{"id":3574,"date":"2026-05-24T06:48:17","date_gmt":"2026-05-24T06:48:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/pursuit-of-jade-36\/"},"modified":"2026-05-24T06:48:38","modified_gmt":"2026-05-24T06:48:38","slug":"pursuit-of-jade-36","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/hi\/chapter\/pursuit-of-jade-36\/","title":{"rendered":"Pursuit Of Jade 36"},"content":{"rendered":"

After standing on tiptoe to see the figures in the painting clearly, Changning\u2019s grape-like eyes lit up with delight. Her chubby little finger pointed at herself in the painting.

\u201cNingniang is in there! Ningniang likes this!\u201d

Before Fan Changyu could speak, Xie Zheng asked the scholar, \u201cHow much is your painting?\u201d

The scholar froze for a moment before realizing this frighteningly handsome man was asking about the price of the painting. He hurriedly said, \u201cNo need for money, no need at all! Consider it a gift from this humble student to Young Master and Madam.\u201d

Fan Changyu was still embarrassed by the scholar\u2019s earlier words, though she did think the painting was quite beautiful. Seeing that the scholar absolutely refused to name a price, she thought for a moment, then selected a smaller piece from the two strips of cured meat she had originally intended to give Constable Wang and handed it to the scholar.

\u201cThen this strip of cured meat is my gift to you as a New Year present.\u201d

Then she stiffly pointed at Changning and corrected him, \u201cThis is my younger sister.\u201d

Receiving a strip of cured meat was an unexpected delight for the scholar. His flattering words poured out even more freely than before.

\u201cThis humble student was blind not to recognize it! Then I wish Madam and Young Master a pair of dragon-and-phoenix twins next year, complete happiness, and children always laughing around your knees!\u201d

Fan Changyu: \u201c…\u201d

She wanted to explain something else to the scholar, but their fake marriage was hardly something worth clarifying to a stranger.

Even after leaving the scholar\u2019s stall with the painting in hand, Fan Changyu still felt awkward. Every now and then, she glanced sideways at Xie Zheng, who was walking beside her holding the rolled-up painting.

Only after seeing that his expression remained perfectly normal did the awkwardness in her chest ease slightly.

When they returned to where they had set up the stall and finished packing up, they were preparing to head to the bookstore to buy paper and ink when the owner of a nearby New Year goods shop came waddling over. Apparently, after watching Fan Changyu sell more than twenty strips of cured meat in less than an hour, he had become envious of the business.

\u201cMiss, please wait.\u201d

Hearing him call out, Fan Changyu turned around and saw the fat shopkeeper approaching with a smile plastered across his face.

\u201cWill Miss be coming here again tomorrow to sell cured meat?\u201d

Tomorrow would already be the second day of the New Year. Not only did Fan Changyu need to reopen her own pork shop, she also had to supply braised meat to Yixiang Tower. She probably wouldn\u2019t have time to come here again.

So she shook her head.

\u201cI likely won\u2019t have time these next few days.\u201d

The fat shopkeeper smiled and said, \u201cThen this old man would like to discuss a business deal with Miss. However much cured meat you have at home, bring it all here and sell it through my New Year goods shop. We\u2019ll split the profits sixty-forty\u2014you take sixty percent, I take forty. What does Miss think?\u201d

Fan Changyu immediately thought of what Shopkeeper Yu once described as \u201cusing empty hands to snatch a white wolf.\u201d He wouldn\u2019t spend a single coin, yet she\u2019d transport the cured meat here and still have to split the profits with him afterward.

Unlike fresh meat, cured meat could hang in a cool, ventilated place for half a year or even longer without spoiling, so naturally it sold for much more.

During the New Year period, Fan Changyu priced it at sixty-five coins per jin. Even after bargaining, the lowest she would go was just over sixty coins.

According to the fat shopkeeper\u2019s proposed split, even if all the meat sold at sixty-five coins per jin, she would only earn thirty-nine coins per jin herself. She might as well just sell it directly from her own shop.

Fan Changyu said, \u201cI don\u2019t want a profit split. If you truly want to buy, we can calculate the accounts clearly and sell by weight directly.\u201d

The fat shopkeeper chuckled.

\u201cMiss clearly isn\u2019t someone who knows how to do business.\u201d

Just as Fan Changyu was about to respond, Xie Zheng suddenly spoke from beside her.

\u201cA profit split is acceptable.\u201d

Both Fan Changyu and the fat shopkeeper turned to look at him simultaneously.

Fan Changyu looked stunned, while the fat shopkeeper smiled so broadly his eyes narrowed into slits.

\u201cThis young brother clearly understands business. Thinking long-term like this\u2014\u201d

Before he could finish, Xie Zheng shot him a cool glance.

\u201cEighty-twenty.\u201d

The fat shopkeeper\u2019s smile froze.

\u201cYoung brother, that\u2019s asking far too much.\u201d

Meanwhile, Fan Changyu had already started calculating how much she would earn under an eighty-twenty split.

At sixty-five coins per jin, she\u2019d get fifty-two coins. Even if sold at sixty coins per jin, she\u2019d still receive forty-eight coins.

But truthfully, she still hadn\u2019t intended to do this business deal at all.

\u201cWhat split are we even talking about? Why not just sell it outright in one transaction? The wholesale market price for cured meat is already around fifty coins anyway. I\u2019m not comfortable delivering all the meat before seeing any money first. Come on, let\u2019s go buy your paper and ink first. We still have to visit Constable Wang afterward for New Year greetings.\u201d

She grabbed Changning\u2019s hand and was about to leave when the fat shopkeeper hurriedly stopped them.

\u201cFine, fine, eighty-twenty it is!\u201d

Smiling helplessly, he said, \u201cMiss and Young Brother really played good cop and bad cop well. I only wanted this deal because the cured meat Miss sold today had excellent color and smoking quality. One look and I could tell it was premium goods.\u201d

As he spoke, he ushered the three of them toward the New Year goods shop.

\u201cLet\u2019s draw up a contract first. Then Miss can deliver the meat afterward.\u201d

When Fan Changyu looked at Xie Zheng again, she still seemed slightly dazed, as though she couldn\u2019t believe the deal had actually been settled just like that.

Xie Zheng\u2019s expression remained calm as ever.

\u201cGo sign the contract.\u201d

The fat shopkeeper was clearly experienced in this kind of \u201cempty-handed\u201d business deal. He quickly drafted the contract himself.

Even after he handed it to her, Fan Changyu didn\u2019t dare let down her guard. She carefully read every word before handing it to Xie Zheng.

\u201cSee if this looks alright.\u201d

Only after Xie Zheng nodded did she boldly sign her name.

The fat shopkeeper paid a one-tael silver deposit and smilingly escorted them out.

As they walked down the road, Fan Changyu muttered to Xie Zheng, \u201cTomorrow morning I\u2019ll need to reopen the meat shop and deliver braised meat to Yixiang Tower. I probably won\u2019t be able to bring the cured meat here until the afternoon.\u201d

Xie Zheng said, \u201cIf you\u2019re too busy to spare the time, I can hire a cart and deliver it for you.\u201d

Fan Changyu felt somewhat embarrassed.

\u201cThen\u2026 should I pay you wages?\u201d

Xie Zheng glanced sideways at her. Fan Changyu felt she hadn\u2019t imagined it\u2014he seemed unhappy again.

Changning, meanwhile, remained completely carefree. Hopping along at the very front, whenever she spotted some little trinket she wanted but didn\u2019t dare ask Fan Changyu for, she would stare longingly at Xie Zheng instead.

Bit by bit, Xie Zheng bought her several small things until her arms were stuffed full, her chubby hands barely able to hold everything.

Fan Changyu finally warned her, \u201cNingniang, if you want to buy every little thing you see, then next time I won\u2019t bring you to the county market anymore.\u201d

Changning lowered her head and stared at her toes while being scolded.

Then the man beside them spoke in his cool, detached voice.

\u201cI was the one who wanted to buy them for her.\u201d

Fan Changyu felt as though he was deliberately competing with her somehow. Pressing her lips together, she said, \u201cChildren don\u2019t understand things. You can\u2019t just indulge them endlessly. She likes every single thing on the street\u2014are we supposed to buy everything? Some lessons need to be taught before she understands.\u201d

Xie Zheng said nothing more.

As the three continued walking, even Changning sensed the strange atmosphere between them.

She looked at the two adults, then at the pile of toys in her arms. Suddenly stopping, she turned around and shoved all the little trinkets into Xie Zheng\u2019s hands. Clutching her own clothes with her tiny fists, she said, \u201cNingniang doesn\u2019t want them anymore. Brother-in-law can return them.\u201d

Seeing that a layer of tears had already gathered in the little girl\u2019s black grape-like eyes, Fan Changyu sighed and crouched down to pat her head gently.

\u201cWhat\u2019s bought is bought. But you can\u2019t do this again in the future, understand?\u201d

Changning nodded tearfully and stretched out her little arms for a hug.

Fan Changyu pulled the child into her arms and gently patted her back, her tone both helpless and affectionate.

\u201cWhat are you crying for? I didn\u2019t even scold you harshly.\u201d

Sniffling, Changning said, \u201cBig Sister shouldn\u2019t be angry at Brother-in-law. Ningniang knows she was wrong.\u201d

Fan Changyu looked toward Xie Zheng, who was standing nearby holding a pile of little toys, and sounded even more helpless.

\u201cI\u2019m not angry at him.\u201d

Changning said, \u201cYou\u2019re ignoring Brother-in-law.\u201d

Fan Changyu laughed helplessly. \u201cWhen did I ignore him?\u201d

Tears still shimmering in her eyes, Changning said, \u201cYou stopped talking to Brother-in-law.\u201d

Fan Changyu thought to herself that she usually didn\u2019t talk much with Yan Zheng anyway, but seeing her younger sister looking ready to burst into tears at any second, she still coaxed gently, \u201cWeren\u2019t we talking just now? We just haven\u2019t spoken for a moment.\u201d

But the large tear still rolled from Changning\u2019s grape-like eyes and splashed onto the ground with a soft plop.

\u201cBig Sister is still angry.\u201d

Fan Changyu surrendered completely and asked, \u201cThen what will make you believe I\u2019m not angry?\u201d

Changning thought seriously before declaring, \u201cHold hands! Holding hands means making up!\u201d

Fan Changyu fell silent for a moment.

\u201cHow about I keep talking to him the rest of the way instead?\u201d

But Changning stubbornly insisted on a child\u2019s logic.

\u201cOnly holding hands means making up.\u201d

Fan Changyu exchanged a glance with Xie Zheng. Nothing could be read from his face, but she herself felt unbearably awkward inside.

So she tried coaxing the child again.

\u201cLook, your brother-in-law is carrying so many things, and your sister is carrying things too. If we both use only one hand, won\u2019t that be really heavy?\u201d

Only then did Changning finally give up. But as she walked ahead, she still kept turning around to glance at them every so often.

Afraid Changning might suddenly make even stranger requests, Fan Changyu proactively spoke to Xie Zheng.

\u201cChildren are noisy like this. Don\u2019t take it to heart.\u201d

Xie Zheng replied, \u201cI don\u2019t find her noisy. After the New Year, I\u2019ll probably be leaving, so I just wanted to buy her more little things.\u201d

Fan Changyu hadn\u2019t expected there to be such a reason behind him buying Changning so many things.

Hearing that he was leaving soon, an indescribable feeling rose in her chest as well.

\u201cI\u2019m sorry. I misunderstood you earlier.\u201d

Xie Zheng turned to look at her.

\u201cWhat are you apologizing for?\u201d

Fan Changyu said, \u201cI misunderstood you and spoke too harshly. Of course I should apologize.\u201d

Pressing her lips together, she asked again, \u201cYou\u2019re leaving so soon? Won\u2019t you wait until your injuries are completely healed first?\u201d

Just as Xie Zheng was about to answer, a troop of mounted soldiers suddenly charged wildly down the street, knocking over pedestrians and merchants\u2019 stalls along the way.

As the warhorses thundered toward them, Fan Changyu instinctively crouched down to shield Changning, while Xie Zheng raised his cloak to block the muddy water splashing from the horses\u2019 hooves.

After the soldiers galloped off into the distance, many of the knocked-down pedestrians and mud-splattered vendors cursed furiously behind them.

Fan Changyu looked up and saw half of Xie Zheng\u2019s cloak covered in mud.

Frowning, she asked, \u201cDid you get hurt?\u201d

Xie Zheng shook his head, but his gaze still followed the departing soldiers, dark coldness hidden deep within his eyes.

A peddler whose stall had been overturned spat fiercely in that direction and cursed, \u201cThese damned officials! Can\u2019t even let people have peace during New Year!\u201d

Fan Changyu asked, \u201cWhy are there soldiers in Qingping County again? Are they here to suppress bandits?\u201d

The peddler snorted.

\u201cSuppress bandits? These are debt-collecting demons come to seize grain! Haven\u2019t you heard what happened in Taizhou? The front lines are short on food. Since the army can\u2019t collect enough grain, they\u2019ve started robbing the common people directly. If you refuse, they\u2019ll beat you to death.\u201d

Another older man beside them added, \u201cAt this rate, they\u2019ll probably start conscripting soldiers before long too.\u201d<\/p>","protected":false},"parent":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}}},"novel":[],"class_list":["post-3574","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/hi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/chapter\/3574","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/hi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/chapter"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/hi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/hi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3574"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/hi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/chapter\/3574\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3575,"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/hi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/chapter\/3574\/revisions\/3575"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/hi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3574"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"novel","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/hi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/novel?post=3574"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}