What kind of luck was this?

Wasn’t it said that Pei Yan lived in luxurious residences at Phoenix Mountain or Meijia Bridge? What was he doing at this budget-friendly Beiguan night market?

Yu Tang’s almond-shaped eyes widened in disbelief.

Pei Yan seemed quite surprised as well, his eyes widening as he stared at her.

The two of them just stood there, separated by the bustling crowd, looking at each other without speaking, let alone greeting one another.

It was Zhou Zijin who noticed Yu Wen first: “Oh my, isn’t this Scholar Yu? What are you doing here?”

As he spoke, he glanced at Yu Tang.

Yu Tang was wearing a blue coarse cotton printed dress with her head wrapped. At first glance, she looked like a country girl who had come to the city to see the sights, except that her exposed hands were white and tender, beautiful like magnolia flowers just blooming on branches.

Yu Wen hadn’t expected to encounter Pei Yan and Zhou Zijin here either, but he was quite pleased to run into acquaintances: “Zhuangyuan Zhou, Master Pei! What a coincidence! I thought since we came to Hangzhou Prefecture, we should at least visit the Beiguan night market, so I brought my nephew and daughter. How did you also come to the Beiguan night market? Are there just the two of you?”

Pei Yan nodded reservedly, while Zhou Zijin was much more enthusiastic, smiling: “We’re staying near Meijia Bridge, and Meijia Bridge is quite close to Beiguan. I haven’t been here in many years, so I dragged Xiaguang along to have a look.” As he spoke, he glanced at Yu Tang again.

His impression of this young lady was too deep.

It wasn’t that he hadn’t seen beautiful women before, but this was the first time he’d encountered someone like Yu Tang who could make two brothers both fall in love with her and have young men clamoring to become live-in sons-in-law at her family home.

Moreover, the Yu Tang he saw this time was different from the last time.

The last time, although Yu Tang was dressed ordinarily, she was a girl who made one’s eyes light up and was quite stunning. This time, dressed so rustically, her beauty was still undeniable, showing that this girl’s attractiveness had its own character—no matter how she dressed, it couldn’t diminish her distinction.

Zhou Zijin couldn’t help but ask Yu Wen: “This young lady is really your family’s daughter?”

Yu Wen didn’t know why he asked this and couldn’t help but laugh: “Could it be fake?”

Zhou Zijin chuckled and said, “I just feel it’s a bit of a pity. You don’t know—I’ve been painting a series of twelve beauties lately…”

Beauty lies in the bones, not the skin.

If only this young lady weren’t the Yu family’s daughter.

He could offer a large sum of silver to have her sit for a portrait.

Pei Yan, standing nearby, knew Zhou Zijin was obsessed with painting—so much so that he’d even resigned from his position at the Six Ministries. Whenever he saw a pretty girl or boy, his eyes would stick to them and couldn’t move away.

He frowned in displeasure, and before Zhou Zijin could finish speaking, he said to Yu Wen in a low voice: “Has Scholar Yu just arrived or are you preparing to leave?”

Yu Wen also guessed at Zhou Zijin’s unspoken words. Taking his daughter out in public was one thing, but having her painted in a picture was quite another. He looked at Pei Yan gratefully and said, “We just arrived! Have Master Pei and Zhuangyuan Zhou just arrived or are you preparing to return? Why don’t we browse together?”

But Pei Yan said, “No need. This night market is full of smoke and fire everywhere—I’ll just accompany him for a look…”

Zhou Zijin quickly said, “Xiaguang, since we’re already out, don’t be a spoilsport. Meeting old friends in a foreign land is one of life’s great pleasures. Why don’t we stroll together?”

Yu Wen could see that Pei Yan wasn’t very willing. Before he could voice his refusal, Zhou Zijin had already put his arm around his shoulder and pushed him inside without allowing any objection: “Come on! Years ago when I came here, I ate Tang Er Shazi’s steamed cakes once and never forgot them. This time I came to the Beiguan night market specifically for those cakes.”

Yu Wen quite liked Zhou Zijin’s familiar personality. After thinking about it, he felt that walking together would be nice, especially since Zhou Zijin and Pei Yan were both people of status and position—they certainly wouldn’t gossip about him bringing his daughter to the night market. So he simply followed Zhou Zijin inside while chatting with him: “I thought you’d like to eat osmanthus wine-fermented rice balls. Aren’t you from Nantong? We southerners all like to eat that.”

“I am a southerner! But I was born in the capital and grew up there too,” Zhou Zijin laughed. “I just like to eat wheat-based foods!”

After just a few exchanges, the two men’s figures were nearly swallowed by the crowd.

Yu Yuan quickly called to Yu Tang: “Walk in front of me so you don’t get lost.”

Yu Tang looked at Pei Yan’s slightly displeased face and felt somewhat uncomfortable. She adjusted her hair at the temples before following Yu Wen as Yu Yuan suggested.

Up ahead, there was a monkey show.

Yu Wen and Zhou Zijin squeezed in to watch and beckoned to Yu Tang and the others.

Pei Yan’s expression looked even worse.

But Yu Tang and Yu Yuan were quite interested.

Yu Yuan pulled Yu Tang’s sleeve and squeezed inside.

Yu Tang couldn’t help but glance at Pei Yan.

He wore a bright blue plain fine cotton robe, still without any accessories, his fair face, handsome features, and stern expression creating an air of solitude as he walked with his hands behind his back among the bustling night market stalls—forcibly turning the liveliness into three parts tranquility.

This person was truly aloof!

With this thought, Yu Tang put Third Master Pei out of her mind and happily went with Yu Yuan to watch the monkey show.

However, after watching for just a few moments, Yu Tang began to feel uncomfortable.

The little monkey’s glossy black eyes seemed to want to speak when looking at people. Its thin body was covered with a layer of sparse yellow fur. It moved nimbly—whatever the performer told it to do, it did, and it even knew to bow and beg for food, which was very endearing. But around its neck was clamped an iron collar, and because it had been worn for so long, all the fur around it had fallen off. The more obedient and well-behaved it was, the less she could bear to look directly at it.

These monkeys were native to mountain forests, but somehow they’d been caught by people and had to perform pleasing acts to have food and drink, to survive.

Her chest felt tight. She tugged at Yu Yuan’s sleeve and whispered in his ear: “Let’s stop watching, shall we? We only ate some dry rations at noon. I’m hungry—let’s go get something to eat.”

The little monkey was performing a flag dance. Yu Yuan found it interesting and said distractedly, “Wait a bit. Once I finish watching, I’ll go eat with you.”

Yu Tang thought about how the monkey’s limbs should originally be on the ground but were now forced to stand upright… She couldn’t bear to watch anymore and said with a darkened expression, “Then you watch here. I’ll wait for you outside.”

Yu Yuan snapped to attention at these words and quickly said, “Then I won’t watch anymore. I’ll accompany you to wait for Uncle on the side.”

Yu Wen hadn’t eaten dinner either.

Yu Tang nodded and squeezed out with Yu Yuan.

Yu Yuan went to find Yu Wen.

Yu Tang immediately spotted Pei Yan standing under a tree nearby.

He hadn’t gone to watch the monkey show but was standing coldly under a large tree to the side.

Perhaps sensing that Yu Tang was looking at him, he turned his head and glanced at her.

Yu Tang politely smiled at him.

But he turned his head back with an expressionless face.

Yu Tang was quite irritated.

What was wrong with this person?

Couldn’t he tell good from bad?

She had shown him goodwill first, and this was his attitude!

Yu Tang’s mind buzzed, and it took her a while to recover.

Yu Wen, Yu Yuan, and Zhou Zijin walked over.

Zhou Zijin said apologetically, “I didn’t know you hadn’t had dinner yet. I’ll treat—what would you like to eat?” He directed this last question at Yu Tang.

How could Yu Tang have the nerve to take advantage of Zhou Zijin’s hospitality? She quickly said politely, “You needn’t be so courteous. I’m fine with anything.”

Zhou Zijin laughed at this and said, “Then let’s go eat Guan San’niang’s grilled fish. I ate there last time and thought it was quite good.”

People from Jiangnan mostly loved eating fish.

Yu Tang immediately felt fondness for Zhou Zijin and smiled as she thanked him.

Zhou Zijin waved his hand dismissively: “These are all small matters…” At this point, he hesitated as if wanting to say more.

Pei Yan called out “Zijin” in an icy tone and said, “Can you still eat? You ate two jin of grilled pufferfish tonight.”

“Oh my! What’s there to worry about?” Zhou Zijin immediately replied. “After walking for so long, those two jin of grilled pufferfish are long gone. Naturally I should try Guan San’niang’s grilled fish.” He continued, puzzled: “Don’t tell me you won’t eat?”

Pei Yan said flatly with disdain, “I won’t!”

Everyone’s gaze fell on Zhou Zijin.

Zhou Zijin said guiltily, “I’m a guest after all! By rights and reason, Xiaguang should accompany me, shouldn’t he?”

Pei Yan shot him a sidelong glance and walked straight ahead: “Didn’t you say you wanted to eat Guan San’niang’s grilled fish? Let’s go then!”

“Alright, alright.” Zhou Zijin immediately followed.

Yu Wen shook his head and followed with Yu Yuan and Yu Tang.

Yu Tang quietly asked Yu Wen, “Father, must we follow along?”

Pei Yan’s attitude was too poor—she felt that if she continued following, she wouldn’t be able to eat.

Yu Wen said, “We need to eat anyway, so we might as well go to Guan San’niang’s shop. They also make very good mixed noodles there. Last time I even told your mother I wanted Chen Pozi to learn how to make them, but no matter what, Chen Pozi couldn’t get it right.”

Fine then!

Yu Tang decided that for the sake of good food, she would endure.

Guan San’niang’s grilled fish stall was quite large, but it was still packed three layers deep with people.

Zhou Zijin, acting like a wealthy patron, directly used silver to have someone give up a table for them.

As several people prepared to sit around the table, Pei Yan somehow produced a white handkerchief and meticulously wiped the spot where he was going to sit.

Yu Tang watched and quietly touched the table.

The table looked worn, seemingly gleaming with oil under the lamplight, but when touched it was actually quite clean—not only was there no grease, there wasn’t even any dust.

She sat down reassured. Pei Yan began wiping the table.

Zhou Zijin couldn’t help himself: “Xiaguang, can you not be so particular?”

Pei Yan pursed his lips and persisted in finishing wiping the table.

Zhou Zijin, helpless, discussed with Yu Wen and ordered the shop’s signature dishes.

Those who could make a name for themselves at the night market were indeed worthy of their reputation.

Guan San’niang’s grilled fish was crispy, fragrant, and savory; the mixed noodles had red oil and rich sauce; the braised pig’s trotters were tender without being greasy; the white fungus soup was sweet and soft… Yu Tang ate with great appetite, and Zhou Zijin praised the food effusively.

But Pei Yan sat there without eating a single bite.

Zhou Zijin deliberately said to Yu Wen in a low voice about him: “You see, he’s such a boring person! If I hadn’t met you all today, even if I ate dragon liver and phoenix marrow, it would turn to stone weighing on my heart.”

Yu Wen looked at how Pei Yan simply sat there casually, yet was like a tall, straight pine tree in the snow, with a hint of aloofness flowing from his very bones. He suddenly felt that Zhou Zijin forcing Pei Yan like this was somewhat inappropriate.

“Each person has their own nature. Good friends especially shouldn’t make things difficult for each other,” Yu Wen smiled and raised his wine cup to Zhou Zijin, saying, “I toast you with this cup.”

Zhou Zijin laughed heartily and put the matter out of his mind.

But Pei Yan’s gaze involuntarily fell on Yu Tang, who sat across from him.