The city of Danzhou was quiet in the early morning, especially the area around the Earl's residence, where there was hardly any noise. Danzhou wasn't large; one could even faintly hear the roosters crowing from the villages outside the city. There were no dogs barking, though. If one listened carefully, one might hear someone emptying a chamber pot, or someone else boiling water to prepare breakfast. The distant vegetable market had already woken up, enticing the housewives with fresh vegetables and meats to become early-rising chefs.

On a fresh summer morning, Fan Xian and Sisi walked along the quiet streets of the city to the familiar vegetable market. He inhaled the increasingly rich aroma and nodded contentedly, saying, "I haven't been to a place like this much in the past two years."

Sisi glanced at him, thinking that a dignified imperial envoy like him naturally wouldn't have the opportunity to buy vegetables anymore.

Fan Xian said softly, "Do you remember when we were in Danzhou before, we often came to the market to buy things?"

Sisi nodded and smiled, saying, "Young Master used to wander around the city with the sisters when he was little, even carrying things for them. It scared a lot of people at first. I heard about it when I entered the residence and thought you were a strange person too."

"Do you still think I'm strange now?" Fan Xian responded with a smile and walked into the market. As he passed a small two-story building, he instinctively stopped and stared at it for a moment.

Sisi found it strange and asked, "What's wrong?"

Fan Xian pointed to the building curiously and said, "Isn't that Old Ha's, the vegetable delivery guy's, house? Didn't they say the building was burned down? Who's living there now?"

Hearing this, Sisi also remembered. She tilted her head and thought for a moment, then said apologetically, "I haven't heard them mention it."

Fan Xian looked at the newly built two-story building in a daze. Old Ha, the vegetable delivery guy, and the assassin from the East Mountain Road of the Overwatch Council both died in this place. Afterwards, his grandmother had the building burned down to destroy the evidence, but the people of Danzhou had no idea about the truth and thought it was just an ordinary fire.

His expression calmed down. That was when he was twelve years old, when he first came to this world, and this was where he killed someone for the first time.

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…

The market was noisy.

Fishermen from the sea were pushing carts, silently haggling with the fishmongers over the price of the first batch of fish of the day. The fresh silver fish in the baskets on the carts kept jumping, making a "pop" sound. Carts were pushed in from time to time, and vendors shouted loudly to make way. The vegetable leaves in the second row were covered with dew, fresh and tempting. In the adjacent chicken stalls, the chickens' clucking rose with the stench. In the western corner, a large white pig was making its final mournful cry under the butcher's knife.

Many people of Danzhou had already started coming to buy vegetables and food, as they had to come early to buy the freshest produce. The customs of Danzhou were simple and honest, and coupled with the Qing Kingdom emperor's special favor of granting grace and suspending taxes every year, the people lived well, at least they could afford to eat meat every day.

Seeing this scene, Fan Xian couldn't help but feel a bit moved. This Qing Kingdom was really not bad.

After walking a few steps, they arrived at the quietest corner of the market. Looking at the figure in the tofu stall from afar, Fan Xian stopped. He squinted at the familiar curve of her waist, at the young woman's rosy cheeks, at her slightly plump body, and smiled gently, thinking, "I was raised by her, how can I not be tired of looking at her?"

Sisi looked at the woman and smiled happily, preparing to run over, but Fan Xian held her hand. She looked back at him in confusion.

Fan Xian smiled and said, "Why bother meeting? It's enough to take a look from afar. Judging by Sister Dong'er's expression, she seems to be living well, so let's not disturb her."

Sisi didn't understand. Since they had sneaked out, shouldn't they meet? Was it really enough to just stand here and watch from afar like fools?

"The residence sends her a monthly allowance; that's my intention," Fan Xian seemed to be reassuring himself. "With that money, she should be able to live comfortably."

The young woman selling tofu was named Dong'er. She used to be a senior maid at the Danzhou Earl's residence. This woman had started holding Fan Xian when she was ten years old and continued to hold him until he was ten years old. Her relationship with Fan Xian was naturally extraordinary.

But when Fan Xian was ten years old, the girl was getting older, and Fan Xian knew that his life would be fraught with danger in the future, so he found an excuse to send her out of the residence, but secretly continued to help her.

He liked Dong'er, so he wanted to arrange an ordinary and happy life for her.

…

…

However, an ordinary and happy life didn't seem to come so easily. After Fan Xian and Sisi watched for a while, they suddenly noticed four or five burly men surrounding Dong'er's tofu stall, saying something with excited expressions.

Fan Xian's eyes narrowed, and a hint of coldness flashed across his delicate face. However, seeing that the men were excited but didn't seem to be particularly aggressive or make any excessive moves, he didn't lose his temper just yet.

He signaled Sisi to follow him closer to the tofu stall, to hear what they were saying and to see the wrinkles at the corners of Sister Dong'er's eyes. He couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness.

"Miss Dong'er, it's not that we're forcing you, but this debt has been outstanding for a year, it's time to pay it back," the leading man said with a frown. "Ask around, the interest we gave your family is already the most lenient, you won't find a lower rate anywhere else."

Dong'er wrung her hands helplessly. These hands were constantly soaking in tofu water, a little red and a little rough. She lowered her head and said with difficulty, "Give me a few more days, a few more days. You know my husband's been unwell this year, and it's cost a lot of money to treat his illness."

The man looked at her for a moment and suddenly said, "I say, Miss Dong'er, why are you so unreasonable?"

Dong'er raised her head in confusion.

The man chuckled and said, "Putting aside everything else, the market manager has always charged you the least amount of money, and our boss hasn't asked you for high interest... Everyone in the entire vegetable market respects you, and why is that? Isn't it because you came from the Earl's residence? Although on the surface you were kicked out of the residence, which old-timers in Danzhou don't know? Young Master Fan is the most fond of you, and he used to play at your tofu stall all day long when he was little."

He cleared his throat and said, "Aren't we all giving Young Master Fan face? No one dares to bully you... But..." He suddenly said angrily, "This isn't a lot of money, you can just go to the Earl's residence and say a few words to the old lady, wouldn't she help you?"

Dong'er pursed her lips tightly, refusing to say another word.

The man finally couldn't help it and shouted, "Even if you don't dare to talk to the old lady, everyone knows about the big event in Danzhou now. Young Master Fan has returned home, and he's a dignified imperial envoy now. If he just took care of you a little, your whole family would be set for life, who would care about these taels of silver?"

Dong'er suddenly raised her head, her face filled with determination, and said, "Don't bother the residence with my affairs. I'll naturally pay you back the money I owe you slowly... I'm very grateful for your care these past two years, Brother Hu."

But these words obviously had no effect. Although the man didn't dare to threaten Dong'er too much, he still had to make a living from this, so he said angrily, "Since you say you have no relationship with the residence, then we won't be polite. You'll have to give me the money you owe me today!"

Hearing this, Fan Xian finally understood what was going on and couldn't help but smile wryly. Dong'er's husband was probably not in good health, but... the money he had the residence send every month should have been enough. Judging by Sister Dong'er's expression, she probably hadn't used the money he sent for the past two years and had only been barely making ends meet with this tofu stall.

There was no need to listen any further. Fan Xian didn't have the hobby of waiting for the situation to escalate before coming out as the grand master, although it was very obvious that he was the biggest grand master in Danzhou city now.

He nodded to Sisi.

Sisi immediately understood, quickly walked up to the tofu stall, looked at the men, and asked calmly, "How much money is owed?"

The men were obviously taken aback by this sudden appearance of a young woman. Although Sisi hadn't dressed up intentionally today, she lived in a wealthy family every day, and her clothes and ornaments were all luxurious. The men were sharp-eyed and of course knew that this young woman had an extraordinary background. They coughed twice and said respectfully, "It's just ten taels of silver."

As they spoke, the men's eyes darted around the tofu stall.

Dong'er was stunned when Sisi stood in front of her tofu stall. After a long time, a helpless smile appeared on her rosy face.

The leading man suddenly caught sight of the young master standing to the side of the tofu stall. Looking at the young master's very recognizable delicate face, and connecting it with the origin of Dong'er of the tofu stall and the beautiful young woman in front of him, he immediately guessed the young master's identity. He quickly added in a trembling voice, "It really is ten taels, the interest... we didn't dare to charge much in the first place. Since the young lady has come forward today, we'll naturally waive it all."

Sisi looked back at Dong'er with a smile and said, "Sister, is that how much it is?"

Dong'er was still immersed in shock and nodded in a somewhat flustered manner.

Sisi looked at Fan Xian. This young woman of course knew what Fan Xian was thinking. She smiled at the men and said, "I can also see that you all have been very protective of my sister. I thank you on behalf of my young master." As she spoke, she took out a small silver note from her sleeve, handed it over, and said gently, "In the future, please help take care of this stall."

The man took the silver note and saw that it was a twenty tael note. He couldn't help but want to return it, but he glanced at the young master's face behind the tofu stall, which was impossible to read, and didn't dare to say anything more. He said in a trembling voice, "We wouldn't dare, we will, we will."

After saying this, he quickly pulled his subordinates, who were still a little confused, and hurried away. When they passed by Fan Xian, they bowed deeply to the ground, not daring to utter a single fart.

Fan Xian shook his head, walked into the tofu stall, and complained to Dong'er, who still couldn't believe her eyes, "Why borrow high-interest loans when you have money?"

Dong'er forced a smile and looked at him, saying softly, "Young Master, why are you here?"

Fan Xian said angrily, "That's what you said a few years ago, and you're still saying it now. You're my maid, can't I come to see you?"

Sisi covered her mouth and laughed, "I don't know who was standing over there just now, not coming over." After saying this, she walked to Dong'er's side and took her hand affectionately.

Dong'er wiped her hands haphazardly on the front of her apron in a somewhat flustered manner and gave a gentle smile.

Fan Xian stared at Dong'er's face, looking more closely at the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes. Time was still merciless, and hadn't left too deep marks on the young woman's face, but constantly managing housework and a small business always made her look a little tired. Especially now, standing next to Sisi, she looked even more out of place compared to Sisi, a pampered maid.

Fan Xian sighed and suddenly didn't know what to say. He asked with a stern face, "Where's the little girl?"

"At home with her dad, her dad... isn't doing very well." Dong'er glanced at Fan Xian's expression and gave a warm and kind smile. She had held Fan Xian since he was a child, so of course she knew what he was thinking and could guess why he was unhappy. She said softly, "We wouldn't dare to use the money Young Master sent recklessly, we can still manage..."

Before she could finish speaking, Fan Xian waved his hand angrily and said, "Take me to your house to talk."

Dong'er looked at her tofu stall and didn't know what to say with difficulty.

Fan Xian said angrily, "What are you still worried about with such a broken stall? I messed it up back then, what ordinary life, if you had stayed with me all along, you wouldn't have to suffer this kind of humiliation."

Seeing him angry, Dong'er didn't dare to say anything more. Sisi stepped forward, took her hand, and walked out of the vegetable market.

Fan Xian walked out of the tofu stall behind them. He glared coldly at the gazes of attention from the surrounding vegetable market. After thinking about it, he picked up the two boxes of tofu that had been made and then strolled out leisurely.

After he left, the entire vegetable market was as noisy as a炸锅 (zhá guō – exploding pot, meaning a chaotic commotion). At this time, naturally all the vendors recognized who he was and couldn't help but fall into shock and excitement.

The imperial envoy came to the vegetable market, what a wonderful piece of gossip, especially with words such as the former senior maid and the current tofu beauty to cause speculation.

"Did you see? I told you... Young Master Fan is a sentimental person. Since he's returned to Danzhou, he's naturally going to come see Sister Dong'er."

Someone sighed in admiration, "Imperial envoy, how high of an official must he be to still be so sentimental?"

Someone was talking nonsense, and someone else scolded back, "Didn't you see Sister Sisi came too? If you dare to spout nonsense again, be careful the people from the residence come and send you to the west to fight the 胡人 (Hú rén – barbarian)!"

Regardless of how the discussion in the vegetable market fermented, the prestige of the Fan residence was here, and Fan Xian's reputation was here, so some baseless rumors naturally died down without a trace. Only Fan Xian's sudden arrival and the sudden closing of the tofu stall injected a most lively emotion into the already lively vegetable market in the early morning.

At this time, no one thought that there would be no tofu to eat in the entire city of Danzhou today.

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Dong'er's house was in a small courtyard in a remote part of Danzhou, quietly hidden in the depths of the alley. Although such a detached courtyard was common in Danzhou, it was still worth a lot of money. It was bought by Fan Xian back then with the money from selling Pan Ling's calligraphy from the inner court newspapers, when Dong'er got married. At that time, Fan Xian put in a lot of effort, and Dong'er didn't dare to go against the eleven-year-old young master's wishes, so she had lived there until today.

However, the furnishings in this courtyard were a bit old. Fan Xian walked into the courtyard, looked around, and found it to be fairly tidy and clean. He nodded with satisfaction, placed the two boxes of tofu in his hand on the stone mill, put his hands behind his back, and entered the main hall.

Dong'er was busy pouring tea and bringing small snacks, but Fan Xian stopped her, smiling and saying, "You don't know my temper, I don't like to eat those."

Dong'er smiled gently and said, "At that time, everyone in the residence said that Young Master was a freak. A child didn't like to eat snacks, but liked to gnaw on bones."

"Yes, a freak," Fan Xian sighed and said, "Only you guys didn't think I was weird."

Sisi wiped the low couch haphazardly, knowing that Fan Xian didn't care about these things, so she went to invite him to sit down. Fan Xian shook his head, lifted the cloth curtain on the left side of the main hall, and went straight into the inner room as if he had been there before.

As soon as he entered the inner room, he saw a man of about thirty years old struggling to get out of bed. The man's features were regular, and he looked quite honest, but his face was a little pale, indicating that his health wasn't good.

Seeing Fan Xian going into the inner room, Dong'er jumped up anxiously and quickly followed in, saying, "Young Master, what are you doing in here? This is where the sick person stays."

The man in the bed was Dong'er's husband, surnamed Mai. He had already guessed the identity of the person who had come.

Although he had been discussing with Dong'er ever since he knew that Young Master Fan was coming back to Danzhou whether Young Master Fan would come to visit, the difference in status between the two sides was too great after all. Thinking that this matter was too impossible, the couple let it go and didn't make any preparations.

"Young Master Fan, please don't come in," he said anxiously, quite frightened.

Fan Xian smiled, sat down directly beside him, placed one hand on his pulse, and gestured for him to be quiet.

Dong'er stood at the door, guessing that Young Master was checking her husband's health, and couldn't help but feel a hint of doubt. She had seen Young Master holding medical books in the residence back then, but the doctors in this Danzhou city said that this illness was difficult to treat...

And her husband was even more nervous, looking at Fan Xian's fingers on his pulse, thinking that this was the current imperial envoy, or even a dragon seed, as the saying went... How could he give him medical treatment? He was extremely excited, extremely moved, and his eyes were actually moist.

The room was silent. Sisi didn't enter the room and watched carefully behind Dong'er.

After a long time, Fan Xian released his finger, opened his eyes, and said with a smile, "It's a coincidence, it's a problem with the lungs, easy to cure."

Hearing these words, Dong'er and her husband were overjoyed, but they were still a little incredulous. Sisi covered her mouth and smiled behind them, "You two can rest assured, our Young Madam also had a problem with her lungs, and the imperial physicians in the palace couldn't cure it, it was all cured by Young Master."

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(While writing this chapter, I thought of Xi Ren, I thought of Bao Yu, I thought of pine cones, um haha, Dong'er and Fan Xian are much better than those two biscuits, I've been really happy writing recently...)