Chapter 16: Entering the Market

Being able to enter the marketplace on the second day after transmigrating—this was something worth celebrating for Wen Lan.

However, once she put on the clothes borrowed from Qingfeng, all her excitement vanished.

Because Lin Furong was too short.

With her modern-day height of 168 cm, Wen Lan couldn’t help but complain about Lin Furong’s petite figure.

“She probably isn’t even 160 cm. I wonder if people in ancient times still grow after turning sixteen,” Wen Lan muttered while tying the excess sleeves and pant legs with hemp rope.

After adjusting the fit, the clothes finally looked passable. She also undid her hair and imitated the countryside men by tying it up and wrapping it in coarse cloth.

Once she was ready, she followed behind Qingfeng and set off toward the market.

Meanwhile, that hunter had remained in the courtyard the entire time, sharpening his machete. He hadn’t even lifted an eyelid, much less looked at Wen Lan or Qingfeng as they left.

Feeling uneasy, Wen Lan asked Qingfeng on the way to the market,
“Young master, has your lord ever killed anyone before?”

“I thought you said you wouldn’t pry into our lord’s affairs?”

“I’m not prying. I’m just worried that once you leave tomorrow, he might…” Wen Lan drew a finger across her neck. “I didn’t follow him back yesterday just to die—I want to live.”

“He won’t,” Qingfeng reassured her. “Our lord doesn’t kill women.”

“But he looks really fierce.”

Qingfeng chuckled. “Good. It’s better that you think so.”

What’s that supposed to mean?

Qingfeng didn’t explain further. Instead, he reminded her,
“Lin Furong, although you’re technically our lord’s wife now, you can’t let your country-bumpkin relatives bring their bad rural habits into his life.”

Bad rural habits? Wen Lan blinked at him in confusion.

“Our lord isn’t going to help your family harvest rice or pick tea leaves,” Qingfeng said bluntly. “You better remember—he’s your benefactor. Aside from taking care of him with full devotion, don’t even think about anything else.”

“No, no, of course not.” Wen Lan waved her hands quickly. From Lin Furong’s memories, she knew that in the countryside, during busy farming seasons, married daughters often brought their husbands home to help.

Let alone this mysterious hunter—she herself wasn’t about to do that.

Even if she was in Lin Furong’s body, it was her own soul experiencing everything. And she had zero talent or inclination for manual labor.

Still, Wen Lan thought she ought to return to the Lin family after the market trip.

But that was for later.

For now, she followed behind Qingfeng for about an hour before finally arriving at the market.

Wen Lan had imagined the Nan Dynasty’s market would look just like in historical dramas—street vendors calling out, people bustling in and out of shops, the whole place lively and full of color.

But reality didn’t match.

Maybe it was because they had arrived too late, but the marketplace was nearly empty. Besides a few open storefronts, there were only some residential houses.

The streets weren’t clean either—cow dung here, horse droppings there—and a strange, indescribable smell floated in the air.

Wen Lan pinched her nose. Maybe it was the smell, but with barely anything in her stomach, she suddenly felt even hungrier.

“Young master, it’s already noon. Shouldn’t we eat something before we look around?”

Qingfeng touched his stomach. From leaving Yu Shou Village in the morning until now, he had walked several miles and hadn’t eaten anything either.

“Alright. I know there’s a restaurant near the market entrance. Let’s go eat first.”

He looked around for direction, then stepped forward to lead Wen Lan into a large alleyway.

Wen Lan quickly followed, unaware that she was about to run into someone Lin Furong would very much prefer not to see.