clean and refreshed.
Heading to town to sell river snails, only Xuexue and Big Bull were left.
Although the weather was cold, with the end of the year drawing near, there were still many people on the streets. Plus, it was not the first time for Xuexue and her snails, well-known for their good taste, so she had many repeat customers. By midday, the two buckets of cooked river snails had already been sold out.
“Xuexue, your business is really getting better and better,” said Auntie Zhang, who sold jewelry next to them, enviously, as they began packing up before noon.
“Auntie, you only see the good side of my business, but not when we go to pick the snails, braving the freezing cold, rolling up our pants, and wading into the water with bare feet, it’s so cold.”
“Oh? Doesn’t your fiancé help you?” Auntie Zhang teased with a smile, glancing at Big Bull beside them.
Xuexue’s fiancé was indeed handsome, with a tall and imposing figure, but it was a pity that he was a bit slow-witted.
Last time Big Bull was in town, he was filthy and disheveled, his clothes tattered and threadbare, with long hair hanging loose. Today, clean and tidy, his handsome face was unrecognizable to Auntie Zhang, who thought she was seeing him for the first time. Xuexue couldn’t be bothered to explain. It was better if she didn’t recognize him, which meant even if they encountered someone from Great Harmony Restaurant, they wouldn’t recognize the person who had fought Chef Ding—it was Big Bull.
“Big Bull has also been a lot of help, but these little river snails need to be fished out one by one, and it sure is tough work.” As Xuexue spoke, packing up, she looked up and, glancing through the crowd by chance, spotted a familiar figure disappearing around a corner ahead.
Wasn’t that Auntie Sun? What was she doing at the market? A myriad of questions flashed through Xuexue’s mind.
“Auntie, could you watch my stuff for a bit?”
Xuexue tossed the weighing scales into the basket, grabbed Big Bull, and took off.
“Hey! Xuexue, where are you off to so fast?” Auntie Zhang called out loudly from behind as they quickly made their getaway.
“We’ll be back in a bit,” came Xuexue’s distant reply.
“Xuexue always does things in such a hurry,” Auntie Zhang muttered, standing up to tidy the basket and place it aside, before sitting back down to sell her jewelry.
“Wife, where are we going?”
Big Bull, having been dragged for quite a distance, looked utterly confused but couldn’t contain his curiosity and asked.
“I clearly saw her come this way, so how could she just vanish?” Pulling Big Bull along, Xuexue entered a narrow alleyway, looking around.
“An acquaintance,” Xuexue responded offhandedly.
“Let’s call out loudly here; maybe she’ll come out.”
“If she knows we’re following her, won’t she just run away?” Xuexue turned around and gave him a knock on the head.
Big Bull winced in pain, scratching his head foolishly, muttering, “True, you’re smarter, wife.”
Xuexue twirled around confidently, about to search house by house when suddenly,
there was a rustling from a decrepit house nearby.
She quickly pulled Big Bull over to the window, licked her finger, poked a hole in the paper windowpane, and peered inside…