Chapter 135: Where Did the Doll Come From?

  Qin Dai Xin wore her close-fitting ring and walked around the shops in Taizhou City, not necessarily buying anything, just taking a stroll and clearing her mind. The streets were bustling with people coming and going, and the passersby were of all shapes and sizes, including those who were busy rushing to make a living, as well as others like her who were bored out of their minds and had come out for a leisurely walk.

  As they walked to a cosmetics stall, a well-dressed and made-up woman was selling her cosmetics to the people in front of the stall. This big sister looked ordinary, but she had extremely white skin, a pair of thick and dense eyebrows, slender and long, with bright lip color on her lips, yet not flashy. The big sister was very good at dressing up, although she only inserted a red silk flower next to her hair bun, without anything else, it made her makeup look even more beautiful.

  "Zhao Dajie, how much is this?" A woman with a bun and slightly yellow complexion asked, holding a box of fragrant powder.

  "Mrs. Li has a good eye for things, this box of fragrant powder is the best selling one here. Apply it and I guarantee your skin will be white and tender, looking ten years younger. This will cost you one or two silver coins."

  A murmur of surprise erupted around the stall.

  The woman also stared with wide eyes: "So expensive?" How many handkerchiefs would she have to embroider to exchange for such a small box?!

  "Is it still expensive?" The vendor, Zhao Dasao, said softly: "Look at this powder, how fine it is! You smell it, how fragrant it is! If we put this in the store, wouldn't it sell for three or four silver coins? Zhao Dasao smiled, but not with disdain. "If I were you, even if I had to go hungry and thirsty, I would save up to buy it, just to look ten years younger."

  That yellow-faced woman named Li Shuo was somewhat moved, but still felt heartache for the silver, and asked in a low voice: "Can it be cheaper?"

  The people around her were also waiting with bated breath for Zhao Dajie's response.

  "Li, it's not that I'm being petty, but we've been neighbors for so many years, you should understand my temperament. I'm a fair person, treating everyone the same. This powder wasn't even profitable to begin with, and now you're offering one price and she's offering another - isn't that just creating distinctions between close and distant relationships? She smiled, "You can't do business like this, how am I supposed to explain it to our old customers in the future?"

  Everyone who heard it couldn't help but nod in agreement, this is indeed the truth!

  Then Zhao's wife said, "How about this? You buy this box of fragrant powder and I'll give you two silk flowers that I made myself. The color and style are up to you." After finishing speaking, she took out a small bamboo basket from under the counter. Inside was a pile of finished silk flowers, with average material but fine workmanship.

  Qin Dai Xin watched for a while and felt that this Zhao Da Sao was really good at doing business, with three points of smile when meeting people. Her words were also elegant and polite, even if the customer was reluctant to part with their silver and tried to haggle with her, she didn't get angry or annoyed, nor did she look down on them. Instead, she used reason to persuade them that the price couldn't be lowered, although it was a bit of a blow to the customer's face. But then she brought out gifts for them, really having a set of skills!

  Qin Dai Xin smiled and stopped watching the commotion, then went to stroll around other stalls.

  "The young lady wasn't curious whether the woman bought perfume or not." Anyway, Ruo Yi was quite curious and turned her head back to take a look, but didn't see the result, feeling somewhat disappointed.

  Qin Dai'er thought to herself, "You're not being led astray by Chun Lian that little girl, are you? When did you become so easy-going?" Greedy for small gains but suffering big losses, Li Shuo was clearly someone with some spare money. She was also willing to spend silver on herself. One or two taels of silver might be a bit much for her, but it wasn't something she couldn't afford. The vendor Zhao knew this point well, which is why she insisted on not haggling over the price. As for those two white silk flowers that were given away for free, they were just Zhao's way of trying to make a quick sale and avoid wasting words with Li Shuo. This box of face powder was probably already sold.

  Ru Yi said with embarrassment: "The slave knows she was wrong."

  "Curiosity is something everyone has, what's wrong with that?" Qindai stopped in her tracks and looked at a noodle stall in front of her. The sign above the stall read "Mandarin Duck Noodles" in bold black characters on a white background. Qindai was curious about what Mandarin Duck Noodles were, but didn't want to ask Ruyi directly, so she simply asked, "How about we go have a bowl of Mandarin Duck Noodles?"

  Ru Yi listened and hurriedly said, "This is a good idea, I haven't eaten for a long time." Then she hesitated for a moment, and asked uncertainly, "Miss has never eaten this before, it's just something that poor families crave, why did Miss suddenly want to eat this?"

  Qin Dai Xin smiled, "It's just curiosity, you can eat it, why can't I?"

  Ruyi agreed readily when she was in a good mood and didn't bother with her usual fuss.

  The master and servant chose a clean table and ordered two bowls of mandarin duck noodles.

  The shopkeeper's hands and feet moved quickly, and before long, two bowls of steaming hot noodles were brought up.

  "Here's your noodles, sir."

  Two bowls of noodles were placed in front of the master and servant, and Yu Yi picked up her chopsticks, carefully wiping them with a handkerchief from her body before handing them to Qin Daihe.

  Qin Dai Xin took over the chopsticks and faced her curious-to-death swan goose, who suddenly lost his smile.

  It was a bowl of black and white noodles, half of which were thin noodles and the other half were thick noodles. The ingredients in the bowl were simple, with only a few pieces of meat foam and more scallions.

  This is not a Mandarin duck pancake, it's clearly a Tai Chi pancake.

  One black one white, reality returns to its name.

  As if reading Qin Dai's mind, he thought she was dissatisfied with the food here and said: "Miss, how about we change places to eat?"

  "No need, it's fine here." Qin Dai used her chopsticks to pick up the thick noodles and brought them to her mouth, blowing on them lightly before taking a small bite.

  As if inspired by Qin Dai's words, he finally picked up his chopsticks and started eating.

  The noodles are very elastic, and they bounce in your mouth, probably due to the unique gluten properties of the flour used in this era. The soup is rich, likely made by simmering large chunks of pork bones; although there isn't much meat, the sauce has a great flavor...

  Well, it's also considered a carefully cooked meal, and it's passable.

  As if Qin Dai Xin didn't mind at all, on the contrary, she ate with relish, and secretly wondered in her heart.

  At this moment, a loud shout suddenly came from nearby: "Go away, go away."

  "I... I want..." A woman's timid voice sounded in Qin Dai's ear, and she couldn't help but stop her chopsticks and look over.

  "She... I want." The woman said something while stubbornly pointing in Qin Dai Xin's direction.

  The shopkeeper stopped her with his hand, afraid that she would disturb his business. "Go away, go play somewhere else."

  A woman dressed and groomed in a way that was utterly inconsistent with her age and status, holding a rag doll in her arms. Although she was spotlessly clean, with no dirt on her face or body, anyone could see at a glance that she was a sick person.

  No wonder the shopkeeper stopped her. This woman looks like she has mental problems, in ancient words, it's called "lost heart crazy". Who dares to provoke such a person?

  Is she hungry?

  Qin Dai thought of many people in later generations who were like this woman, wandering outside, with no fixed abode or steady food and clothing...

  "Shopkeeper, let her come over."

  The stall owner obviously didn't expect Qin Dai Xin to say that. For a moment, he didn't know how to react and was stunned there.

  Ru Yi understood Qin Dai's meaning and knew she pitied the woman. He said, "Our mistress lets you go, then let her go; if it affects your business, we'll compensate you with silver."

  A bowl of noodles costs less than five cents, how much can be earned?

  The shopkeeper sighed and stopped blocking the woman. He thought to himself that this young lady was indeed kind-hearted and not afraid of being hurt by this crazy woman.

  No one stopped her, Ying Er's courage grew a bit, although she was confused, but her memory remained. Qin Dai Xin's appearance had four or five parts resembling Su Shi when she was young. She saw her from afar and took her for Su Shi, which is why she kept pointing at her saying "I want".

  Qin Dai Xin saw that she was staring at herself. Thinking she was hungry, she ordered the store to send a bowl of noodles and placed it in front of Ying Er.

  The baby wouldn't eat noodles, and with all her might, she handed the doll in her arms to Qin Dai's face, whispering "She's asleep. She's asleep."

  As if she had experienced the illness of madness before, she knew that such a person would have extraordinary strength when they fell ill. She was afraid that even three or four strong men couldn't control her. She feared that this woman would hurt Qin Dai's heart when she fell ill, so she whispered: "Miss, I think she's not hungry, but mad! Let's leave!"

  Qin Dai Xin saw that her eyes were clear and didn't look crazy, but was afraid of startling her by speaking suddenly, so she said softly: "Are you hungry?"

  Ying'er shook her head, "I'm not hungry, Young Master is hungry, he was crying loudly just now, Auntie hurry up and feed him milk."

  Ru Yi had her hands on her hips, seeing Qin Dai's serious expression, she didn't dare stretch out her hand.

  She is dressed neatly and her hair is also combed neatly, she must have been taken care of all the time. I don't know whose patient she is, how can she be let out like this without anyone accompanying her?

  Qin Dai furrowed her brow. She had finally managed to muster up some kindness, with good intentions, but the outcome seemed not quite as desired.

  This woman seems to have been living in her own memories all along.

  Qin Dai sighed, poor people, there are many pitiful people in the world, she is not a savior, can't help them.

  "Here's the bill, let's go!"

  As soon as he heard Qin Dai's order, he immediately put the copper plate that had been prepared early on the table and said to the shopkeeper: "Shopkeeper, here is the money for noodles."

  The two masters and servants were about to leave, but Ying'er wouldn't let them. She suddenly stood up and blocked Qin Daihe's path, her face full of grievances: "Auntie, you're not going to abandon Young Master?"

  What's going on here?

  "You've got the wrong person, we're not who you're looking for."

  Ying Er heard this and suddenly stared at Qin Dai Xin for a few moments. She shook her head, "No mistake, she is indeed my aunt."

  Her sense of powerlessness doubled, she was going crazy herself, could you reason with a fool?

  Ying'er held the doll in her arms and placed it in front of Qin Dai, saying softly: "Auntie, look, the young master looks just like you, so handsome. Let's discuss with Madam, shall we not give him away?"

  Qin Dai Xin looked at Ying Er's dazed expression, and a surge of unspeakable sorrow and pity welled up in her heart. For whom was this woman crazy? Why did she only remember Master and Madame from head to toe, without herself?

  Is the young master in her mouth the doll in her arms?

  Qin Dai Xin took a glance at the doll in Ying Er's arms and was immediately stunned, her eyes fixed on the doll in the woman's arms without blinking.

  Ru Yi had never been so infatuated with Qin Dai Xin before. At this moment, she stretched her neck to take a look and saw that he was just an ordinary doll, nothing special about him.

  Qin Dai's heart felt like all the blood in her body was boiling up, and she immediately asked: "Where did this doll come from?"

  PS: It's finally on shelves. I have mixed feelings in my heart. I hope to work harder in the future and hope you all can continue to support me.