After taking only a few steps, Su Yujin spotted three or four ragged beggars in their teens at a nearby steamed bun shop. They were discussing where to beg for food, so she waved to them.

“Miss, is there something you need?” Tiger, the leader, ran over, very attentive.

People often hired beggars to run errands and deliver messages, giving them a few coins as a reward—it was respectable work, and they all vied for it.

“These sesame cakes, you can take them and share them.” Su Yujin placed the basket in front of Tiger.

Tiger was stunned for a moment, then lifted the cloth and saw dozens of sesame cakes inside. His eyes lit up, and he stammered, “These… all… all for us?”

“Yes, take them and eat them.” Su Yujin nodded with a smile.

“Yes, yes,” Tiger replied, beckoning the remaining three over. They knelt on the ground and kowtowed to Su Yujin. “Thank you, Miss, thank you, Miss.”

“We’ve truly met a kind person today!” Tiger sniffed.

So many sesame cakes, and with the weather getting cooler, if they dried them and ate them sparingly, they could last for more than half a month.

“Miss gave us so many sesame cakes; we owe you a favor. Is there anything you need us to do? Running errands or anything like that?”

Tiger felt a little uneasy about receiving so many sesame cakes for nothing and felt he needed to do something.

“Stirring things up, swearing—we can do that too,” the little beggar next to him said, but Tiger quickly gave him a flick on the forehead. “Don’t talk nonsense.”

The girl in front of him was kind, with a gentle face; she must be a very good person, and he couldn’t expose the shady things they usually did.

“That sounds rather embarrassing…”

Su Yujin smiled, pursing her lips. “There’s nothing I absolutely have to do. But I own Su’s Food Shop, so if you have some free time, please help out.”

Su Ji and Huibinlou were affiliated. Previously, the conflict between Huibinlou and Junyoulai was favored by Ye Daren, and rumors circulated that Su Yujin had an elder in the family holding an official position in the capital. Business people are shrewd; aside from someone like Manager Qian who doesn’t know what’s good for him, everyone else understands and won’t cause trouble for these two shops.

Tiger, having spent years on the streets, had naturally heard some things and knew that asking them for help was just an excuse.

“Thank you, Miss Su.” Tiger was even more grateful, bowing repeatedly.

“Go eat quickly; the sesame cakes will get cold soon.”

“Okay,” Tiger called to the other little beggars to carry the basket full of sesame cakes away, turning back every few steps.

Su Yujin and Ai Cao walked back, pondering what to eat for dinner.

Aunt Liu had bought some new meat today; she’d make garlic-flavored pork belly for dinner.

Come to think of it, she was craving hot pot meat, especially with the garlic sprouts from the garden—it would be so fresh!

Should she make honey-glazed char siu or braised pork? She was also craving cumin-flavored pork slices…

What to do, what to do? Which one to make?

Oh well, she decided to make them all, to try them all!

Su Yujin smiled, her eyes crinkling.

…

Hu Qiaohui ran away, crying, quite a distance, until she felt she could no longer see Yu Yongye, Su Yujin, and the others. Only then did she stop, wiping her face with a handkerchief.

Yu Yongye was really too much! He actually helped outsiders bully her, disregarding their childhood friendship. And that’s Su Yujin; what was she doing anyway? Just because her family was richer and she had a bit of money, she thinks she could humiliate and intimidate her at will?

It was infuriating!

The more Hu Qiaohui thought about it, the more aggrieved she felt, and tears streamed down her face.

“Oh, isn’t this Miss Qiaohui? Why are you crying all of a sudden? Come, come, let your Gege wipe your tears.”

His words were frivolous, and his lewd hand was already reaching out to Hu Qiaohui.

Hu Qiaohui was startled and took two steps back, looking at Ruan Wuhuai with a wary expression. “What are you doing!”

“I just saw that Miss Qiaohui was crying so sadly, so I came to comfort her. Miss Qiaohui, tell me who made you angry. I’ll go and teach that person a lesson to get revenge for you!”

Ruan Wuhuai thumped his chest loudly. “How dare they bully Miss Qiaohui? That’s outrageous! They have to be taught a lesson!”

Who gave you the right to get revenge? Why don’t you take a good look in the mirror and see if you’re even worthy?

Ruan Wuhuai was a notorious petty thief, a womanizer who spent most of his earnings on brothels. He was also known for his foul language towards young women and wives, earning him a terrible reputation in the neighborhood. Short, ugly, with a full beard and dark skin, he always wore shabby, tattered clothes. Just looking at him made Hu Qiaohui feel nauseous.

But her eyes darted around. “Someone bullied me. Are you really going to stand up for me?”

“Of course!” Ruan Wuhuai nodded vigorously. “It’s my honor to do things for Miss Qiaohui, but…”

Ruan Wuhuai chuckled, his gaze lingering on Hu Qiaohui with ill intent.

Hu Qiaohui suppressed her disgust. “If you stand up for me, I promise I’ll make you happy…”

——

As the sun rose higher, Su Yujin’s white lotus seed paste milk pastries were ready. The flaky pastry was layered and distinct, while the lotus seed paste inside was soft, sweet, and fragrant—truly a perfect balance of crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, incredibly delicious.

“Miss, your skills are truly improving!” Ai Cao praised repeatedly, her mouth stuffed full of the lotus seed paste pastry, her words almost slurred.   

“Indeed,” Mama Liu echoed.   

As the three of them were talking, a commotion sounded at the door, and Mama Liu hurried to see what was happening.   

It was Zhou Ruoyi, accompanied by several servants and several well-dressed madams, each carrying various gifts.   

“Greetings, Young Master Yi.”   

“Greetings, Sister Su.” Zhou Ruoyi, like a little adult, bowed respectfully.

“Mother said she had some Suzhou embroidery and rouge and face powder to send to Sister Su.”

Since these were things agreed upon beforehand, Su Yujin didn’t refuse out of politeness. She simply had Ai Cao and Granny Liu take them away first, then smiled and said, “Just have the maids bring them; there’s no need for Young Master Yi to make the trip himself.”   

“Sister Su has saved my life twice, and I’ve come to express my gratitude once again.” Zhou Ruoyi held a jade pendant in a handkerchief and handed it to Su Yujin. “This jade pendant is for you, Jiejie, to express my thanks.”   

“It’s a doctor’s duty; it’s only right.”   

Su Yujin saw that the jade pendant had a warm, lustrous color; it was excellent mutton-fat jade, clearly very valuable, and quickly declined. “Whether it’s for medical expenses or gratitude, Madam has already given, and I absolutely cannot accept it again.”   　

(End of Chapter)

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