Chapter 10: Selling Chestnuts

When the Ji family heard what Chu Xiaoqi said, they all asked in unison, “What? You’re going to sell them?”

Chu Xiaoqi nodded. “Yes. Is there a problem?”

“You do know about the four social classes, right? Scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants—peddlers and runners are the lowest—” Ji Jingxuan hadn’t finished speaking before Chu Xiaoqi raised her hand to interrupt him.

“Don’t worry, it won’t drag you down.

We can’t even afford to eat anymore. People are about to starve to death—who cares about social class at this point?

I’m earning my food through hard work. I’m not stealing or robbing anyone. What’s there to be ashamed of?”

Ji Jingxuan pressed his lips together and muttered softly, “That’s not what I meant…”

Chu Xiaoqi tossed a small bowl into the basket and covered it with a rag to keep it warm. After tidying up, she washed up quickly and went to the kitchen to carry the chestnuts.

Seeing how hard it was for her to carry the basket, Ji Jingxuan walked over, lifted it off her back, and set it down on the steps. Then he turned around and carried it on his own back as he headed out.

Chu Xiaoqi hurried after him. “Hey, hey, hey! What are you doing? Aren’t you afraid of being laughed at for carrying that to the market for me?”

Ji Jingxuan stopped, turned to look at her, and said, “I already told you, it’s not because I’m afraid you’ll embarrass me. I’m just worried that people will gossip behind your back and you won’t be able to take it.”

Chu Xiaoqi was momentarily stunned. So, he was worried about hurting her pride.

“Big Brother, Sister-in-law, we’re coming with you too…” Ji Jinglan and Ji Jingze ran out after them.

Chu Xiaoqi didn’t turn them down. It was still dark out, and she couldn’t see a thing. Once the sun came up, she wasn’t even sure she’d be able to find her way back.

Bringing Ji Jinglan and Ji Jingze along was perfect—they could help lead the way.

Along the road, Ji Jingxuan and Ji Jingze took turns carrying the basket. After about forty minutes, they finally arrived at the city marketplace.

The sky was just beginning to lighten, but the market was already packed with people. Peddlers and workers were calling out in loud, rhythmic voices, filling the air with lively chatter.

At the City Market

Chu Xiaoqi found an empty spot and had Ji Jingxuan set down the basket.

“Just put it here. You should head to the academy now.”

“If you can’t sell them, just bring them back and eat them yourself. Don’t force anything. I’ll be getting paid at the bookstore today, so we’ll have enough to eat for a few days. If anything comes up, come find me at the academy.” Ji Jingxuan reminded her to be careful in everything.

Chu Xiaoqi nodded half-heartedly. “Yeah, yeah, I got it. Now hurry up and go…”

Seeing that she was rushing him off, Ji Jingxuan, though reluctant, had no choice but to leave. Getting beaten on the street was more shameful than selling goods, after all.

But after just a few steps, he heard her call out, “Hey, wait!”

Ji Jingxuan turned around, and Chu Xiaoqi scooped a bowl of chestnuts, wrapped them in a handkerchief, and shoved them into his hands. “I was so busy roasting chestnuts this morning, I didn’t get a chance to eat. Just eat these to fill your stomach for now.”

Holding the warm chestnuts in his hand, Ji Jingxuan couldn’t quite describe what he felt inside—some awkwardness, but also a bit of warmth.

Seeing Chu Xiaoqi uncovering the cloth to start selling, he finally turned and walked off toward the academy.

Chu Xiaoqi cleared her throat and raised her voice, “Ahem… Mm-hmm… Come and try! Soft, sweet, fragrant chestnuts!

Twenty copper coins for one bowl, thirty for two!

Come, come! Delicious soft and sweet chestnuts—!”

Ji Jingze and Ji Jinglan hung their heads low, blushing as they hid behind Chu Xiaoqi, wishing they could just disappear into the ground.

“Girl, why are your chestnuts so expensive?

Not long ago I saw someone selling them for ten coins a bowl and nobody even wanted them.”

A woman around fifty years old, carrying a basket of vegetables, stood by Chu Xiaoqi’s basket, smacking her lips as she looked at the chestnuts with a face full of disdain.

“Auntie, mine are expensive because they’re worth it. Here’s why…”

“Try one!” Chu Xiaoqi pinched a small opening in a chestnut, split it open, and handed it to the woman.

The woman didn’t stand on ceremony. She took it, peeled off the shell, and popped it into her mouth.

After chewing a couple of times, her face lit up with delight. “Wow, it really is soft, sweet, and fragrant!”

“See? I wasn’t lying, was I?”

“It is delicious, but the price is a bit steep.”

“Auntie, the plain ones—no seasoning, no prep—sell for ten copper coins a bowl. Mine are stir-fried with honey. You really think it’s the same?

Tell you what, since this is my first day, I’ll give you three bowls for fifty coins.”

The woman considered for a moment, her eyes spinning mischievously in their sockets. Then she grinned and said, “Girl, since it’s your first day, how about three bowls for forty coins, and I’ll help promote your business?”

“Auntie, forty-five coins—no lower. You’ve got no idea how hard it is to get honey. One wrong move and you could get stung to death!”

The woman thought it over—honey was rare—and agreed readily, “Alright, alright, forty-five it is.”

“Great!”

Chu Xiaoqi took the coins and quickly scooped out three heaping bowls of chestnuts, dumping them straight into the woman’s vegetable basket.

The woman looked down, pleased with how full the bowls were. Seeing that the girl was honest and generous, she didn’t bother nitpicking for worm holes or blemishes.

After the woman left, Chu Xiaoqi grinned and stared dreamily at the copper coins in her pouch.

The Ji siblings hiding behind her, Ji Jingze and Ji Jinglan, were wide-eyed. That’s it? That’s how you make money?

Chu Xiaoqi tucked away her pouch and continued calling out to customers.

She sold a few more bowls here and there. By late morning, half the basket was still left. She figured she’d just pack up and eat the rest herself later.

But just as she covered the basket, the woman who first bought from her came back—this time with a whole crowd behind her. “It’s her! Over there!”

Chu Xiaoqi was startled by the commotion. Did someone get poisoned by my chestnuts?

“A-Auntie… wh-what are you doing?” she stammered, staring at the sea of people now gathering in front of her.

“What do you think I’m doing? I brought people here to buy chestnuts!” the woman replied heartily.

Chu Xiaoqi let out a long breath. Buying chestnuts? Could’ve said so earlier—it looked like a mob coming to rob her!

The woman continued, “I took those chestnuts home and shared them with the neighbors. Everyone loved them and asked me to bring them over to buy more.”

“Thank you so much for helping me spread the word, Auntie!”

“Alright, alright, let’s get to business already.”

Chu Xiaoqi lifted the cloth from the basket, and the crowd swarmed around her.

“Three bowls for me!”

“One bowl for me!”

“I’ll take one too!”

Ji Jingze and Ji Jinglan were frozen in place, overwhelmed by the crowd and unsure what to do.

Seeing them just standing there, Chu Xiaoqi yelled, “What are you two doing standing around? Get over here and help!”

The shout snapped them back to reality, and they quickly rushed forward to help collect money and scoop chestnuts.

In just a short time, the rest of the chestnuts were completely sold out.

Chu Xiaoqi weighed her money pouch and nearly burst out laughing in delight.

She pulled out twenty copper coins and handed ten each to Ji Jingze and Ji Jinglan. “Pocket money!”

The two of them stared at the coins in their hands, ecstatic.

It was the first time in their lives they’d ever had pocket money.

“Come on, let’s go find something tasty to eat,” Chu Xiaoqi said, securing her money pouch and standing up from the ground.

Ji Jingze quickly picked up the basket…

Ji Jingze hoisted the basket onto his back, and the two siblings followed behind Chu Xiaoqi, giggling foolishly all the way.

Chu Xiaoqi took them to eat wontons, and when she saw someone selling braised pork intestines, she bought a small piece to try.

The smell nearly made Chu Xiaoqi gag, but Ji Jingze ate it with relish.

After eating and drinking their fill, they checked the time and figured it was almost noon break at the academy. Chu Xiaoqi bought another bowl of wontons and brought the Ji siblings along to deliver lunch to Ji Jingxuan.

When Ji Jingxuan heard that there were two girls and a boy waiting for him at the academy gates, he thought something had happened. He ran out so fast he nearly lost a shoe.

Panting, he arrived outside—only for Chu Xiaoqi to hand him a bowl of wontons, saying she’d brought him lunch.

He held the bowl and glanced at the empty basket on Ji Jingze’s back, surprised.
“You sold all the chestnuts?”

Chu Xiaoqi nodded proudly. “Of course. Don’t forget who coached the whole roasting process!”

Ji Jingxuan looked at her smug face and suddenly found it kind of cute. He chuckled.
“Yes, yes, you’re amazing.”

Chu Xiaoqi waved him off modestly. “No, no, it was a team effort.”

Ji Jingxuan sat on the flowerbed at the academy gate to eat his wontons. Chu Xiaoqi leaned over and whispered with a hand over her mouth,
“Guess how much I made today?”

“100 wen?”

Chu Xiaoqi instantly sprang to her feet, looking at him with mock disdain.
“Excuse me? Try again. I’ll give you a second chance to rephrase that.”

Ji Jingxuan smiled and took a sip of the soup. “300 wen?”

“Try thinking bigger!”

“500 wen?”

Chu Xiaoqi stifled her laughter and shook her head.

At that point, Ji Jingze couldn’t hold back anymore and cut in,
“A little over one tael.”

Ji Jingxuan was so shocked he forgot to chew and swallowed a whole wonton.
“Cough cough! How much?!”

“A bit over a tael,” Ji Jingze confirmed, holding up one finger.

Ji Jingxuan turned to Chu Xiaoqi. “Seriously?”

Chu Xiaoqi nodded, feigning modesty with a bashful little expression.

Ji Jingxuan truly hadn’t expected that one basket of chestnuts could fetch over a tael of silver. It was an absolute surprise. He didn’t hold back, giving her a big thumbs-up.
“That’s incredible!”

Chu Xiaoqi was so pleased by the praise her smile nearly reached the sky. She arched her dainty brows smugly.
“But of course—”

Before she could finish basking in her glory, a loud, brash voice rang out from afar:

“Where did this vixen come from, daring to cling to my Jingxuan-gege?!”

Moments later, a round figure came bouncing toward them.

Qin Hanyu.

“You… you vixen… stay away from my Jingxuan-gege! Or—or I’ll have my father throw you in jail!”

Chu Xiaoqi looked up and down at the chubby girl who’d rolled over like a ball, then slowly turned to Ji Jingxuan.
“This fatty yours? One of your admirers?”

Ji Jingxuan set down his bowl and walked over to her, leaning in to whisper,
“She’s Qin Hanyu, the county magistrate’s daughter. She absolutely hates being called fat.

There’s nothing between us. We’ve never even spoken.”

Across from them, Qin Hanyu saw the two whispering to each other, ignoring her entirely. Her nostrils flared with rage.

She planted one hand on her hip and jabbed a finger at Chu Xiaoqi.
“Did you not hear me, you vixen? I told you to stay away from my Jingxuan-gege!”

Chu Xiaoqi crossed her arms and tapped one foot, asking calmly,
“Hey girl, did you know your Jingxuan-gege is already married?”