Chapter 22: Stepping Into the Market
The morning mist clung to the treetops as Su Yanyue adjusted the large woven basket on her back, each bundle of tea carefully wrapped and cushioned. Dressed in a plain but neatly fitted lavender robe, her hair braided and pinned with a carved wooden comb, she looked like any traveling village girl.
Except she wasn't.
She was Su Yanyue—sharp-eyed, sharp-tongued, and determined to carve a place in a world that didn't know what to do with women like her.
"You're really going alone?" Yu Shiming asked from the gate, arms crossed.
"I'm not helpless," she replied, tightening the rope that secured her basket. "It's just Qinghe Town. Half a day's walk."
"The boys will ask every ten minutes where you've gone."
She smirked. "Then distract them. Tell them I'm learning to fight tigers."
He didn't laugh, just stepped forward and tucked a small pouch into her satchel.
"What's this?"
"Silver. Just in case."
She blinked. "You're trusting me with your savings?"
He met her eyes steadily. "I trust you more than anyone else I've met in years."
Her breath hitched a little. The way he said things—quiet, firm, with no decoration—often hit deeper than compliments ever could.
"…Thanks," she muttered, then turned quickly. "Don't let the boys burn down the house."
—
Qinghe Town was bustling by the time she arrived.
Vendors shouted out their prices. Carts rolled past on creaky wheels. The scent of fried pastries and steamed buns floated in the air.
Yanyue kept her head low and moved through the streets with confidence, asking for directions to the Willow Breeze Teahouse.
It sat at the corner of a busy lane—a graceful, two-storied building with painted wooden signs and a small stone courtyard. Wind chimes tinkled softly above the door.
A woman in her forties met her at the entrance, dressed in a fine sky-blue gown with silver threading. Sharp, elegant eyes studied Yanyue before softening with a smile.
"You must be Miss Su. I'm Madam Lu."
Su Yanyue bowed politely. "Thank you for the opportunity. I brought six samples, as agreed."
They sat in a private room while attendants brought hot water and trays. Yanyue prepared the tea herself—each blend steeped with precise timing, the colors clear and vibrant.
Madam Lu sipped the mint-plum blend and raised her brows. "Refreshing and balanced."
She tried the chrysanthemum-pear mix. "Soothing… and just the right bitterness."
Then the wolfberry-licorice tea. "My, this one is warming. Ideal for autumn."
Yanyue waited, calm but alert.
"You're better than I expected," Madam Lu said finally. "Young, clever, and serious about your craft. I like that."
She placed a silver tablet on the table. "Let's begin with thirty packets per month. If they sell, we'll scale up."
Su Yanyue smiled—just a little. "Deal."
As she stepped out of the teahouse, the silver tucked into her pouch, she felt something shift inside her.
This wasn't survival.
This was growth.
---
Back in the village, the triplets waited by the gate like little guards. The moment she appeared, they sprinted toward her, nearly knocking her down.
"Did you fight bandits?" Su Lin demanded.
"Did you see a horse with golden hair?" Su Rui asked.
"Did they give you treasure?" Su Zhi whispered hopefully.
She crouched down, ruffling their identical heads. "No treasure. But I did bring back candied plum sticks."
They whooped with joy and followed her inside.
Yu Shiming watched from the door, gaze lingering on her dust-covered hem and calm, radiant smile.
She didn't look tired.
She looked like a woman just getting started.
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