“But as young women, we must remain reserved. We can’t let others think we’re easily swayed by a little gift or gesture. We have to test him for a while, and only accept him once we see his true intentions.”

As Aunt Wang imparted her wisdom, Dai Qing thought of Liu Ming from earlier, her expression filled with disgust.

“That Liu Ming is no good. He already has a girlfriend in the factory. I even saw him making her cry the other day.”

“Really? He’s the type who eats from his plate while eyeing the pot. You can’t trust men like that. Next time I see him, I’ll give him a piece of my mind. How dare he come around here trying to deceive us? I won’t let him get away with it.”

Aunt Wang’s face darkened with anger. To her, a man like Liu Ming, who toyed with women’s emotions, was no better than a scoundrel.

“Auntie, I steamed some fish today. Why don’t you join me for dinner?”

Aunt Wang had always been kind to her, especially after her grandfather passed away. She would often check in on her, proving that the saying “a close neighbor is better than a distant relative” was true.

“No, thank you. I have a lot to take care of at home. I should get going,” Aunt Wang said, shaking her head and quickly turning to leave.

Watching Aunt Wang disappear in a flash, Dai Qing sighed, sat down to eat her dinner alone, then sat cross-legged on her bed to practice her breathing exercises. The energy in her dantian had now grown to the size of a pearl. Each time she felt it circulating through her body, she experienced a sense of clarity and refreshment.

When she opened her eyes again, it was already midnight.

Her grandfather had always said she was a “pure yin” woman, naturally gifted for the art of divination, blessed by fate. She used to dismiss such notions, but now she could only feel grateful.

Lying comfortably in bed, she held the jade pendant at her chest. Ever since she had fed it with her blood, it seemed smoother and more radiant.

It felt cool to the touch, and even in June’s heat, she didn’t feel the least bit warm.

It seemed to even regulate her body temperature.

She slept soundly and without dreams. When she opened her eyes again, it was already nine in the morning.

After having a quick bite to eat, Dai Qing spent the morning cleaning the house. Only when everything was spotless did she sit down in the courtyard, sipping tea and enjoying the breeze.

She was thankful for her quiet nature. If she were someone who thrived on noise and company, she would surely feel lonely living alone.

After reading for a while, Dai Qing looked up at the bare courtyard walls and had the sudden thought of planting a row of bamboo along the base. A gentle breeze would make the courtyard cool and refreshing in summer.

It would take her an hour by bus to get to the flower market.

She changed into a fresh outfit, grabbed her small bag, and headed to the bus stop. Conveniently, there was a bus to the flower market at the gate of the textile factory.

The ride to the flower market was a bit bumpy, and as she stepped out of the bus, she was immediately greeted by humid air, a mix of earthy scents and the fragrance of various flowers.

The flower market wasn’t fully developed yet, being located in central plains, where the variety of plants wasn’t particularly rich. Occasionally, some flowers from the southern regions were shipped in, but they came with a hefty price tag.

Dai Qing, who could barely keep a cactus alive, wasn’t particularly interested in flower gardening.

She headed straight to the stalls selling large fruit trees. After circling around, all she found were some green bamboo plants, about as thick as a finger, selling for two yuan each.

“Young lady, this is fresh stock! Look at those healthy roots. I guarantee they’ll be easy to care for. Just plant them in soil and water them properly, and by next year, you’ll have new shoots,” the vendor explained patiently, holding up a bamboo stalk for her to inspect.

It sounded good, but the vendor was firm on the price—two yuan each, no bargaining. Dai Qing calculated the length of her courtyard wall and bought 100 yuan worth of bamboo. In the end, the vendor threw in an extra ten stalks and had one of his workers help her carry them to the bus stop.