Song Huaiyu rode beside the carriage, and when he heard Ji Ping’an’s question, he turned slightly toward her. The sunlight softened his sharp features, and he lowered his voice to match, “Little Cousin Ping’an, do you have business on Gongsan Street?”

  “Mm,” Ji Ping’an replied. “I asked Doctor Li to help me find a storefront for a clinic. It happens to be on Gongsan Street. It’s still under renovation, and I’d like to check on the workers’ progress if we’re passing by.”

  A flicker of surprise crossed Song Huaiyu’s eyes, but he quickly smiled, as if understanding something. “With your medical skills, Little Cousin Ping’an, once the clinic opens, I imagine it’ll be overflowing with patients.”

  Ji Ping’an said, “Back in Jinling, Father made it a practice that every clinic would offer one free consultation day every five days. I want to create something simir.”

  Song Huaiyu nodded. “That’s just like you.”

  It was the first time he called her “little cousin.” Both Ji Ping’an and Song Huaiyu were momentarily stunned. Realizing he’d spoken out of turn, he quickly corrected himself, “Since you wish to stop by, we’ll go through Gongsan Street.”

  “Mm. Thank you, Cousin Huaiyu.”

  Just as Ji Ping’an finished thanking him, Dongchun suddenly popped her head out. “Second Young Master.”

  Song Huaiyu: “What is it?”

  Dongchun said, “Second Young Master, I just wanted to ask where you bought the candy for my dy st time. She really liked it. I want to buy more to have on hand.”

  Song Huaiyu’s gaze drifted to Ji Ping’an’s face, and he smiled. “It’s from a candy maker I know. He’s a bit eccentric. If he’s in a good mood and has time, he sets up a stall in town. If not, he doesn’t bother. If you like it, I can ask him to set some aside next time and have it sent to the Kaifeng Prefecture. I’ll bring it back with me when I head home.”

  Ji Ping’an hesitated. “Wouldn’t that be too much trouble for him?”

  Song Huaiyu replied, “He’s not really doing it for the money. Selling candy is just an excuse to take a stroll.”

  Then he couldn’t help but ugh. “That old candy maker is stubborn. So is his wife. They’ve been in love their whole lives—and quarrelling just as long. Every few days, they bicker over something small. When he gets mad, he makes candy, then storms out to sell it. After he’s sold it all and saved a bit, he buys her a gift, and they make up again.”

  Dongchun tilted her head. “That’s strange. If they love each other, why argue so much? What do they even fight about?”

  Song Huaiyu looked at Ji Ping’an, as if to say: Little cousin, what do you think?

  Ji Ping’an shook her head and flicked Dongchun on the forehead. “Girls shouldn’t ask such things.”

  Dongchun rubbed her head. “I understand.”

  Song Huaiyu’s smile deepened.

  Soon, the carriage reached Gongsan Street. To avoid blocking the road, Mu Sheng guided the first cart forward while the cart filled with the Princess’s rewards was taken to the rear entrance to be parked.

  The clinic was originally called Miaoren Hall and had belonged to Doctor Li’s old friend, Meng Ruchang. Now elderly, he pnned to return to his hometown with his family and had decided to sell the pce.

  The clinic sat on prime real estate with a spacious footprint—its price was high, and few inquired about it. But with Doctor Li bridging the deal, one side eager to sell and the other not haggling, they struck an agreement immediately. The contract was signed, a deposit paid, and the deed transferred at the government office the next day. Ji Ping’an now held the new title deed.

  She had her own ideas for renovating the space and had brought in craftsmen to adjust the yout and build new cabinetry.

  When the workers saw her arrive, they immediately stopped to prevent dust from dirtying her clothes.

  Li Tinghui emerged from the back courtyard. “Miss Ji, you’re here.”

  Ji Ping’an lit up at the sight of her. “You’re here too?”

  She genuinely liked Li Tinghui—bright, candid, and refreshingly straightforward. What wasn’t there to like?

  “My grandfather sent me to oversee the renovations,” said Li Tinghui. “He also said there’s nothing more he can teach me, so I should start following you around like an apprentice.”

  “That’s wonderful,” Ji Ping’an beamed. “We’ll be short-staffed when the clinic opens, so having you here is a huge help. But someone with your skills doesn’t need to be an apprentice—you’ll be the attending physician.”

  Li Tinghui tugged Ji Ping’an’s hand and said cheerfully, “Either way, I’m definitely going to follow you and learn from your experience.”

  Ji Ping’an smiled. “We’ll learn from each other.”

  Holding the blueprint, Ji Ping’an walked through the space, comparing the design to the renovation progress. She chatted with Li Tinghui now and then, occasionally pausing to give the foreman instructions.

  Suddenly, loud voices erupted from the backyard—two young workers had started arguing while sawing wood.

  “It was you!”

  “No, it was you!”

  “There are only the two of us back here! I left two meat-stuffed buns right here. If it wasn’t you who ate them, who else could it be? A ghost?”

  “Why would I eat your buns? Am I crazy or something?”

  “They had meat in them! You saw my mom pack them and got jealous. Then you told me to move wood. As soon as I turned my back, they disappeared!”

  The foreman, who had been discussing renovation details with Ji Ping’an, frowned at the commotion. With a scowl, he stormed into the courtyard and snapped, “Cut it out! Don’t you see Miss Ji is here? Arguing over two buns like this—what do you think you’re doing?”

  “But those were meat buns!” the worker, Zhang Shi, shouted.

  In those days, meat was a rare luxury—having a meat bun was practically a holiday meal. No wonder he was upset.

  Zhang Shi jabbed a finger at the other worker, Li Le. “It was him! When I took them out earlier, he was eyeing them. Then he told me to move wood, and when I turned around, they were gone!”

  Li Le retorted, “That’s nonsense! I didn’t even touch your buns!”

  “Enough!” the foreman said, pulling Zhang Shi aside. “It’s just two buns. I’ll give you money to buy more ter. Don’t make a scene.”

  Zhang Shi huffed, gring at Li Le. “I’m not working with him anymore.”

  “You think I want to?” Li Le scoffed. “Bet you ate them yourself and now want to squeeze two more out of the boss!”

  Zhang Shi snapped, “What did you say?”

  Li Le fired back, “If you’re getting mad, I must’ve hit the mark!”

  Just as it looked like the two might come to blows, the foreman quickly had them separated and led away to cool off. He returned to Ji Ping’an with an apologetic look. “Apologies, Miss Ji. Rough men, rough tempers. Sorry you had to witness that. Shall we continue where we left off?”

  Ji Ping’an nodded and calmly went over a few more points. Before leaving, she pulled Li Tinghui aside.

  “Is theft common at the clinic?”

  Li Tinghui thought for a moment. “Hard to say. Miss Ji, you’re from a well-off family and probably haven’t spent time in these chaotic pces. You haven’t seen much of this kind of thing. But I’ve been to plenty of remote vilges collecting herbs—stuff like this happens a lot. Folks are poor. A bowl of rice and a bite of meat is a rare treat. When you’re constantly hungry and scraping by, it’s only natural that people might try to get a little extra here and there. Petty theft, sneaking a bit more—it’s common. They’re not bad people. They want to be decent, but life doesn’t always allow it. So maybe someone really did steal the buns… or maybe not.”

  Ji Ping’an asked, “Does this kind of thing happen often?”

  “Arguments are common,” Li Tinghui replied. “But this crew is chattier than most. Seems like there’s more bickering than usual. People keep saying things go missing, and it’s always food. Maybe there’s one or two in the group with bigger appetites than most.”

  Concerned that the quarreling might escate, Ji Ping’an reminded her, “Be careful. Don’t come here alone anymore. Have some of your senior brothers or apprentices take turns watching things. No need to stay long either.”

  Li Tinghui nodded. “Got it.”