Chapter 294: A Big Bowl of Lamb Soup

"Yes, Master,"

Qiao Mai took the, 000 Tael Silver Note, gave the remainder to Shopkeeper Feng for the New Year, then went to the warehouse to check and restocked the goods.

That night she summoned Steward Xi, had her recount the household matters, and also arranged the New Year affairs for her.

She slept soundly at home, and the next day rode a winter jujube to Shexian.

She spent the whole day in the Zuofang, and the manager stayed right in front for a day; Qiao Mai looked over the Account Book while questioning him.

"Have Pine Nuts started being harvested this year?"

"Yes, the first Songlin has produced Pinecones, so my subordinates have assigned people to begin harvesting, and following your recipe, they have started roasting them."

"Have someone deliver some over."

"Yes, Master."

In a short while, the freshly pan‑fried Pine Nuts, still hot from the wok, were brought up; Qiao Mai glanced at the heads and then at each Pine Nut, all of which were split open.

Seeing the man collapse, she immediately dragged him into the house.

"I hope so, anyway the original spirit doesn't think highly of you, too lazy."

"I see the lady eating alone, shall I make a friend?"

Just as she was about to order, a young handsome man sat opposite her.

The man across said, "Could you also leave that one for me?"

The Shopkeeper trembled as he handed over the door‑plate key, and the assistant, just about to deliver, was glared back by the man.

"I advise you to give up, beware of sailing the ten‑thousand‑year ship."

She quickly ate two baked flatbreads, finished a large bowl of lamb soup, settled the bill with the assistant, then rose and left.

Could it be him?

The man spoke and reached to grab Qiao Mai; dealing with such a person, she sent a burst of Qi Energy, and he was frozen in place.

"There shouldn't be any, my martial skill is so high yet I sense no masters nearby."

"No, the woman I have my eye on, none have escaped; though she isn't pretty, her skin is truly fine, I really want to grab a handful, the feel would be amazing."

Don't be fooled by his solemn look, but she senses several women's auras on him.

"Yes, Master."

"Then the third room, or the one opposite her, will do."

They went up to Erlou and arrived outside the door of Qiao Mai's room.

"This isn't like your style; they say dying under a pomegranate skirt is romantic even as a ghost—if you let me taste her icy flesh and jade bones, death wouldn't matter."

She stepped closer, seeing several lamps lit inside, the tiny shop's tables almost filling the space.

"Yes, there are quite a few."

"Two shi ago, which Guest Rooms did the woman who came in stay in?"

"Was Point Acupressure applied?"

"Someone stayed."

The handsome man blinked, so the other man tried to release the Point Acupressure, but no matter how he tried, it didn't work.

"I'm freezing to death, let's go, quickly find an inn to warm up."

"Master, you happen to be able to use this month to achieve Realm Advancement to Nascent Soul!"

It was mealtime, and she went in, sitting at an empty table.

Someone like that must have been with many women, which is why she doesn't care.

In this icy snow, nighttime drops to minus twenty degrees; unable to bear it, another man quickly lit a Charcoal Stove beside him.

"You really have no ambition at all."

"Madam!"

"It's not that easy; my space‑time doesn't accelerate, take it slow, why rush? My goal is to become a Nascent Soul Cultivator by the end of next year."

The man watched as someone came to rescue him; he couldn't open his mouth or move his body, only signaling with his eyes to the man,

The man ordered the same as her; the eight‑immortal table was sizable, the two faced each other, yet Qiao Mai still ignored him.

"Me too!"

"That woman stays at the Juhe Inn on the street behind."

Qiao Mai pretended to fart, quickly tucked it into her sleeve, stirred the lamb soup with a spoon, holding a baked flatbread in one hand and drinking the lamb soup with the other, she completely ignored the man.

Qiao Mai sharply turned around, "Don't think that just because you look human, being a woman means you should respond to you."

"How about it?"

The smoke was too dense, and the man grew fearful; he thought it was not appropriate to linger.

"Hire more people, separate the Pine Nuts: a price for the small ones, a price for the large ones, and pick out some premium ones at a price; deliver them to Qiao Ji Snack Shop in Tianshui Town. As long as they're premium, just pay them according to the local rates here."

The man instantly stood and followed her, "Madam, wait a moment."

"Alright then, you should be honest; if it weren't for me earlier, you'd have frozen to death on the street."

"Then give me the first one?"

"Erlou, turn left to the second room."

"Don't worry, I'll be reborn once more, I'll definitely live well; don't forget I'm a top student, in just a few years I'll soon reach Nascent Soul, rest assured, someday I'll ascend to immortality."

Seeing the sky darkening, she didn't plan to return, and stored the winter jujube into her space.

She still pursed her lips, pointed a finger, and the man smoking outside was instantly frozen.

Qiao Mai finished reviewing the Account Book, took away the silver notes, and left some for the manager to distribute red packets and wages as reserves.

Seeing the smoke continuing to blow inside the doorway, she flew over and blocked it immediately.

In the County Town inn, she booked a fine Guest Room, then braved the snow, strolling around the County Town.

He could only watch Qiao Mai leave, and before long someone arrived at his side.

Someone used a tube to pour haze into the house, and Qiao Mai raised an eyebrow, recalling the man who had partnered with her earlier today.

"Strangely enough, that woman never touched me at all—how could I have?"

The haze kept pouring over the man's body, and after a short while the man collapsed; just as Xiao Qing was about to act against him, the opposite door opened.

The man gave a sly grin, "Want to join tonight?"

"You don't see? I'm a woman with a home; whether it's this or that, I still have to deal with Xianggong at night."

The two arrived at Juhe Inn, and the man handed the inn Shopkeeper a silver ingot.

"Could it be that she has protectors around her?"

Qiao Mai opened her eyes, helplessly looking at it, "Then you'll have to raise your cultivation first."

The stop lasted two hours, and by the time the man could move and speak, the person was already nearly frozen solid.

"Just one person, okay to share a table?"

"Master, Fifth-Grade Pill stock is running low; you must keep up Effort to forge Sixth-Grade Pill. I've found Sixth-Grade Pill sells for more than five times the price of Fifth-Grade Pill—that's a watershed. From Sixth to Ninth Grade Pill, and even Divine Medicine, we have plenty; you must keep up Effort."

"No need, men and women don't touch; stay away from me."

Xiao Qing pried open the Space Barrier, opened the room's window, and with a flick of a small hand dispersed the haze inside.

Qiao Mai ignored him, waved at the clerk, "One large bowl of lamb soup, two baked pancakes."

Two tall, massive men, their attire intimidating, made the Shopkeeper swallow, and he pointed at them with his finger.

"No, I'm afraid I'll lose my life."

One person and one spirit were arguing, and Qiao Mai's external spiritual consciousness sensitively transmitted information to her.

Qiao Mai was at that moment meditating in the space, while Xiao Qing was at the computer selling goods for her, listing items while muttering.

He reached out, took a peeled piece, tasted it, "Hmm, good taste—any vendor bringing goods to the Zuofang to sell?"

"Indeed, if you don't keep up Effort, I'll get a new master in the future."

Then he shut the door, slammed the man's face hard, seeing no effect, lifted a basin and poured cold water on the man's face, but still no effect.

"Come, I spotted that woman at a glance,"

Soon the lamb soup and baked pancakes were brought forward; Qiao Mai added vinegar, pepper, and salt, felt something still missing, then took a bottle from her cuff, unscrewed the cap, poured some in, capped it, and was about to put it back into her cuff.

In such cold weather, huh? She actually saw a lamb soup shop, and there were quite a few people.

So she carried Wang Jiaru's Companion down to the market, didn't pay, and Xiao Qing returned to the space to look at Qiao Mai.

"We can't just leave them like that,"

"Them?"

"Yes, the two of them; they live right opposite us."

(End of chapter)