Becoming the Villain's Discarded Wife
Chapter 197 Gu Lang

Chapter 197: Chapter 197 Gu Lang

Nanzhi had just lulled the three children to sleep when she heard her mother and her two sisters-in-law talking in the courtyard.

"Pang Ya, is there any hot food?"

Nanzhi could hear the tiredness in her mother’s voice and hurriedly went out of the house.

"Yes, there is. You rest first, I’ll bring the food out".

After pouring water for her mother and sisters-in-law, Nanzhi went to the kitchen to prepare their food.

The ingredients for their stall had been selling out these past few days, and Nanzhi always remembered to set aside some food for them when she got home.

"Business was good today then?"

Nanzhi asked her mother.

Today, due to the increase in foot traffic, they had prepared more food at their stall than usual. They hadn’t expected to return home an hour and a half earlier than the day before.

"Not long after you left, a load of people swarmed the city. Among those merchants, there were people leading some, um... something really ugly."

Her mother forgot what that thing was called and became a bit anxious.

"A camel." Chen Qiulan timely said.

"Yes, yes, a camel it was! It looks neither like a mule nor like a horse, and those humps on its back, so ugly."

Her mother clicked her tongue disapprovingly.

Those people all looked a bit strange, their hair was messy, and they all had a peculiar smell about them.

There was a peculiar smell, both fragrant and stinky, when they had dined at their stall in the evening. And those Camels almost stepped on the food!

"Camel?"

Nanzhi was full of question marks.

Leading camels to Yan City?

Could it be a merchant from the Hu ethnic group?

But Yan City is far away from the Western Region. It’s not like the Hu merchant set off five months prior just to attend this assembly meeting, right?

If that’s the case, she was genuinely curious about this assembly meeting.

She had always thought this assembly meeting was for wealthy businessmen and magnates, while the likes of them, small stall vendors, could only piggyback on the event and benefit indirectly.

After all, she had heard that an invitation was needed to attend the assembly meeting and the conditions to receive an invitation were exceedingly high.

Given the scale of their current business with its one stall and one shop, they would need to work for more than two hundred years before even coming close to receiving an invitation.

Since even the Hu merchants from the Western Region had made it here with their camels, could there be something else they were not aware of?

With all these thoughts in mind, Nanzhi continued to work at her stall the following day.

As the first light of dawn emerged, her mother and Chen Qiulan went to the market to buy food, leaving Nanzhi to make soup and manage the stall.

Sun Cui wasn’t feeling well today, so her mother simply let her rest at home.

Just as Nanzhi started cooking bone soup, and before she could set out the stools, she saw a person in bulky clothes wandering the street.

Seeing the steam rise from the food stall, his eyes lit up, and he headed straight for Nanzhi.

When he noticed that the person manning the stall was not the same one he saw yesterday, he paused before asking, "Miss, do you have split-fried bread for sale?"

Nanzhi was arranging the tables and stools when she heard someone speak, causing her to look up.

She was taken aback when she saw his eyes, only realising after a while.

This person must be a Hu merchant, right?

After all, those bright blue pupils clearly indicated that he was a non-Han Chinese.

"Not yet."

Nanzhi shook her head before continuing, "We only have noodles for sale at the moment."

The split-fried bread had to be prepared with fresh ingredients purchased on the same day, so neighbours who wanted it usually came over around noon.

"No split-fried bread?"

The Hu merchant seemed visibly disappointed.

"So it’s not available for sale today?"

"Not until later. You should come back in about an hour."

Nanzhi said.

"I’ll appreciate your help, I would like a bowl of noodles."

The Hu man smacked his lips, so hungry that he decided to sit on a stool and wait for Nanzhi to cook the noodles.

"The noodles cost five wen per bowl, please wait a moment."

After receiving the copper plate, Nanzhi rolled up her sleeves and began preparing the ingredients.

Although she didn’t know how to make group meals, she could handle noodles.

Watching the busy figure of the Han girl, the Hu merchant adjusted his clothing.

He was really hungry and planned to have a couple of group meals at the inn after finishing the noodles.

With this plan in mind, the Hu merchant felt more at ease.

Watching Nanzhi preparing and scooping noodles, he was captivated.

When Nanzhi served him a steaming bowl of noodles, the Hu merchant sheepishly shifted his gaze.

Thinking of the fair-skinned arm he had just seen, the Hu merchant’s ear tips blushed.

"Your noodles are ready, enjoy."

Nanzhi set the bowl in front of him and continued to set up the table and stools.

Once everything was prepared, it wouldn’t be a bother when her mother and sister-in-law returned.

Seeing her busy, the Hu merchant felt embarrassed to keep staring and lowered his head to start eating the noodles.

The taste exceeded expectations, prompting the Hu merchant to eat heartily.

Previously, he had been traveling with a merchant team and while nothing extreme happened, the food was subpar.

After parting with the team, he encountered various events on his journey.

Sometimes, in small towns, due to his Hu identity, they charged him twenty wen for a bowl of noodles; only clear soup noodles were 10 wen.

Since his goods had yet to be sold, he had eaten countless meals of clear soup noodles and dry pancakes on his journey.

Seeing him finish the noodles in just a few bites, Nanzhi subconsciously swallowed, feeling choked even just watching.

Could it be that this man hadn’t eaten in a while?

Fearing that he might choke, Nanzhi served a bowl of bone soup and handed it over to him.

"This soup is for you, eat a bit slower." Don’t choke yourself here.

Upon seeing the meat soup in front of him, the Hu merchant was startled.

Why did this Han girl serve him soup?

"Thank-, thank you."

After giving his thanks, Gu Lang blushed and slowly took a sip of the soup.

With a sip of hot soup, he finally felt warmth spreading through his body.

Feeling warm, Gu Lang continued to sit and wait for the group meal.

He had a big appetite and could eat plenty in one sitting. He knew the prices in this stall; group meals were six wen, noodles were five wen, not only were they tasty, but they were also generous in portion. A meal wouldn’t cost him more than twenty wen.

Once the market opens on the 27th of February, he can sell his goods, restock with silver, and hopefully earn enough money for his sister’s dowry and find a wife for himself.

Gu Lang relished the thought.

Meanwhile, Chen Qiulan and mother Lin were interrogating Nanzhi.

"Why is that man giggling inanely over there?"

"I’m not sure, he seemed alright a moment ago." Nanzhi shook her head.

"He doesn’t appear to be foolish, let’s leave him be. If something comes up, keep your distance."

Mother Lin quietly finished saying her piece and the three of them nodded in agreement and continued their preparations.

Just as Nanzhi finished putting away the things and was about to sit down, she saw three figures of varying heights approaching.

Just as she was about to greet them, Nanzhi saw the chubby little girl in the middle rushing towards her.

"Mommy!"