Chapter 55: Expanding Horizons and Apologies

Liu Hehao laughed heartily and said, “Still such a child, always thinking about food.”

Liu Hexiao pouted and countered, “Who says so? This is called culinary appreciation. You wouldn’t understand.”

Taking a sip of wine, Liu Hehao suddenly remarked, “You must be missing Mother.”

His expression turned wistful, carrying a trace of longing.

Liu Hexiao paused for a moment, then replied softly, “Don’t you miss her too?”

Liu Hehao smiled faintly and said, “Of course I do… But, Ah-Xiao, even though Mother isn’t here anymore, your big brother is. I’ll always be by your side to protect you.”

Warmth spread across Liu Hexiao’s face, but soon after, he retorted, “Hmph, but you can’t cook!”

The two brothers laughed and bantered some more.

Liu Hexiao reached into his robes and took out a jade whistle. This jade whistle wasn’t just for training horses; it could also play simple melodies.

Placing it to his lips, Liu Hexiao blew a soft, lilting tune, the gentle sound filling the stillness of the night.

Liu Hehao grinned with delight. “My Ah-Xiao is so talented! If a young lady were to see you now, wouldn’t she be utterly smitten? Perhaps, if you fancy someone in the future, you should give her this jade whistle! Hahaha…”

…

Liu Hexiao’s thoughts drifted back to the present. The night deepened, and his memories surged like an endless tide.

The jade whistle had been a gift from his elder brother. Now, his brother was gone, and he hadn’t even managed to take proper care of the whistle… A hint of melancholy appeared on Liu Hexiao’s face. Silently, he stepped into the courtyard and plucked a leaf from a nearby tree.

Placing the leaf to his lips, he tried to recreate the sound. The tone was clear but far inferior to the whistle’s melody.

He sighed in frustration.

Suddenly, a soft chuckle sounded behind him.

Startled, he turned around to see a slender figure standing under the corridor, dressed in plain garments. The girl, framed by the night, had eyes as bright as the stars and lips as red as cherries, her delicate beauty enhanced by the moonlight.

“Why aren’t you asleep yet?” Liu Hexiao felt a wave of embarrassment and quickly tried to steer the conversation.

Yihuan smiled and walked toward him. “I couldn’t sleep with someone playing their little tune so loudly.”

Liu Hexiao’s expression stiffened. “Nonsense… I barely played for a moment…” Then he asked, “Wait, did I really wake you up?”

Yihuan shook her head with a grin. “I was teasing you.” Raising an eyebrow, she asked, “Why aren’t you asleep? What’s on your mind?”

Liu Hexiao hesitated, then said lightly, “It’s nothing… Just that this leaf is no match for the jade whistle.”

Yihuan blinked in surprise. “Jade whistle?”

Liu Hexiao nodded. “Yes… I used to have a finely crafted jade whistle. My elder brother gave it to me… but I lost it.”

Yihuan seemed puzzled for a moment before blurting out, “Didn’t you give me a jade whistle once?”

Liu Hexiao frowned, confused. “When did I ever give you my jade whistle!?”

Yihuan reached into her pouch and pulled something out. “Is this it?”

In her pale, delicate hand lay an exquisitely carved jade whistle, completely intact.

Liu Hexiao froze, staring at it. Dazed, he accepted the whistle from her, his face lighting up with joy. “How is it with you!?”

Yihuan giggled. “Don’t you remember? You threw it to Ah-Ran when we first met!”

Liu Hexiao paused, trying to recall, and finally realized he must have thrown the whistle by mistake.

As he gazed at the whistle, which he thought had been lost forever, a wave of emotion surged in his heart.

“Thank you,” Liu Hexiao said softly.

Yihuan froze. “What did you just say?” She had never heard him utter those words before.

Liu Hexiao smiled faintly. “I thought I’d never find it again.”

Yihuan’s lips curved into a smile as well. “Well, here it is, back where it belongs. After all, that day… you didn’t throw it on purpose, and I… didn’t feel any particular way about it.”

Liu Hexiao chuckled quietly. “I’ve known that for a while.”

Yihuan raised an eyebrow. “You knew? If you knew I didn’t mind, why did you bother apologizing?”

Liu Hexiao lowered his voice. “Perhaps… it was for today.”

Yihuan looked up at him, her clear eyes filled with curiosity and a hint of the unique charm of a young girl.

The moon shone brightly, the wind was crisp, and the air was serene.

Liu Hexiao gazed at her, and after a moment, he leaned in gently and placed a soft kiss on her cheek.

Startled, Yihuan looked up at him. The spot on her cheek where his lips had briefly touched felt like a ripple spreading across the surface of her heart.

Liu Hexiao took her hand in his.

Placing the jade whistle in her palm, he said, “Why don’t you keep it for me?”

The whistle, warmed by his touch, felt smooth and delicate in her hand.

“Isn’t this something very important to you?” Yihuan asked softly.

Liu Hexiao beamed brightly and replied, “That’s exactly why I want to give it to you.”

Yihuan’s cheeks turned pink, but her heart was in turmoil.

She glanced at him, a faint sweetness blooming in her heart, yet mingled with an indescribable bitterness.

Letting out a soft, bitter laugh, she placed the jade whistle back into his palm and said, “I can’t accept it.”

Liu Hexiao stared at her, dumbfounded. “Why not?”

Lowering her gaze, Yihuan murmured, “We… aren’t suited for each other.”

With that, she turned to leave.

Liu Hexiao hurriedly grabbed her wrist. “What’s not suitable?”

“Everything,” she replied.

Liu Hexiao frowned, his tone growing serious. “Is it because of status? Position?” He declared firmly, “I’ve always lived freely. Whoever I wish to marry, I’ll marry. I don’t care what others think.”

Yihuan blushed deeply amidst her inner conflict, snapping at him, “Who said I want you to marry me!?”

Refusing to let go, Liu Hexiao asked, “Then why won’t you accept me!? Am I… not good enough?”

Yihuan turned her head away, avoiding his gaze. “Shizi is very good… it’s me who isn’t.”

Liu Hexiao gently turned her toward him, his expression serious as he said, “What’s wrong with you!? You’re the most resilient girl I’ve ever met—independent, hardworking, and smart. Even though you’re supporting your younger brother alone, you’ve never complained or given up. You’re so much better than those pretentious ladies from noble families!”

Yihuan’s heart wavered, but she dared not meet his eyes. She feared that with just one glance, she wouldn’t have the strength to walk away.

“Thank you, Shizi… but feelings can’t be forced.”

Liu Hexiao’s face stiffened as he held her hand, his grip trembling slightly.

“‘Forced?” he repeated softly.

Unable to bear seeing his expression, Yihuan whispered an apology and quickly left.

Liu Hexiao stood in place, clutching the jade whistle. Watching her retreating figure, his loneliness deepened, tinged with pain.

—-

The Next Day

Outside Chengji Hall, the streets were bustling. Crowds of people came to seek medical advice or purchase herbal remedies.

“Miss, why have you suddenly decided to visit Doctor Yu? Are you feeling unwell?” Ah-Miao tugged at Yihuan’s sleeve, worried she might be jostled in the crowd.

Yihuan replied quietly, “I want to ask Doctor Yu about ginger milk pudding.”

Ah-Miao thought for a moment and asked, “Miss, do you mean you want to find out if ginger milk pudding can really help with pregnancy?”

Yihuan nodded. “Not just that… I also want to know which medicinal ingredients could complement ginger milk pudding to improve its effects. I’m also considering if there’s a possibility of collaboration.”

In modern terms, cross-industry collaborations were highly popular. If Shengjing Dessert Shop and Chengji Hall could co-develop a medicinal dessert, it might create an opportunity to expand their market to the Eastern Market.

The Eastern Market was frequented by nobles and affluent families, meaning the average spending per customer would naturally increase.

Ah-Miao understood her intention but asked, “Since we’re trying to expand to the Eastern Market, why not ask the Young Master for help? He must be familiar with this area.”

Yihuan paused briefly and said, “We need to rely on ourselves.”

She thought of Liu Hexiao’s wounded expression from the night before, and an inexplicable wave of guilt swept over her heart.

Ah-Miao chuckled. “But the Young Master would definitely be willing to help… The more time I spend with him, the more I realize he’s actually quite kind-hearted.”

Though Ah-Miao spoke casually, Yihuan knew she wasn’t wrong. Liu Hexiao had indeed been warm and helpful. However, Yihuan was aware of how unfamiliar she was with the Eastern Market. Breaking into this area wouldn’t be easy.

As she pondered, the crowd in front of Chengji Hall began to stir. Standing on her toes to look, Yihuan saw Doctor Yu arriving.

Doctor Yu was setting up his workspace while the patients respectfully waited outside, not daring to disturb him. Those who knew him well were careful not to approach rashly.

After a moment of consideration, Yihuan pushed her way to the front of the line and called out, “Doctor Yu! I’m Yihuan from Shengjing Dessert Shop. I’d like to discuss something with you. May I know when you’ll be available today?”

Without lifting his head, Doctor Yu replied curtly, “I’m not available.”

Undeterred by the jostling crowd, Yihuan continued, “Doctor Yu, the wife of Merchant Wang recently became pregnant. She said the ginger milk pudding you approved indeed had a regulating effect. I’m here to discuss with you whether we could improve our recipe to help patients recover from cold-related conditions.”

Seizing the moment to explain her purpose, she spoke quickly, fearing she’d be pushed to the back of the line if she hesitated.

Doctor Yu glanced up briefly and replied, “One successful case doesn’t prove anything.”

Yihuan pressed on, “If it worked once, we could try again! If it truly benefits patients, wouldn’t that be a good thing? We could collaborate, combining ginger milk pudding with medicinal herbs—”

Doctor Yu interrupted her with a frosty tone, “I’m a doctor, not a merchant. I don’t have time for these trivial matters. If you’re sick, I’ll treat you. If not, leave at once.”

Ah-Miao, clearly upset, protested, “Doctor Yu, we’ve been waiting for you all morning. How can you speak so rudely?”

Yihuan quickly stopped Ah-Miao and, still smiling politely, said, “Actually, I am feeling unwell. Let me register as a patient, and I’ll consult you properly later.”

Without waiting for Doctor Yu’s reply, she pulled Ah-Miao to the back of the line and paid for a consultation.

Ah-Miao was puzzled. “Miss, why are you so insistent on collaborating with this rude doctor?”

Yihuan explained, “You don’t understand. Although our business is doing well lately, most of our customers are from Tianshui Alley. They mainly buy inexpensive drinks and pastries. While this is enough to sustain us, it’s not a long-term solution. We need to expand.”

Ah-Miao asked, “Even so, why insist on working with Doctor Yu? Couldn’t we collaborate with someone else?”

Yihuan glanced at her and said, “Because we don’t yet have the capital to establish ourselves in the Eastern Market. We need to leverage the foot traffic of an already popular business to introduce our products.”

She pointed down the street. “Look carefully. Which places have the most people?”

Ah-Miao raised her head and surveyed the area. “It seems the busiest are the silk shop and the pharmacy.”

Yihuan nodded. “Exactly. For the wealthy, most of their spending is either on luxury goods or health. If you were rich, with many wives and children, what would you fear most?”

Ah-Miao thought for a moment. “I’d fear… that these good days might end.” She paused, then added with sudden realization, “Ah, I see!”

Yihuan continued, “That’s why, if we want to enter the Eastern Market, collaborating with Chengji Hall is essential.”

Ah-Miao nodded in agreement, though she still worried. “But what if Doctor Yu refuses to work with us?”

 

Translator’s Note: Thank you so much dear IZA for the Ko-fi. I really appreciate it and overwhelmed by your support. It means a lot to me❤️❤️❤️