“Business is still not good…”

At the snowy intersection, Ning Yi ate a pancake in his hand while speaking with a smile. Next to him, Nie Yunzhu looked at the unsold pancakes on the cart, pursed her lips slightly, and then patted her hands helplessly, “It’s snowing heavily, not many people are coming to buy.”

“I told you long ago, let you wait until spring to consider these things, didn’t I? Now you’re suffering.”

“It’s not easy to think it through, things that are decided, of course, have to be done quickly, if you wait a few months, I don’t know if people will become lazy, then who knows what thoughts I’ll have.”

“Oh, I see, you just want to try the feeling of setting up a small stall…”

Although Ning Yi had not been here since Nie Yunzhu set up the stall, even when it was snowing, Ning Yi insisted on exercising every day. Every morning, the two of them would chat for a while on the steps in front of the small building, and now they have become casual with each other. Ning Yi naturally knew that Nie Yunzhu's pancake stall business was not good. He might have comforted her a few days earlier, but after a while, he couldn't help but tease her.

As he said, Nie Yunzhu did not set up this stall because she was forced by life - of course, perhaps partly because of it - but more so to adapt herself to a more ordinary, more ordinary way of life. The family's financial resources have not reached a truly dire situation, at least for this period of time, she is enjoying it.

“…Yesterday, I saw a few people falling on the other side of the street, and later they almost fought, saying it was a镖局 (Biaoju - escort agency)… Also, a few days ago, the sign of a shop over there fell down, almost hitting someone… Hu Tao was originally here with me, but just now Er Niu also came over, so I asked them to buy some rice and noodles. I deliberately said some things, probably to let them walk from here to the East Market, so that they could spend more time alone…”

Ning Yi ate the pancake, and Nie Yunzhu babbled about the recent events, and Ning Yi chatted with her for a few words. After a long time, no one came to patronize the pancake stall. Ning Yi smiled and patted the snowflakes on his body, “This business, let’s pack up. Anyway, you can sell more in the morning, why bother to endure it all the time.”

As he said that, he picked up a small stool on the ground and threw it into the small cart. Nie Yunzhu waved her hand, “Don’t! Maybe I can sell a few more, and this cart… I can’t push it. Now it’s snowing heavily, Er Niu comes to push it every morning and evening…”

“I can push it.”

“Young Master Ning… you really don’t pay attention to your appearance. How can a literary talent do this…”

“What kind of appearance is there…” Ning Yi laughed, “Besides, the things I asked you to do a few days ago are almost done by today. Now there is still time, so let’s go see how the results are. If the results are good, maybe your pancake stall can be saved.”

“It’s just some salted duck eggs, and you put less salt…” Nie Yunzhu pouted and said with a smile. However, hearing Ning Yi mention this, she no longer objected, and went to an old woman who also sold pastries next door to ask her to leave a message, and then came over to pack up with Ning Yi. After a while, she told Ning Yi her reasoning with some profoundness and complacency.

“Actually, I’m not familiar with these things with Hu Tao. It will take a long time to explore and adapt before we can sell well and make money. So I thought, if we do it in winter, we’ll do a little less every day, and we’ll spend less rice and noodles. Maybe we can make money by spring. If we only start in spring, there will be a lot of waste, and it will probably take until summer to become familiar, so it’s better to do it sooner rather than later.”

“You know a lot.” Ning Yi smiled, “I think you really want to marry Hu Tao off as soon as possible, right?”

“There is also this consideration.” The two pushed the cart, going back home along the snowy road. Nie Yunzhu smiled lightly, “In the early years, I naturally thought that the sisters depended on each other, but it is impossible to do this after all. Now that she can find her own home, I am also happy for her. Heh, when she and Er Niu were together, she always wanted to hide it from me. Later, Er Niu plucked up the courage to propose marriage before I knew about it. She was worried that I would not be able to take care of myself alone, so she refused to marry all the time. Since I treat her as a sister, I can't drag her down for too long."

"Hehe, I'm afraid you may marry Er Niu together with Hu Tao in the future..."

Nie Yunzhu did not avoid such jokes. At this time, she pursed her lips and smiled, really seeming to think about it seriously, and then shook her head, "I'm afraid it won't work. Er Niu is simple and honest, a good person, but I can't talk to him. If I marry him, I might be able to respect each other like guests for a few years, but after a few years, I'm afraid I'll be beaten and scolded. Then, Hu Tao will be the most difficult to do."

“Gap.” Ning Yi nodded.

Moving forward along the way, passing through the bustling and noisy city with rising heat, the courtyard walls and government gates of the residential area surrounded by snow, silver trees and ice flowers by the Qinhuai River, and the painted boats and buildings were all docked on the shore, with strings of icicles hanging down, like a crystal palace. There were fewer and fewer pedestrians. The two chatted casually, like a young couple who had been running a pancake stall and were now packing up and going home. The husband should be a bookworm who doesn’t work hard, helping out in this kind of weather while wearing a beautiful robe. The wife is diligent and virtuous, running the pancake stall every day to earn money to supplement the family, expecting her husband to pass the imperial examination one day, get an official position, and bring honor to their ancestors... When passing a road, a carriage came quickly from behind. The driver waved his whip, "Get out of the way, get out of the way... Don't block the way--" Ning Yi pushed the cart and Nie Yunzhu to the side of the road to stop. When the carriage passed by, the driver glared at him fiercely. He took a breath and said from behind, "Then I'm sorry~!" Nie Yunzhu lowered her head and chuckled lightly.

Humming some messy tunes, Ning Yi pushed the cart and continued walking. Nie Yunzhu looked at his back for a while, then quickly followed and pushed the cart from one side.

“I often hear Young Master Ning humming these things, I wonder what tunes they are.”

“Just humming, just like the little tunes that people in the mountains hum. Uh… folk songs…”

Ning Yi described it, and Nie Yunzhu chuckled, "Folk folk songs, I used to learn this... Hey, why doesn't my brother come... Pfft... These are not the same as Young Master Ning's tunes..."

She lowered her voice and sang a sentence. Her voice was clear as water and quite pleasant to the ear. But the street is not a place where you can sing these things after all. It was just a sentence in a low voice. Her face turned slightly red, and then she covered her mouth and laughed.

Ning Yi nodded, then looked at her, "By the way, you are very good at singing and playing the piano, right?"

In the past, when the two talked, although Nie Yunzhu claimed to please people with her beauty, she didn't seem to have much scruples, but Ning Yi could naturally see that she didn't like these entertaining things, so he never mentioned these things. Since he came here, he had never been to any brothels or 楚馆 (Chuguan - high-end brothels). Although he guessed that Nie Yunzhu should be a famous courtesan, he really couldn't imagine how "famous" she was. Now that it was probably okay, he asked this question just now. Nie Yunzhu then nodded, "Well, I actually put in a lot of effort."

"So... awesome? Master?"

"Pfft... probably..." Others would naturally not ask this kind of question like Ning Yi. Nie Yunzhu found it interesting and laughed. Then, holding back her smile, she nodded solemnly, "Well, this concubine is a master!"

“Oh, to what extent?”

The tense smiling face instantly broke down: "Several stories high..." Thinking of the jokes Ning Yi had made some time ago, Nie Yunzhu answered like this, "What are you doing?"

Just as they were talking and laughing like this, the small cart had already reached the section of road in front of Qin Lao's door. Unexpectedly, Kang Xian came over today. The sedan chair had just stopped by the side of the road, and Qin Lao also came out. The two of them cast surprised glances over there, and then laughed. It was not known what they were talking about. Ning Yi waved hello to them. Kang Xian then said over here, "Li Heng, what is this for? Do you need any help?" His few followers are next to him now. If they need help, they can naturally come over at any time.

Ning Yi stopped the cart a few meters away and shook his head, “It’s okay.” Then he pointed to the woman next to him, “Nie Yunzhu… Qin Lao, Kang Lao… We are fine playing chess over there…” He introduced like this. Nie Yunzhu bowed, and the two sides greeted each other slightly. Ning Yi asked, "Kang Lao will be here later too?"

Kang Xian nodded, "I brought some good things. I should be here in the afternoon. If Li Heng has time, you can come over with this Miss Nie later and appreciate some calligraphy and paintings."

Ning Yi laughed, "Heh, coincidentally, I also have some good things to bring over later, and we'll study them together then."

"Very good."

After saying these words, Ning Yi said goodbye and pushed the cart forward. It wasn't until he turned the corner of the street ahead that Nie Yunzhu's smile stopped, "Young Master asked about music just now..."

“Oh, I’m mainly thinking, if I have some songs here that can be sung, can you help me compose a piano piece or something.”

Nie Yunzhu nodded, revealing a confident smile, "There shouldn't be any problems. At least in this matter, whether it's various poems and songs, or the folk folk songs that Young Master just mentioned, if Yunzhu can't do it, I'm afraid there are not many people in the entire Jiangning City who can do it."

"Wow, really several stories high..." Ning Yi could then roughly estimate the other party's level, squinting his eyes, expressing his admiration.

"Yes, at least four or five stories high, high enough to kill someone if they fell."

“Then I’m relieved.” Ning Yi thought, then added, "However, the lyrics may be a bit strange, and it's just for a few people to sing and listen to casually. I'm afraid it won't be suitable for formal occasions. You have to be mentally prepared."

Nie Yunzhu nodded, "Okay."

Afterwards, the small building by the river was getting closer.

*************

If we are talking about songs, which one do you guys want to listen to? ^_^

Seeking clicks, collections, and recommendation votes.